Traveling without your favorite toiletries can be daunting. The thought of relying on the shampoo, conditioner and lotion at your hotel, plus the lack of available skin care products for your face, much less sunscreen that helps protect against damage, is never ideal for those with a set-in-stone beauty routine.
At the same time, there are plenty of reasons you may want to avoid checking a bag — especially if you’re heading on a quick weekend trip. So, taking your favorite beauty products on a flight might be impossible, knowing you’ve got to stick to the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquid rules. In other words, liquids, gels and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less to be allowed in a carry-on bag.
If you’ve found yourself in this scenario of choosing between your beloved beauty products and the restrictions on traveling with them, you’ll know how frustrating it can be.
Here’s the good news: There are quite a few travel-friendly options for skin care, hair care and general hygiene. To help you start packing smartly while taking the best care of yourself, we’ve rounded up 27 travel-size toiletries that pass the TSA’s liquid rules for carry-on bags and can keep you feeling good on vacation.
According to the TSA, there are no restrictions on what toiletries you can bring on an airplane so long as they meet the TSA’s 3-1-1 size requirement of 3.4 ounces per toiletry with all carry-on toiletries fitting inside a 1-quart plastic bag.
For reference, the TSA considers liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes as liquids. However, solids — for example, bar soap — are not considered liquids and can be brought in your carry-on bag.
Most larger liquids (including toiletries) can be packed in a checked bag. So if you’re headed on a long trip and plan to check a bag anyway, it might be worth bringing full-size toiletries to save money.
The TSA has implemented a rule called 3-1-1. This rule means that toiletries in your carry-on bag are limited to 3.4 ounces per toiletry and all toiletries must fit in a single 1-quart resealable bag.
There are two exceptions to this rule: medication and infant and child nourishments like breast milk and formula. Check the TSA’s website for more information on these exceptions.
Travel-size toiletries are a convenient way to pack your shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen and other travel essentials without having to check a bag or transfer full-size toiletries into travel bottles.
That said, they can often be more expensive than full-size toiletries on a per-ounce basis. You might consider buying reusable toiletry bottles and refilling them if you travel frequently or want to be more environmentally conscious on your next trip. We’ll show you some of our favorites at the end of the article.
This sunscreen was rated the best sunscreen of 2024 by CNN Underscored's testers, and it's easy to see why. It's rated for 50 SPF protection and is packed with vitamins and biofermentation technology that protects you from the sun and prevents aging skin. Even better, there are chia seeds in the lotion that nourish your skin and strengthen skin resilience. This 1.7-ounce bottle will make it through TSA too.
This brush-on sunscreen is ideal for travel because it's powder-based instead of liquid, making it naturally TSA-friendly. It provides SPF 30 protection without weighing down your skin, and it's vegan-friendly, paraben-free and safe for sensitive skin. The applicator for this travel-friendly sunscreen weighs only 0.12 ounces, and it's small enough to fit in your favorite crossbody bag.
If you're heading to a sunny destination, you'll want to pack enough sun protection for your whole body. This solid sunscreen stick is exempt from the TSA's 3-1-1 rule for liquids, so you can take its SPF 50 sun protection in a carry-on bag without taking up your limited toiletry allocation.
This sunscreen serum is expertly formulated for sensitive skin that's prone to breakouts, so it can help protect skin without blocking pores. It also leaves skin looking dewy without leaving a white cast, so it's ideal for those travel days when you want to go makeup-free. We love this product so much that it made our list of the 50 beauty products we can’t live without. The relatively small size of 1.69 ounces makes it ideal for any size travel bag or even carrying it in your pocket when you're out and about.
This travel hydration tool for your skin is available in 1-ounce tins, making it ideal to throw in your favorite backpack. Shea butter contains fatty acids that help strengthen your skin's natural barrier, making the product perfect for keeping your skin supple or healing dry knees and elbows, dry lips and sunburns. The tins are even small enough to keep in your pocket.
This drugstore facial moisturizer made our list of the best face moisturizers for every skin type for a few reasons. Not only is it affordable and easy to pick up online or at your local drugstore, but it's also fast-absorbing, lightweight and designed to moisturize sensitive skin without being irritating. In addition to the larger bottles that are great to keep at home, the Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion comes in a 3-ounce bottle, making it ideal for travel when you don't want to check a bag.
Don't forget to pack moisturizing care for your hands and other problem areas on your next trip. This 1.75-ounce bottle of Aquaphor healing ointment helps dry, cracked and irritated skin recover and get back to normal. Better yet, this ointment is versatile enough to use as a lip moisturizer or foot cream, or use it to continue your slugging routine on the road. We love how versatile Aquaphor is, and its travel-friendly size makes this a must-pack.
Packing toothpaste that's TSA-friendly is relatively easy, but finding mouthwash that's 3 ounces or less and worth bringing along on your trip is another story. After all, the travel-size mouthwash containers only have enough wash to get you through a maximum of a few days. That's where Bite Mouthwash Bits come in. These tiny bits let you bite, sip and swish until your mouth feels minty clean, and they're entirely TSA-friendly. The bits also come in a glass jar that's reusable and recyclable.
This natural approach to toothpaste is perfect for taking along on the go. While its standard-size tubes are larger than the TSA's liquid limit, this sample pack of the three different Before toothpaste options is a great way to find your new favorite while you travel. The pack comes with Whitening, Sensitive and Classic options, each coming in at just 2.01 ounces, well within the TSA's liquid limits.
