Headed on a trip and have no idea what to pack in a toiletry bag? In this post, I’ve got you covered with all of the best tips on how to pack a toiletry bag efficiently. Plus, I’m sharing what to put in a toiletry bag, where to buy travel size toiletries, my favorite clear travel toiletry bag, and so much more!

How to pack a toiletry bag efficiently for travel

Let’s be real, packing a toiletry bag can sometimes almost feel like you’re trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. You don’t want to bring the whole bathroom with you, BUT you also don’t want to end up in a pinch without your favorite travel products.

Whether you’re prepping for a weekend getaway or heading on a long-haul adventure, a well-organized toiletry bag can make a world of difference, ensuring you have all your travel essentials without overpacking.

I remember way back in the day when my now husband literally shamed me for using a Ziploc bag as a toiletry bag (haha). That’s when my journey began, and it’s honestly taken me quite a long time to learn how to pack a toiletry bag efficiently. Luckily, after lots of trial and error, I feel like I’ve finally figured it out, and I’m about to let you in on all of my secrets. Are you ready?!

In this post, I’ve got you covered with all the best tips to help you pack your toiletry bag like a pro. Plus, I’m sharing what goes in a toiletry bag, what I personally put in my toiletry bag, what some of my favorite travel size products are, and so much more!

Need some additional help packing for your trip? Check out these related reads >>>

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, so I can keep traveling! We may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

TSA requirements for toiletries

If you plan on packing your toiletries in your carry-on bag, here are a few things to note to avoid getting held up in security! First, make sure to follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule. This means all liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, or pastes must be in a container of 3.4 ounces or less. Many stores sell travel-sized toiletries that conform to the 3.4-ounce limit, or you can buy travel size containers.

Additionally, all toiletries must fit in a clear, resealable quart-sized bag (typically 7″ x 8″) so the contents are easily accessible, and each passenger is only allowed to bring one bag on board. I would consider buying a TSA approved toiletry bag to make the process easier.

While going through security, it is also advisable to remove your toiletry bag from your carry-on bag and place it in a bin for screening. However, this does not apply to passengers who have TSA pre-check.

Click here for more details on the 3-1-1 rule and what is allowed. Also, make sure to check out this TSA travel checklist for additional guidelines when preparing for your trip.

Tips for packing your travel toiletry bag

Step one >> Choose the right travel toiletry bag

When it comes to finding the perfect toiletry bag for travel, there are a couple of things to consider. First, you’ll want to select a size that doesn’t take up too much space in your suitcase but still has enough room to hold everything you need for the duration of your trip.

For shorter trips (like a long weekend getaway), I’ll typically pack my small Calpak toiletry bag for women, which can easily fit in a carry-on bag or suitcase. For longer trips (a week or longer), I will have to upgrade to the medium-size Calpak toiletry bag since I’ll likely be packing larger sizes of all the products I use.

For the practical traveler, I would suggest a hanging toiletry bag with multiple compartments. The womens toiletry bag I use, for instance, has two separate compartments. This design makes it a breeze to keep my travel size hair products separate from my travel size skin care products, ensuring I’m always organized and ready for any travel situation.

Lastly, I can’t stress enough the benefits of choosing a clear toiletry bag. Not only is it a stylish choice, but it’s also a practical one. The clear material makes it easy to locate your items, while the waterproof material provides a layer of protection against spills, giving you peace of mind during your travels. Plus, it’s really easy to clean!

