Let’s talk travel toiletries. In my opinion, they take up about 20% of the suitcase, but 80% of the stress. They’re always the last thing I pack and a bit bulkier that I expect. And as my age increases, so do my skincare needs… and each new product complicates the travel toiletry system a little bit more.

But this summer I found a toiletry bag that is solving all my problems. Not just a toiletry bag, but the toiletry bag. Actually, of course there are other great options out there… But let me take you through this one and explain my mini-systems that streamline the travel toiletry system.

Choosing Your Travel Toiletry Bag

Pockets Are A Girl’s Best Friend

When it comes to travel toiletry bag, the main thing I look for is accessibility. I want to be able to find what I need quickly, without having to dig around a lot. This means lots of pockets, and clear containers whenever possible. I love that my new toiletry bag has pockets all along the outside, and then extra straps to secure items on the inside, because everything has a place, and then I know exactly where to find it.

Hanging vs. Sitting

Additionally, how the bag is opened matters–does it sit or does it hang? I’ve found that hanging toiletry bags are typically so much better for travel. They take advantage of vertical space, and free up valuable bathroom counter space. That being said, there are some situations where it helps to have a sitting bag… But you really never know what you’re going to get when it comes to travel destinations, so why not get a bag that can do both? That’s what I love about this bag: it sits and it hangs.

Using Pockets Strategically

The cherry-on-top with this toiletry bag is partially in the way that I’ve decided to use it. It has a large pocket on each side of it, and then a lot of pockets throughout the middle. I’m using the left side for products that I only use in the morning, and the right side for products that I only use at night. Then everything in the middle I use both in the morning and at night. Not only does this approach streamline my access points during each routine, but it also helps remind me of each step of the routine.

Packing Travel Toiletries

To Keep a Pre-Packed Toiletry Bag or Not?

Once you’ve chosen your travel toiletry bag, it’s time to pack it. Some people prefer to pack all of their toiletries from home at the last-minute, and some people prefer to keep a packed bag ready-to-go at all times. I have done it both ways, and I definitely prefer the latter. Packing is already hard enough, so I would just rather have one less thing to think about when a trip is quickly approaching.

If you agree, you need to fill your toiletry bag with everything you need for your morning & evening routines. You may not be able to entirely avoid last-minute additions (ex. prescription medications), but the more you can minimize them, the better. Here are the best options for stocking up:

1. Buy the same products in a travel size.
2. Buy refillable travel bottles, and decant your full-size products from home into the smaller containers.
3. When an everyday product is almost used up, move it to the toiletry bag, and restock your home bathroom with the new one. (This works well for makeup and expensive beauty products that don’t come in travel sizes.)

The Toiletry Bag Packing List

My travel toiletry packing list is as follows, although yours will be unique to you. You can work thorugh each category to think through your needs. But even better, I would recommend keeping track of your morning & nighttime routines one day, and writing everything down that you use. 

My Toiletry Bag Packing List

• Dental care
  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Retainer
• Skin care
  • Makeup removal wipes
  • Face wash
  • Toner
  • Moisturizer
  • Face serum
  • Vaseline
  • Lotion
  • Deodorant
• Hair care
  • Hair brush
  • Dry shampoo
  • Hair accessories–hair ties, clips, headbands
• Shower supplies
  • Body wash
  • Face wash
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Razor
• Makeup

Additionally, to account for the few items that I cannot keep stocked, or that change with the season, I also keep a short “Do I Need?” list. These would be my last minute additions. But it’s far more manageable to manage this short list on a busy travel morning than it would be to go through everything I need above.

My “Do I Need?” Last-Minute Toiletry Packing List

• Hair tools–flat iron, hair dryer, etc.
• Jewelry
• Medicine
• Feminine products

When it comes to this list, and anything else I’m packing last-minute, I like to put a little emoji next to the items on the packing list (I keep my packing lists on my phone) which represents “pack at the last-minute”. This allows me to quickly skip over the item when I’m packing the night before without having to think about it too much. Then in the morning I habit-stack my last-minute packing with my morning routine. So, after I use an item, if I need to bring it, I immediately put it in the pile to pack. This significantly minimizes any last-minute scrambling.

Restocking Travel Toiletries

Restock While Unpacking

One of the key problems with maintaining an “always-packed” toiletry bag is ensuring that all consumable products are appropriately restocked. For example, if you go through an entire travel size shampoo bottle on one trip, how can you ensure that you have another one ready to go for the next trip?

My favorite way to approach this is to make toiletry restocking a part of the unpacking process rather than the packing process. Unpacking, although it’s easy to procrastinate, is actually a lot easier than packing, because you don’t have so many decisions to make. You know what items you’re dealing with, and you know where they’re suppposed to go.

So when you are putting your toiletry bag away, use this time to check your travel toiletry products and make sure everything is ready-to-go for the next time. Refill any reusable bottles, and/or add any needed travel toiletry items to your next grocery list.

Restock On Your Next Vacation

But also, if you don’t get to it, don’t sweat it too much. Don’t forget that vaction is still real life. Sometimes I think we put the idea of “vacation” so much on a pedestal, and we plan and prepare for it so much because we’re picturing it as the idealistic time where we’ll have no responsibilites, no work to do, and not a care in the world. But that’s not how it usually goes.

Unless you’re going camping or somewhere very remote, chances are that you will have the opportunity to buy another travel toiletry product while you’re at your destination. Sure, it might be a bit more expensive at the grocery store close to the beach than the grocery store close to home. But probably only buy a little. And $1 may be worth it if it simply means not stressing out over having a perfect vacation.

I actually learned this tip from my husband. I’ve always done my best to be 100% prepared for every scenario. He, on the other hand, is extremely easy-going and carefree. He still wisely thinks through a packing list, but he does so without all of the anxiety… No toothpaste? No problem. I’m sure we can buy one at the airport. Or borrow some from a family member. 

And he’s totally right. Most small problems are easily figure-out-able. There is value in being prepared, so that your small problems don’t add up to complete chaos. But at the same time, there is valuable in being flexible. Vacation is still real life, and it’s 100% okay if you still have some problems to solve once you get there.

---

Happy packing & happy travels!

---

Check out the rest of my blog for more packing tips and travel content!