2026-08-03 · 5 min read
Travel toiletries: what actually needs to go
Toiletries are where bags get heavy. Here is the honest list of what you use every day, and what you can leave at home or buy on arrival.
Toiletries are the silent weight of every bag. Five bottles that each seem small add up, and most of them are things you would rather buy at your destination than carry across a border.
The cabin-size rule
Liquids, gels and aerosols go in containers of 100ml or less, all in one clear pouch that fits the airline's size limit. Anything bigger goes in checked luggage or gets left home.
What to actually carry
You need the daily-use stuff: toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, any medication, and the products your skin depends on. The things you could buy at a pharmacy at your destination — shower gel, shampoo, lotion — are the ones to leave out.
The small pouch wins
Keep it to one small pouch. That forces you to be honest about what you use, and it makes the airport pass through easy. Your travel bags will be lighter for it.
Add a toiletries row to your packing list on the packing list page.