Over the last 4 or 5 trips I’ve taken, I realized that I take the same key pieces with me as far as toiletries are concerned. The more I thought about it the more I knew it made sense to keep a larger ziplock bag with all of my travel sized items ready to go so that I wouldn’t have to worry about picking them out every single trip. Sure I have to replenish them every once in a while, but these are the key items I take with me from weekends away to long distance travel.
The reason I like travel sized items so much is how easily they fit into that carry on lifestyle – meaning if I use it up on the trip I’m done and throw it out and that’s one less thing that has to come home with me. The flip side is that I’m totally one of those people that likes the complimentary items that you get in hotel bathrooms -those always come in handy for when I run out of my favorite lotion and don’t have time to make it to the store before a trip – also great when friends come to visit because I share with them.
For the Face and Body
For the Face and Body
Face Wipes// I have the hardest time with bar soaps because they leave my face extremely dry – enter in these face wipes. I found these for $2 at Primark – remember my new favorite store in Boston! I was actually using these Neutrogena face wipes but ran out right before my trip to New Orleans. I will be repurchasing them again and even have another product empties coming up!
St.Tropez One Night Only//I quickly mentioned this one night only bronzer and it’s perfect for trips because of it’s size and if you get a spray tan before vacation you can use this for little touch ups. I used it twice in New Orleans and when we went to New Jersey for the wedding and both times it gave me the perfect glow for one night only!
Jergens BB Cream Moisturizer// I mentioned this moisturizer once before and I am still using it because it’s the perfect travel companion. I tend to get dry from planes and this quickly moisturizes my hands and legs without being too heavy!
Eye Drops// This one is self explanatory – I seriously get red eyes from either not getting enough sleep, getting something in my eye or just a different weather pattern. I don’t leave home without eye drops! Fun fact, I actually use this to decrease redness if I get an unexpected pimple!
Pond’s Moisturizer – Travel Size// It’s so hard to find a moisturizer for the face to travel with that you not only like but actually does something for your face. When I found this ponds moisturizer I couldn’t believe my luck because it feels incredible on the skin and I’ve actually had the small travel size for close to a year because of how little is needed for optimal use!
Q-Tips// I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve forgotten these on a trip, but not anymore. Also I can just replenish these once I run out because the box can be used over and over. I use this for their actual use, but also to smudge out my eyes (smoky eye) and clean up my makeup.
St. Ives Facial Scrub// I think we all know how I feel about St. Ives facial scrub after my empties video so no need to go into too much detail, but this really helps to get my makeup off in the shower especially since I don’t like using the hotel soap for the reason stated above!
For the Hair
For the Hair
I keep a few bobby pins and hair ties in the zip lock bag just in case I forget to pack them in my purse. So these never come out!
John Frieda Hair Spray// Great hold on the go – this doesn’t get clumpy or crispy – I think you know the feeling I’m talking about! I don’t do a lot of styling to my hair on vacation, so this little bottle has lasted quite some time!
TRESemme Shampoo & Conditioner// I’m pretty faithful to TRESemme shampoo and conditioner when I travel. You can always find this at the drug store travel section and the size is pretty hefty (still within TSA guidelines) but it takes more than 5 trips to use it all so that’s a good purchase!
Wella Elements Shampoo// I don’t normally blow dry my hair on vacation, but when I know I will be using heat on my hair I switch up my shampoo to this Wella one. It leaves it feeling perfectly silky and still protects it!
I love being able to completely check this one off the packing list and have it all together ahead of time! What are some toiletries you always carry with you? Would you do a grab & go?
I do the exact same thing, lady! Since we travel so often my toiletry bag is pretty much packed year round. I just have to reload every now and then and boom, ready to go. I use the same hair products, such a good brand, right?
I need to get better about using travel sized toiletries. Most of my trips are weekend road trips so I just end up throwing in my regular-sized items but this makes so much more sense!
That St. Tropez stuff sounds amazing! Anything that gives you the perfect glow for one night is a definite travel necessity! And I'm going to have to search for that Wella shampoo since I often use heat on my hair when I travel! Great round up love! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
I too keep my toiletry bag packed and ready to go! Jergens has always been a go to travel lotion of mine. When I was a little girl, my mom got me a set of little Jergens in glass bottles. It was so cute and I sure wish I'd kept those bottles!! š Great post!! Have a great day beautiful!!
