Lightweight Travel Toiletries for One-Bag Travel: My Complete Kit

Packing toiletries for carry-on travel sounds simple until you’re staring at a quart-sized bag and a collection of products that definitely won’t fit. As a regular traveller, I’ve tried many options and have steadily reduced my kit to something I’m genuinely happy with. I pack a bag, or live out of one, most weeks – my life for the last 30 years. A quick and easy system is essential.

So here’s everything I need for around a month on the road, in one small pouch. No decanting. No travel-size bottles. No panic at security. This is what I pack and the principles that helped get me there.

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Carry-On Travel Toiletries – My Packing List

✅Keep it Simple • ➖Less is More • 🎒Baggage Freedom

So here’s the list. The exact products vary over time and may not be suitable or available to everyone. I’ve added options based on other products I’ve personally tried, where it helps.

Streamlining Your Toiletries for Travel

My old toiletry kit weighed 1.4kg, took up a lot of space in my bag, and featured a bulky hanging case packed with half-empty bottles. Today, my entire kit weighs around 450g, has enough to last me about a month, and fits inside a single, flexible pocket.

There’s plenty of advice suggesting you should decant, decant, decant. But that’s just one tool you can use, and my least preferred option. So here’s what I do recommend so we don’t bring a miniature bathroom with us,

Airport Security: Know Your Limits

TSA rules get all the attention – but they only apply in the US. Elsewhere, things may vary, so check the rules locally. Even if you’re travelling somewhere that no longer enforces the 100ml liquid rule, it’s still a useful discipline to follow. It encourages you to question what you really need and reduces the risk of leaks.

If you’re struggling with airport security limits, don’t forget there are usually pharmacies airside. They may even have a click-and-collect service. So you can still stock up before you arrive at your destination.

Buy or Use Toiletries at Your Destination

Maybe you like trying new toiletries and are prepared to buy them when you get there? Or maybe you’d rather stick with what you’re familiar with. Either way, have a plan so you only bring the things you really need.

• Hotels and serviced apartments often provide shampoo and body wash, and some higher-end hotels provide a wider range of luxury toiletries that you’ll genuinely want to use.
• Friends and family may have toiletries you can share.
• If you’re staying somewhere for several weeks, buying a full-size product locally may make more sense than packing enough for the whole trip.

I prefer to bring my own, except sunscreen, if I’m going somewhere sunny. I’m often travelling place to place, so I don’t want to carry around full-sized bottles I’ve purchased locally.

Try Toiletries in Bar Form

The range of solid toiletries is constantly increasing. Useful for travel, but also a great way to reduce single-use plastic. Finding products you like can be trial and error, but don’t give up after one dud. And try them at home before you take them away with you.

Here are some to try, along with tips on how to use them.

Face and Body Bars

We’ve all become accustomed to liquid cleansers, but they only became popular in the 1980s with the introduction of the pump dispenser. Before that, it was mainly bars, so this is not a new idea.

Start with a solid cleanser. KinKind My Radiant CLEANSE! Facial Cleanser Bar is great, as is UpCircle Cinnamon and Ginger Face Bar and Ethique Ginger Snap face Bar. And here’s an old favourite from Neutrogena.

Use them on your body too, if you want to. And if you do want a separate body bar, there’s a raft of options everywhere. Just be cautious about using a body bar on your face, unless it’s been formulated for that purpose. Some can be too harsh.

Shampoo Bars

If you don’t want to gamble with hotel shampoo, then pack your own shampoo bar. But be prepared to try several to find one that works for your hair type. Thick, porous, long hair and hard water (my situation) are the biggest challenges for solid shampoo, as it’s harder to control how much product you use and ensure it’s rinsed out properly.

Kinkind is the UK brand I use most often, but I’ve also used Kitsch (US brand) and Éthique (NZ brand). All are excellent and have a range of shampoo bars for every hair type. I would start with one of those. Which brand you choose may be determined by where you live, but these three do ship internationally.

Do try Éthique Discovery sets – you get a range of mini bars to try, saving you from purchasing or travelling with full bars.

L’Occitane (French brand) and Lush (UK brand) are two popular brands I’ve also tried. With shops in several countries, you can pick one up rather than order online.