Your toothpaste doesn't need to come in liquid or gel format. These tablets from Hello are the perfect way to skirt around any liquid requirements while still keeping your dental hygiene top of mind. Not only do they do the trick at keeping your mouth clean, but they're also compact and a more sustainable way to brush your teeth.
Dry shampoo is a staple on vacation to use in between washes. And thankfully, our pick for the best dry shampoo comes in a travel-friendly size. In our testing, the Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo was the best at absorbing oil and sweat and has a pleasant scent to boot. Grab one of the three fragrances — Original Scent, Lush or Coconut Colada — in the travel-friendly 1.4-ounce mini size for your next vacation.
Having fun in the sun can wreak havoc on your hair, which is why it always makes sense to bring treatment. The Hydra Shot Hair Treatment from Nutree Professional is only 1.58 ounces, so it's perfect for travel and small enough to fit in any size bag. The treatment itself can be used to soothe and heal dry and damaged hair while providing long-term hydration benefits.?
A leave-in conditioner is a great choice for vacations too, as it'll keep your hair looking sleek and detangled. This option from Moroccanoil is one of the best out there, especially for those with fine hair, according to experts. It comes in not only a full-size option but also this travel-friendly 1.7-ounce canister to continue your leave-in conditioner routine on the road.
If you never want to think of using hotel lotion to care for your face, consider this three-piece travel set to keep up your impeccable skin care while traveling. You'll get a day collagen serum, a night collagen serum and an active exfoliant, all of which work in tandem to reduce skin aging and help you look your best.?QMS Medicosmetics also offers full-size serums and face care products, but this three-piece travel set is great for vacation since each tube is just 0.19 ounces.
One of our best skin care products for women over the age of 40, this travel-friendly Pacifica Glow Baby Booster Serum should be on your radar. Not only is it affordable, but it also helps your skin glow and appear fresh and youthful all day long. Active ingredients include stabilized vitamin C and glycolic acid, which work together to support luminous skin.
These makeup-removing wipes are some of the best out there, according to experts, and they're perfect for throwing in your bag and carrying along wherever you go. Not only can they remove makeup — including waterproof mascara — but they're also hydrating and won't disrupt your skin's barrier. Plus, since they're wipes, you don't have to worry about the TSA's 3-1-1 rules.
If you're hoping to keep your lips looking luscious on vacation, this trio of tools can help. The Kiss & Tell Lip Care Trio comes with a butter lip mask, a sugar lip scrub and a vitamin E lip moisturizer as well as a soft velvet carrying case you can easily throw in your backpack or carry-on bag.?All of the items are less than 3 ounces, meaning you won't have to worry about being stopped at the TSA checkpoint.
CeraVe skin care products are popular for use at home for a reason, and they're also offered in TSA-friendly travel sizes. This CeraVe Daily Face Wash comes in a 3-ounce bottle and offers the same hydrating face wash that was developed by dermatologists — it's one of the best face washes for dry skin, according to skin care experts. It's made to gently clean your skin without causing irritation or breakouts.
Plump lips are always in, and that's even more true when you want to see and be seen on vacation. This lip plumper set can ensure your lips are puckered up and fabulous at all times, and it's both TSA-friendly and affordable.?This treatment duo keeps your lips looking full and soft, and it also helps repair peeling and other damage — not to mention it's a CNN Underscored reader favorite.
Daybird is a BIPOC, women-owned skin care brand that offers a range of products for travel and looking your best at home or away. The Skin Tint is perfect for every trip you take since it combines several products in one: moisturizer, SPF 50 protection and sheer foundation that gives you a natural glow.?Best of all, the metal-free airless pump the product comes in is fully curbside recyclable.
If you're into the basics and want a kit of essentials that includes several toiletries you'll need for your next vacation, this set from Amazon is worth adding to your cart. For just $15, you'll get a reusable toiletries bag with TSA-approved shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant and toothpaste. A white styling comb is even thrown in for good measure.
This is like the Convenience Kits set above but geared toward men. In this kit, you'll find everything from mouthwash to toothpaste to shaving cream from well-known brands like Crest, Barbasol and Degree. And with a price tag under $10, it's a great way to buy everything you need at once without breaking the bank.
If you like Gillette shaving cream at home, bring it on the road with one of these travel-size bottles. It's the same product you'll find in a full-size can of Gillette but in a TSA-approved 2-ounce container. Buy it online for the best deal — and if you travel enough, consider buying in bulk.
This is our senior travel and money editor's favorite shaving cream because it's made with an aloe-enriched formula that leaves his face feeling soft. Plus, it's available in a 2-ounce travel-size container that can be found at many local drugstores like Walgreens and CVS.
These toiletry bottles are a reader favorite at CNN Underscored. The kit includes four BPA-free silicone toiletry bottles that can hold 3 ounces of liquid each, keeping you well within the TSA's liquid rules. And at just $10, they'll pay dividends when compared to constantly purchasing new travel-size toiletries.
If you're looking for a premium set of reusable toiletry bottles, this is it. These bottles from S'well are made from stainless steel and are durable enough to withstand frequent travel. Each has a pumping mechanism that makes it easy to dispense thicker liquids like moisturizer and shampoo. Our reviewer also loves how easy it is to clean the bottles, making it easy to switch which toiletries you're packing.
The TSA requires that all of your carry-on toiletries fit inside of a 1-quart resealable bag. While most travelers default to a Ziploc bag or similar, this set of clear toiletry bags can be reused countless times. Since the bags are made from a thicker material, they're more likely to protect your toiletries when you move through the airport.
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