It's super nice to have toiletries ready to go for a quick trip, so you don't have to run to the store for anything. I use several of the products that you mention here, too! š
Gosh do I love some products! I am so dramatic that I actually think I'll use more than a travel size when we go on vacation so I take the full size products which I quickly realize how much easier than smaller size would be and they really last. I never seem to pack the right products when I go so I'm loving this list. I have heard great things about the St. Tropez self tanner so I'm thinking about trying it out.
Linds @ Not A Mom
This is such a great idea! I love travel sized products because they are so easy to grab and go! The Jergen's BB cream is one of my all time faves!!!
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
I have almost the exact same products in my ziplock bag under my sink as we speak! Love that mergers lotion.
It's just so much easier to do it this way right? That way you can throw that it your bag and not have to worry about using your products the morning of and then forgetting something. You are definitely a very efficient packer!
I always bring travel products with me too! The St. Tropez oil sounds awesome- Iām going to pick that up!
Amen to qtips, ha!! Who would have thought those would ever be a necessity?! I quickly learned not to let myself forget those ever again!
This is such a good idea. My husband actually suggested it to me a few months ago. I inevitably always forget something, so it's a really good idea!
Every time we travel I do the same thing! They're so much easier to carry and I love shopping for them! It also a fun way to try new products!
I've been obsessed with the ponds lotion for years!
Great packing list gurlie! I need to check out that One Night Oil, you always look fabulous <3
Green Fashionista
I love the idea of having the bag ready to go, all the time! We are bad about last minute trips so I'm always rushing around trying to remember what not to forget. And I usually pack the full size bottles which is completely nuts for one or two nights! Lol.
I do the same thing on keeping my toiletries in a ziploc bag always on the ready! I'm definitely going to add a couple of the things you've mentioned into my rotation though š Thanks for sharing your picks, lovie! xo
That is so smart to keep them ready to go! I need to do this because we are always traveling and getting toiletries together takes the longest of anything when I am packing. Such a great idea!
I needed this post today! I was just thinking I need to go to the store and get some toiletries for our trip! I still need to pick up that bronzer!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
It always amazes me how much space toiletries take up in my bag when I travel, so I've gotten to the point of only taking carryon size when traveling, especially if it's a short trip. I need to find a mini size hairspray, and that John Frieda sounds perfect!
girl this is one of my biggest travel tips! i have my toiletry bag ready to go at all times. and then all i have to do is throw my makeup bag in and i'm good to go! i even have a backup stash of supplies just in case i'm running low š master packers for the win!
xoxo cheshire kat
I'm SO investing in those ear plugs you mentioned yesterday for hubby's snoring! Yikes!
The qtips are a must for me everywhere!! Love the frizz ease spray! It's super strong! And the jergens lotion!!!! Love!!!
I have a serious travel size hoarding problem. (; I'm totally getting better at it, but I find I love snagging tiny sized products. It's great when I want to try something, bad when I purchase simply for the "cute" factor. Especially since I still have travel shampoo and conditioner bottles from our vacation last July. (;
I love this post! Thanks for the travel tips!
I never leave home without eye drops either! I get the worst dry eyes! And isn't that Ponds cream pretty amazing? I started bringing it with while we were traveling every weekend this summer and I love it!
I love getting a peek into other people's bag and since I'm constantly on the hunt for new beauty items (addicted), I always appreciate your reviews. By the way, I've been using the Garnier Moroccan oil for my hair and I'm loving it! Thanks for the suggestion!
Taffeta & Tulips
Those tiny Tresemme shampoo and conditioners are amazing. We always pick them up before trips and they somehow never manage to run out. I definitely need to check out those face wipes asap!
xo prosecco in the park
Ever since I took a trip with some girls back in May, I have been all about the travel size options. I keep everything in a little container in my bathroom, so I can just grab and good. I definitely need to check out your suggestions…sometimes it can be struggle to find the best option!
Nothing beats John Freida hair spray!
