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Travel toiletry organization tips?

em

My trip abroad taught me that I have an organization issue with travel toiletries, stemming from the need to separate the liquids from the solids. I decant everything into tiny tubs but when I get to the hotel I am suddenly inundated with tiny tubs and tubes everywhere. Is there a trick to keeping everything organized in the hotel?

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28 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Labels! Also switching to as many solid items as possible (e.g. I now use contouring & concealer sticks + a cream/ powder blush)

Lastly, I actually keep all my liquid toiletries/ makeup in a plastic bag *with* my other toiletries - after pulling out my liquids for security, they go straight back into the *same* toiletry bag to a) avoid future confusion & b) ensure that everything fits.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Separating things out in a way that ignores function throws a wrench into it for me too. Ugh. I generally just put stuff on the counter in whatever groups make sense to me. But then if you let them clean your room, everything often gets smushed together anyway. That’s a paradigmatic first world problem, but still irritating.
May I ask why you put things into little containers once you’re in the room, instead of before you pack, and then just taking the smaller containers?

em

@Stagiaire, I meant to say that I decant everything into tiny tubs BEFORE I pack. I only take tiny tubs and stuff with me. And then, just as you say, I am sort of ok...until I let them clean the room. So I was looking for a packable tray or something. But everything I've seen isn't waterproof.

Most of the hanging toiletry bags have large spaces where tiny tubs get lost.

I was thinking about getting a medicine wheel for creams and trying that out. I like the idea of flip tops. I suppose I would have to rubber band it though to ensure no spillage.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sorry—looks like I misread the original post. I’d be curious to hear how the medicine wheel goes. Besides spillage, I’d worry about waste, with too much lost in the transfer or stuck in the corners.

Trays are an interesting idea. Maybe mini pastry trays, designed for single servings? They are lightweight and small. I’ve done sort of an ad hoc version with whatever’s available with the coffeemaker in the room. As long as it’s clear that my sorting is intentional, it seems to remain undisturbed. These little boxes might work too https://www.containerstore.com.....d=10032173

And Z is right about solid vs liquid products as much as possible.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Trying to find solid replacements for liquids is such a good idea. When I backpacked in Europe a few years ago, I brought a foundation stick with SPF and solid perfume. Lush is a good source for solid bars of moisturizer, shampoo and conditioner. I even found toothpaste tablets there that you chew up to create the paste. Honestly they didn’t taste great, but they did the job.

rachylou

Veteran

A flat bottomed toiletry kit is what I have. I always have put everything back into it right away. Way back, I did the hard cosmetic/train case.

Eta: a pic of a train case. Mine was pearl pink

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em

I swapped liquids for solids where I could, but I have a skin condition that just doesn't make it all possible. The only solid wash bar I can use is by Drunk Elephant, but it's rather expensive for the whole body. I still need liquid shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, facial moisturizer/serums/retin-a. Plus the contact lens solution, lysol spray (COVID necessity) and some other stuff.

I did find those toothpaste tablets--which I really liked and used! Along with a solid SPF.

Theodora

At least in USA airports, if you do TSA pre-check, you do not have to take your liquids out separately, as well as keeping shoes on

Theodora

And don’t laugh, but I always travel with a roll of scotch tape, as I tape the lids of liquid containers before I leave, then again for the flight home, so no spillage! Also have a 10’ extension cord for hotel rooms with skimpy available outlets that lives permanently in my suitcase.

JAileen

Veteran

Rachy - train case!!! We went on two driving trips across the US when I was little. And we used a train case. Everyone’s things went in it. All I had was a toothbrush, but I suppose my mother combed or brushed my hair.

Until recently I used a ziploc bag for my things. Then I bought a toiletries bag during NAS. It is by Herschel Supply Co. I’ve taken it on several trips, and it’s been very satisfactory.

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cat2

Veteran

I use two freebie cosmetics bags, one for my makeup and one for my toiletries.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

In the vein of labels, could you perhaps colour code everything if you do need to stick to liquids? I'm thinking specifically of those little coloured dot stickers that you can buy at stationery stores - e.g. add a red sticker to everything that's for step 1 of your routine, yellow sticker for step 2, etc...?

Haven't tried it myself but I imagine that might make it easier to pull everything out & put it back again - even after it's been moved around into different categories by hotel staff. A more waterproof alternative would be to paint dots of coloured nail polish onto the various lids instead

---

I personally use a small hanging hook zip bag for my makeup & a larger foldable hanging bag for my skincare/ bathroom products - it has a clear removable section (velcro) in which I add my liquids for airport security, then reattach to the rest of my products for the remainder of my journey.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I bought these small leak free containers designed for astronauts or something at the container store many years ago for hair products and put everything in zip lock bags beyond that. Not elegant but easy to see.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I keep getting Instagram ads for these:
https://keepyourcadence.com

They are magnetic and click together and I would love to have an excuse to buy some, honestly. Wish I had a trip planned anytime in the near future.

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Lana

(website)

Veteran

I wanted to add, I’ve gone though several cosmetic cases and finally settled on this one. I like it because the bottom is higher than most others, so things don’t fall out. I can hang it or it will stand up on the counter. Once I get to where I’m going I just take the liquids of the bag and add them to this case. There are other brands, but this is the one I have.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074.....3J1TE9MAJB

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Anonymous

I don’t have any organizing tips beyond what’s been offered, but as for cutting down on the number of liquids, may I suggest Lysol or Clorox wipes instead of the spray?

