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Packing toiletries is like an art form. You want to pack the essentials, but you don’t want to overpack and weigh down your suitcase. Follow our ultimate guide to creating the perfect travel toiletries list and master the art of packing!
How to Pack Toiletries for Travel
Table Of Contents
Download Our Free Toiletry Checklist
Like any trip, it’s smart to plan and organize starting with your toiletries. Check out our FREE Toiletry Packing Checklist!Click here or tap the image above to open the editable file.
The list features unique categories to help you pack for your trip efficiently and includes all the items listed in various categories above and has spaces where you can fill in your own information:
- You can write in an item’s weight (lighter items mean less overall baggage weight).
- You can note if you need to purchase something or if you already own it.
- And most importantly, you can organize where you’ll pack each item including suggested packing organizers like these.
Read this article for aprintable packing list for clothing and shoes!
Once you’ve got your list ready and start laying everything out, that’s when reality hits:
You’ve packed your carry-on, and everything fits perfectly until it’s time to fit in your toiletry bag!
We’ve all been there trying to travel light but not sure how to manage it because of our toiletries. It’s such a common struggle! You want to include the essentials without overpacking or weighing down your suitcase, especially since airline restrictions have become even more stringent.
First, let’s cover the basics of downsizing your toiletries, followed by a step-by-step walkthrough of how to master the art of packing toiletries.
What Are Toiletries?
The definition of toiletries is: any item used to groom or clean yourself is considered a toiletry item, whether it’s soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, face cream, sunscreen, toothpaste, or even makeup is considered in the same category.
Most travelers bring travel size toiletries with them, either in carry-on luggage or in checked baggage. Nowadays, the most popular method of vacation is by taking a carry on suitcase on board an airplane, which means it’s necessary to minimize the size of toiletries so you don’t exceed weight or size limits.
This is an issue I’ve personally tackled before myself! I made it my mission to not only choose the right clothes and shoes to downsize my packing but also do the same with my toiletries while still being able to take my favorite beauty products.
Check out how I started in this video.
The Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag is #1 for readers due to its numerous water-resistant pockets, which keep everything organized!
What Toiletries Can You Bring On a Plane?
One of the most important things to know about toiletries on plane trips is to start planning before you leave by finding out what you are allowed to bring in your suitcase. To meet TSA toiletries requirements depends on whether or not you are checking your luggage.
For cabin or carry on toiletries, airlines require that liquid products be no more than 3.4 ounces (100ml) and all bottles must fit in a clear quart size ziplock bag when traveling with a carry on. Products that need to be inside the quart size ziplock bag are liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes. This is called the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, follow the step-by-step guide below on packing toiletries for travel to determine what you will and will not need to bring, along with strategies for downsizing products:
- Step 1: Use a Toiletries Packing List to Organize
- Step 2: Decide What Toiletries to Pack
- Step 3: Downsize and Decant Products
- Step 4: Replace Liquids With Solids
- Step 5: Downsize Makeup Products
- Step 6: Choose the Right Toiletry Bag
The CALPAK Luka Hanging Toiletry Bag is a sleek, water-resistant travel organizer with multiple zippered compartments and a built-in hanging hook, making it easy to access and organize beauty essentials in any hotel or bathroom.
Decide What Toiletries to Pack
Once you know what you’re allowed to take, you can save a lot of space and weight in your luggage by minimizing your toiletries and eliminating certain items altogether. Just stick to the basics!
Start by composing a list of toiletries and listing all the grooming and beauty products you use daily. Then, consider which ones you must take and which ones you can leave behind. Remember, a trip is temporary, so you won’t be without something forever.
Certain things might be non-negotiable, such as your favorite brand of shampoo or premium face moisturizer.
One of the best ways to minimize toiletries is to choose multi-use products or items. Determine if there are any products you already own that can work double-duty.
Sample Toiletry Essentials
LIQUIDS & BOTTLES (3-1-1 COMPLIANT)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Face cleanser
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
ORAL CARE
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Mouthwash
SKINCARE | FACE
- Toner
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- Eye cream
- Lip balm
- Makeup
- Makeup Remover
HAIR CARE
- Hairbrush or comb
- Hair Ties / Clips
- Dry shampoo
- Hair Tools
- Shower Cap
BODY CARE
- Loofah (check out our washcloth alternatives)
- Deodorant
- Razor
HAND & HYGIENE
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Tissues
HEALTH & PERSONAL
- Prescription medication
- Pain reliever
- Vitamins
- Menstrual Products
- Contact Lens and Solution
EXTRAS
- Cotton pads
- Cotton swabs
- Laundry detergent sheets
Learn how to start downsizing your toiletries in this video!
