The toiletry bag is often the last thing we prepare—and the one that makes the suitcase overflow or gets stuck at security. Yet, when well thought out, it fits into a carry-on size and contains 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 on site. Here's the complete list to ensure nothing is forgotten, the liquid rules for flights, and how to organise it all.
Our Selection of Toiletry Bags
A good travel toiletry bag is recognised by three things: a hook for hanging, compartments that separate wet from dry, 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 toiletry 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 size or solid toothpaste
- Soap or shower gel 100 ml—the solid soap avoids the liquid rule
- Shampoo (travel size or solid) + conditioner if needed
- Deodorant—the stick or solid type passes 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 on the plane and altitude dry out quickly
- Manual razor + travel size 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 the destination requires it
- Your personal medications, in their box, with the prescription
This "health" section deserves its own pouch, separate from cosmetics: it's easy to find 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 Rules for Flights (the 100 ml Rule)
This is the trap of carry-on luggage. Since 2006, any liquid, gel, cream, or paste carried in the cabin must fit in a 100 ml maximum container, and all must fit into a single one-litre transparent plastic bag (about 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 two words: 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 throw away a bottle at security. Here's, product by product, what passes in the cabin and in what form; if in doubt about a specific airline, the official rules are detailed in AirHelp's liquids on a plane 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 → in hold |
| 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 toiletry 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 as soon as you arrive. The same principle applies to the entire suitcase: when each category has its pouch, nothing needs to be unpacked. Packing cubes for clothes perfectly complement a well-thought-out toiletry bag—the "one pouch per need" logic applied to the entire luggage.
Last check before closing the bag: keep only what you really use in a week. Hotels often provide soap and shower gel, and everything can be bought on site. 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 in 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 in the cabin. Liquid travel size remains practical for cream and shower gel. The best 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 toiletry 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.