Conditioner Bars

Solid bar hair brands usually have matching shampoo and conditioners. Ethique Solid Hair Conditioner Bar for Very Dry and Damaged Hair is one of the best. KinKind Conditioner Bar. Coconut Oil & Argan Oil NOURISH me! and Kitsch have conditioner bars to match their shampoo bars.

Or skip a conditioning bar and use Nuxe Oil instead. Use it either as a prewash treatment or apply several drops on your brush or comb after washing. It’s an excellent detangler. A little goes a long way.

Multi-Use Bars

If you’re going to take space-saving to the next level, the next question is whether there really is a difference between face wash, body wash, and shampoo. The truth is, most of the time, there genuinely is a difference, and no single product does it all perfectly.

Here are a couple of 2-in-1s I would recommend: KinKind Unscented Be Kind Shampoo and Body Bar and Kitsch 2-in-1 Ultra sensitive shampoo and body bar. While they are not specifically recommended for the face, they are unscented and gentle.

If you’ve come across travellers who swear by a single Castile soap bar for everything – body, face, hair, and even brushing their teeth – give it a try at home before relying on it for a trip. It definitely isn’t for me.

Matador Soap Bar Case | KinKind My Radiant CLEANSE! Facial Cleanser Bar | KinKind NOURISH me! Shampoo Bar. Coconut & Argan Oil for hydration | Travel Buddy Soap Bar Case

Storing Solid Toiletries

Yes, companies sell pretty tins with their bars, and you can use a traditional soap box, but the soap dry bag is the way forward. It’s especially useful if you need to pack things up before your solid toiletries have dried out.

Made from a fabric with Dry-Through Technology, it is fully waterproof but allows moisture to evaporate through the material. This means your damp bar will dry out without going soggy and without leaking,

Either buy the original Matador Soap Bag or a popular dupe – Travel Buddy. I’ve used both, and they are similar in size and design and work the same way. The Travel Buddy has a suction pad, useful for hanging it up in the shower (and leaving it behind afterwards!), and the Matador one comes in colours as well as black and without a loud logo. Take your pick.

Buy concentrates

Water makes up a good percentage of most toiletries, so looking for more concentrated forms makes sense, and solid bars are not the only option. When you hear a brand say their products are concentrated and you don’t need much, take note, as they may make a great travel companion. With less packaging, or even zero-waste packaging, it’s a win. Here are some I can personally recommend:

Concentrated shampoo and conditioner

The sustainable brand Upcircle has a shampoo and conditioner that promise to last three times as long as traditional liquid products, so that’s quite some savings. Packaged in substantial glass bottles, you’ll want to decant for travel. While I’m familiar with this brand, there are others. Let me know in the comments,

Concentrated deodorant

Compact and long-lasting options are available:

• Nuud deodorant is great, and comes in a tiny tube made from sugarcane and is biodegradable
• Akt also comes in concentrated mini tubes with plastic-free packaging
• Wild mini deodorant balm tiny sticks with packaging made from bamboo pulp and plant fibres. Often sold in packs of three. Not as long-lasting as Nuud, but still a great compact option for travel

There are also concentrated pastes in tins. Go on, you really don’t need the bulky plastic containers.

Concentrated Sunscreen

Paste in a tin. Less bulky, won’t spill, and often reef-safe, with fewer chemicals and no nanoparticles. I like Sol de Ibiza – Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 – Face & Body. There’s also Shade, which takes a little more rubbing in, but I find the small tin useful.

Dry Oil and Shaving Oil

The dry oil Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is concentrated. A drop or two of oil on a brush or a comb will condition and detangle your hair, and it will also moisturise your face, hands and body. With less liquid volume than traditional conditioners, creams and lotions, you won’t need much, and it saves you from bringing many different products. A real travel hero.

If you’re looking for something more compact than shaving foam, then oils can work for this too. Try King of Shaves

Look after your teeth while travelling

It’s easy to let dental hygiene slip when travelling, so here are some ideas to keep you on track.

Toothpaste Tablets, powders and paste

Just like solid shampoo, toothpaste tablets and powders are available to help save space, but not all are created equal, and switching to them requires a bit of an adjustment. Many eco-friendly brands sell fluoride-free tablets, which many dentists caution against for long-term use.

I’ve settled on the Sonisk Whitening Toothpowder because it is dentist-approved, contains fluoride, and weighs a fraction of a traditional paste tube. The slightly gritty texture can make it a little more effective for whitening than a traditional toothpaste, without introducing harsh chemicals.