Downsize and Decant Toiletry Products
The biggest mistake travelers make with carry on toiletries is not considering how much product they actually use and then overpacking the wrong sizes. This is why I suggest experimenting at home to discover the amount you use of each product.
Before packing anything, note the essentials you’ll need, such as shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste, as well as your skincare and makeup products. Then, log how much you use each product throughout the number of days your trip will last.
The Kitsch Ultimate Travel Bottles for Toiletries 11pc Set are designed to be leakproof, durable, and BPA-free!
Measuring exactly what you’ll need allows you to plan efficiently before your trip. Once you know the amounts, you can easily decant the right portions into travel containers for your toiletries.
Choose empty containers in a variety of shapes and sizes, and DO NOT automatically default to “TSA travel size” (100 ml / 3 oz) options, they’re often larger than necessary.
While travel minis can be convenient for short trips, using your own travel containers is more practical: you can bring your preferred products and reuse them for multiple trips.
This is my ultimate secret for fitting a variety of toiletries into a minimal space while still complying with liquid rules.
These are the best travel containers because they let you pack only what you need while saving space, weight, and avoiding leaks:
- Reusable Toiletry Bottles: Classic hard or soft plastic bottles ideal for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and liquid soap.
- Flat Reusable Toiletry Bottles: Space-saving, flexible bottles that lie flat in your bag, great for carry-on travel and tight packing.
- Pump Bottles: Perfect for lotions, serums, liquid foundations, and thicker skincare products that are easier to dispense without squeezing.
- Spray Bottles: Ideal for face mists, toners, hair sprays, setting sprays, and alcohol-based sanitizers.
- Cylinder Soft Tubes: Best for runny or thin liquids and products you don’t want to dip your fingers into, such as shampoo, body lotion, sunscreen, or hair products. These are often leakproof and more durable than hard plastic bottles.
- Stackable Pots: Excellent for travelers with multi-step skincare routines. Use one stack for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and another for face moisturizer, body lotion, and sunscreen.
- Individual Pots: Great for makeup and beauty products used in small amounts, like concealer, foundation, eye cream, or lip balm. Decanting from heavy glass packaging also helps reduce luggage weight.
- Roller Bottles: Ideal for oils, perfumes, serums, and spot treatments, offering controlled, mess-free application.
- Pen-Style Containers: Perfect for targeted skincare products such as cuticle oil, acne treatments, or eye serums.
- Contact-Style Cases: Useful for very small quantities of creams, pills, or solid balms when you need minimal product.
Pen-style containers and cylinder soft tubes are perfect for liquids and lotions, offering controlled dispensing while saving space in your carry-on.
When using your own carry-on-size toiletry containers, keep these golden rules in mind:
-
Fill containers only about two-thirds full to prevent compression leaks during flights.
-
Place a small piece of plastic wrap under the lid of reusable bottles for extra leak protection.
-
Avoid very thin, water-like products such as toner, as they are more likely to seep or leak.
How to Label Toiletry Containers
How you label your containers will depend on the type you’re using, whether it’s a cylinder tube, stackable pot, pump bottle, spray bottle, pen-style container, or flat travel container. You can purchase labels made specifically for travel containers or keep it simple by using a permanent marker to identify each product. Many flat containers even include a designated space for labeling.
Whatever labeling system you choose, keep it simple and consistent. Ideally, label your containers once so they’re always ready to go for future trips.
Here is a quick video of the toiletries I packed for the LTK Conference!
The KITSCH Pack Light Minis Set includes eco-friendly mini solid shampoo and conditioner bars plus a compact travel case that fits 2 full-size bars or 4 minis, perfect for on-the-go use and lightweight, bottle-free travel.
Replace Liquids with Solids
If you’ll be packing your toiletries in your carry on luggage, note the TSA restrictions on bringing liquids on board. The TSA requires that liquid products be no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) each and that all liquids fit inside a clear, quart-size bag when traveling with a carry-on.
Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes must be inside the quart-size bag. This is known as the TSA 3-1-1 Liquids Rule, which was discussed above.
Limiting your toiletries to one quart-size bag means you’ll need to get creative with what to bring. This is where solid toiletries come in!
Solid sunscreen and insect repellent sticks like Supergloop! Glow Stick SPF 50 and Kate McLeod Bug Balm offer mess-free, bottle-free protection that’s easy to pack and apply while traveling.
While not necessarily helping you downsize, replacing liquid beauty products with solid toiletries will help you meet the carry on liquids requirements. And you can put them into a smaller travel toiletries bag and separate them from your liquids.
There are some fantastic products on the market, from solid shampoo and solid face cleanser to insect repellent and sunscreen to even toothpaste, that can all help you abide by the TSA liquids rule but still look, feel, and smell your best while traveling.
Check out the most popular solid toiletries that TFG readers swear by!
The Kitsch Shampoo Bar Bag creates a rich lather and preserves your bars, while the 2-Compartment Travel Case keeps all your solid toiletries organized for mess-free, bottle-free travel, perfect for carry-ons and weekend getaways.
How to Pack Wet Solid Toiletries
Packing solid toiletries saves space and helps you avoid liquid limits, but it takes a bit of strategy to keep everything neat and leak-free. Here’s how to do it right:
- Use a Dedicated Bar Bag or Case – Carry your wet solid products in a water-resistant bag or case (like the KITSCH Bottle-Free Beauty Bar Bag or Travel Case) to prevent moisture from reaching other items in your luggage.
- Let Them Dry Before Packing – After use, let solid shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars dry as much as possible. A quick air-dry on a drain shelf or hook helps reduce moisture buildup inside your bag.
- Pack with Absorbent Materials – Include a small microfiber towel, absorbent mat, or a piece of breathable fabric inside your bar bag. These help soak up excess water and keep solids from sliding around.
- Stack Strategically – Place heavier or fully dried bars on the bottom and softer, wetter items near the top or in a separate compartment to minimize mess.
- Clean & Maintain Regularly – Rinse out your bar bag after trips and allow it to dry fully before storing. This keeps mold and odor at bay and prolongs the life of both your bag and your solid products.
For specific items and requirements, always check the airline and airport websites or contact them and ask them directly.
IT Cosmetics CC Cream SPF50+: IT Cosmetics | Amazon | Nordstrom | Ulta | Sephora
Downsize Makeup Products
Besides considering travel sized toiletries, another essential aspect of packing light is downsizing your makeup! Of course, you want to look somewhat polished on vacation, but remember that makeup can take up a lot of space.
Because a lot of readers have asked me how I travel with makeup, I thought I’d share how I downsize my everyday makeup to a simpler travel routine.
Check out the video below to see how I organize my makeup items and get them downsized for a trip!
Watch this video to learn how I downsize my makeup for travel!
As you learned how to pack toiletries for a flight, the same applies here. Create a travel capsule makeup collection that includes only the essentials and eliminates the clutter.
Examples of the most visually enhancing products, giving you the biggest bang for your buck are:
Over the years, I’ve tested tons of products, but I’ve finally narrowed it down to the staples that really work for me. Check out my everyday skincare and beauty routine and how I pack each item for travel.
The Baggallini Small Pocket Cosmetic Bag is perfectly sized for compacts, brushes, and other small cosmetics! Or you can use a small travel bag for toiletries for makeup too!
So, how do you build a capsule makeup collection? Here are the best ways you can downsize your cosmetics:
- Decant products where you can: Things like foundation and concealer can be transferred to smaller containers; that way, if you lose your makeup bag, you won’t lose everything and have to start all over again.
- Exclude duplicates and pack multi-use products: Determine if there are any products you already own that can work double-duty. Avoid makeup similar in purpose or color, and only choose one to pack. These travel size multitasking face makeup palettes might be small, but they offer a lot of options!
- Opt for solid stick products: Makeup products, including liquids, gels, and creams, will need to go inside the quart size clear bag, along with the rest of your toiletries. Buying products like stick foundation and compact cream blusher will help maximize space.
