Travel essentials: travel-size toiletries for your next adventure

When it comes to packing toiletries for a trip, “failure to prepare is preparing to fail,” says Hitha Palepu, a lifestyle guru and author of How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip.¹

When packing, she notes, we tend to focus on clothing and shoes. But that can mean missing things we really need: hygiene essentials, prescription medication and skin care products.

And the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules throw us a curveball. Containers of aerosols, creams, gels, liquids and pastes can’t have more than 3.4 ounces. They also must fit in a quart-size bag if you’re going to bring them in your carry-on bag.² That can mean rethinking your whole beauty, hair care, medical and skin care arsenal.

Here’s help in rethinking the items in your luggage and leaving plenty of shoe space in the process. Read on for a comprehensive checklist of travel-size toiletries.

In this article:

• Travel-size skin care essentials
• Travel-size hair care essentials
• Travel-size first aid supplies and medications
• Travel-size beauty and makeup products
• Travel-size oral care and toothpaste
• Packing and organizing travel-size toiletries

Travel-size skin care essentials

Whether your skin is dry, oily or some combination of both, you’re bound to have your own skin care routine. If not, discover how to build a skin care routine. Fortunately, many of the products you likely use are also sold in travel-ready sizes.

Can’t find your favorite products? Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, a travel expert and Instagram influencer, recommends packing them in your own travel-sized containers. This is a TSA approved hack.³

Some travel-size skin care products you may need include:

Sunscreen

For Greaves-Gabbadon, who lives in Miami and travels frequently to the Caribbean, sunscreen is a must. Learn more about the best sunscreen for every skin type.

If you aren’t going on a long trip or won’t be spending every single day basking in the sun, a travel-size sunscreen is a great space-saving product. Just make sure to take other sun protection measures, too, including hats and long-sleeved shirts.

Face masks

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises travelers that humidity in aircraft cabins is low, which can lead to skin dryness.⁴ For some relief support, Palepu recommends traveling with a hydrating face mask. “I like to give my skin a heavy drenching after a long flight,” she says.

Many travel-size mask products can be found at your local drugstore, but regular sheet masks are perfectly fine as well.

Face lotions, moisturizers and serums

For even more hydration, bring a face serum that includes ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help plump travel-worn skin. The regular size of many serums is less than 3.4 ounces, so just be sure to check the container before packing it up.

For a full-body treatment, don’t forget a travel-size lotion or moisturizer. Your hands, arms and legs deserve a little hydrating TLC, too.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology,⁵ Vaseline can be used to relieve dryness on your lips and eyelids. It can also help heal injured skin, prevent chafing and rehydrate nails. Vaseline is the perfect, hard-working skin care product to keep in your toiletry bag.

Face wash and wipes

Rather than pack a bulky bottle, Palepu uses cleansing wipes to remove dirt, oil and makeup from her face while traveling. They are mess- and hassle-free so they can easily be used while you’re on the go.

Most face wipes come in flat packaging, which means they can effortlessly slide into a pocket in your carry-on bag. They may also fit nicely in your purse or other personal carry-on item. There are also plenty of travel-size face washes available for when you reach your destination and are near a sink. 

Travel-size hair care essentials

Much like skin care products, many hair care essentials come in TSA approved carry-on sizes.

Shampoo and conditioner

Although most hotels and Airbnbs will come stocked with shampoo and conditioner, it’s a great idea to bring your own. This is especially true if you have color-treated hair. Dry shampoo is also a handy tool to have with you for a quick refresh or touch ups. Discover the best shampoo for your hair type.

Hair oil

Traveling with tons of styling products can mean a bulky bag. Instead, Palepu recommends bringing a hair oil. Not only is it great for scalp massages and split end repair, it can also be used for a simple up-do. “I will use a dab of hair oil to do a slicked-back bun,” says Palepu.

One option is Mielle rosemary mint scalp & hair strengthening oil.

Hair treatments

You may need a bit more styling assistance than that. Some curl enhancement, a volumizing mousse or a nourishing hair mask can help after a long journey. You can also find travel-size hair treatment products that won’t hog your carry-on bag.

Travel-size first aid supplies and medications

The TSA does not require passengers to carry medication in prescription bottles. But states have individual laws governing how prescription medication must be labeled.⁶ To be safe, Greaves-Gabbadon recommends traveling with prescriptions in their original bottles. Palepu recommends having your health care provider write you a note. This is especially important if the medication is in liquid form or needs to be kept refrigerated.

When it comes to travel-size OTC medications and supplies, it’s best to travel with the items you regularly reach for in your medicine cabinet. Some examples include allergy medication, antibiotic ointment, bandages and pain relievers.

