What’s in My Travel Toiletry Bag?
Packing your toiletry bag can be a tricky task. I used to always forget something. I’d pack toothpaste but forget my toothbrush. Or I’d forget to pack my razor when I was planning on wearing a dress. Now, I just keep my toiletry bag packed and replace or top off the items when I get back from the trip. Doing this ensures that I always have everything I need, and when my next trip comes up, I can just throw my toiletry bag in my suitcase. Here’s what I keep in my travel toiletry bag.
Liquids, Creams, Gels:
These all start out in a quart size zip lock bag for the airport. Then they get reorganized into my toiletry bag for the rest of the trip. Also, I put all liquids in small containers (less than 3oz). I don’t usually buy new travel toiletries, I just reuse old the bottles.
- Face Wash – If my liquids bag is full, sometimes I’ll bring face wipes instead because they don’t have to go in the quart size bag.
- Face Lotion
- Shampoo/conditioner – I generally hate hotel shampoo/conditioner, so I bring my own. Plus, hotels don’t typically provide shampoo or conditioner.
- Body Wash – Again, hostels don’t usually provide this, and the ones in hotels generally dry out my skin.
- Body Lotion – Even if I use the one in the hotel, I like to keep a small bottle in my purse for dry hands.
- Contact Solution – This one is an exception to the rule. I buy new contact solution every time. Don’t refill an old bottle. It could have bacteria in it!
- Toothpaste
- Eye Drops – Especially important if you accidentally fall asleep on a plane or bus in your contacts. I don’t suggest wearing contacts on long flights, but that is for another story.
- Hand Sanitizer – Washing your hands with soap and hot water is always the best choice, but sometimes you don’t have that luxury.
- Sunscreen – Optional depending on location and weather.
Non-liquid Toiletries:
- Travel Brush
- Comb
- Hair Ties
- Face Scrubber – I find it very important to use the same skin care routine as I do at home. So, since I use this every morning at home, I also bring it along on trips.
- Deodorant – I don’t know about you, but I used to pack deodorant in my liquids bag. Guess what? TSA only required the gel kind to be in the bag.
- Toothbrush- I use a travel toothbrush that flips inside itself so the head doesn’t touch anything.
- Floss – Not pictured
- Razor – Travel razors are pretty handy. Mine came in a little case to protect it.
- Contact Case
- Excedrin – I like excedrin because it has caffeine in it, but bring whatever meds you personally like.
- Cold & Flu Medicine – Planes, hostels, hotels… they are all full of germs. You never know when they are going to strike.
- Cough Drops – Not pictured – I need to buy some more!
- Bandaids – These usually end up on my feet for blisters, so I like to have an assortment of sizes.
- Tissues – Yes, hotels have tissues. But, have you ever caught a cold on a trip and had to use hotel tissues and toilet paper? It’s terrible.
Makeup
I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup but I especially don’t during vacation. I’m on vacation to see the sites and explore, not waste time in the hotel room getting ready. Also, I have sensitive skin, so even a small change in tap water can cause noticeable changes in my skin. So, I like to stick to my normal skin care routine and wear less makeup when traveling
- BB Cream*
- Chap Stick
- Mascara* – If I could only chose 1 makeup item to use, this would be it.
- Long Lasting Lip Color* – I don’t know about you, but I hate constantly reapplying lip stick. I put this on once, and I’m done for the day.
- Bare Minerals Warmth – I use this as blush, and I often use it as eye shadow too.
- Eye Liner – If I’m looking really tired, which I usually am during trips, I find eye liner helps me look more awake and brightens my eyes. It’s also my “one extra” if I actually need to dress up for dinner or something.
- Eye Shadow – This one is optional for me since I typically use nothing or blush. But I sometimes bring it along for those dress up nights.
- Makeup Brushes
*I throw these into the liquids bag too just to be safe.