Fresh and Clean: The Complete Toiletries Packing Guide
Packing your toiletry bag—whether it’s for an overnight trip or a month-long adventure—is nothing short of an art form. And if you’re not checking a bag, then you know the deal: Cramming all your lotions, potions, creams, and gels into a TSA-compliant toiletry bag just got a lot harder.
To help you pack efficiently (and make sure you don’t forget anything!), check out our tried-and-true packing list for toiletries.
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The complete packing list for toiletries: broken down by the essentials and the nice-to-haves.
Calling all our high-maintenance pals! We see you, and we hear you. Sometimes, it feels damn nice to get all glammed up, doesn’t it? But if you want to try packing a little more lightly for your next trip, we’re here to be your friendly, big-sister guide.
These are the no-fuss essential toiletries to pack in a carry-on:
Travel toiletry essentials
Shampoo: Shop for a dedicated travel-size bottle or decant your favorite brand into a smaller bottle fit for TSA approval.
Hairbrush or Comb: Combs take up less space, but if you really need a hairbrush, you can often find smaller, travel-size ones like this.
Hair Accessories: Scrunchies, hair clips, hair elastics, bobby pins, headbands—whatever you need to manage your locks on the road.
Toothpaste: Look for tiny, travel-size tubes or just squeeze a bit of your go-to in a smaller container.
Toothbrush: Foldable toothbrushes take up less space in your bag (and keep the bristles safe from coming into contact with anything dirty).
Floss: We know we should all be doing this twice a day—even on vacation!
Deodorant: ‘Nuff said.
Soap: Keep things plastic-free with bar soap. Or if you have a favorite shower gel, then you know the drill: Shop the travel-size bottle or decant it into a TSA-approved container.
Moisturizer: For the body, for the face, for the hands. If you’re fussy (like me), you may have a different cream for each part of your body. But if you’re more low-key, one tube will do ya.
Lip Balm: If you’re heading off on an outdoorsy adventure, try looking for a lip balm with SPF to avoid burnt lips at the end of the day.
Sunscreen: Say it with me: SPF is not just for sunny days! Keep your face protected from harmful rays every day by using a moisturizing SPF instead of your regular moisturizer.
Hand Sanitizer: Remember the last few years? Yup, you’re gonna need this one.
Razor: Watch out! Not every razor is TSA-approved for a carry-on bag. Double-check the TSA toiletry guidelines before packing your razor.
Shaving Cream: It may seem a bit extra, but shaving without cream is like asking for in-grown hairs or dry, itchy skin. Don’t skip this one if you’re packing a razor.
Medication: You do you.
Vitamins: If you take vitamins and/or supplements as part of your daily routine, make sure you don’t leave them behind when you travel!
Contact Lenses and Solution: IFYKYK
Toiletry nice-to-haves
If you’re thinking, “Um, I didn’t see the word ‘skincare’ once on that list,” don’t panic! This one’s for you.
For a little extra oomph in your beauty routine, here’s a second list of nice-to-have toiletries to add to your carry-on:
Conditioner: Maybe this one is essential for you. If that’s the case, pack it up like your shampoo (or opt for a 2-in-1 if you’re feeling daring).
Dry Shampoo: A great option for longer trips, as washing your hair less frequently means your shampoo will last you much longer. (For gym rats and my fellow fine-haired friends, you know this is also a must for adding volume and body to stringy strands.) This one is our fave.
Skincare: How many steps are you up to? I, personally, always notice my skin looks better when I exfoliate regularly, so my scrub comes with me everywhere. Face mists are also seriously refreshing on a long-haul flight. And where are the fans of serums, face oils, and face masks?
Makeup: Whether you’re a daily makeup kind of gal or you’re traveling for a formal event, makeup may make it onto your essential toiletries list. Pro tip: You can apply cream makeup with your fingers, which means you can lighten your load by skipping out on makeup brushes.
Perfume: Scent and memory are very closely linked. (Don’t believe us; believe science.) So why not immortalize your trip with the scent of a new perfume?
Hair Styling Products: Do you blow-dry your hair? Tease, straighten, or curl? Consider if you have space for the necessary hair styling products and/or devices.
Period Products: Whether you’re traveling during that time of the month or just bringing back-ups (everybody loves that girl), today we’ve got a lot of options when it comes to period products. Pro tip: For a cheaper, more sustainable option, try out a menstrual cup.
Tweezers: Whether you pluck your brows or not, somehow these always seem to come in handy.
Mirror: If you’ve stayed in a hostel or AirBnB without a mirror, then you know what a surprisingly annoying inconvenience it is. Travel-friendly compact mirrors to the rescue!
Nail File and/or Clippers: If your journey is long (and so are your nails), then these are a must-have. Plus, tiny nail scissors usually have their way of coming in handy when you least suspect it.
Cotton Pads: Do you wear makeup and/or use micellar water to wash your fash? Then you know cotton pads are a girl’s best friend.
Bug Spray: For all our adventure travelers, pack bug spray now and thank us for the reminder later!
