I know, I know. This is a headache for you too. You’ve beautifully packed your carry-on bag and heck, you’re even proud of yourself!

That’s until you have to fit in your toiletries 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I’m surely not the only one, right? 😂

But there’s hope!

I was hesitant to share this, BUT… look at this photo I found from our first month as full-time travelers:

That’s mostly beauty products!

I don’t know why I took that photo all the way back in 2021 LOL but I’m glad I did!

I packed AAAAALLLLLLL the things. Literally.

Needless to say, I was not a carry-on traveler back then.

The reason why I’m sharing this, is because when we left to travel the world full-time, I had all the fears you have when you’re packing for a trip.

I’ve been there with you, girl. Imagine always living out of a suitcase 😬.

I packed all the ‘what ifs’ and ‘just in case’ items.

But dragging a giant, heavy suitcase filled with items I rarely used made my travel days miserable.

And I don’t want that for you!

The good thing is… if I was able to downsize, so can you 💪🏼.

I’ve learned a ton since 2021, and today I’m going to share everything with you.

Tips to Travel with Fewer Beauty Products:

Here are my best tips to simplify your toiletry bag without sacrificing your beauty routine.

1. Pack What You Need in the Moment:

If you’re running low on something, don’t bring the almost empty bottle plus a new one.

If you run out of something, just replace it wherever you are. This can be super fun because you’ll get to try new brands and products. Plus, shopping in a foreign country is always a fun experience!

2. Embrace Multi-Functional Beauty Products:

Look for items that can pull double duty. For example:

Foundation with SPF protection: Protects your skin from the sun while providing coverage.

An antioxidant balm that you can use as an eye cream.
A lipstick that doubles up as a blush: Saves space and adds versatility.
An eyeshadow palette with versatile shades: Allows you to create multiple looks with one palette.

You get the point. Look for the products that fit your unique needs. There are seriously so many great options out there.

Favorite Travel Products:

🧳 My gorgeous carry-on bag.

🛂 My super chic document holder.

⭐️ My go-to packing cubes!

3. Learn About DIY Beauty Hacks:

Pinterest is great for this! It’s fun to get creative by using ingredients you can find at your destination.

🧖🏽‍♀️ Need a deep-conditioning hair mask? Try Argan oil from the local market.

🥒 Want to refresh tired eyes after a long flight? Cucumber slices are your best bet!

Find any excuse to go shopping at local markets :)

4. Buy Travel-Sized Products (When It Makes Sense):

I personally only like this option when it comes to premium beauty products.

Don’t waste money on travel-sized products like shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer. Just get refillable bottles and use the products you already have at home.

Also, don’t overestimate the amount of product you’ll need. 3 oz of shampoo does not sound like much, but it can last you up to 10 days!

My advice is that you buy refillable containers in all shapes and sizes. Don’t default to 3 oz for everything. There are some products that you’ll need very little of (this depends on the length of your trip).

👉🏻 For beauty products like serums and moisturizers, 1 OZ is more than plenty for 2+ weeks!

5. Edit, edit, edit! This is the hard part 🙈

After you edit, make sure to pack your toiletries inside either a clear ziplock bag or a clear toiletry bag like this one. Some airports have this as a requirement for carry-on travelers!

And on that note, have your toiletry bag handy. You might have to take it out of your suitcase to scan it through security separately. This is very common in Western European airports.

Packing Anxiety? Watch this 5 minute video before you start packing!

Why You Shouldn’t Spend Money on Travel-Sized Products

I want to clarify that even though I do travel with carry-on friendly toiletries, it’s not a good idea for every single product.

Let’s dive deeper into why those tiny bottles can sometimes be more trouble than they’re worth.

💸 You’re wasting money on products you probably don’t even like. The options are very limited and often expensive. Have you ever checked out that aisle at Walgreens or CVS? Everything is tiny and so freaking expensive.

♻️ All those little plastic bottles are terrible for the environment! (No worries, I have a solution for you below).

👎🏻 The quality and efficacy tend to be lower! Downsizing a product into travel size sometimes involves reformulating it to fit into smaller packaging. This alteration can affect its effectiveness, leading to subpar results compared to the full-sized version.

Here’s What to Do Instead…

Obviously, I’m not going to rant about this without offering solutions! You know me better than that 💁🏻‍♀️.

⭐️ Enter Refillable Travel Containers ⭐️

This is when these super cute travel containers enter the picture:

✅ You only have to buy them once. There are all kinds of refillable travel containers on Amazon. Check the top-rated ones here.

✅ You can refill them with any product you have at home. No need to buy anything new or gamble on a new product before a big trip.

✅ You don’t have to worry about TSA regulations. These are all TSA-friendly. (This is only convenient if you don’t check your bag).

✅ I recently discovered these ones for perfumes!

Pro tip: Use a sharpie or labels so you know what’s inside each container. I like to make a note on my phone when I’m refilling them because some of the products I bring can change depending on the trip. I recommend getting refillable bottles that come in multiple colors. It’s easier to know what’s where ;)

There Are Exceptions Though! 🙅🏻‍♀️

Now, don’t get me wrong – there are exceptions to every rule.

Sometimes, travel-sized products are unavoidable, especially if you are not checking your bag. Here’s when to make an exception:

If you use premium beauty products. Don’t risk it. It can be more expensive to try and move it to a new container. Serums, face moisturizers, eye creams, and sunscreens often fall in this category.
If you’re going on a longer trip, do your math or be prepared to buy a new version of whatever you run out of. (This is what I do).

Pro tip: If you need the travel-sized version of a premium beauty product you know & love, go straight to their website to get the smaller version.

Learn how to travel light with these articles:

My Current Beauty Routine:

Plumping Serum (morning OR night) *can be used as eye serum*
Plumping Moisturizer (daily) *can be used as eye cream*
Antioxidant Balm (every night) *can be used as eye balm*

If you do end up shopping at Primally Pure, use code WAYSOFSTYLE10 at checkout to receive 10% off your entire order!

😱 I know downsizing is always scary. All the ‘what ifs’ can really mess up with our brains.

But again, try this: go through all the beauty products you use, and pick the most basic ones (4-5). Try that skincare routine for a week. You will see that you don’t need the rest when you’re traveling.

I promise you will be just fine!

Remember this is temporary.

You can always go back home to all your beloved beauty products!

Other Random Toiletries I Always Pack:

Don’t forget about these, ok?

Deodorant

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Hairbrush

Razor
Lip balm
Nail file

That’s it from me today. Hope this post inspires you to downsize your toiletries for your next trip. If you have any questions, remember I’m always here and happy to help!

Thanks so much for reading ♥️

XO,

Aimara

PS: remember to watch my entire packing process here. This video will teach you how to pack light in under 30 minutes!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi, my name is Aimara and I am the voice behind Ways of Style. I was born and raised in Venezuela until the age of 27 when I moved to Chicago, and 2 years later I met my best friend and husband. We now travel full time and live out of a carry-on bag, so believe me, I know a thing or two about how to maximize every single piece I own.

I love creating new looks, and looking cute while I’m traveling. And in this blog, I try to share all my looks, even if I don’t have the best photos ;) My goal is to help you maximize every piece you have in your closet and to encourage you to live with less things.

Read These Packing-Related Articles Next:

How to survive long travel days ✈️

Did you learn how to simplify your toiletries? Save this post on Pinterest!

Home » How to Simplify Your Toiletry Bag: A Carry-On Traveler’s Guide!