About the author
Written by Gaelle Thieme, founder of Dust&Glow. After years of travelling between New Zealand and Europe, Gaelle became frustrated with bulky, leaking toiletries and set out to create waterless beauty products that make travel lighter, simpler and more enjoyable.
In this guide
There’s something strangely satisfying about travelling with just a carry-on.
No waiting at baggage claim.
No worrying whether your suitcase made the connection.
No dragging a heavy case across cobblestone streets or up hotel staircases.
Just one bag, everything you need, and the freedom to move.
Until you start packing your toiletries.
Suddenly, that perfectly organised suitcase begins to fill with bulky bottles, skincare products, sunscreen, toothpaste, makeup, medications and all those little "just in case" items that somehow seem essential.
Will your shampoo leak?
Do you really need two conditioners?
Can you take that aerosol deodorant?
Will your sunscreen be allowed through airport security?
And why does your toiletry bag always seem to weigh more than your clothes?
If you've ever found yourself asking those questions, you're not alone.
For many travellers, toiletries are the most frustrating part of packing. They're bulky, surprisingly heavy, awkwardly shaped and often governed by airport security rules that seem to change depending on where you're flying.
The good news is that packing smarter doesn't mean giving up your favourite products or sacrificing your routine. It simply means choosing what to pack more intentionally.
This guide will show you how to:
Whether you're heading away for a two-night city break, a month-long European adventure or your next business trip, these tips will help you pack with more confidence and less clutter.
Most people don't overpack clothes.
They overpack toiletries.
Think about your bathroom for a moment.
How many products do you actually use every day?
For many of us, it's more than we realise:
At home, that's perfectly normal.
When you're trying to fit everything into a small toiletry bag, however, it becomes much more challenging.
Unlike clothes—which you can usually mix and match—most toiletries feel essential. It's difficult to convince yourself to leave them behind because they're part of your daily routine.
Then there's the "just in case" effect.
Maybe you'll need extra sunscreen.
Maybe you'll suddenly decide to style your hair every day.
Maybe you'll want that bright red lipstick for a fancy dinner.
Maybe you'll wish you'd packed that face mask after a long flight.
So we pack for every possibility rather than every probability.
The result?
A toiletry bag that's heavier than it needs to be and full of products that never leave the hotel shelf.
Packing isn't just practical—it's emotional.
Researchers who study decision-making have long observed that when people face uncertainty, they often choose to prepare for every possible scenario rather than the most likely one. Travel amplifies that instinct. You're away from home, you're entering unfamiliar environments, and replacing forgotten items can feel inconvenient or expensive.
That mindset leads to questions like:
So we hedge our bets by packing more.
Interestingly, when travellers unpack after a trip, they often realise the same products came home untouched.
A useful exercise before every trip is to lay everything on the bed and ask one question:
"Did I use this on my last holiday?"
If the answer is no, there's a good chance you don't need it this time either.
One of the easiest ways to simplify packing is to stop thinking about individual items and start thinking about routines.
Instead of asking:
"What products should I bring?"
Ask:
"What do I actually do each morning?"
For most people, the answer is surprisingly consistent.
When you pack around your routine rather than your bathroom shelf, unnecessary products naturally disappear.
The perfect toiletry bag for a business traveller looks very different from one packed for a family beach holiday.
Keep it simple. You're unlikely to need a large collection of products for just two or three nights.
Efficiency is everything. Products that save time, stay organised and fit easily into a carry-on make mornings much easier.
Sun protection becomes a priority, along with gentle cleansing to remove sunscreen, salt and chlorine.
Weight and space matter more than almost anything else. Every item needs to justify its place.
Packing for children often means sharing products where possible and planning for a little more flexibility.
Understanding the type of trip you're taking helps you pack with intention rather than habit.
Many experienced travellers eventually arrive at the same conclusion: travelling with less is surprisingly liberating.
A lighter toiletry bag means:
The goal isn't to own fewer products—it's to take only the ones that genuinely improve your trip.
For many travellers, airport security is the most stressful part of packing toiletries.
