The toiletry bag is often the last thing we pack — and the one that makes the suitcase overflow or gets stuck at security. Yet, when well thought out, it fits into a carry-on and holds all the essentials. The golden rule: a hanging bag (keeping the sink area free in hotels and hostels), 100 ml travel sizes, and nothing you can buy at your destination. Here's the complete list to ensure nothing is forgotten, the liquid rules for flights, and how to organise everything.
Our Selection of Toiletry Bags
A good travel bag is recognised by three features: a hook for hanging, compartments that separate dry from wet, and a water-repellent material that wipes clean with a sponge. Depending on the length of the stay, prioritise compactness or volume. Here are three hanging models that cover all bases; you can also browse our entire collection of travel toiletry bags.
The Complete Toiletry Bag Checklist
Here's everything that makes up a well-thought-out bag, grouped by category. The principle: one item per need, in travel size, leaving behind duplicates and "just in case" items that never get used.
Basic Hygiene
- Toothbrush (with case) + travel-sized or solid toothpaste
- Soap or 100 ml shower gel — solid soap avoids the liquid rule
- Shampoo (travel size or solid) + conditioner if needed
- Deodorant — stick or solid versions pass without issue in carry-on
- Comb or small hairbrush
Face and Body Care
- Face moisturiser + sunscreen (essential in the tropics)
- Lip balm — the dry air in planes and altitude dry out lips quickly
- Manual razor + travel-sized shaving foam, or epilation kit
- Cotton buds, cotton pads, and a small pair of tweezers
Pharmacy and First Aid
- Painkillers, anti-diarrhoea tablets, plasters, and single-dose disinfectant
- Insect repellent if required by the destination
- Your personal medication, in its box, with the prescription
This "health" section deserves its own pouch, separate from cosmetics: it can be found at a glance when needed, and you won't be searching for a plaster at the bottom of the bag. A small dedicated medicine pouch solves the problem once and for all.
The Liquid Rule for Flights (the 100 ml Rule)
This is the trap of carry-on luggage. Since 2006, all liquids, gels, creams, or pastes carried in the cabin must fit in a 100 ml maximum container, and the entire set must fit into a single one-litre transparent plastic bag (approximately 20 × 20 cm), presented separately at security. A half-empty 200 ml bottle? Refused: it's the size of the container that counts, not the remaining quantity. The solution is twofold: reusable travel bottles and solid cosmetics.
Two exceptions to know: medications (even over 100 ml, with a prescription) and baby food, allowed in reasonable quantities. Duty-free purchases made after security, sealed in their duty-free bag with the receipt, also pass. For everything else, the 100 ml rule is strict — better to decant in advance than to discard a bottle at security. Here's what can be carried in the cabin, product by product, and in what form; if in doubt about a specific airline, the official rules are detailed in AirHelp's cabin liquid guide.
| Product | Allowed in cabin? | Recommended size | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquids, gels, creams, pastes | Yes, ≤ 100 ml/container | 100 ml travel bottles | All in 1 transparent bag of max 1 L |
| Toothpaste, cream deodorant, foam | Yes, ≤ 100 ml | Travel size or solid | Solids don't count in the liquids bag |
| Perfume, hairspray, aerosols | Yes, ≤ 100 ml | Sample / mini | Over 100 ml → checked baggage |
| Liquid medications | Yes, > 100 ml tolerated | Prescription at hand | Exception with medical proof |
| Manual razor, round-tipped scissors | Yes | — | Loose spare blades prohibited |
Organising Your Toiletry Bag (and the Rest of Your Luggage)
An organised bag saves a lot of time: separate the wet (shower gel, shampoo) from the dry (brush, cotton pads), place the 100 ml items in their transparent bag for easy access at security, and hang the bag upon arrival. The same principle applies to the entire suitcase: when each category has its own pouch, nothing needs to be unpacked. Packing cubes for clothes perfectly complement a well-thought-out bag — the "one pouch per need" logic applied to the entire luggage.
Final check before closing the bag: only keep what you really use in a week. Hotels often provide soap and shower gel, and everything can be bought at your destination. To prepare the rest of your luggage without forgetting anything, follow our guide to properly preparing your travel bag.
FAQ — Travel Toiletry Bag
Can you take your toiletry bag in the cabin? Yes, provided each liquid is 100 ml maximum and fits into a one-litre transparent bag. Solid products (soap, solid shampoo, deodorant stick) do not count in this bag.
Solid or travel size: which to choose? Solid (soap, shampoo, solid toothpaste) avoids the liquid rule and lightens the bag — ideal for carry-on. Liquid travel size remains practical for cream and shower gel. The right mix: solid for washing, 100 ml for care.
Where to place your toiletry bag in the luggage? The transparent bag of 100 ml items should be easily accessible (outer pocket) for security; the bag itself should lie flat on top of clothes for easy access without unpacking everything. For liquids > 100 ml (large perfume bottle, family shower gel), head to the hold. See also what is prohibited in cabin luggage.