I’ve tried a few brands of toothpaste tablets, and after sifting out the ones without fluoride, the choices are diminished. Parla toothpaste tablets are pleasant to use and effective, as are Sonisk Toothpaste tablets. But keep them in an airtight container so they don’t go soggy.

Sometimes I’ll just take a tube. I’ve saved a lot of weight elsewhere, so I can. I’ve been hunting for plastic-free options. Metal tubes are difficult to find and can split, so they are not ideal. Marvis toothpaste tubes look like traditional metal tubes. They are not, but they do roll up like traditional tubes. So if you take half a tube with you, it will take half the space, unlike regular plastic tubes, which stay filled with air even when empty.

And of course, there are travel-sized toothpaste tubes, or you can decant the amount you need into refillable travel toothpaste tubes.

Keeping your Teeth Clean when away: Suri Electric toothbrush with USB-C charging and Charge Travel Case to kill 99,9% of bacteria | Sonisk Tooth Whitening Powder | Marvis Tooth Whitening Toothpaste | Sonisk Battery-Operated Toothbrush with lid | Mini Floss | Folding Travel Toothbrush

Toothbrushes for travel

Do cover your toothbrush head so it won’t pick up germs or whatever else is festering at the bottom of the washbag. It’s possible to buy little plastic toothbrush covers for a regular toothbrush – a good idea, if that’s what you’re bringing.

If you’re sticking with a manual toothbrush, then a folding toothbrush keeps things tidy and clean and halves the space it takes..

Traditional electric toothbrushes are bulky, especially if they need a proprietary charger. Here are some lighter options:

• Sonisk toothbrush: My favourite. Powered by an AAA battery, it takes up no more space than a regular toothbrush and works well.
• Quip toothbrushes: Another popular compact brand to look out for.
• Suri toothbrushes: Not quite plastic-free, but almost, with recyclable heads; the case keeps things neat and offers USB charging and it blitzes germs. Still a bit bulky, so I use it at home and bring the little Sonisk instead.

Beyond a toothbrush, floss is a compact and hygienic solution if you don’t want to pack reusable toothpicks or teepees. There’s a toothpick on my Victorinox credit card-sized multi-tool.

Care for Your Hair when Travelling

Check out shampoo and conditioner bars as the lightest and most compact option, or concentrated shampoo or conditioner to save weight and space before considering bringing full-size liquid bottles, decanting into mini bottles, or buying travel-size.

You can also use a multi-purpose dry oil instead of conditioner. I buy the smaller 30ml bottle, – compact enough for travel without needing to decant from the larger bottle, but still lasts a long time

The minimalist choice for taming the mane is a comb, and that’s all I bring. A folding brush will save space and be easier to pack. This Kent folding hairbrush is not flimsy, and it is as strong as a regular brush, and it is the only one I own now.

Skip heated hair tools; that will save weight both with the tools and any extra adapters or converters you may need to bring. If you do want to bring hair tools, this article on hair tools from Travel Fashion Girl may be helpful.

Nuxe Dry Oil for Face, Body and Hair | KinKind NOURISH me! Shampoo Bar. Coconut & Argan Oil | Kent Comb (mine comes in a leather case with a nail file) | Kent Folding Hairbrush | Wahl Travel Hairdryer (super light and powerful but still stays at home)

Streamlining Skincare

The ‘noise’ around skincare and the products we should and shouldn’t use can be overwhelming. Harsh chemicals and long routines have never appealed. And while my anecdotal ‘less is more’ experience is not proof of concept for everyone else, I can say I’m old now. My face is not collapsing under a sea of sagginess, as the cosmetic and skincare industry told me it would. It’s the cosmetics industry’s job to persuade us that we need all these products; it’s up to us to evaluate and decide whether we do.

So if you want to cut down on your travel toiletries, prepare before you leave. Experiment and see if everything you use is definitely helping. Can you find products or processes you can eliminate from your ‘everyday’ while still feeling like ‘you’?

My skincare routine amounts to washing my face with water and a mild cleanser and adding dry oil if necessary. As that’s all I do at home, it’s easy to maintain when away.