We've all heard stories of expensive sunscreen being thrown away, perfume disappearing into a security bin or a favourite moisturiser being confiscated.
The reality is that most of these situations are avoidable with a little planning.
The important thing to remember is that airport security rules exist to keep passengers safe, and they can vary depending on where you're flying from, where you're travelling to and even which airport you're using.
Rather than trying to memorise every rule, it's far more helpful to understand the different categories of toiletries and check the latest guidance from your airline and departure airport before every trip.
A quick five-minute check before packing can save a lot of frustration later.
This sounds like an obvious question, but it's one that catches many travellers out.
When most people think about toiletries, they picture shampoo and toothpaste.
In reality, your toiletry bag often contains much more than that.
A typical travel kit might include:
Seeing everything written down explains why toiletries seem to multiply so quickly.
One of the easiest ways to simplify packing is to think about toiletries in terms of their format rather than their purpose.
Traditional shampoos, conditioners, body washes and lotions all fall into this category.
They're familiar and convenient because they're ready to use straight from the bottle.
The downside?
They're usually the heaviest products in your toiletry bag, can leak during travel and may be subject to airport security restrictions depending on where you're flying.
Powder toiletries are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among frequent travellers.
Instead of containing water in the bottle, they're activated when you add water during use.
For many travellers, this offers several practical benefits:
At Dust&Glow, this simple idea inspired our entire range of waterless beauty products.
Rather than transporting unnecessary water around the world, we let you activate the product in the shower where the water already is.
Soap bars and shampoo bars have also become popular travel choices.
They eliminate bulky bottles altogether and are appreciated by many travellers looking to reduce packaging.
However, they do come with their own considerations.
After use, they often need time to dry before being packed away again, which can be inconvenient if you're moving between destinations frequently.
Some people also find shampoo bars require a different washing technique or don't suit their particular hair type.
As with any product, it's about choosing what works best for you.
The goal isn't to pack as little as possible.
The goal is to pack everything you genuinely need—and nothing you don't.
A well-organised toiletry bag should make your trip easier, not more complicated.
Here's a simple framework.
Ask yourself:
"If I were getting ready tomorrow morning at home, what products would I definitely use?"
Those are your essentials.
Everything else is optional.
For many people, that list looks something like this:
Notice what's missing?
The products that only get used occasionally.
Packing for Fiji looks very different from packing for London.
Ask yourself:
Hot weather often means:
Cold climates might require:
Swimming?
Hiking?
Business meetings?
Fine dining?
Your itinerary should influence your packing far more than habit.
A common mistake is packing the same toiletry bag for every holiday.
Instead, adjust it based on the number of days away.
Keep it simple.
You probably need far fewer products than you think.
Pack your normal essentials plus any destination-specific products.
This is where refillable or concentrated products really begin to shine.
They help reduce bulk while still lasting the entire trip.
Think of this as your master packing list.
You won't need every item on every trip—but it's a great place to start.
☐ Shampoo
☐ Conditioner
☐ Dry shampoo
☐ Hairbrush
☐ Hair ties
☐ Styling product
☐ Cleanser
☐ Moisturiser
☐ Sunscreen
☐ Makeup remover
☐ Lip balm
☐ Eye cream
☐ Body wash
☐ Deodorant
☐ Razor
☐ Shaving cream
☐ Body lotion
☐ Toothbrush
☐ Toothpaste
☐ Floss
☐ Mouthwash
☐ Prescription medication
☐ Vitamins
☐ Pain relief
☐ First aid essentials
☐ Makeup
☐ Brushes
☐ Tweezers
☐ Nail clippers
Before putting anything into your bag, place it all on the bed.
You'll almost always spot unnecessary duplicates.
Think morning.
Think evening.
Don't think product categories.
One dedicated toiletry bag saves time every single day of your trip.
Holiday isn't the time to discover your skin dislikes a new moisturiser or your hair doesn't agree with a new shampoo.
This might be the most overlooked packing tip of all.
