Packing for a trip? Here are my go-to toiletry and personal care item essentials I never travel without!
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Toiletry Essentials
Going on a trip requires bringing all the right toiletry and personal care items so that you’re not unprepared nor lacking any essential items. I’ve traveled to over 50 countries and so I’ve gathered a comprehensive list of 17 essential toiletry items that are both travel-friendly and practical. These items can have you feeling refreshed and well-prepared for all your self-care and hygiene needs when traveling abroad.
1. Toiletry Travel Bag
Full-size Multi-compartment Toiletry Travel bag
I love this toiletry bag because it's hangable and has multiple compartments for extra organization. The transparent pockets make it easy to find items too.
Compact Toiletry Travel bag
Smaller yet has a large main compartment. This is perfect for shorter trips where I don't have to bring my entire toiletry arsenal and only need a few toiletry items.
2. Travel-size Toiletry Bottles
These leak-proof 3oz bottles have worked wonders for me while traveling and have never leaked in my toiletry bag. I also love that they’re made of silicone which makes them flexible and easy to pack.
3. Toiletry Bottle Covers
These toiletry bottle covers are perfect for packing and securing my larger toiletry bottles that I want to bring for longer trips. They keep caps closed and prevent leakage.
4. Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Bring a travel-size toothpaste so that you don’t have to lug around a giant tube on your travels. This travel-size toothpaste is perfect for trips and I usually use up the entire tube so I can travel back home with one less item on me.
Travel Toothbrush
This travel toothbrush is great to save room in my toiletry bag since it folds up nice and small! This comes with 2 foldable toothbrushes.
Travel Electric Toothbrush
In case you prefer an electric toothbrush, this one is a great travel companion! It fits the electric-toothbrush-bill but is compact and easy to pack.
5. Travel-size Shampoo & Conditioner
If you decide to not fill up the travel-size toiletry bottles with your preferred brand of shampoo and conditioner, then you can purchase travel-size shampoo and conditioner that are already in 3 oz bottles. Shampoo and Conditioner brands are limited but it’s still a convenience to have these toiletry essentials to already come in the appropriate sizing for travel.
6. Dry Shampoo
In case you honor no-wash hair days like I do, then bring a travel-size dry shampoo. If you use aerosol dry shampoo, most of the times, 3 oz size aerosol cans are okay to travel with, just be sure to let the airline desk agent know that it is on you. If they discard it, then at least it was only a small size and not its full size version.
Otherwise there are non-aerosol travel-size dry shampoo powders that work great to make your hair not look oily or greasy on your no-wash hair days.
7. Body Wash or Soap Bar
Keep your body clean while on travel and pack a body wash or a soap bar. There are travel-size body washes available although brands are limited, or you can pour your preferred body wash brand in one of the mentioned travel-size toiletry bottles.
Body Scrubber
If you prefer body wash, then you'll probably want to bring a loofah to scrub with. However, packing loofahs can be a pain since they don't dry easily and will get other items in your bag wet. Instead, try this silicone body scrubber! I love this one because it's thin to not take up too much space and it dries easily to keep my other luggage items nice and dry.
Soap Bar Container
If you prefer soap bars then be sure to get a travel soap container. This will contain your soap bar and separate it from your other toiletry items. Bonus points that this comes with a sponge to soak up the water which will leave your soap bar dry and non-mushy. The container is also leak proof to avoid getting other items in your bag wet while traveling.
8. Facial Cleanser & Moisturizer
Bring your favorite facial cleanser and moisturizer to keep your face in top notch condition. Basic skin care routines shouldn’t stop even when you’re traveling!
9. Travel-size Deodorant
Avoid unwanted body odors and bring a travel-size deodorant. There will be limited brands available in travel-size but you can’t beat the space savings it brings.
10. Razor & Shaving Cream
Bring a travel-friendly razor such as the ones with the layered blades. These will save a ton of space in your toiletry bag compared to an electric razor. Don’t forget the shaving cream too!
11. Sunscreen & SPF Lip Balm
When out and about, be sure to apply sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from sunburn. Also, don’t forget a lip balm with SPF too to keep your lips from sun-burning and drying out.
12. Cotton Swabs
These cotton swabs AND their container always travel with me hence making it on my essential toiletry list. Keep your ears clean when traveling or use them to aid in your makeup routine when abroad. This travel-size container comes with 30 cotton swabs.
13. Odor-neutralizing Spray
These are perfect travel-size scent sprays to mask restroom smells. Their small size means you can literally bring it with you everywhere! So you can spray in any space, especially public restrooms, that give off an unpleasant odor. This comes with 3 small 10mL sprays.
14. Travel Sanitizer & Hand Soap
Travel-size Hand Sanitizer
Absolute must for a quick way to sanitize your hands from bacteria and germs. Comes in a rubber holder you can attach to your bag or carryon for easy accessibility. These come in a pack of 4.
Cute Hand Sanitizer Holder
In case you think the jelly/rubber sanitizer holders are an eyesore, these cute sanitize holders can hide and carry your travel-size sanitizer. These come with a refillable bottle, or you can replace the bottle with a pre-filled/store-bought one.
Dissolvable Soap Sheets
I literally bring these with me everywhere!! Extremely convenient when I'm in need of soap. Some public restrooms may not have soap, so these are great to stay clean for exactly these moments. Also, they’re super compact and easy to pack and bring with you everywhere.
15. Portable Steamer
I love this steamer because it's foldable, compact, heats up fast, and sufficiently rids clothes of wrinkles. This has definitely become one of my toiletry essentials I bring with me when I know I'm packing easily-wrinkled clothing fabrics (such as rayon). This is 120V and requires a converter to use in most countries outside the U.S. that use 220V.
16. Anti-Wrinkle Spray for Clothes
Anti-wrinkle spray works great to clear out wrinkles from your clothes. These are a decent replacement when there's no iron or steamer to use. This comes with 2 travel-size sprays.
17. Travel Wipes
Facial Wipes
Not only are these great makeup wipes, they are also great facial cleanser wipes to help freshen up as if you just washed your face.
Antibacterial Wipes
Perfect for cleaning public use surfaces (like plane seat areas), and cleaning hands of germs and dirt. These are a travel size with 20 wipes.
Water Wipes
These are 99% water-base so they’re perfect for a quick wash-wipe when you’re not near a water source. I usually pair using these after using one of the previous wipes for an even more fresh feel. These are a travel size with 16 wipes.
Final Words
A well-thought-out selection of toiletries can make a significant difference in your travel experience. By packing travel-sized essentials that address your personal hygiene needs, you can stay refreshed and confident throughout your journey. Hope you add some of these toiletry essentials to your next adventure’s packing list. Bon Voyage!
What toiletry essentials do you never leave home without?
Let me know — I’m always looking for new favorites!
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