The best toiletries for a trip: What’s in my travel washbag

If you’re packing your toiletries for a trip then you’re probably trying to pack light whilst still taking enough of the essentials!

I’ve been a frequent traveller for the past 15 years and here are my tips to pack light and get the best toiletries for a trip.

I’ve created lists below that you can copy and paste and add to your notes or a list app you use on your phone.

Here are the best toiletries for a trip

I generally recommend packing the toiletries you’d normally use at home but there are some exceptions. These are travel items you may not always use at home but they’re perfect for while you’re away, especially if it’s a short trip.

• Beauty Pie Featherlight SPF 
• Dry shampoo – so I can go 3-4 days without washing my hair
• Lip Balm – especially for long flights and air conditioned rooms
• Mini perfume bottle – decant your big bottle
• Mini toothbrush and toothpaste set – for quick trips and long flights

Skincare toiletries I always travel with

These are my skincare favourites that I decant into smaller bottles when I travel. They’re all from Beauty Pie and I’ve been using all of these for over 3 years and I love them. I had really problematic skin before using these and I barely ever get a spot these days!

Beauty Pie £10 off discount link 

If you’re new to Beauty Pie you can use this £10 off discount code. This isn’t an ad. I don’t work with Beauty Pie or anything like that, I just love their products and this is the normal discount code all members can share.

Japanfusion cleanser from Beauty Pie – One of the reasons I love this so much is because it melts away any dirt or makeup and then washes off so easily. I hate it when a cleanser leaves residue or is difficult to rinse off. It also removes all dirt and eye makeup without drying out my skin. I’ve been using this for 3 years now and I bulk buy it and have a tubes of it everywhere so I never run out!

They call it a gel to oil to milk product. It goes on like gel, cleanses like oil and rinses off like milk. I know, it sounds weird but honestly it’s genius. 

Japanfusion serum – I was on the fence about whether or not serum really does anything so I didn’t order it one month and my skin felt so much drier. I put serum onto damp skin as soon as I’ve cleansed it and my skin seems to soak it up like a sponge.

Super healthy skin daily moisturiser – the perfect combination of being rich and moisturising while also being light and soft.

A flannel – A real game changer for me was removing my cleanser with a flannel. I don’t use any extra product or make-up remover because the flannel gets it all. If I’m travelling really light I’ll take reusable make-up pads rather than a flannel but I always hope my hotel will have flannels!

Toiletries for a trip: The absolute bare essentials

Here are my essential toiletries for a trip:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo / and conditioner (I’ll switch this for dry shampoo for a quick trip)
• Hairbrush or comb
• SPF
• Face cleanser
• Face moisturiser
• Deodorant
• Lip balm
• Flannel/reusable cloth
• Paracetamol
• Prescription medicine

The essentials and then some…

Those are my absolute essentials and if I’m going away with my family that’s really all I take. If I’m going away with the girls or I know I’ll be making an effort then here are the extras I take:

• Face serum
• Hair serum
• Hair spray
• Make-up
• Body lotion

This tiny folding hairbrush from Denman is a great compact brush for travelling.

Travel toiletries for a long trip

If I’m going away for a week then I pretty much take ALL the toiletries

These include:

• Tweezers
• Razor
• Cotton buds
• Nail file
• Dental floss
• Feminine hygiene products

Here are my tips for the best toiletries for a trip

1. If it’s your favourite product at home, it will be your favourite product while you’re on your trip. You don’t need to buy new ‘holiday products’ if you already have favourites at home.
2. Don’t buy expensive miniature versions of your favourite products, use smaller bottles, pouches and pots to decant your products into. It’s much cheaper, better for the environment and many products don’t come in miniature versions.
3. Don’t scrimp on SPF. You won’t want to put it on if it makes you feel horrible and sweaty.
4. Don’t forget that wherever you’re going will sell toiletries. If people live there, they’ll sell toiletries! So don’t worry too much about running out. It’s unlikely you will run out and you’re overpacking to be cautious.
5. In theory, solid toiletries are great for travelling but, personally, I’ve never really liked them. You have to pack a slimy, gloopy bar when you’re ready to leave the hotel and I’ve never found a solid shampoo or conditioner bar I like as much as my regular liquids.
6. Pay attention to how much of a product you use at home. I’m always surprised to find I actually don’t use a lot at all.

Are travel miniatures worth buying?

Personally, I don’t buy any travel miniatures. They’re expensive, sometimes a bit faddy and I find it easier to just decant my normal products into travel bottles.