If your toiletry bag is completely full when you leave home, where will you put the products you buy while travelling?
A little spare space makes the return journey much easier.
The best-packed toiletry bag isn't the smallest one.
It's the one where every single product earns its place.
Each item should answer one simple question:
"Will this genuinely make my trip better?"
If the answer is yes, pack it.
If the answer is "maybe"... it can probably stay at home.
If you've ever watched someone breeze through an airport with nothing but a backpack while you're dragging a suitcase behind you, you've probably wondered:
How do they fit everything into one bag?
The answer usually isn't that they own fewer things.
It's that they've become incredibly intentional about what they pack.
Experienced travellers don't ask:
"What if I need this?"
They ask:
"How likely am I to use this?"
That small shift in thinking changes everything.
Instead of packing for every possible scenario, they pack for the trip they're actually taking.
The result?
Travelling lighter isn't about being minimalist for the sake of it.
It's about giving yourself more freedom to enjoy the journey.
At home, it's easy to collect products over time.
A different shampoo for oily days.
A richer conditioner for winter.
A serum you only use occasionally.
A face mask for Sunday evenings.
A styling product you've almost forgotten about.
There's nothing wrong with having options at home.
The challenge is that many of us pack as though we're bringing our entire bathroom with us.
Instead, ask yourself:
"If I could only take one version of this product, which one would it be?"
That simple question encourages you to prioritise versatility over quantity.
One of the easiest ways to save space is to look for products that earn their place in your bag.
Rather than thinking about the number of products you pack, think about the number of jobs each product can do.
For example:
The fewer single-purpose items you carry, the easier your bag becomes to manage.
For years, we've accepted that shampoo, body wash and cleanser should come in large bottles filled with liquid.
But when you stop and think about it, it raises an interesting question:
Why are we transporting water around the world when every hotel, campsite and Airbnb already has running water?
That's the idea behind concentrated and waterless products.
Instead of paying to transport water, concentrated products allow you to add it when you're ready to use them.
For travellers, this can offer some practical advantages.
Without unnecessary water, concentrated products are often much smaller than traditional bottles.
That means more room for clothing, shoes and everything else you'd rather pack.
Even a few hundred grams saved across your toiletries can make a noticeable difference, especially if you're travelling with carry-on luggage only.
Anyone who's unpacked shampoo-covered clothes knows how frustrating leaking bottles can be.
Concentrated powder products remove one of the biggest causes of messy suitcases.
Many travellers discover that switching to compact products naturally encourages them to simplify their overall routine.
Less clutter.
Less decision-making.
Less time getting ready.
More time enjoying the trip.
There isn't a single right answer.
Each format has its own strengths.
Best for:
Pros
Things to consider
Best for:
Pros
Things to consider
Best for:
Pros
| Feature | Liquid Shampoo | Shampoo Bar | Powder Shampoo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk of leaks | High | None | None |
| Lightweight | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Carry-on friendly | Depends | Yes | Usually |
| Drying time needed | No | Yes | No |
| Easy to refill | Rarely | No | Yes |
Things to consider
The "best" option is simply the one that fits your travel style.
Most people spend a lot of time choosing products and very little time choosing the bag that carries them.
A good toiletry bag should make your routine easier, not more frustrating.
Look for features such as:
If you're constantly emptying your entire bag to find a toothbrush, it might be time for a better organiser.
For many travellers, yes.
Instead of buying new travel-sized products for every trip, refillable containers can help you build a consistent travel kit that's always ready to go.
There are several advantages:
It's one of those small habits that quickly becomes second nature.
It's easy to focus on getting everything into your suitcase before you leave.
But what about coming home?
I always leave a little extra room in my suitcase because I know I'll probably pick up something along the way—whether it's local skincare, a bottle of wine, gifts for family or simply a few souvenirs.
Packing your bag to 100% capacity on the way out leaves you with nowhere to put the memories you bring home.
One of the best travel habits I've developed is keeping a dedicated toiletry bag that's almost always packed.
After each trip, I top up anything that's running low, replace anything I've used, and it's ready for the next adventure.