- Use Double-Sided Makeup Brushes: Bringing a bunch of brushes can be a pain. Instead of having many different eyeshadow brushes, I just use one that’s double-sided. My favorite is from EcoTools, and it’s one of the best multi-use makeup tools.
Another thing to consider is removing makeup—wipes or liquids can take up space. I use a makeup remover cloth, like the Original Makeup Eraser Cloth, which only needs water and removes waterproof mascara!
The NARS Multiple Stick works as blush, lipstick, and highlighter all in one.
With these tips in mind, here’s a list of products you may or may not need; you’ll find a list of makeup examples below. Remember: be vigilant in eliminating what’s not necessary!
Sample Travel Size Makeup List
- Primer
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Highlighter
- Powder
- Blush
- Bronzer
- Eyebrow pencil
- Eyeshadows
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- Eyelash curler
- Lip liner
- Lipstick
- Lip gloss
- Oil absorbing wipes
- Makeup brushes
Learn all the ways I downsize my makeup for travel here!
Ms. Jetsetter Hanging Toiletry Bag is a smart and stylish option for travelers who want convenience and organization in one.
Choose the Right Toiletry Bag
Along with downsizing, a carry-all toiletries travel bag can keep your beauty care products organized while traveling.
Toiletry bags are travel pouches designed to hold everything from toothbrushes and toothpaste to shampoos and conditioners to skincare and makeup! These bags will keep all of your toiletries organized and mess-free and allow for easy packing in your suitcase, trip after trip.
The Quince All-Day Neoprene Toiletry Bag features a spacious interior with several compartments to keep your toiletries and cosmetics perfectly organized.
Not all toiletry travel bags are created equal, and there are many different styles to choose from depending on your packing style, products, and the trip you’re planning. Here are the most popular types:
- Hanging toiletry bags: Are the most popular style among readers, and I myself typically avoid toiletry bags that don’t have them! Hung up rather than sitting on a wet counter, hanging toiletry bags saves space and keeps things tidy and organized. Check out all the best toiletry bags for travel in our ultimate guide!
- Non-hanging toiletry bags: Some travelers prefer a classic, non-hanging toiletry bag. They’re often more compact, polished, and sometimes more versatile than their hanging counterparts. If you’re staying at an accommodation where you’re not worried about counter space, then these bags are great. A popular one is the Away Large Toiletry Bag.
- Dopp kit for women: Typically slim and rectangular, dopp kits are practical when it comes to packing. They feature a simple main compartment that makes it easy to see everything and have plenty of versatility in terms of what fits inside. Readers love the Quince Nappa Leather Toiletry Bag!
- Cosmetic Bags: While excellent for storing makeup, travel cosmetic bags also make great toiletry bags if you’re looking for a nice open space to organize your products. It’s a simple, fuss-free way to keep your toiletries packed away. TFGs really love Longchamp, and many have sung the praises of their compact cosmetic bag for makeup or small toiletries.
Tip: If you’re traveling carry on only, keep that quart-size ziplock bag (storing your liquids) easily accessible when you get to the airport. Once you get through security, place them back into your toiletry bag.
I rarely travel without my T3 Lucea 1″ Styling Iron. It’s dual voltage so all I have to do is use my regular travel adapter and it’ll automatically work.
Use a Printable Toiletries Packing List
To ensure that you don’t forget to bring anything on your trip, we’ve created a helpful printable toiletries checklist. Click here or click the image below to open the editable file.
The list features unique categories to help you pack for your trip efficiently and includes all the items listed in various categories above and has spaces where you can fill in your own information:
- You can write in an item’s weight (lighter items mean less overall baggage weight).
- You can note if you need to purchase something or if you already own it.
- And most importantly, you can organize where you’ll pack each item including suggested packing organizers like these.
Read this article for a printable packing list for clothing and shoes!
What are your tips for packing toiletries for air travel? Share with us in the comments!
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This is so helpful. I have to keep remembering that I am only going away for a few days and don’t have to duplicate my entire skin care routine when I am away.
I always pack a mini medicine box with Aleve, Tylonel, Benadryl, Dramamine, Pepto, and some anti-diarrhea meds. Just enough to last a couple doses until you can get to a pharmacy. It has saved us numerous times. Just remember to label your container. Amazon has some really functional options.
This article is extremely helpful and will definitely be useful on my upcoming trip.
