Tropical getaways, spontaneous road trips, or a long day at the office are all instances where the best toiletry bags for women on the go are necessary. And while a new one may not be at the top of your wishlist, consider a Dopp kit a necessity along with your carry-on or weekender.
Think of a travel makeup bag as a practical way to stay organized on your trip. And luckily, there are a plethora of options in the market to hold all your essentials in style—because who says staying organized has to be boring or stressful?
So, swap that years-old pouch for one that better reflects your needs and lifestyle. From a makeup-artist-designed travel bag by Westman Atelier to thoughtfully crafted cosmetic cases by Cuyana or Everlane with voyaging in mind, read on to discover Vogue’s edit of the best toiletry bags for women.
Vogue’s Favorite Toiletry Bags and Makeup Cases:
In this article
Best Overall: July Vanity Cosmetic Case
- Why we love it: Toiletries can easily be jostled en route to a destination, whether that’s on an international flight or a walk from the linen closet to the bathroom. July’s Vanity Cosmetic Case rises to the challenge of keeping everything—from bottles to brushes—in place. With enough height to stow bottles upright, it also has side elastics that keep small products secure. Internal and external pockets make it easy to organize products into tidy collections, and a removable pouch can be carried onto the plane. Finally, a sturdy leather top handle makes for easy portability.
- Dimensions: 9.84 x 6.30 x 7.87 inches
- Colors: 4
Best Two-Pack: Cuyana Travel Case Set
- Why we love it: Two are better than one when it comes to storage options. This duo from Cuyana pairs a small, pebbled leather bag with a larger counterpart. This makes it easy to separate products by size; or, should you wish, to use the smaller bag in your carry-on suitcase while stowing the larger one in checked baggage. The leather lining is easy to clean—any wet washcloth will whisk away any trace of a makeup mishap—and the exterior Argentinian leather is available in 16 tempting shades. Colors range from a demure blush (a bestseller) to a chili-pepper red.
- Dimensions: Large bag 7 x 12 x 3.5 inches; small bag 5 x 8 x 2.5 inches
- Colors: 16
Best for Your Purse: Everlane The ReNew Transit Catch-All Case
- Why we love it: Made from 100% recycled polyester, Everlane’s case has a collapsible structure. This makes it adaptable to different types of getaways: If it’s a beach weekend where only SPF is required, collapse the case to make room for more bikinis. Or, if you’re headed to a destination wedding that mandates a full face of glam, take advantage of the case’s six pockets to arrive fully stocked. It’s also easy to stow in your purse, for touch-ups on the go.
- Dimensions: Folded: 9 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches; unfolded: 11 x 9 x 6.5 inches
- Colors: 4
Best for Makeup: Béis The Cosmetics Case
- Why we love it: Traveling with makeup in tow makes the occasional foundation leak or eyeshadow crumble all but inevitable. Luckily, this minimalist travel case was designed to take the sting out of spills. With faux leather on the outside and PVC material on the inside, it’s easy to wipe clean. Plus, special features—including hidden magnets that hold multiple makeup brushes and a portable mirror with a prop-up stand—allow one to travel like a true makeup artiste.
- Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 4 inches
- Colors: 9
Best Clear: Calpak Large Clear Cosmetics Case
- Why we love it: Whether you’re looking for your favorite blush on a European vacation or choosing a lipgloss before work in the morning, a clear cosmetics case makes it easy to see what you’re working with. Calpak’s see-through case not only comes through with visibility. It also has two separate, roomy storage containers that make it simple to stash lots of products. What’s more, two top handles make the bag easy to whisk around, and a zippered interior pocket serves as a convenient catch-all for small items like tweezers and single eyeshadows.
- Dimensions: 11.5 x 5.25 x 9 inches
- Colors: 19
Best Hanging: Away The Hanging Toiletry Bag
- Why we love it: Rather than rifling through your toiletry bag, why not hang it up so that all its contents can be readily displayed? With a hook made for hanging on a wall or a door, Away’s Hanging Toiletry Bag has three mesh pouches for easy—and ample—storage. Water-resistant and easy to clean, it also has a detachable clear pouch, which can stow travel-sized liquid items.
- Dimensions: 9.6 x 3.74 x 6.6 inches
- Colors: 4
Best Compact: Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Organizer
- Why we love it: Made of recycled polyester, the eco-friendly bag has a compact, circular structure that takes up minimal space in luggage. Its upright design makes it handy for storing liquid sans spills, and it has six adjustable compartments to keep the products snug. A triangular metal clip keeps odds and ends—such as hair ties— neatly in place, while a removable mesh pouch can be stored in one’s purse for touch-ups on the go.
- Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches
- Colors: 6
Best Upright: The Container Store Parallelle Traveler Bag
- Why we love it: Traveling with tubes, brushes, and bottles that are better stored upright? This sleek bag has a unique design that keeps products standing tall. Simply unzip its top and the sides fold down, revealing compartments, pouches, and adjustable dividers that keep items organized. A reinforced base adds to the upright integrity, letting the bag stand free without toppling over.
