What to Put in a Toiletry Bag

How to pack a toiletry bag systematically so you remember everything, avoid overpacking, and still look your best.

Source: Pexels

Types of Toiletry Bags

There are two types of toiletry bags: one for the countertop and one you can hang.

The Hanging Bag Type

This is arguably more practical. It keeps everything away from wet, cluttered, or unhygienic surfaces; you can leave it hung so it remains open and ventilated; and all your toiletries are visible at once. Ideal if you’re camping or using a shared bathroom.

It’s also the best choice for men living out of a toiletry bag over extended periods, perhaps in a hostel or lodgings. In this case, those available from camping suppliers are sturdier and often larger than standard bags.

Countertop Toiletry Bags

I use the less practical countertop type. If you don’t dry things properly after use, the inside of the bag soon turns into a slimy mess. And rummaging through it to find a single item is time-consuming and annoying.

But they’re cheap if you buy from a drugstore, and easy to wipe out.

Luxury versions made from leather or waxed canvas ventilate well and last longer. They’re worth the investment if you travel numerous times a year, especially for business trips.  

How a Toiletry Bag Works

If you have a hanging toiletry bag, there are probably a number of roomy pockets to keep everything tidy.

The countertop type, however, has one large space at the center (sometimes divided into two) and a few pockets around the lining. Because it’s dark inside, mesh pockets don’t always improve visibility.

Packing a toiletry bag is mostly self-explanatory: bulkier items like aerosol cans, hair products, soap dishes, body wash, and moisturizers go in the main compartment; smaller items go in the pockets—one side for anything that comes into contact with water like your toothbrush and razor, the other for scissors, nail clippers, mustache wax, and lip balm. Metal containers can easily rust if they’re exposed to moisture, so it’s important to keep them separate or in an outside pocket if available.

What Should You Put in a Toiletry Bag?

Unlike the men of yesteryear, you won’t be able to pack your entire bathroom cabinet.

Everything my father needed while traveling fitted into his military-issued shaving bag (also known as a “dopp kit”). A razor, some spare blades, a styptic pencil, a shaving brush, a shaving stick, a bar of soap, a small mirror, plus a toothbrush and toothpaste. Anything more was considered vain.

For us it’s not only about grooming and hygiene, but extensive skin and hair care too.

So these days, it’s less about what you should put in a toiletry bag and more about what you shouldn’t.

If you have a skin condition like acne or eczema, your treatment is non-negotiable. It can’t be skipped for even a day.

But men like me can economize for a week or so without dire consequences.

What I Need at Home

At home, I need several serums, a scrub, a chemical peel, a night cream, a day cream, bar soap, a face and body wash, micellar water, two toothpastes—and the list goes on.

I also like to shave the old-fashioned way with a safety razor and brush.

I can’t possibly pack all that in a toiletry bag. I’d need a vanity case.

Besides, men attending to their daily ablutions in front of other men in a communal bathroom wouldn’t be seen to perform an entire skincare routine. That hasn’t changed since the days of my father’s army barracks.

How I Economize for My Toiletry Bag

Skipping your full routine for a couple of weeks won’t cause your skin to fall apart. In fact, it often feels more relaxed—probably because it has fewer active ingredients to react to.

This is why you can choose products that serve more than one purpose instead of trying to take everything with you.

My skin does fine with a single 24-hour cream. It means no day and night creams, and no serums. And I can cleanse from head to toe in the morning with my face and body wash—I only use Wright’s Coal Tar soap at home for its masculine fragrance. This alone saves me several products.

Instead of a safety razor, brush, and shaving cream, I use a multi-blade cartridge and shaving oil—the sunflower oil from your kitchen cupboard transferred to a small bottle is all you need. It’s also suitable for head shaving.

The no-brainer, of course, is to buy travel-size items wherever possible. This I do for deodorant and contact lens fluid—and don’t forget an extra pair of contacts in case you lose one.

I otherwise don’t bother with spares. I’ve never had aerosols exploding or leaking in checked luggage or any other such mishaps. If I did, I’d simply buy it new at my destination rather than taking up space for something that probably won’t happen.

Source: Pexels

Make Sure You Pack Everything

So, with my daily regimen pared down, not only do I save space; I have less to remember.

To make sure you have everything, run through your daily grooming routine from head to toe, adding each item as you go. It’s best to lay everything out on a towel or waterproof surface, then pack your toiletry bag so that items you’ll need first are instantly retrievable.

Here’s a list of possible items as you’d run through them:

Head

• Shampoo (or will a face and body wash double up?)
• Conditioner (consider a solid bar product to save space)
• Styling product (choose the most versatile if you usually use more than one)
• Brush and comb
• Hotels can lend out a hairdryer, or take a small, foldable model

Face

• Your treatment if you have a skin condition
• Face and body wash (this doubles as a beard wash)
• Multi-blade cartridges and shaving oil for the face and head
• Moisturizer or 24-hour cream
• Lip balm
• Tanning towels (optional)
• Scissors, comb, and brush for your beard or mustache
• Beard balm or mustache wax

Teeth

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• A protective cap for your toothbrush

Body

• Face and body wash
• Sunscreen (if appropriate)

Nails

• Clippers and a file (fingernails can grow quickly)
• A nail brush

Washcloth

If you’re camping, a washcloth is non-negotiable for daily washing at a sink or bowl. Otherwise, leave it behind—it has to be constantly left out to dry or risk toiletry bag mustiness.

Incidental Items

If you take a small sewing kit, put it in an outside pocket of your toiletry bag. Do the same for medications—even if kept away from wet items inside the bag, they can still pick up atmospheric moisture.

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We all have our own preferences. If you want to take a bottle of cologne or a hair trimmer, that’s entirely up to you. Just pack systematically and take only what you’ll use.

© 2026 J. Richardson