Travel is a thrill—until you’re face-to-face with a suitcase and the sudden realisation that your entire beauty routine has to shrink down to a carry-on. Yes, discovering a French pharmacy staple is part of the adventure. But leaving behind your favourite full-size cleanser? Or watching a bottle of your expensive serum explode onto your linen trousers? That’s absolutely not it.
The Best Travel Makeup And Toiletry Bags, According To marie claire:
- Best Overall: July Open Toiletry Bag, $95
- Best For Carry On: Etoile Mini Vanity Case, $90
- Best For Large Products: Glossier The Beauty Bag, $85
- Best For Makeup: Cuyana Travel Beauty Roll, $248
- Best For Hanging: Bellroy Hanging Toiletry Kit, $119
Your products (and you) deserve better. It’s time to upgrade to a bag that’s as functional as it is good-looking—spill-proof, pocket-packed, and chic enough to sit on a hotel vanity without ruining the vibe. Below, the makeup and toiletry bags that actually get it right. Think: first-class organisation, even if you’re flying coach. Once you use one, you’ll never go back to the ziplock life.
Mini Vanity Case
$90 at Etoile
Best For: Carry On
Designed with the more minimalist traveller in mind, the Eotile Mini Vanity Case is the perfect companion for keeping your daily beauty essentials organised on the go. Compact enough to slip into your carry-on, it features a removable divider insert with pockets, a dual zipper head for easy access, and a double elastic layout to securely hold brushes and bottles.
Weight: 500g. | Dimensions: 21cm x 12cm x 14cm. | Material: Vegan leather. Makeup stain-proof lining (not resistant to skincare or other oils)
The Beauty Bag
$84 at Glossier
Best For: Built in organisation
If you’re a Glossier lover, this logo-branded bag is the ultimate home for your beauty routine. Tall enough to fit all your essentials—including full-sized skincare—it features a removable snap-button interior pouch with plenty of pockets for organisation. The coated cotton material also means you don’t have to worry about spills or splashes.
Dimensions: 24cm x 18cm x 7.5cm. | Material: Cotton exterior, polyester and rayon interior.
Travel Beauty Roll
from $248 at Cuyana
Best For: Makeup
Crafted from soft, sustainably tanned Italian leather, this thoughtfully designed roll features four distinct compartments to keep your makeup essentials beautifully organised: a zippered section, a large slip pocket, a dedicated brush holder, and a removable pouch for added flexibility. Finished with a luxurious leather tie closure, it packs flat and travels effortlessly.
Weight: 408g. | Dimensions: 11.5cm x 6cm x 24cm. | Material: Italian leather.
Clear Cosmetic Case
from $165 at Calpack
Best For: Large products
The Calpak Large Clear Cosmetic Case is a travel-friendly favourite designed with two spacious, transparent compartments so you can see everything at a glance. From skincare to haircare and makeup, it holds it all in one sleek, structured design and is designed to fit your full-size products. A mesh zippered pocket keeps smaller items secure, while the top handle and folding design make it more compact to pack and carry.
Weight: 725g. | Dimensions: 28.5cm x 23cm x 14cm. | Material: Polyurethane (PU) & PVC
Open Toiletry Bag
$95 at July
Best For: Organisation
Smartly designed so you can avoid having to unpack at your destination, the July Open Toiletry Bag keeps your essentials effortlessly organised from takeoff to touchdown. Its wide twin-zip opening offers quick access, while internal zipped pockets and side elastic loops keep everything—from tweezers to serums—secure and easy to find. The removable pouch is a game-changer for cabin must-haves like in-flight masks or travel minis. Whether you’re packing for a weekend or a month, this toiletry bag makes staying organised easy.
Weight: 200g. | Dimensions: 22cm x 13cm x 13cm. | Material: Polyurethane (PU) & PVC
Hanging Toiletry Kit
$119 at Bellroy
Best For: Hanging
If counter space is in short supply at your destination, a hanging toiletry bag is a game-changer—and Bellroy’s latest release is one of the best we’ve seen. Thoughtfully designed with a flexible structure and smart compartments, it can sit upright on its own, fold flat for packing, or hang almost anywhere via a sleek, self-centring aluminium hook. Inside, the internal shelf system keeps bottles neatly organised, while a dedicated sleeve ensures your toothbrush stays clean and separate.
Weight: 291g. | Dimensions: 18cm × 25cm × 7.5cm. | Material: Main material: Recycled Dura Weave
Mini Travel Bag
$33 at SPACE NK
Best For: Handbags
A regular sell-out, SPACE NK’s travel bags have earned cult status among frequent flyers—but it’s the mini version that we’re most interested in. Compact in size yet surprisingly spacious, this clever little case is ideal for storing everything from a mini-sized beauty routine to everyday essentials like medications or handbag must-haves. Clear PVC panels offer full visibility, while the lightweight, fully wipeable design makes it super practical to use.
Dimensions: 13cm x 10.5cm x 4.5 cm. | Material: PVC and faux leather.
The Traveller
from $132 at Parallelle
Best For: Visibility
The beauty bag taking over TikTok, The Traveller by Parallelle is a smart, stylish solution for staying organised on the go. Its customisable interior—complete with adjustable Velcro dividers—keeps everything from mini brushes to travel-size serums upright, secure, and easy to find. With 16 wall pockets, mesh pouches for smaller essentials, and room for larger bottles, it’s designed to carry your full routine without the bulk. Best of all? Unzip and fold down the sides to instantly transform it into a vanity-style setup—no unpacking required.
Weight: 240g. | Dimensions: 20cm x 17.5cm x 12cm. | Material: Vegan Leather + Water Resistant Cotton
Adore Beauty Pop Cosmetic Bag
$34 at Adore Beauty
Best For: Affordable organisation
Featuring a smart lay-flat design, this spacious makeup bag effortlessly unfolds offering ample room for all your beauty essentials. Inside, a zippered compartment and elasticated pockets keep smaller items secure and neatly organised, while the lay-flat opening transforms any space into your personal getting-ready station—wherever you are.
Dimensions: 25cm x 15cm x 14.1cm. | Material: Vegan leather.
What Is The Difference Between A Toiletry Bag And A Dopp Kit?
Very simply, a dopp kit is a somewhat old-fashioned term for a toiletry bag that originated from a leather craftsman called Charles Doppelt, who invented the bag in the 20th century. In your search for a travel case for toiletries you may have come across it as it’s still commonly used to refer to men’s travel toiletry bags, particularly simple pouches with single zippers
What Is The Best Way To Pack Toiletries For Travel?
Size matters when it comes to TSA regulations and exceeding liquid limitations and requirements can result in the heartbreaking confiscation of some of your favourite items. The safest way to protect your favourite shampoos, cleansers and conditioners is, and we cannot repeat this enough, storing them in your carry-on luggage. If you do this, all you need to worry about is your full set of shampoos, hair masks and conditioners blowing out your weight restrictions. If you’ll be flying long haul with a stopover and want to have an inflight skincare routine on hand, invest in mini sizes, or decant your favourite full-sized products into smaller empty bottles and opt for a clear, carry-on toiletries case to make life easier for yourself. And remember, you cannot take containers larger than 100mls or 100grams – even if they are only partially filled.
Looking to save money on accessories? Check out our coupon codes for Net-A-Porter, The Iconic and more.
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