Even with the best travel gear, packing is one of the stressful parts of travel. Finding the right bag for your toiletries and makeup can make the process smoother.
Whether you’re looking for a toiletry bag for women, a portable Dopp kit for men, a hanging toiletry bag, a clear makeup case or anything in between, there’s a bag for your travel needs.
To get you started, we talked to travel experts about the best bags, pouches and containers to help you transport your toiletries and keep you organized once you’ve reached your destination, whether you’re looking to pack it in your checked luggage or carry-on bag.
Clear toiletry bags
When it comes to travel, clear containers are a must. “I have a preference for transparent or see-through bags so I can quickly locate my products (makes security checks at the airport speedier too),” says Travel Channel host Oneika Raymond.
Ciara Johnson, founder of the popular solo female travel blog Hey Ciara, agrees. “I look for clear containers and pouches that make it easy to sort through when I’m on the go,” Johnson says. “It’s much easier for me to stay organized and identify what is in each bag.”
Raymond recommends this three-piece set of clear, TSA-approved cases for keeping carry-on toiletries organized and accessible. Plus, it's a steal at just $10 for three bags.
This bestselling three-pack, featuring reinforced seams and 3,000 5-star ratings, is another simple, no-fuss option for carry-on toiletries.
This is another excellent choice for getting through airport security checks. The bag is made with durable vinyl PVC and nylon backing. It's available in multiple color options, and the reinforced stitching offers versatility for organizing various items.
Travel makeup bags
While clear bags are perfect for getting through security, more traditional makeup cases and bags are ideal once you reach your destination. As long as you’ve got a flat surface to work with, they make it easy to access all your products at once and then quickly scoop everything up when you’re on the move.
The Hanging Toiletry Bag from Away features a small hook for hanging on doors or walls, three mesh pouches for easy storage and access to travel essentials and a clear, removable pouch for smaller items or liquids. Additional features include an exterior zipper pocket for extra storage.
Johnson says that she’s “loving the Béis cosmetic case because it comes with a mirror and it’s spillproof!”
This upright case features four elastic loops and six adjustable compartments to keep your products organized. It’s also made from recycled bottles and cute enough to earn a spot on your vanity back home.
For Brooke Simpson — a recording artist, songwriter and actor — a makeup bag that does it all is a must when she's on tour. "It's small but mighty," she says, "and can hold all my brushes, blushes, setting sprays, powder — all of it."
Travel toiletry bags and Dopp kits
Dopp kit-style toiletry bags offer more discretion than clear containers and are ideal for situations when you have to cart your toiletries from room to room (if you’re staying somewhere without a private bathroom, for instance). Look for sturdy fabrics that are easy to spot clean and designs that have thoughtful organizational compartments. Raymond also recommends picking up a waterproof case, “which is great in case of any spills.” And while Dopp kits are typically marketed for men, they work for anyone!
“The Away Large Toiletry Bag is full of compartments, which make it easy to organize and sort different products,” Johnson says. The bag’s nylon body is also water-resistant, and the interior easily wipes clean.
The double zipper on top of Bagsmart’s Dopp kit allows the bag to remain fully open when upright. It offers plenty of space and organizational pockets, plus a separate waterproof front compartment.
Herschel’s Chapter Travel kit keeps things simple with one large, waterproof main compartment, plus a small front zipper pocket.
This is our senior money and travel editor Andrew Kunesh's favorite Dopp kit because of its genuine leather exterior and classic look. It's expensive compared to others on this list but should withstand years of frequent travel if you take care of the leather.
Hanging toiletry bags
If you’re camping or simply aren’t sure if you’ll have a counter handy where you’re staying, it’s worth investing in a hanging toiletry bag for easier access to your products.
Our associate beauty editor can't travel without this sizable toiletry bag with a convenient hook to save precious counter space.
Lululemon's take on the roll-up toiletry kit folds flat into something that resembles a large envelope. This compact design is useful if you're traveling out of a backpack since it fits easily between your clothes.
Sea to Summit’s classic bag was designed for ultra-light backpacking and camping, but it features enough space and thoughtful organizational touches (including a hanging mirror) to make it an excellent companion on any kind of trip.
This hanging bag from L.L.Bean features a water-resistant and abrasion-resistant fabric. There are plenty of storage compartments to keep all your belongings organized, plus can be personalized with your monogram.
Travel pouches
Use travel pouches to organize toiletries or cosmetics within a bigger purse or backpack. Johnson says that she prefers “flexible pouches that are soft, cloth, plastic, etc. as opposed to hard or solid containers because they are easier to stuff or mold into larger bags.”
Refillable travel containers
Instead of constantly buying new travel-size toiletries, transfer toiletries you already own into some economical (and ultimately more eco-friendly) reusable containers. “I love refillable containers that I can fill with my favorite products,” Johnson says.
“I’m obsessed with these refillable travel-size containers,” Raymond says. “Not only are they inexpensive and TSA-approved for carry-on luggage, they are also color-coded so I can easily identify them and [made of] silicone so that I don’t have to worry about them cracking, splitting or breaking on my travels.”
These reusable toiletry bottles are a CNN Underscored reader favorite. The kit includes four BPA-free silicone toiletry bottles that hold 3 ounces of liquid each. And at just $10, they're a steal when compared to buying new travel-size toiletries for every trip.
These travel bottles from S'well are made from durable stainless steel and have a pump mechanism that makes it easy to dispense small amounts of your favorite toiletries. We also love how easy they are to clean.
Cadence Capsules magnetically snap together to create honeycomb-shaped bundles for all your favorite travel products. Fill them with medications, jewelry or even your favorite moisturizer. Their smooth interiors make it so you can scoop out every last bit of product, and they’re dishwasher-safe.
The Waterproof Pill Canister keeps pills and supplements dry and organized with its durable aluminum shell and airtight seal. Its sliding insert with seven labeled compartments makes accessing and organizing pills by day or type easy.
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