The only one I will sometimes buy is a mini sunscreen for a short break. Decanting sunscreen just gets messy!

Best bottles for decanting your travel toiletries

Travel pouches

I’ve recently discovered these travel pouches. I prefer them to bottles because they’re more compact. You can squeeze the air out of them so they’re good if you just need a small blob of your product.

Silicone bottles

I prefer silicone bottles over hard plastic ones. They last longer and it’s easier to squeeze out all the product.

Refillable pump bottles

I like these refillable pump bottles for my skincare products. They’re not the smallest but they’re mess-free and nice to use.

10ml pots

If I’m travelling light I’ll use these tiny 10ml pots for my skincare. They’re perfect for a weekend break.

Perfume bottle

This little perfume bottle can save so much space if you have a big and heavy glass perfume bottle.

Should you use a wash bag?

I always use a wash bag for a trip. It helps keep things organised and if anything spills it won’t get onto my clothes. If it’s a short trip then I’ll just pop my toiletries into one of the clear plastic bags you need for airport security.

But…

This is controversial but if you want to pack light then I wouldn’t use a washbag. You can save a lot of space in your luggage by squeezing your bottles, tubs and tubes into the nooks and crannies in your bag.

If you’re going down the no washbag route then I’d recommend using solid toiletries to avoid spills and leaks!

Finding the best travel wash bag

I’ve tried every wash bag under the sun and I’ve found the best ones are simply the type that open fully and allow you to find everything easily.

Wash bags with lots of pockets and zips and compartments are a massive faff. When you first get them it’s fun to pack them all neat and organised, but once you’ve done it once or twice the novelty wears off and you just want to chuck everything in and get it out easily. 

I’ve written a post about the best travel toiletries bags for women here.

Can you take razors with you?

You can take razors with you on holiday and you can take safety razors (normal ones with disposable blades) in your hand luggage too.

Read more: Can you take razors in your hand luggage?

If you can, I highly recommend using an IPL device. It’s like laser hair removal at home and it lasts for about 6-8 weeks. It works best if you have light skin and dark hair and I’ve found it be a real game-changer and money well spent!

What are the best feminine hygiene products for a trip?

It can be awkward if you’ve got your period while you’re travelling but there are loads of new products making things much easier than it was 10 years ago!

I love:

• Modibodi period pants – they’re expensive but they last!
• Menstrual cup – These take a bit of getting used to but once you’ve got the hang of them you’ll never go back. I use this one for light days and this one for heavy days. The one for lighter days is great for travel because it’s collapsible and comes in a little disk-shaped case. I’ve also seen the Pixie disk which I’m keen to try.

If you aren’t sure about menstrual cups, I’d definitely switch to period pants over pads. They’re so much easier and more comfortable.

Read more: Lily Cup Compact Review – A game changer for travelling on your period

Should you take a first aid kit away with you?

There are some people who will swear by travelling with a first aid kit and think it’s madness to go away without one.

Personally, I never take one. I’ll usually carry some paracetamol and if I’m doing a lot of walking I’ll take some plasters, but that’s it.

I wouldn’t take a first aid kit for a day out during a regular day at home so why would I need one when I’m on holiday?

Should you take insect repellent away with you?

If you think there will be lots of mosquitoes in the destination you’re visiting then it’s always worth taking some insect repellent.

I actually get bitten to pieces by mozzies and I’ve given up on insect repellent. I’d rather wear long clothing that covers me up as it’s a more reliable way to not get bitten!

Should you take hand sanitizer away with you?

If you use hand sanitizer at home then I’d recommend taking it away with you too.

Personally, I just regularly wash my hands with soap and water. 

If I was budget backpacking and knew I’d be using toilets without sinks and soap then I’d probably take some.

You haven’t included body wash or soap!?

Shock horror. I haven’t included body wash or soap in this list of the best toiletries for a trip. You’re right. I never pack body wash or soap because accommodation providers almost always have it. If there wasn’t any there (which is highly unlikely!) I’d use my shampoo. 

Do you ever use the hotel shampoo?

Personally I don’t. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with it but I have very dry hair and it tends to go dry and frizzy if I don’t use a shampoo for dry hair. Virtually all hotels I stay in do have shampoo available.

Do you take shaving foam?

I very rarely take a razor away with me because I use an IPL device at home so rarely need to shave. But if I do take a razor, I use the Venus comfortglide razor blades with gel on either side of the blade so you don’t need shaving foam. If you’re trying to travel light and want to leave the shaving foam at home, try using your hotel shower gel as shaving foam as that usually works just fine.