Some other best toiletry bags for women

Best small toiletry bag >> Beis toiletry bag
Best large toiletry bag >> Calpak large clear cosmetics case
Best affordable toiletry bag >> Bagsmart toiletry bag
Best luxury toiletry bag >> Tumi toiletry bag
Best printed toiletry bag >> Vera Bradley toiletry bag
Best personalized toiletry bag >> Mark & Graham Clear Coated travel case
Best hanging toiletry bag for women >> Calpak Luka hanging toiletry bag
Best water resistant toiletry bag >> Calpak Terra Hanging toiletry bag
Best leather toiletry bag >> Leatherology train case
Best toiletry bag for organization >> Bagsmart Puffy toiletry bag
Best overall toiletry bag >> Away toiletry bag

Step two >> Make a toiletry bag essentials list

Before you begin packing, I recommend creating a list of all the items you might need on your trip. This will help you avoid overpacking and ensure you don’t forget anything important. This will also allow you to quickly and efficiently gather your items without second-guessing yourself.

Some items you might want to include on your toiletry bag packing list are >>

Basic hygiene essentials, like a toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash.

Travel size hair products, like shampoo and conditioner, hair brush, hair accessories, and styling products.

Travel size skin care products, like face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup remover

Personal care items, like deodorant, body wash, lotion, and razor and shaving cream

Health & safety items, like medications, band-aids, hand sanitizer, and tissues

Travel size beauty products, like foundation, mascara, lipstick, eye shadow, makeup brushes, etc.

Step three >> Opt for travel size products

Instead of packing full-sized products, I would opt for travel size toiletries that won’t take up as much space (or weight) in your suitcase. Some of the best places to buy travel size toiletries include Target, Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon.

Sephora is especially a great place to look, as they always offer free products with a purchase. Plus, they have an AMAZING loyalty program, and you can use any points accrued towards products, which are usually mini beauty products. I can’t even tell you how many travel size skincare and haircare products I’ve scored over the years!

If you’re looking for a place to grab some last-minute travel essentials, Target is always my go-to! Not only do most Target stores have an Ulta Beauty inside with tons of mini hair and makeup products, but they also have a more affordable travel section within their cosmetics department and a general Target travel size area with travel size bottles closer to the men’s products.

Additionally, if you’re on the hunt for bulk travel size toiletries, Amazon is the place to go! I mostly like to shop here for my travel tooth brushes and travel size toothpaste, individual travel makeup remover wipes, Touchland hand sanitizer travel size, etc. Click here to browse more mini travel size products.

Some of my other favorite travel size products

Favorite travel size body wash >> Necessaire body essentials
Favorite travel size deodorant >> Native travel size
Favorite travel size dry shampoo >> Living Proof travel size dry shampoo
Favorite travel size face mask >> Summer Fridays jet lag mask
Favorite travel size face wash & moisturizer >> Tula travel size duo
Favorite travel size hairspray >> Amika travel size texture spray
Favorite travel hair mask >> Amika soulfood nourishing mask
Favorite travel size heat protectant >> Bumble & Bumble heat shield
Favorite travel size leave in conditioner >> Ouai travel size
Favorite travel size lotion >> Sol De Janiero travel set
Favorite travel size micellar water >> Garnier micellar cleansing water
Favorite travel size mouth wash >> Travel size Therabreath
Favorite travel size perfume >> Gucci Flora Eau De Parfum
Favorite travel size shampoo & conditioner >> Amika mini hydro rush set
Favorite travel size sunscreen >> Supergoop travel size glow screen
Favorite travel size toothpaste >> Sensodyne travel size

Step four >> Utilize travel size containers

Unfortunately, you may not always be able to find travel sizes of some of your favorite products, which is where travel size bottles come into play. You can find travel bottles for toiletries just about anywhere these days, but Amazon is usually my go-to.

I love to use these large silicone travel bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. They’re super easy to fill, and I have not encountered any problems with them leaking. I also like these matching silicone travel containers for moisturizers, hair masks, etc. They’re the perfect size to toss in your bag and take on the go, and they have an anti-drip flip cap to prevent spills.

If you have an extensive skincare routine (like I do), you should also check out these mini dropper bottles that are perfect for serums. I also like these travel airless pump bottles for face wash, moisturizer, makeup remover, etc. Click here to browse some other best travel size containers in my Amazon storefront.