Nuxe Dry Oil for Face, Body and Hair | Merit: The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick | Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer | Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara | KinKind My Radiant CLEANSE! Facial Cleanser Bar | KinKind NOURISH me! Shampoo Bar. Coconut & Argan Oil for hydration

Managing Makeup

Decide if you need makeup at all. Same rule as for clothes: be realistic; don’t pack for that imaginary version of yourself; pack for the person you will be when away. Whatever you pick, work out a signature look before you go, avoid bringing duplicate colours, and pick products that do more than one job where possible.

My makeup is honed down to three products from the clean brand Merit: A foundation and a combined blush/bronzer/lipstick, both in stick form. Then a small-sized mascara – a tubing mascara, so it comes off easily without makeup remover.

Pick the Right Storage for Your Travel Toiletries

There are many options on the market, and many are bulky, so try to pick something that isn’t over-engineered. The fewer things you bring, the less need there is for complex organisation. I’ve moved from a bag with sections to a simple pouch, and I’m not going back. The stuff we need to bring when we travel is heavy enough, without the containers we put it in, adding more weight than necessary.

Enough Toiletries for over a month in a half-filled Matador Zipper Toiletry Case

Matador Zipper Toiletry Case

After years of cycling through bulky hanging bags and cheap pouches that fell apart, I’m happy with the Matador FlatPak Toiletry Case. It is hands-down the best storage option for an ultralight traveller, especially one who travels regularly. Here is why:

• The Dry-Through Technology: The fabric is fully waterproof but allows moisture to evaporate through the material. If you pack a damp toothbrush or soap bar, it won’t go all slimy and breed bacteria. There’s a matching soap dry bag which works in the same way.
• Ultralight: At 28g, about the only toiletry bag that is lighter is a Ziploc bag, and then only marginally. But it’s not going to puncture, tear, leak or make things go soggy.
• Compact Volume: With more space than I need, it’s easy to find things. My Matador washbag is the zip-top version, but there’s also a roll-top version you can roll up so it takes up exactly as much space as its contents. With both versions, there’s no unnecessary structure, so it’s not awkward to pack, and it’s still super strong, even though it’s a featherweight.
• The Hanging Loop: Allows you to hang it from a bathroom hook. Useful in tight spaces and communal places.
• A flat bottom: A gusset on the bottom means it will also stand up on a counter, and you can get inside easily.

Cabin Zero Ultralight Wash Pouch

If you’re after something similar to the Matador zip pouch but at a lower price point, Cabin Zero has launched its ultralight wash pouch, which is 30g and a similar size. It also has a hanging loop and a flat bottom, although no Dry-through technology. The Cabin Zero Wash Bag comes in a wider range of colours and matches their packing cubes.

So pick up a Cabin Zero backpack: my favourite, personal item-sized bag is the military 28L. Then add co-ordinating ultralight compression packing cubes and an ultralight wash pouch. Choose a co-ordinating padlock if you’re staying in hostels. You’ll have the complete kit for one bag travel; add your belongings and off you go!

Decant Larger Quantities

It goes without saying that if you’re only away for a week or less, you’re unlikely to need a big bottle of anything. Decanting will be a cheaper solution than buying travel minis and will use less single-use plastic, too. So if you’ve considered all the options above, then this is what you need to do.

Pick leakproof containers. Many toiletry bottles have flip tops. I’d ditch those or tape them down. Take screw-top ones instead; they won’t pop open when squeezed and shaken up in your bag, or when the air pressure changes. Nobody wants to arrive with everything ruined due to a toiletry explosion.

One Bag Travel Toiletries: What I Don’t Pack (and Why)

I log the weight of everything in my bag on a spreadsheet. Then I can scrutinise the real value of everything, and these are the decisions I’ve made to help me come up with this minimalist travel tech gear list.

Packing Everything Else

Travelling with less gives you more freedom to enjoy the trip, and toiletries aren’t the only things to consider when packing light. I tend to look at each part of my packing separately and work on improving each area independently. All the little incremental changes soon start to add up.

For more inspiration, here’s my travel capsule wardrobe for all seasons (fits in a small bag), ultralight travel tech, and some small, mini-but-mighty travel accessories. All these fit in my one small bag.

How do you minimise your toiletries? Do share your ideas in the comments. If you’re interested in more tips on packing light or trips in Europe, especially off the beaten track, then I have a monthly newsletter, and I’d love it if you joined.

Thanks for Reading!