Quick answer: In this vlog, esthetician and Nikol Beauty founder Nikol Johnson packs for a brand trip she describes as a skincare wellness retreat. She keeps the host brand and destination a surprise, focusing instead on her ruthlessly edited travel makeup bag, a fresh natural manicure, a vintage Louis Vuitton jacket, and the fall pieces she is styling for each themed event.
Key takeaways
- The trip is a brand trip and skincare wellness retreat; Nikol deliberately keeps the host and location under wraps, saving the reveal for her Instagram stories.
- Her travel makeup bag is a tight edit of multitaskers — eye primer, creamy concealer, Creme Brulee (doubling as eyeshadow), Classic Beach Glow cream blush, and a Cameo lip liner.
- She swapped her press-on nails for a natural manicure, layering OPI Funny Bunny and Bubble Bath for a soft, milky finish.
- Vintage and second-hand finds — a suede Louis Vuitton jacket, Gucci scarves, Chanel pieces — anchor her outfits alongside newer arrivals.
- Wellness prep matters: morning juicing, a targeted hair serum, and comfortable travel-day dressing.
Hey ladies — if you have ever stared at a suitcase wondering how to pack light without leaving your polish behind, this one is for you. Nikol filmed her real, slightly chaotic prep day: a fast-track makeup routine squeezed in before a manicure appointment, a closet full of outfit options for a themed brand trip, and a few vintage treasures she could not resist bringing along. Here is everything she packed, and why.
What is actually in Nikol's travel makeup bag?
Running late for an 11:30 appointment, Nikol showed her real emergency routine — the fast-track face she relies on when there is no time for a full glam session. Here is the order she worked in:
- A quick swipe of rose toner (from Burt's Bees) in place of a full skincare routine.
- Eye primer first, then creamy concealer worked over the lid with a foundation buffing brush.
- Supergoop Glow Screen SPF 40 for a little glow and sun protection in one step.
- Creme Brulee swept over the lids with an angled concealer brush to double as eyeshadow, then along the cheekbones to bronze.
- Classic Beach Glow cream blush pressed onto the cheeks — forgiving even when you are rushing.
- A Cameo lip liner topped with a Dior lip oil in Rosewood.
The whole point is that every item multitasks, so the bag stays small. The eye primer, creamy concealer, Creme Brulee, Classic Beach Glow, Cameo liner, and brushes are Nikol Beauty pieces; the Glow Screen (Supergoop), rose toner (Burt's Bees), and lip oil (Dior) are third-party favorites she happens to reach for. As always, patch-test anything new before a big trip if your skin runs sensitive.
How does Nikol pack outfits for a themed brand trip?
This trip comes with themed events, so Nikol planned an outfit for each one rather than overpacking. The three she walked through:
- Gala dinner: a Pucci maxi dress with patent Jimmy Choo wedges (the dress code called for a wedge or flat) and a small Carolina Herrera clutch.
- Collegiate-chic campus event: options ranged from a Toteme striped shirt with a Ralph Lauren emblem jacket, a tweed J.Crew skirt and Chanel ballet flats, to a preppier take with Giorgio's Palm Beach shorts, and a bolder Tiffany letter jacket paired with Chanel sneakers.
- Welcome cocktail party: a black Gucci midi with bamboo shoulder details, with a vintage Victor Costa cocktail dress packed as a just-in-case.
True to form, she asked viewers to vote in the comments on which collegiate look to wear — the packing process is half the fun.
Why does Nikol reach for vintage and second-hand?
The star of the closet tour is a vintage suede Louis Vuitton jacket in a size 42, bought second-hand. She loves that it is lightweight enough for Florida, has a gold-toned interior, and shows no real flaws — so it is coming on the trip. Alongside it she styled Gucci scarves and Chanel sneakers scored on The RealReal, vintage St. John clip-on earrings, and Hermes scarf rings and twillies, mixing designer vintage with newer J.Crew arrivals. Her point: pre-owned pieces bring character and value that brand-new luggage and fast fashion simply cannot.
What wellness and travel-day prep does she do?
Before any big trip, Nikol leans on a few rituals. She juices in the morning (dropping bottles off for her parents on the way out), removed her press-on nails for a natural manicure — layering OPI Funny Bunny and Bubble Bath for that milky finish — and works a hair growth serum from Nutrafol into the areas she is targeting with supplements. Her comfortable departure outfit is a formula: slouchy jeans, a Banana Republic belt, a simple tank, an oversized men's jacket, flats, and new glasses. For fragrance she packs travel sizes, including a Rose de Grasse she ordered from France and an Estee Lauder Magnolia she picked up at a past Estee Lauder event — the only Estee Lauder tie in the video, and not the host of this particular trip. A dead car and a loaner added to the morning chaos, proving that a reliable fast-track routine earns its place.
The bottom line
Nikol's packing philosophy is simple: choose pieces that multitask, lean on vintage for character, and keep travel-day dressing comfortable. If you want to build your own travel-friendly, multitasking makeup edit, start with her go-to categories — the best-sellers that never leave her bag, everything for the face, and the eyes essentials that keep a look intact through a long travel day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of trip is Nikol packing for?
Nikol describes it as a brand trip and skincare wellness retreat. In the video she deliberately keeps the host brand, destination, and event details a surprise, promising to share the trip itself in real time through her Instagram stories rather than in this packing vlog.
What is in Nikol's travel makeup bag?
Her edit leans on multitaskers: an eye primer, creamy concealer, Creme Brulee used as both bronzer and eyeshadow, Classic Beach Glow cream blush, a Cameo lip liner, and a couple of brushes. She also packs third-party favorites like Supergoop Glow Screen SPF, a Burt's Bees rose toner, and a Dior lip oil.
Why did Nikol remove her nails and go natural for the trip?
She took off the press-on nails she had been wearing to give her natural nails a break and to match the low-key wellness-retreat vibe. For her manicure she layered OPI Funny Bunny and Bubble Bath, landing on a soft, milky finish that is neither too white nor too pink.
What is the vintage Louis Vuitton piece she is packing?
It is a vintage suede Louis Vuitton jacket in a size 42 that she bought second-hand. She loves that it is lightweight enough for Florida, has a gold-toned interior, and adds character, so she is bringing it along on the trip.
Is this video the actual brand trip?
No. This vlog covers only the prep and packing — the fast-track makeup, manicure, wellness routine, and outfit planning. Nikol saves the trip itself, including the events and the reveal of what it is about, for her Instagram stories after she arrives.