Ashley || Sed Bona
This is a great list, Biana! I totally agree about the face wipes. Bar soap makes my skin so dry, I always have to have face wipes on hand. I normally get whatever Sam's Club has haha but I love the sound of these!
xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
Great minds! I have a post like this in draft – at the beginning of the summer I packed my toiletries and just left them like that, so they stay packed all the time. It is a huge load off when packing for a trip – you never have to think about it!
I hoarded travel size products like no one's business. They are the best to travel with. I saw those wipes at Primark and thought about getting them. Good to know that they are good. I tried the eye makeup ones and didn't really like them. I have to use three of them to take my waterproof mascara off. Primark has a great travel section, I love that store so much. I haven't been in like a week and am getting the shakes.haha
Love this post! I have to say travel-sized products have gotten SO much better over the years! I even found my regular dry shampoo in a travel sized recently!
I love this I'm definitely taking notes. With me going back and forth to Texas all the time, packing toiletries over and over gets old. I have a cosmetic bag filled with essentials.
The facial wipes are a must for me! That's how I take off my makeup. Love them!
I would be lost without my Neutrogena face wipes! And I always have to pack q-tips, I know a lot of hotels have a couple in the rooms, but I like my own! Tressemme is always my favorite ā their bottles hold more shampoo/conditioner than the other brands in my opionion.
I used to travel for work a lot so I have a huge collection of travel size toiletries. I usually choose from that when we go anywhere. And face wipes are always a must.
I love finding new products! St. Ives is my favorite!
~~Megan~~
poshprime.com
Love your blog and this post! The detail is just amazing. I was actually just looking for a new facial moisturizer and I'm going to purchase the Ponds one and see how it goes š Thank you for the direct link to Amazon Prime. Also, I had no idea Primark was in the U.S. now?! Is it only in Boston or other places as well?
XOXO
kellmenow.com/blog/
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I have that Ponds moisturizer and the apricot scrub stocked all of the time as well!!! I use Cetaphil's face cloths and I usually grab a skinmates travel size shaving cream for warmer month travels.
This is a great idea! I have a few things set aside that I take with me on trips, but this is something that I'm going to start doing. Just so that I don't forget something! š Thanks for sharing lady and I hope that you have a great day!!!
You know half the stuff you mentioned I just carry around in my purse regularly, including bandaids, you never know when you may need them. I didn't know that St. Ives had such cute travel size facial scrubs, I am definitely looking into that, I hate having to carry the larger version of clean and clear's around whenever we do travel.
liz @ sundays with sophie
I really wish more companies would make travel sizes of their products… it makes travel so much easier!!
Kisses,
Sarah
EverydayStarlet
This is actually a really great idea! I'm always having to scramble at the last minute to get the little travel size bottles to fill up with everything I use. Have a pre-packed bag is a genius idea š
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
I just want to show this post to my husband because he always complains to me when I go down the travel section aisle… I just like these little products to tuck away for trips / overnights or company.
I do something very similar! I keep all of my travel essentials in a bag and always have it ready. Definitely much easier, and like you said, one less thing to worry about.
Glad Vero mentioned you in her newest post, I love finding new bloggers!
xo, Lily
I don't see body wash on the list but that is something I always carry and baby oil for taking off any lingering mascara.
Face wipes are a must when traveling!
Kelsey
thepeacockroost.com
I've always had trouble finding the products I use on a daily basis in travel sizes, so bought a set of travel bottles from Bed Bath & Beyond and filled them with my shampoo, body wash, etc. that I use every day, and I keep them stocked in a travel bag so I can just grab it and go if I need to! Super handy!
I have been working on putting together a permanent travel toiletries bag so that I can just grab it and go! Thanks for the product tips, will have to add a few of these to my toiletries!
I do the same thing and keep a travel bag packed! It makes the prep for a trip much easier!
Thanks so much for these beauty and hair trips and product recommendations. I have to try that Frizz Ease. And I love Tresseme shampoo and hair conditioner.
Loving all of your travel product suggestions! Thanks for sharing!
Wishes & Reality
I love carrying Neutragena Cleansing wipes, and I really recommend them!
– Deniz
dressedupdeniz.com
I have most of these same travel size bottles plus more so my toiletries bag is about double the size. It's another sign of my issues with overpacking lol.
this is so handy! love it, can't wait to see you soon!