I can’t stress enough to try your products before you travel with them. I’d say for at least a couple weeks but I do a month. You do not want to be in another country and find out your new shampoo makes your head itch or your new mascara causes your eyes to swell.
It’s also a good idea to decant anything you are taking into the container and check it for leakage. Let it sit upside down overnight, lay it on its side on another night. Opening your bag to a soapy mess is not fun.
And really be honest with yourself about your makeup. I find I wear much less than I think I will. I’ve quit taking anything but face cream and blush and lip balm.
Learning to downsize and pack my toiletries had been a game changer for me. It used to feel like half of my suitcase was toiletries/makeup and health products. Finding the right small containers and decanting just what I will need for my trip has made such a difference! It’s so simple, but I never really thought about it before. Thank you for all of the great advice!
The bar shampoo and conditioner was a great suggestion on my last European 3-week trip as I was limited in my liquids bag! I have been using contact lens cases to decant my face creams for years of business travel, so it was nice confirmation that others do it also!
Thanks for including your 3 Golden Rules! I can’t believe I never thought of them but will now.
Thank you for the great information.
I am obsessed with your blog and FB group. Although I check-in luggage, I pack it (and my carry-on) as if they were both carry-on. Decant everything. I love your advice.
Your travel bag in the video has been discontinued. Have you found another one that allows you to put the quart size liquids bag in the bottom like in the video?
Hi Rhonda, this Vasco waterproof toiletry bag has been my go-to lately: https://rstyle.me/+6MFfh3MRjZPV84cOaokjWQ
It initially grabbed my attention with its slim, flat design that won’t take up a lot of space in a carry-on suitcase or personal item. It checks a lot of my other boxes, from its quality nylon fabric to its sealed zippers to the multiple lined pockets that allow you to see your things clearly.
Would love to know what products you use, facial, toothpaste, ect
Hard to tell on the downsize travel video
Here you go!
https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/beauty-routine/
Thank you for your lists. So helpful. I also love the contact lens containers for foundation, cleanser and a few other things. Really has made a difference.
This is FANTASTIC! I was able downsize my toiletry bag size and weight to a third of what it was. TFG always has the best suggestions and solutions! Thank you!
Thank you so much for these tips! I travel frequently, and keep travel sized products in my kit ready to go. It means that it is one less thing for me to have to think about.
Great article, this is the thing I struggle with the most! Decanting saved so much room, just need to buy better containers for the products I have, thanks for the suggestions
What a great article! Thank you.
What a great article!
Wow. So much great information here. Toiletries are always where I struggle with packing!
I loved the tip to downsize beyond the usual travel sized products. I tried the contact lenses case for my liquid foundation. It saved so much space and weight in my toiletries bag.
I love all the advice wit toiletries!
Probably the biggest impact on my packing has been the tips to reduce and decant toiletries. I have followed this website and FB page for several years and the first thing I realized was that my toiletry footprint in my suitcase can be much smaller. This, in turn, makes for more room in small bathrooms (I typically cruise). Thanks for all your great info!!!
This is a great post, very helpful for thos of us that think we need to bring it all with us. Thank you for helping us travel lighter!
Sort of in the toiletries category, if traveling to South East Asia, I highly recommend getting a small pack of toilet seat covers and travel toilet paper (or carry tissues). No guarantee that there will be any available in locations other than your hotels. Otherwise, there is a hose with a spray handle for you to use, and that’s it. :0
I struggle with packing toiletries and overpacking things. I really appreciate this step by step guide that holds my hand and walks me through every step of packing so I don’t get overwhelmed, confused, or frustrated trying to figure everything out.
This is the most helpful travel blog, as I have always struggled with my liquids leaking when I fly. Thx for posting your excellent resources!
I love the compass rose packing cubes and look forward to taking them to Paris and Amsterdam the end of October.
This article has been a lifesaver as my toiletry bag is out of control! I learned many new ways of pairing it down and found some great containers to make that happen. The tips will also help my clear liquids bag be more manageable! Thank you for the great ideas.
I love all of these suggestions! I now have the flat-it pack it from eBags and also the lip balm containers which are genius! Thank you!
