Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Traveling is fun when done right. By that, we mean when you’ve properly packed all your goods, from clothing down to toiletries, leaving nothing behind. Deciding which travel-sized beauty products are worth bringing on this trek is as tedious as packing them. However, regardless of how many (or little) beauty goods you have in tow, a toiletry bag is a necessary addition to your pre-travel checklist.
Here at ELLE.com, we’re self-professed travel beauty experts and believe a good toiletry bag should tick off a few boxes, from functionality to added features to fabric. Of course, design is essential, too. Ask yourself: Is this bag engineered to house full-sized products? Can you house your brushes and tools separately from the other products? Is it coated in wipe-proof fabric for easy clean-up? Can you lug your entire seven-step skin routine? The right toiletry bag should be able to fit your favorite skincare sets, clarifying shampoos, and must-have makeup products.
Our picks for the best toiletry bags in 2024
Yes, it’s quite a big ask, but they do exist—and we found them. As vacation pros and beauty product hoarders, we tested the best toiletry bags based on the market, considering factors like size, fabric, organization, and perused online consumer reviews to find the 13 best ones. Ahead, shop our discoveries to make your next OOO adventure even better.
Pros
Separate compartments to avoid mess
Cons
- Top layer can be a bit tight
Keep your makeup brushes and products organized and free of any spills or mishaps with a bag made with functionality and ease in mind. The bottom compartment is a full-zip cubby large enough for eyeshadow palettes or brushes, while the top zipper opens to reveal a space for more compact items.
Material: Nylon
Dimensions: 10.2” L x 6.2” W x 4.9” H
Size: One size
Colors: Mauve
Rare Beauty rating: 4.6/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “As someone who hates having to go out of my way to purchase TSA-approved beauty items, I love finding a toiletry bag that can easily house my makeup products and tools. I use the bottom layer to house my brushes away from any liquids and creams, and reserve the top layer for flat products like powders or blush.”—Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor
Pros
- Water-resistant lining
Cons
- Clear lining will need to be cleaned frequently
Calpak’s new cosmetics case is genius because it features multiple compartments separated by zippers to store tons of goodies neatly. The transparent exterior makes it easy to grab whatever product you need quickly, and one wipe will remove any marks or spills. If the medium size isn’t your jam, opt for the small or large so you can take as few or as many products as you want.
Material: PVC/polyester
Dimensions: 9.75” x 5” x 7.5”
Sizes: Small, medium, and large
Colors: Dragonfruit, emerald green, lavender, navy, white, black, caramel, and mauve
Calpak star rating: 4.9/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t grab this cosmetics bag because of its bright pink interior. Then, I started unzipping the compartments and immediately started mentally adding travel-sized beauty goods to my cart. There are so many varying sizes housed in this cute pink case, including two large side pockets and a mini pouch in the middle for tiny knickknacks.” — Nerisha Penrose
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Pros
- Keeps products standing
Cons
- Zipper compartments can’t hold too much
If you’ve accidentally knocked a foundation off your bathroom counter or splashed too much water on your toiletry bag resting on the sink, a hanging bag is exactly what you need. This Sea to Summit bag features a sizeable flap with a few tiny compartments to house small trinkets, and one large bottom pouch to keep your products standing tall and firm without any spills or mishaps. The bag even comes with a compact mirror for quick touch-ups.
Material: 30D Ultra-Sil CORDURA brand nylon
Weight: 2.8 oz
Sizes: Small, large Colors
Sea to Summit rating: 4.9/5 stars
A Sea to Summit reviewer said: “Excellent product design, lightweight with strong materials. I have taken this bathroom bag on numerous adventures, overseas, and motorcycle camping excursions and have had no problems. I like the strong zipper, internal mirror, and overall function of the design. I would purchase and replace it again if I lost it. Thanks, Sea to Summit, for another good product.”
Best for Organization
Beis The Cosmetic Organizer
Pros
- Separate compartment for tools
Cons
- Doesn’t fit large bottles
Like the brand’s bestselling weekender, this cosmetics bag is designed with a separate compartment that keeps your makeup brushes and other tools neatly tucked away from messy liquids and powders.