Foot Powder: Huh? Yup. If you’re planning to pound the pavement (whether you’re hiking or sightseeing), then foot powder can help prevent chafing and keep things smelling fresh.
Band-Aids: Blisters, be gone! They’re also useful for, ya know, cuts and scrapes.
Neosporin: Navigating foreign pharmacies can be a little overwhelming. To make your life a little easier when you’re in a snag (literally), sometimes it’s nice to have some good, old antibiotic ointment from home.
Painkillers: Ditto with the painkillers. Especially if you’re hostel-hopping and bar-hopping, then Advil is always a welcome friend for Sunday mornings.
Antacids: Here’s to all our travel pals who love spicy foods! You know that feeling when you think you’ve overdone it a little? Antacids are your friend.
Essential Oils: Freshen up foreign tap water with a few drops of lemon essential oil. Help clear up congestion with peppermint essential oil. Or use lavender essential oil to soothe yourself to sleep when you’re dealing with jet lag. (Bonus: These babies can also double as perfume in a pinch!)
Personal Lubricant: Enjoy your travels, and stay safe!
6 tips for packing toiletries
Do you get a little anxious staring at an empty suitcase that you need to fill up? We got you. Or are you a seasoned globe-trotter who knows how to backpack like a pro? Old dogs can still learn new tricks, too.
Check out 6 new tips for packing toiletries like a pro.
1. Secure lids
Have you ever opened up your suitcase and—surprise!—shampoo, toothpaste, and moisturizer have gooped up half your clothes?
We have. And it sucks. Prevent this travel snafu from happening to you by making sure everything is sealed up tightly before take-off. For example, when I pack face oil, I like to give it an extra layer of a Ziploc bag to isolate any leaks. For particularly finicky bottles, you can also strap them in with a bit of Duct tape.
2. Look for solid toiletries
If you’re trying to whittle down your list but you just can’t get all your essentials into a 1 quart-sized bag, try looking for solid toiletries.
For example, look for shampoo bars, conditioner bars, toothpaste tablets, solid deodorant, solid perfume—you get the idea. Not only do these products bypass the 3-1-1 rule, but they also use less plastic than their liquid counterparts. So score 1 for Mother Nature.
3. Bring the right toiletry bag
When it comes to packing, the key is to start with the right foundation. That is, to become a master packer, you need a little more than an old plastic bag to store your toiletries.
Look for a toiletry bag with plenty of pockets, waterproof lining for easy cleaning, and sturdy straps so you can hang it on bathroom doors and hooks. We particularly love toiletry bags that include a removable pouch that’s TSA-compliant so you can keep all your beauty products in one spot and still breeze through airport security.
4. Use multi-purpose products
To keep your toiletry list as trim as possible, look for products that do double-duty.
For example, you can flashback to the Y2K years with a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. Or for a more modern take, try coconut oil, rosehip oil, or jojoba oil. With just one of these oils in your bag, you can check off conditioner, face moisturizer, body moisturizer, makeup remover, and even shaving cream.
5. Leverage your hotel
Most hotels will supply shampoo, conditioner, soap, and body lotion free of charge. (Pro tip: You can usually ask for toothpaste and a toothbrush at the front desk, too.) Depending on where you choose to stay, some AirBnBs even offer these essentials, too.
Do your research and try to find out this information ahead of time. If your lodging covers the basics, you can remove these from your toiletry list and make room for more fun add-ons like essential oils and skincare.
6. Know your passenger rights
Did you know that you can bring a full-sized bottle of contact lens solution in your carry-on bag? We were surprised to learn this, too. You can also bring pretty much any kind of powder makeup. And they’ll even allow liquid medications past the 3.4 oz mark if they’re in “reasonable quantities.”
Heads-up: You must declare these items to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection. Check out the full guidelines from TSA on what you can bring on a plane.
Wrapping
Here’s to all the women who are going places …
Make sure you don’t go there with a leaking toiletry bag, no clue what a VPN is, or the location-independent lonesome blues.
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See you on the other side!
Toiletries packing list FAQs
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Actually … no. While TSA is very stringent about their 3-1-1 rule, they don’t specify whether or not the toiletry bag itself needs to be clear. As long as it’s no bigger than 1 quart and doesn’t contain bottles bigger than 3.4 oz, then you’re good to go! That said, a clear bag does speed up the line in airport security, since TSA agents won’t have to open up your bag to inspect the contents.
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It depends. Disposable razors (including their refillable cartridges) are A-OK for flight in your carry-on bag, says the TSA. The handle of a safety razor is also cleared for a carry-on bag—but the blade must be stored separately in your checked bag. And anyone going old-school with a straight razor must check it.
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First, you’ve got to ask yourself (without judgment!): “How high maintenance am I?” If you’re a lean and mean packer heading to a hotel that already has shampoo and soap, you can get away with just packing about 10 essentials, like toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, comb, etc. But if you need to pack it all, want to wear makeup, and have an elaborate skincare routine, you may be looking at 20+ toiletries for your trip.