Pain relievers

Although there will likely be pharmacies at your destination, it doesn’t hurt to pack a small supply of travel-size pain relievers. They can be especially helpful if you are prone to headaches on airplanes. They can also help if you are visiting a country where you’re unfamiliar with the names or dosages of medications. 

Allergy medicine

Palepu packs some allergy medicine if it’s allergy season or if she’s staying with a friend who has pets.

Even if you don’t know if you’ll have an allergic reaction, it’s a good idea to be prepared for a new environment that your body is unfamiliar with by bringing some travel-size allergy medicine. Bonus: Explore our guide for relief from allergy-induced red eyes.

Hand sanitizer

Given the close quarters, airplanes are some of the easiest places to get sick. Indeed, a 2015 study found that seat-back trays on airplanes have 12 times more bacteria than the toilet seats in your home.⁷ And airports in general, some with hundreds of thousands of people passing through them in a day, can be germ havens.

To avoid catching something, regularly sanitize your hands and surrounding environment with a travel-size hand sanitizer or wipes.⁸

Heartburn and gas relief support products

Traveling can throw off your digestive system and eating habits. This is especially true if you are splurging on foods you would normally avoid or are feeling stressed out about your trip.⁹ To help with discomfort caused by acid reflux or heartburn, travel with heartburn medicine and gas relief support products.

Sleep aids

While taking a trip can be exciting, it can also result in that dastardly jet lag. It throws off your circadian rhythm, or internal clock, especially if you’re traveling to another time zone. There is always a chance you’ll be on a flight with agitated babies, loud snorers and rowdy groups of people. These passengers may prevent you from getting a little shut-eye on a long flight.

A sleep aid can not only help you fall asleep, it can also help you stay asleep. While the normal-size containers should be carry-on friendly, some do come in even smaller containers. It also doesn’t hurt to throw an eye mask and ear plugs into the mix.

Travel-size beauty and makeup products

When it comes to beauty and makeup items, Palepu recommends packing for “the person you are, not the person you want to be.” Which is to say, a destination wedding might not be the place to try out those fake freckles you saw trending on TikTok.

Keep things simple, suggests Greaves-Gabbadon. Pack beauty and makeup items in their own quart-size bag. This helps them to be easily removed if you get flagged by TSA. It also makes for easy access if you need to freshen up on your journey. 

Foundation

When packing makeup, Palepu tries to combine skin care with beauty products. This helps to maximize the space in her toiletry bag.

Try choosing a foundation that can be used for concealer, full facial coverage and skin care all at once. One option is L’Oréal Paris True Match hyaluronic tinted serum. This is a foundation formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid.

Kit or palette

To avoid traveling with a lot of liquids or containers, just bring one kit or palette. They can be used to store blush, bronzer, eyeliner and eyeshadow. Check out our guide about the top drugstore eyeshadow palettes.

Lip balm

To repeat, traveling can be pretty dehydrating. So give your lips a little love, and sometimes a pop of color, with a hydrating lip balm. These are typically small, so there’s no need for a specific travel-size version. Dealing with chapped lips? Find out everything you need to know here.

Perfume

If you want to smell good on your travels, opt for a small roll-on perfume. A full bottle may be too big for a carry-on; it can also be breakable if it’s in a glass container. 

Travel-size oral care and toothpaste

Keeping your mouth clean and fresh on your journey is also essential. Oral care products come in travel sizes, too.

Most of the big toothpaste brands (think Colgate, Crest and Sensodyne) come in travel sizes. While small, they can last for quite a long time. You can also bring tiny bottles of mouthwash and get a nice travel toothbrush case or cover. For flossing, discover our guide on how to do it properly.

Packing and organizing travel-size toiletries

Toiletries should be the last item you add to your carry-on bag, explains Greaves-Gabbadon.

That way, they can easily be removed during security checks and for on-the-go touch-ups and hygiene refreshers. Consider including feminine care products as well. It also makes sense to separate aerosols, gels and liquids from dry goods, powders and other toiletries.

Some items that may help you pack smarter include: 

Travel-size storage containers

For special liquids you can’t find travel-size versions of, buy travel-size containers or tubes. Fill them up with your preferred face creams, lotions, shampoos and more.

Makeup bag

The TSA “3-1-1 rule” states that all aerosols, gels and liquids must be placed in a single resealable quart-size bag. Clear make-up bags work well for this as long as they are less than a quart in size. It’s worth the investment because the bag can be repacked and reused on future trips. Additionally, makeup bags can double as storage bags.

“There is so much about travel that is out of your control,” says Palepu. “But what I put in my suitcase is in my control.”