Material: Recycled polyester
Dimensions: 24cm x 17.5 cm x 9cm
Size: One size Colors
Beis star rating: 4.9/5 stars
A Beis reviewer said: “Omg, I didn’t know this material felt like this! It’s so smooth and easy to wipe clean! I love how it has a bottom compartment just like the weekender, and the size is perfect for quick travel for my toiletries! Thanks, BEIS, for bringing this back in stock!”
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Pros
- Made with leather
Cons
- Can lose its shape
This fancy leather pouch is the multipurpose piece your travel luggage has been missing. Complete with two interior zippered pockets, a removable divider system, a large elastic band to secure bottles, and a smaller elastic band to hold hair ties, it can be used for makeup and to store skincare products, accessories, and other trinkets you may travel with. You can even purchase the strap separately to wear outside.
Material: Leather exterior; water-resistant interior
Dimensions: 10.25"W x 7.5"D x 6.5"H
Sizes: S, M, XL Colors
Leatherology star rating: 5/5 stars
A Leatherology reviewer said: “The craftsmanship of this product is amazing. I am so happy with my purchase. It is a quality leather that will stand the rest of time.”
Pros
- Several compartments for organization
Cons
- Space between compartments can be a little tight
You already have all the Glossier products displayed on your vanity. Take your devotion to the brand up a notch by investing in its amply-sized makeup bag. In addition to being tall enough for bottles to stand upright, it includes a removable interior pouch and four small side pockets, so you never have to dig for your lip gloss or any other grab-and-go items.
Material: Coated cotton exterior; polyester and rayon interior
Dimensions: 9.5” x 7” x 3”
Size: One size
Colors: Pink
Glossier star rating: 4.4/5 stars
A Glossier reviewer said: “I keep this sturdy makeup at the office. It holds all my must-haves for my makeup touchups. It holds a lot. It knocks around in my handbag all the time, but none of my powders or eyeshadows have broken!” — Danielle James, digital beauty director
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Pros
- Features small compartments for jewelry
Cons
- May not fit all toiletries
Everlane’s case has five pockets to help you organize everything from skincare to jewelry without mixing anything up. Uniquely, it snaps down and rolls back so you can easily sift through your products once you arrive at your destination.
Material: Recycled polyester; water-resistant
Dimensions: 9″ L x 4.75″ H x 4.75″ D
Size: One size
Colors: Black, warm quartz, nutria/beech, and ocean cavern
Everlane star rating: 4.7/5 stars
An Everlane reviewer said: “I bought this to use as an organizer inside a handbag. It worked perfectly, and I liked it so much that I ordered another as a makeup bag. The little pockets make it easy to organize your things, and I love the roll-down top for easy access.”
Pros
- Helps create more vanity space
Cons
- Plastic can wear down after a while
This fold-up toiletry organizer is made for the trendy traveler who is also practical at heart. It’s waterproof and leakproof, machine washable, XL-sized, and has many built-in pockets and zippers to keep things organized.
Material: Canvas/PU leather exterior, PVC lining interior
Dimensions: 11.4"L x 4.3"W x 9.8"H
Size: One size
Colors: 13 hues and prints, including M-Navy Blue, M-black, palm leaf, plaid, and zebra print
Amazon star rating: 4.7/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I loved this bag. I bought it for a two-week trip recently, and it was exactly what I needed! It was a perfect fit for all my toiletries and makeup.”
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Pros
- Middle compartment for smaller items
Cons
- May not be large enough for full-sized products
Away’s travel kit is deceivingly compact-looking. Thanks to its three interior compartments and one exterior zippered pocket, there’s ample space to separate your makeup from your brushes for a no-fuss, clutter-free trip.
Material: Nylon
Dimensions: 10.2" x 3.7" x 5.9"
Size: One size
Colors: Black, navy, coast, olive, and garnet
Away star rating: 4.7/5 stars
An Away reviewer said: “I’m really happy with this bag. It’s roomy but not oversized, the compartments and pockets are really handy for keeping things organized, and the material seems durable and easy to care for.”
Pros
- Several compartments and pockets
Cons
- Bulky
You can’t decide which beauty products to bring with you, so you bring them ALL. If that sounds familiar, you must get this top-rated Amazon pick. Featuring a large interior compartment, two mesh zippered pockets, and two side compartments for separating dry and wet items, it hangs and expands to accommodate all your neurotic “just-in-case” tendencies.