Jessi
I will definitely have to try that one night only bronzer. I love that St. Ives scrub too! xo,Champagne&Suburbs
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Travel sized products are the best! Even though you're rarely getting the best value the convenience alone is totally worth it!
Wonderful post! I love it:)
irenethayer.com
You're a weekend-travelling expert! I use the same mini hair spray for vacationing
K love this post! You are seriously a pro!! i am always trying to find little bottles to put things in so I don't have to take the entire thing. Expecially difficult when flying because I think you can only take like 5oz of stuff. So basically this is my reference next time I leave town š
xo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants
I need to proof read haha
especially*
I also travel a lot for work, so I love travel sized items as well! I will look into some of these suggestions!
Laura
Laura Aime Vous
I absolutely love the St. Ive's scrub because it leaves my skin feeling extra clean. I always pick up a mini bottle of it before a trip. Also kind of excited to try those face wipes you got at Primark š
I don't travel much, hhonestly, but it makes sense to have a bag of travel-sized ready products to pack and go. Makes packing for the actual trip less stressful, too!
May | THE MAYDEN
I love makeup and so happy to read your post
xx
missydress.it
glad to see you are a jergens bb body fan too! so happy you had a wonderful, safe trip!
what a good idea about the eye drops!! i pinned this post for my next trip. i've only just recently started bringing hairspray on my trips, i know, how ridiculous, right? but i never used to bring it, full size or carry on. i brought it to europe and duh, what a difference it made! i used the .. um.. it's a black and red thing? big sexy hair or something? and that was pretty good, but i'll have to try the john frieda one. i love TRESemme – i use it when i travel and when i go to the gym in the mornings and have to wash my hair, lol. great post B!
I love Jergens bb cream and I didn't know they sold a mini!
The Jergens BB cream is a total packing essential for me! Like you, I'm a free hotel item hoarder, which always comes in handy for visitors š
The St. Ives facial scrub is one of my favorites! I have a love/hate relationship with hairspray so I love reading what others use!
rosyoutlookblog.com
Well, I definitely can relate to this post since I've done a bit of traveling in the past couple weeks! I'm with you – I love bringing travel size stuff because then I just toss it when I'm done (did a lot of that in both Puerto Rico and at my cousin's wedding). I actually buy the clear, plastic bottles and fill those with my normal shampoo/conditioner. Since I have color-treated hair, I always want to use my normal stuff even when I'm away!
I love storing mini toiletries for trips. Jason thinks it's a waste, but I like that when I am home, I don't have to deal with one more thing to unpack!
I always have Q-Tips, Visine and Downy Wrinkle Releaser! Toiletries and travel items are ESSENTIAL…you don't want to waste time while traveling having to hit up the store!
A great packing list for toiletries! Travel sized items are definitely the way to go – I stocked up on those for my last couple of trips!
Zelle
Southern Style
I actually never thought about doing this before it actually a very good idea, and I will be doing this from now on.
artadorned.com/
I love the Neutrogena face wipes (though I wouldn't mind ones that cost only $2 at Primark!). Q-Tips are a must for me on vacations. I need to try that Pond's moisturizer-perfect size for traveling!
I'm a hoarder of all things sample size! I can't get enough. The best part is, you're right, being able to throw it away and not have to pack it back up again!
St. Ives scrub is definitely a staple. Nothing feels better than using it when you want an extra clean feeling!
Great idea to keep them all in a ziplock together. I'm bad about running out of something and not wanting to go to the store so I just use the sample size š
Traci
waltzmetoheaven.com
This is literally the best travel friendly post! I use so many of these products & I love them. I also learned a bit about some newer products I might want to give a try. I will be bookmarking this!
Dominique
Only The Brave Blog
onlythebraveblog.com
I do the same thing! We travel back to Michigan often to visit family and I always have all my mini toiletries in a ziplock already in my travel bag ready to go. It makes packing so much easier! I always found I would forget things, but it really is a foolproof way to make sure you have everything you need!
Similarly I always have mine packed and ready to go… I try to repack it soon after I return from a trip for the next in the case I ran out of something. Otherwise, I will forget!