Pack The Perfect Liquid Carry-On Bag
- Kel
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
For 35+ years, we've traveled globally for both personal and business. One rule we firmly follow is - WE DON'T CHECK A BAG! Our reasons are diverse, but ultimately, we prefer to land and go, avoiding the hassle of lost luggage in another city or country. It has taught us to pack more efficiently and effectively. Moreover, less luggage means less heavy stuff to carry with you (especially if there are no elevators). Over the years, we have perfected the process of bringing our liquids and gels without sacrificing what we need to have on hand. Here are some of our tips and favorite products to help you meet the TSA's toiletry requirements for carry-on luggage. We will show you how we fit all of this into ONE CARRY ONE TOILETRY BAG:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Facial Cleanser
Facial Toner
Exfoliator
Day Cream SPF
Night Cream
Skin Serums
Eye Drops
Eye Cream
Eye Patches
Shower Gel
Make-Up Wipes
Shave Cream
Razor
Perfume
Lip Balm
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
Dental Floss
Allergy Stick
Laundry Stick
Hand Sanitizer
1. Start With A TSA-Approved Toiletry Bag
We used to be the people who would use the plastic 1-quart bag from our pantry. Those don't last, and they are too narrow without a bottom gusset that stands up on its own. This is our go-to bag. Even with all of this packed into it, we still have some room for smaller items, such as floss or breath strips. It's clear, so it's easy to spot what you need.
2. Buy Containers For Basic Toiletries In Sets That Stack/Pack Well Together (rather than travel-size of everything from the store)
We use a set of bottles for items we need more of (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel) and smaller jar containers for things we need less of (eye creams, moisturizer). Take a look at how much you use at home over 7-10 days. You'd be surprised how little you need to take with you. Most of the time, your moisturizer containers are only 1-2 oz for the full size. Here are a few favorites of ours:
3. Buy Small Non-Glass Containers For Small Volume Products (think perfume and serums)
We don't leave home without our favorite perfumes and skin treatment serums... that would be insane! We found these excellent travel-size refillable containers that take the place of the gorgeous glass bottles we don't want to risk breaking...plus, you don't need much of these when you're traveling. The perfume containers refill directly from your regular bottle into the bottom (simple pump action), and the airless pump serum containers have a screw top so you easily pour in your serum (great for oils, treatments, etc.)
4. Get Favorite Travel Size Items - Ideally In Packable Shape
There are, of course, products where the travel size is perfectly designed to fit in a TSA bag. The key is to ensure they stand upright and are thin in width. We also grab these favorites in bulk and replace them when needed.
5. Add Single-Use Sizes For Items That Don't Easily Go Into A Travel Container
This is all about space efficiency, but also having what you'll need during a trip. Many brands offer single-serve usage of their products -these are great, especially if you can't easily transfer them into another container, like shaving cream). We buy these in bulk and restock our bag before a trip - travel essentials like shave cream, eye patches, razors, laundry sticks, etc.
6. Customize To Your Needs & Label Containers
The great thing about using containers is that you can customize your toiletry bag to whatever you use most. The key to making this bag work efficiently is labelling the items so they are easy to spot. We love this label maker (and use it for various purposes, such as labeling all the cords for our teenager's technology), but it's also easy to customize and print. It works directly from your phone and has waterproof label paper as well. Type, print & stick!
We hope you get one tidbit of inspiration from this!
Travel well friends!
Kel