Lots of good tips, but beware of local restrictions when traveling; e.g., many African countries are very restrictive about plastics. Plastic bags are bad for the animals… If the plastic bag could be a 1-use bag, it might be prohibited even though you plan to use it multiple times during your trip. Some countries prohibit the shopping bags from the duty-free shops. There could be fines and imprisonment. Just a reminder to check restrictions in your designation country.
Very good point, thanks for sharing Dot!
I find it very informative to see what everyone says about downsizing toiletries. Thanks for sharing a great post. And the comments!
So glad you found this guide helpful!
Minimizing my toiletries and my toiletry case is the challenge I must overcome. I just came back from a 16 day trip to Austria. Individual zipper pouches not only create more bulk but also more weight. Reading your well written articles will assist me in this challenge.
I used those round clear jars on my last trip, but I couldn’t really get a grip on the lid and base to separate the two 🙁 I’m going back to using old empty jars of product and decanting into them instead.
I just want to thank Travel Fashion Girl and everyone that is part of this community for the inspiration and know-how for successful travel when abroad and also when dreaming from home. Taming toiletries remains a challenge! Using multi-purpose (lips, cheeks, eyes) make-up helps minimize make up, and sample sizes (like tiny mascara) are helpful, as is repotting items into much smaller containers versus buying travel sizes. Thanks for all the tips!
Great tips. Toiletries are the most challenging for me.
Great info – toiletries are always a challenge for me!
I loce the tips and be learned from following TFG and pass it a long to friends often! Thanks for the tips
Unbelievably thorough! Thank you for these hugely helpful tips and examples. I’m so excited!
This is the most thorough and well-written toiletries packing article out there! Thank you 🙂
Suggestions for toner bottle? Everything pours out too fast!
Packing now for my first trip carry on only … and I am finding toiletries are the most challenging part! Thank you for all the info, tips, and tricks!
The empty lip gloss containers … life changing! Thank you!
Another great lesson from Alex at TFG! I have more toiletries and medicines than clothes to take on my 15 day trip to the UK. I leave Thursday and am still refining my packing. These toilette tips are sooo helpful! In fact, all of Alex’s blogs are so helpful! I’m so glad I found this group!!
We first started traveling internationally in 2013 and were determined to do carry-on only. I thought it was impossible until I discovered TFG. Toiletries were the most difficult for me to figure out. 9 years later I still use all the tips I’ve learned from here.
Thanks to your tips I was able to downsize my toiletries and pack in a carry on only for my recent 11 day trip to Europe. Never did I ever think I could make this happen!
I got so much helpful information! I never thought of downsizing from Travel size for my liquids. This has been a game changer for me when packing my toiletries! Thanks!
Such great information! Can’t get enough of TravelFashionGirl!
My first trip traveling with only a carry on suitcase was an epiphany!
Easier to pack and unpack. I wear all the pieces during the trip and there is less stuff to deal with while traveling.
Great blog – so many tips (with links) to help pair down toiletries especially for carry-on only – especially buying different sizes to decanter products! Using these tips for trip next week – thanks!
These tips are great! Honestly, in past trips, I have done fine packing with limited clothes but my toiletries have taken up half my suitcase! Looking forward to using these tips to scale back and miniturize.
So many great tips for toiletries. I learned alot and will be applying these ideas on my next trip. Thanks for the great info.
Thanks for this great post. Details very helpful! And practical!
Great information. Used these tips on recent flight to Maine. Worked great!
These tips saved me on my recent trip to Italy! Thanks for all of the great advice.
A packing list! I will totally use this and hope to whittle down further. Thank you for another great resource!
I’m so scared to travel with a checked bag theses days and my toiletries are the thing that I was most concerned about fitting into a carry on. I love all the downsizing tips and can’t wait to use them for my next trip in October! Thanks Alex.
I like shopping the travel size section in my drug store and at Target. I find lots of different size containers there. I sometimes buy items just for the containers and then fill them with my products.
I am constantly working on perfecting my toiletry packing. I use solid items such as Bite toothpaste bits and Lush shampoo bars. I like to put liquids in the smallest containers possible. My favorite small containers are one ounce Nalgene bottles and 10 ml. lip gloss tubes.
This post helped me so much when I was packing for my trip to France in April 2022. I think I was fairly successful in packing only the toiletries that I needed and was planning to check my bag, anyway. I also watched the video again when packing for a shorter trip to NY and was able to take even less toiletries on that trip! Thanks for all of your tips and tricks on safety too in the Paris 2022 Packing Guide!