It saves so much time because I'm not running around the house the night before a flight trying to remember where I left my toothbrush or moisturiser.
Even if you don't travel often, having a grab-and-go kit makes spontaneous weekends away much easier.
After every trip, I do a quick review before unpacking.
Which products did I actually use?
Which ones stayed untouched?
It's amazing how often the same "just in case" items come home exactly as they left.
Now, if something never leaves the hotel bathroom, it doesn't earn a place in my bag on the next trip.
Little by little, my toiletry kit has become lighter, simpler and much more practical.
The best travel routines aren't complicated.
They're familiar.
You shouldn't have to think too hard each morning about which products to use or spend ages rummaging through your bag.
When every product has a purpose and every item has its place, getting ready becomes quick, easy and stress-free.
That's one of the biggest benefits of packing thoughtfully.
You spend less time managing your luggage and more time enjoying where you've travelled to see.
Yes, you can take toiletries in your carry-on luggage. However, airport security rules vary depending on the country and airport you're travelling through. Always check the latest guidance from your airline and departure airport before you fly, particularly if you're carrying liquid, gel or aerosol products.
Start with the products you use every day rather than trying to recreate your entire bathroom. For most travellers, that includes:
Then add destination-specific items such as insect repellent, after-sun lotion or shaving products if needed.
Smaller, concentrated products are generally the easiest to travel with because they take up less space and weigh less. If you're travelling for an extended period, consider refillable or concentrated options instead of packing multiple full-sized bottles.
A few simple tricks can help prevent leaks:
Many travellers choose powder toiletries because they don't have the same leakage concerns as liquids. However, airport screening procedures can vary, particularly for larger quantities of powders, so it's always worth checking current airport guidance before travelling.
It depends on your preferences.
Many travellers enjoy shampoo bars because they remove the need for plastic bottles and don't leak.
Others prefer powder shampoos because they remain lightweight, don't need drying after use and are easy to refill.
The best option is whichever fits your hair type and travel style.
Yes. Powder shampoos are designed to be activated with water when you use them, making them compact and lightweight. They're particularly popular with travellers who want to save space and reduce the risk of spills in their luggage.
Waterless beauty products are gaining popularity because they're often lighter, more concentrated and designed to reduce unnecessary packaging. Rather than transporting water inside the bottle, they're activated during use, making them especially appealing for travel.
Travel-sized products can be convenient for occasional trips, but if you travel regularly, refillable containers or concentrated products are often a more economical and sustainable option over time.
Probably fewer than you think.
A good rule is to pack around your morning and evening routines. If you didn't use a product on your last trip, ask yourself whether you really need to pack it again.
Look for one that's:
The right organiser can make your morning routine much easier.
Absolutely. If your skin is happy with your current routine, holidays usually aren't the best time to experiment with new products. Just think about how much you'll realistically need for the length of your trip.
For shorter trips, smaller products are usually sufficient and save valuable luggage space. For longer holidays, concentrated products can often last surprisingly well while still taking up less room than traditional bottles.
Liquid products such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotions often account for most of the weight. Switching even a few of these to concentrated alternatives can make a noticeable difference.
Trying to prepare for every possible situation.
Most travellers return home with several untouched products. Packing around your actual routine—not every "just in case" scenario—is usually the simplest way to lighten your bag.
If you travel regularly, many people find refillable products save both time and money. You can keep a dedicated travel kit ready to go, top it up after each trip and avoid buying new travel minis every time you travel.
Some easy ways include:
Many hotels provide basic toiletries, but the quality and availability vary widely. If you have sensitive skin, colour-treated hair or products you particularly enjoy using, it's usually worth bringing your own essentials.
Group products by routine rather than by category. Keep everything in one dedicated toiletry bag and return each item to the same place after use. This makes getting ready faster and helps prevent forgotten items.
The best travel routine is one that's simple, familiar and easy to maintain. Focus on the essentials, choose products that work well for you and avoid overcomplicating your mornings with products you rarely use at home.