Joy

Veteran

I use an Eagle Creek hanging bag and find it useful for little counter space and organizing. The large pockets are each dedicated to hair, teeth and nails, other (like sunscreen, a small pair of scissors, tiny tweezers. Bandaids and moleskin and skin glide are often included.

Nadya

Veteran

I don’t have a perfect answer but one thing I do is have one small flat bottom bag that is for all my hair care and skincare. Then my cosmetics bag has an area for make up brushes and tools, and I keep foundation, eyeshadow palette, powder etc, in there. But I don’t check my bag anymore so don’t have to separate out all my liquids. When I did check my TSA ziplock basically functioned as my first bag, but also had liquid foundation and mascara. The advantage of two bags is a separate place to corral things. Maybe a flat bag that zips all the way open could be your “tray?”

Jenn I’ve seen those ads for Cadence too and was really tempted until I saw the price. They’re not cheap,and once I thought about the number of products I’d need, it added up quickly. But I think the design is so clever and useful.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have three toiletry bags: Make-up, medications and first aid kit, and the rest. The system works well for me.

em

In addition, the Cadence containers are said to be on the heavy side (which doesn't help the weight requirement of carry on luggage.)

VioletMyra

You wrote you wanted to
keep everything organized in the hotel

so I'm wondering about a fabric tray (or two) such as those at this web site:

https://sewguide.com/make-a-fabric-tray/

I've seen them with snaps or buttons & buttonholes (instead of ties) at farmers' markets to be used as bread roll holders . . . perhaps you could locate them with ties on the corners so they lay flat for packing or roll into a shoe. This way you have attractive trays to keep all your collections together. Just a thought. Best wishes to all.

em

I was looking for a bag like this, that opens to have a sort of built-in-tray: https://www.walmart.com/ip/And...../176746281. But I can't find one.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a blue nylon hanging bag with compartments by Rowallan that I bought ten years ago after an overzealous airline security team removed my old toiletry bag from my luggage, never to be seen again. That bag is still in perfect shape! It looks like it’s not easy to find now. The picture below is pink but the same style. I think I got it through one of the flash sale sites back in the day.

https://www.horchow.com/p/Rowa.....od76800009

I think LL Bean has something similar? The one Lana posted comes close but seems a little smaller.

My other toiletry bag is a Dopp kit style bag from Re-Sails — it’s the same blue as my other toiletry case so they make a bit of a set. It packs down totally flat to store, is waterproof and washable, and holds a ton of stuff. I take it alone when I want to travel really light, or pair it up with the other case for longer trips or when I’m not flying and don’t have to worry about weight or bulk.

https://resails.com/product/dopp-kit/

I need a good leakproof bottle set for my products — a bottle of vitamin E oil leaked into my bag on my last trip, doh!

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unfrumped

Veteran

I mentioned before the Lay-n-Go bag. It is not a highly organized method but more a way to alternate between lot of small items laid out visibly and then smoosh them up for clearing the counter or packing. Good labeling, color- coding small pots or tubes helps.
I also have a travel toiletry kit about 5x7 that opens up like a book with little narrow pockets on each side and holds all toiletries I travel with, so I can see everything; but prefer not to overstuff with makeup items . So I use a small Lay-n-Go for makeup but try to take only a bare minimum of actual cosmetic items. Also I use the toiletries 2 or more times per day, but makeup only in a.m. or skip, so for me it makes some sense to keep separate to fit in smaller nooks is suitcase, rather than have to find have a single larger toiletry kit. The large Lay-n-Go I guess could “ contain” everything and that’s how they’re shown in the ads.
For air travel I have to separate the small decanted items travel sized liquid containers of course and decide whether to take the larger kit and put those items back in, or just live out of a couple of quart baggies or mesh zip bags. For a short stay the simpler the better- for a longer stay between flights it is better to have a more comfortable organized kit.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Em, I know you’ve already “solidified” your cosmetics, but perhaps others are interested in doing the same. This is a test of various solid cosmetics for travel, seeing which hold up & how well they work. https://www.test.de/Feste-Kosm.....5866608-0/

Anonymous

I tape up everything too! Ideally I'd just bring the exact amount I need and bring nothing home, but it never happens that way. I will often bring samples when I travel to use them up.

I just use little pouches, ideally clear, and separate makeup from hair/skincare.

Joy

Veteran

I noticed that in the big pockets of my hanging bag, I use one for hair stuff, one for nails, a small one for nails and one for misc. like bandaids, tweezers, small folding mirror, etc. Be sure to point out to those who X-ray the bags any medical supplies like insulin. They also want to know if you are carrying any snacks. The small containers are somewhat organized that way. Liquids from my quart bag are put in the appropriate pocket. Stuff I use a lot like toothbrush and toothpaste and tinted moisturizer are put in holders or on a shelf if there is one.

Barbara

I have a travel hangable toiletry bag. It has three zipped compartments with see-through plastic so you can see what is in each compartment. It can be folded into a compact unit for your suitcase. It can be hung on the back of the bathroom door so that it doesn’t take up counter space which is often in short supply. Amazon has a variety of them available.