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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
You’ve packed your carry on, and everything fits perfectly. That is, until you need to fit it in your toiletry bag!
We’ve all been there, trying to travel light but not sure how to because of our toiletries. It’s a very common issue. You obviously want to include the essentials, but not overpack and weigh down your suitcase. especially since airline weight restrictions are even more stringent nowadays.
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 the video below:
Learn how to start downsizing your toiletries in this video!
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.
Toiletries make up your beauty and hygiene regimen on a trip!
What Are Toiletries?
Here’s a toiletries definition that’s simple and easy to understand: 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 way 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.
The best way to pack beauty products is to use travel bottles for toiletries or a specific travel bag for toiletries.
Before packing toiletries for a plane trip, check the allowed items for your suitcase.
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 (100 milliliters) 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: Decide What Toiletries to Pack
- Step 2: Downsize and Decant Products
- Step 3: Replace Liquids With Solids
- Step 4: Downsize Makeup Products
- Step 5: Choose the Right Toiletry Bag
- Step 6: Use a Toiletries Packing List to Organize
Most travelers pack travel-size toiletries in their carry-on or checked baggage.
Step #1 – 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.
Dr. Bronners Travel Size Soaps can double as hand, body, and sometimes shampoo for hair if you are really traveling minimally!
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. Choose between two products that serve the same purpose.
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash are two of the most popular travel all-in-one travel products.
You’d be surprised how many products can be used for multiple needs!
Don’t default to using travel size containers when decanting products, as that can often be more than you need!
Step #2 – 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 of each product throughout the number of days your trip will last.
These refillable Kitsch Ultimate Travel Containers are perfect for shampoo, conditioner, or creams. And since they sit flat, they take up very little room!
Measuring what you’ll need allows you to refer back when you’re ready to make the final plan.
After measuring what you need, you’ll be able to easily decant the perfect amounts into travel containers for toiletries.
Choose empty containers of various shapes and sizes, and DO NOT default to choosing “TSA toiletries size” 100 ml or 3 oz options, as they’re often too big for what you actually need. This is my ultimate secret for fitting various toiletries into a minimal space while still complying with the liquid rules.
These are the best travel containers because you pack only what you need:
- Stackable Pots: These work extremely well for women who use various beauty products or have an extensive skincare routine. Use one stack for shampoo/conditioner/body wash and another stack for face moisturizer/body lotion/sunblock.
- Individual Pots: Use these for makeup and beauty products you won’t need often; I especially love using individual pots for items like my concealer and foundation. I don’t need to use a large quantity, and they usually come in a heavy glass bottle, so decanting them saves weight, too.
- Cylinder Soft Tubes: Use these for runny, thin liquids or for products you’d prefer not to dip your finger into. They’re also ideal for when you need a larger amount of a certain product, such as body lotion or shampoo. They tend to be leakproof and long-lasting, making them the best travel containers in comparison to hard plastic bottles. GoToob is the most popular brand and has a convenient 2 oz size.
The 14-pack Teapile Travel Containers are designed to be leakproof, and they’re durable and BPA-free!
When using your own carry on toiletries size containers, remember these golden rules:
- Only fill 2/3 of the container to avoid compression leaks.
- Use a piece of saran wrap under the lid for extra leak prevention.
- Avoid water-like substances such as toner. The thinner the liquid, the more likely it is to seep out.
Tip: We often get asked how to label toiletry containers. It can depend on what you’re using, be it a cylinder tube, stackable pot, or the newer, popular flat containers. You can purchase labels specifically for travel containers or use something simple like a permanent Sharpie marker to identify your products. The flat containers usually have an area for you to write with a marker. Whatever system you decide on, make it easy for you and aim to only do it once, so you can always have your labeled containers ready!
Keeping these tips in mind, here’s a list of products you may or may not need; you’ll find a list of toiletries examples below. Remember: be vigilant in eliminating what’s not necessary!
Sample Travel Toiletries List:
(Click any item for product suggestions)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash/Soap/Oil
- Loofah
- Face Wash/Scrub
- Feminine Wash
- Shaving Cream
- Razor
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Mouthwash
- Eye Cream
- Face Moisturizer
- Body Moisturizer
- Body Powder
- Sunblock
- Deodorant
- Leave in Conditioner
- Dry Shampoo
- Anti-heat Spray
- Styling Gel/Mousse
- Hair Spray
- Hair Smoothing Cream
- Hand Moisturizer
- Hand Sanitizer
- Nail Polish
- Nail Polish Remover
- Hair Removal Cream
- Makeup Remover
- Comb/Brush
- Styling Brush/Styling Comb
- Flat Iron/Straightener
- Blow Dryer
- Curling Iron
Find out the most creative ways readers pack their creams, toners, and foundations for travel!
Solid toiletries are more sustainable because you can reduce wasteful packaging.
Step #3: 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!
Popular with readers and travelers, this Ethique Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Variety Pack saves space and helps the environment!
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!
For specific items and requirements, always check the airline and airport websites or contact them and ask them directly.
You can not only decant certain makeup products but also buy travel size or solid products to reduce your liquids allotment.
Step #4 – 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. (I also share my skincare routine in this post and how I make it work for travel.)
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. Travel mascara, brow liner, eyeliner, blush, and travel size lip color are the most visually enhancing products, giving you the biggest bang for your buck.
The Vera Bradley Cotton Cosmetic Bag has a washable lining and is great for holding 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!
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!
The wrong toiletry bag can make it difficult to organize products or be too bulky for a carry on, so choose what’s appropriate for your trip!
Step #5 – 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 Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag is #1 for readers due to its numerous water-resistant pockets, which keep everything 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. The Vasco toiletry bag has been my go-to lately. 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.
- 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.
Check out all the best toiletry bags for travel in our ultimate guide!
No matter how long a trip is, a toiletries packing checklist can make planning and organizing less stressful!
Step #6 – 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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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.
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! 🙂