We are preparing for full time travel around-the-world as a family of four. When choosing travel toiletries, we kept these criteria in mind:
- Good for long-term travel
- Mostly solid toiletries
- Preferably zero-waste, low-waste, or reusable containers
- Natural or non-toxic ingredients
Hopefully each item we packed falls into at least two of these categories. It would be quite a challenge to pack a toiletries bag full of personal care products that each have all of these characteristics!
Our travel toiletries are organized into three bags: a wet dry clutch containing solid toiletries; a wet/dry clutch containing our laundry kit; and a quart sized clear bag containing liquids, gels, and pastes. You can watch our video to see the contents of each bag, and find links on the checklists below.
Solid Travel Toiletries Checklist
We packed our solid toiletries in a Logan and Lenora Waterproof Clutch (an older version than the one currently available). That way anything that is wet when we check out of a hotel room can go in the waterproof pocket.
- Nubian Mango Butter Soap (packed in a plastic soap dish that we’ve used for years)
- Ethique Solid Shampoo Bar
- Ethique Solid Conditioner Bar
- Ethique Storage Container
- Thai Deodorant Crystal in Basket
- Biodegradable Toothbrushes
- Preserve Recycled Kids Toothbrushes
- Toothbrush Caps
- Wooden comb (will purchase wooden brushes in Thailand)
- Razors (still haven’t switched to zero-waste options)
- Nail clippers and files
We tried bamboo toothbrushes in the past, which are a popular zero waste option, but I didn’t like the texture in my mouth. This time we are trying biodegradable plant-based plastic toothbrushes for the gown ups and recycled plastic toothbrushes for the kids.
Travel Laundry Kit Checklist
We will mostly rent apartments through Airbnb that have a washing machine, so I will be able to wash our clothes. I am also brining supplies for washing and lanolizing my daughter’s wool diaper covers. I’m actually excited about doing laundry while traveling! It will be nice to have a washing machine in our unit, rather than the coin-operated laundry room down the hall that we currently use.
Our travel laundry kit is packed in a Blueberry Waterproof Clutch. That way, any wet bars of wool wash or stain remover can be placed in the waterproof pocket.
- Eco Nuts (Soap Berries) Laundry Detergent
- Natural Clothes Line
- Charis N Ewe Lanolin
- Lanolin Soap Wool Wash Bar
- BunchaFarmers Stain Remover Stick
Zero-Waste Liquid Travel Toiletries Checklist
We are packing toiletries that are liquids, gels, and pastes in a reusable clear quart-sized bag from Planet Wise. Some of these items may not fall under the 3-1-1 liquids rule, but I packed them together just in case! The 3-1-1 Rule for flying with liquids in a carry-on bag allows you to bring:
3.4 ounces (100ml) containers, packed in 1 quart-sized clear bag, and 1 bag per person
Toiletries for all members of our family are packed together, so we are just taking one quart-sized bag of liquids for the whole family.
Not all of these items are zero-waste, low-waste, or packed in plastic-free containers, but I did my best.
- Travel Size Contact Lens Solution (plastic)
- Kids Rescue Remedy Drops
- Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment
- Uncle Harry’s Natural Toothpaste (glass)
- Tiger Balm (glass)
- Acquarella Water-Based Nail Polish
- Surfer’s Salve (tin)
- Raw Love Natural Mineral Sunscreen, Reef-Safe (tin)
- Badger Anti-Bug Balm (tin)
- Organic lip balm (homemade by a friend)
- Kjaer Weis Lipstick (stainless steel)
What travel toiletries do you like to pack?