Step five >> Protect against spills

If you’re really worried about your products leaking, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure that doesn’t happen. First, you can unscrew the lids of your containers, place a piece of plastic wrap over the opening, and then screw it back on. You can also place your liquids inside a zip-loc bag as an extra layer of protection.

Additionally, Amazon sells leak proof elastic sleeves that you can place over the lids of your toiletries to prevent spills. I would especially recommend these if you’re packing full size products!

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Step six >> Utilize every inch of space

Before packing, lay out all your items to see what you have and organize them by category. For example, I like to separate my skincare products from my haircare products so they’re easier to find in my toiletry bag. As mentioned, it’s easiest to use a hanging toiletry bag with multiple compartments to keep everything organized and easily accessible.

From there, put larger items like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in first. Next, you’ll want to pack medium-sized items like deodorant, moisturizers, etc. Lastly, you’ll want to use smaller items to fill in any gaps and maximize space. It’s basically like you’re putting together a puzzle!

Step seven >> Keep your toiletry travel bag stocked and ready to go!

If you travel frequently (like I do), I recommend keeping your toiletry bag stocked and ready to go so you don’t have to stress about it. After each trip, I’ll typically take inventory of everything left and compare it against my packing list to see if I need to refill anything.

I also have an ongoing bin of travel size products that I’ve gotten from Ulta, Sephora, or my Ipsy bag, which I’ll grab from as needed.

Step eight >> Review and refine as you travel

After each trip, I recommend reviewing what you packed and noting which items you used and didn’t use. From there, you can adjust your packing list accordingly to make it even more efficient for the next time.

In the past, I definitely had a bad habit of packing additional things I thought I “might” need, and they always went unused. This is why this step is especially so important!

Bonus tips >>

Test new products before your trip. Before packing new products, try them out at home to ensure they work well and don’t cause any adverse reactions.

Buy it there so you don’t have to pack it. Remember, (almost) any place you travel will have a convenience store in case you forget something. Don’t overpack just to be prepared for every possible scenario.

Pack your toiletry bag as you get ready. If you don’t have a packing list to go off of, another great way to ensure you don’t forget anything you need for your trip is to pack your toiletries as you get ready. I always do this when I’m packing my makeup bag!

What's in my toiletry bag?

Shop here >>

Travel essentials you probably didn't know you needed

Travel perfume bottle. Instead of buying a travel-size version of your favorite perfume, consider these refillable perfume travel bottles. They’re incredibly convenient to fill (simply press the bottom against your perfume bottle), are leak-proof, and their compact size makes them perfect for your on-the-go lifestyle.

LED travel mirror. We all know how unpredictable lighting can be in hotels or other accommodations. That’s where an LED travel mirror comes in. It offers consistent bright lighting regardless of the time of day, and its portability means you can get ready anywhere, anytime.

Travel pill case. Staying on top of your health regimen is always a challenge while traveling, which is why a pill travel case is so helpful. Most of them have separate compartments by day, allowing you to easily keep track of your dosage, and they’re really easy to throw in your bag and take on the go.

Travel hair tools. If you’re like me, you can’t live without your hair dryer, curling iron, and flat iron (dramatic, I know), but these things take up space in your suitcase. I’ve found that investing in travel-size versions or multi-purpose hair tools, like this L’ange 2-in-1 curling wand, can save a lot of space and weight in your luggage. I also love this travel hair dryer from BaByliss, as it’s compact and lightweight but powerful!

Travel size cleaning products. A couple of other things I ALWAYS pack for any trip include hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes (for tray tables, door handles, etc), a stain remover pen, shoe cleaning wipes, and a travel lint roller. I’ll also bring travel size laundry detergent for longer trips, which was especially helpful when we traveled to Italy for three weeks.

How to pack a toiletry bag efficiently for travel 2025

Table of Contents

How to pack a toiletry bag efficiently for travel

TSA requirements for toiletries

Tips for packing your travel toiletry bag