It’s amazing how little I actually need when I travel—I use lots of products but a tiny amount goes a long way and helps so much with both volume and weight. I decant into a combination of the tiny “lip gloss” tubes and have the tiny deodorant sticks as well for solids (perfect for using up the end of a large stick that wouldn’t have come out anyway). Feels good to not purchase more throwaway plastic for travel sizes since I just refill when I get home and then I’m ready for the next trip! Also I highly recommend lotion bars.
Oh my goodness! This has helped me so much. Packing my liquids was my number one worry about consolidating to a carry on.
What a helpful post! I’m just going to be traveling stateside, but this gave me some great ideas as our space is limited. Thanks TFG!
I have learned so many great ideas for decanting makeup etc. I now have lip gloss tubes, contact lens cases and travel size. It makes traveling so much easier – thank you!
We all have such different needs and non-negotiables, but this article really takes us through the steps to figure out what works for us. Using these tips (and with some trial runs) I’ve been able to get down to a small Sea To Summit toiletry bag. Still refining with each trip….
Downsizing my toiletries is my biggest challenge! Thank you for these great tips.
Wow this information is so helpful. I will use many of these tips.
thank you for these tipps. I always feel very accomplished after I pack my clothes but than comes everything else, like toiletries and electronics and my backpack is bursting.
Your suggestions and tips have been so helpful when preparing for an adventure. Thank you!
Every article you write is helpful, but packing toiletries is my biggest struggle. So thank you for this one!
Using contact lens cases were a game changer on my recent Safari. We were limited to a soft -sided duffle and we wanted to carry on due to Heathrow so this was the way to go. It is amazing how much product fits in each case and how much product you actually use on a trip. I then used the cases on our recent road trip to Arizona. Never had a single spill either trip.
This is my all-time favorite post. Life -changing, making carry-on travel the only way to go now. Huge eye-opener!!!
This post is incredible. So much useful information! Thank you!
I have sliced up solid shampoo and conditioner bars into smaller pieces, to make ones the right size for a weeklong trip.
Thanks for the list!
There is now available shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, soap, laundry detergent in sheet form, and mouthwash and toothpaste as tablets, lotions in bar form,
Hi Vicki, thank you for sharing your great toiletries tip with us! ?
We love solid toiletries and have a range of options here: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/solid-toiletries-for-travel/
One trick I found on the web that works great is to use contact lens cases. You can put a few days/week supply in them, mark them with a black sharpie, and put in your toiletry bag.
Hi Rick, thank you for sharing your great travel hack for packing your toiletries with us! Happy travels! ?
Someone on your blog had mentioned she uses plastic paint cups from Michaels to put her make up in. What a great idea! I just purchased (16) 1/6 oz cups for $2 ( with 50% off coupon) and put my eye cream, under eye concealer, blush…. in them. They are awesome! And they are airtight, so the product won’t dry out! Thank you, whoever you are!
Wow, that is amazing Barbara, so happy to hear it worked so well with packing your toiletries!! Thank you for sharing! Happy Travels!
I wear contacts and somehow have loads of extra contact cases. I use them for putting my face moisturizer, BB cream, salve (in case of cuts or infections) in for trips up to a week. I just use a sharpie to mark something on the outside of the case so I know what is inside.
Hi Jessica, thank you for sharing your great travel tip! 🙂
Love your tips! They have helped me to be a more confident traveler!
I do the same because I know how much I need for products compared to others.
Two products worth the money (and I’m a cheapo). Blinc mascara. Order online. It is water-proof and rub-proof. To remove, rub with fingers and warm water. No remover required.
ColoreScience sunblock, SP 50. It’s a powder, with the brush built in. No need to pack powder. And who re-applies gloppy lotion every 2 hours? My dermatologist says the best sunblock is the one you use.
Hi Kay, thank you so much for sharing your travel toiletries! 🙂
🙂 sounds great! Thanks.
I have found that some doctors offices have small and very small
bottles that you can get for free, if you ask nicely. One example is eye doctors, who have these bottles for sample eyedrops. I’ve gotten 6 in this way….for free. And they are the perfect size for travel!
Hi Connie, thank you so much for sharing your great travel tip for toiletries! 🙂