Material: Water-resistant polyester
Dimensions: 11.42 x 4.53 x 9.25 in
Sizes: M, L
Colors: Baby pink, black, and grey
Amazon star rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I could fit all skincare and body care products in this bag. The full regular size bottles and containers could stand up nicely, and I had no spilling.”
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Pros
- Comes with a lot of compartments for tools
Cons
- May be too bulky for some users
For the professional MUA or beauty enthusiast with an extensive product lineup, upgrade your kit with Make Up For Ever’s functional organizer. It has enough compartments to fit brushes, bottles, and everything in between. Bonus: You can also carry it as a crossbody with the included strap.
Material: Mesh
Dimensions: 11" H x 16" W x 5" L
Size: One size
Colors: Black
Sephora star rating: 4.5/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer said: “I’ve had countless makeup bags in my life, and this one is by far my favorite. It holds all my makeup and the different-sized pouches enable me to organize to my heart’s content. It’s also really, REALLY easy to clean. I recently emptied out the pouches, tossed them in the wash, and wiped down the bag itself with a makeup wipe, and it was as good as new! Be forewarned, it’s massive, but if you have a lot of makeup, it’ll meet your needs perfectly!”
Pros
- Allows you to see every product
Cons
- Can get messy
Cut your prep time with a clear toiletry bag that allows you to see how deep down your brown lip liner fell. It’s double-tiered to give you plenty of space for lipsticks, eyeshadows, and larger foundation bottles and compacts.
Material: Polyester
Dimensions: 5 in. x 8 in. x 5 in
Size: One size
Colors: Transparent and transparent/powder pink
H&M star rating: 4.7/5 stars
An H&M reviewer said: “This is the BEST toiletry bag ever! I’ve ordered many different ones in many different sizes, and this one tops all. I put all of my makeup in the top compartment and all of my toiletries in the bottom.”
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Best for Lots of Products
Sonia Kashuk Makeup Organizer Bag Set
Pros
- Comes with several pouches for organization
Cons
- Clear case can get messy
Smaller bags within one larger carryall is always a smart way to keep things organized. This four-piece set from Sonia Kashuk comes with everything you could possibly need, whether you’re headed away for a weekend or two weeks. Toss your makeup brushes into the pencil case, your larger products into the square-zip pouch, your smallest items into the round-top bag, and all three bags into the transparent tote for easy access.
Material: Polyester, PVC
Dimensions: H 8in x W 13in x D 5.5in
Size: One size
Colors: Black/Stripe
Target star rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Target reviewer said: “This set has lasted me over two years of travel with regular cleanings. It’s very durable and overall a classic look.”
How do I choose the best toiletry bag?
First and foremost, consider how big your collection is and the types of products you’ll be storing. For instance, if you tend to pack light or your routine is somewhat minimal, a small zippered pouch should suffice. On the other hand, if you’re a professional makeup artist or a beauty enthusiast with a sizable collection, you’ll want a larger case with plenty of compartments to hold all your bottles, palettes, brushes, tubes, tools, and more. Look for options with special compartments that hold bottles upright, and consider styles that can hang, as they’re easily accessible and won’t overcrowd a small bathroom counter.
Remember that the larger the toiletry bag, the more room it will occupy inside your luggage. To find a happy medium, look for styles that can store your skincare and makeup essentials while occupying a reasonable space in your suitcase or duffel.
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What fabric is best for a toiletry bag?
No matter which style you choose, it’s always a good idea to look for options made with durable, easy-to-clean materials like PVC or polyester, so makeup mishaps are a cinch to fix. Also, consider waterproof fabrics to avoid spills leaking through to the rest of the contents in your suitcase (aka, a traveler’s worst nightmare).
Why trust ELLE Beauty?
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.
Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering beauty, fashion, and lifestyle topics. For this roundup, both editors tested toiletry bags and pored over dozens of customer reviews to find the best toiletry bags.
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Nerisha Penrose
Beauty Commerce Editor
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.
Sam Peters
Senior Commerce Editor
Sam Peters is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Her writing has appeared in WWD, Footwear News, Real Simple, PopSugar and Bridal Guide, among others. She enjoysunpacking the latest trends and testing and reviewing some of the most innovative, emerging products on the market.