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 8 x 7 inches
- Colors: 2
Best for Just the Essentials: Rains Wash Small Bag
- Why we love it: When you need to take your core product collection on the road—and are leaving the extra brushes and slew of color options at home—Rains’ compact bag lends itself to traveling light. The small pouch has one compartment, which can handily store the staples of an everyday makeup or skincare regime. Designed for ultimate durability, the 100% polyester bag is also waterproof, and has a carry handle for easy portability.
- Dimensions: 5.1 x 8.3 x 4.3 inches
- Colors: 7
Best for a Carry-On: Telena Makeup Bag
- Why we love it: If you’re looking for a makeup bag to carry on board, “Consider Telena’s zippered pouch,” Vogue beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden suggests. “[It’s] wide enough to fit all your cosmetics, yet still compact to pop in your purse or personal item for easy access.” The water-resistant, large-capacity bag keeps items organized, too—it has interior pockets for color cosmetics, a zippered pouch that’s long enough for brushes, and plenty of room for travel-sized skincare.
- Dimensions: 4.72 x 4.72 x 9.84 inches
- Colors: 19
Best Monogrammed: Paravel See-All Vanity Case
- Why we love it: For a makeup bag with a personal touch, Paravel’s vanity case can be customized with hand-painted monograms. Available in 14 hues, the letters can be further embellished with foil accents or handmade emojis. Deck out the case with everything from a cute bumblebee to a classic red heart—whichever design you choose, the transparent case will make it easy to see and stow travel essentials.
- Dimensions: 5.5 x 3.75 x 8.5 inches
- Colors: 2
Best for Makeup Brushes: Kusshi Vacationer Leather Makeup Brush Organizer
- Why we love it: For the makeup brush aficionado, Kusshi’s leather organizer stows all the necessary tools for a dramatic contour, a fluffy swirl of blush, or any other makeup look. (Or for fresh breath—there’s also a spot for a toothbrush.) With a removable liner that’s machine-washable, the spacious organizer has 11 pockets and typically holds some 30 products. What’s more, it protects products’ cleanliness while on the go: The organizer is not only resistant to water and stains; it’s also antimicrobial and anti-mold.
- Dimensions: 7 x 13.5 x 5.75 inches
- Colors: 3
Best Splurge: Westman Atelier
- Why we love it: When cult makeup artist Gucci Westman partnered with Métier to design her “dream” travel case, she emphasized luxurious detailing—without compromising practicality. The Westman Atelier carryall is handmade in Italy from sustainably sourced Tuscan bouclé, which is not only handsome but water-resistant. Lined with double-faced, vintage-inspired fabric, the interior is water-resistant, too. The heat-sealed base easily wipes clean with a damp cloth, and the solid brass zipper has a silky smooth glide. Naturally, Westman designed the storage through the eye of a true makeup lover, adding six compartments, a spacious zippered pouch, and a main body that can hold skincare, perfume, supplements, and more.
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.25 x 3.5 inches
- Colors: 3
What to look for in a toiletry bag
Like choosing a hotel or Airbnb for your next getaway, your products’ temporary home should be thoughtfully considered, too. While a beautifully-designed case lends undeniable appeal to a hotel vanity or even a workspace, keep these practical considerations in mind as well:
- Material: The best toiletry bags should be made of a durable material that can stand up to being overstuffed—and be easily wiped clean in the case of spills or smudges. For instance, Westman Atelier’s sumptuous train case is lined with double-faced performance fabric inspired by 1960s beach umbrellas, while Rains’s waterproof Wash Bag is crafted from durable, 100% polyester. If quick visibility is what you’re after, consider a clear case: Calpak’s see-through bag, made of polyurethane and PVC, is a roomy option that can hold everything from skincare to passports and sleep masks for easy access.
- Size: The best toiletry bag for you will handily stow however many products you need on the go—whether that’s just the basics for an easy, everyday makeup routine, or brushes, bottles, and palettes that will leave full glam on hand. For the former, Dagne Dover’s Mila Toiletry Organizer has a compact, circular design that’s easy to tuck into luggage or use as a carry-on; it measures 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches. Meanwhile, Everlane’s cleverly collapsible case measures 9 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches when it’s folded; unfolded:, it expands to 11 x 9 x 6.5 inches. Keep height in mind, too: If you want to store bottles and liquids upright, or are packing longer brushes, consider an upright option like The Container Store’s Parraelle Traveller Bag, which is 7 inches high.
- Portability: The best toiletry bags are also easy to tote around. While selecting the right bag for your jaunt, consider packing a bag that can be easily carried (or flown!) around while keeping products safely in place, such as July’s Vanity Cosmetic Case. If it’s not being stowed in a tote or suitcase, you’ll want it to have a practical carrying handle, such as the Béis The Cosmetics Case, or a roomy base to rest atop a carry-on.