The 10 Best Toiletry Organizers
This wiki has been updated 35 times since it was first published in October of 2015. Keeping your makeup and other grooming accessories handy and portable for traveling is easy with one of these versatile toiletry organizers. They are large enough to hold all the cosmetics, hair brushes, razors, shampoos, conditioners, and toothpaste you might need, and are ideal for use in a college dorm or hotel room. Their smart designs should keep items in place during transit. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Editor's Notes
March 18, 2019:
Since a common reason people need toiletry bags is for travel, we made sure many of our selections had features that make them helpful in airports and hotels. The 4Kits Hanging keeps everything in clear pouches, making it easy for TSA to quickly view your liquids, and the Bago ShowerBag and Fishers Finery Expert are easy to fit in most carry-on bags right alongside your clothes. Meanwhile, the Everest Deluxe has a large top opening, making it convenient to quickly see and grab essentials when you're in a hurry — like to freshen up after a flight and before going to a meeting. Since these bags will often carry items that are either prone to leaking or are wet, we looked for features considerate of that, too. The Vagreez Dop Kit has a designated compartment for damp items, the Kipozi ORG-003 is made to hold bottles upright, and the ProCase TB0 is made of water-resistant materials.
Why You Need A Toiletry Organizer
In a toiletry organizer, no inch of storage ever goes to waste.
If you think you can get away with simply storing your toiletries in medicine cabinets and drawers at home, or tossing them in your large luggage for travel, you'll quickly notice what a nuisance it is not to use an organizer. These accessories shouldn't be viewed as optional luxuries, but rather essential additions to your home and vacation items. Once you try one, you'll never understand how you lived without one. They can save you space, time, and even money. Let's discuss how.
Your toiletries tend to be small. Between tweezers, nail clippers, and small bottles of lotion, your collection of toiletries is mostly a combination of items that can each respectively fit in your palm. That's why, when you put them in your regular travel bag, they all fall to the bottom, and often leave you searching desperately for things you tend to need urgently (like travel deodorant after a long flight and before an important meeting). An organizer makes it easy to designate a spot for each item or type of item, and contains these well. Just open up your organizer and you can quickly see where everything is. No more digging through your tote.
Organizers also protect your precious products. When you simply toss your hair sprays, face serums, makeup, and more in a big bag, you risk destroying them. If you know much about what goes on behind the scenes at airports, then you know this is especially true when you fly. Those who handle your luggage are not concerned with doing so delicately just for the sake of your expensive moisturizer. That's why you can open your bag to find your products have been smashed, cracked, and spilled. Organizers keep them securely in place, often in padded and liquid-proof compartments, to protect them from damage. If you rarely travel and wonder why you need one for the home, these bags are far more space-efficient than your cabinet shelves. When you attempt to stack things in your medicine cabinet, they fall everywhere. Don't even get us started about a drawer that you are opening and closing regularly. You just can't make efficient use of those spaces. In a toiletry organizer, no inch of storage ever goes to waste.
How To Choose A Toiletry Organizer
There are several features to look for in your organizer that will help you get the most out of this item. If you love to marvel at your amazing collection of products and beautifying tools, or if you just need to see what you have in a pinch so you can get ready quickly, you may want clear pockets. Depending on what you plan on packing, you may want a variety of pocket materials, too, including plastic, mesh, and fabrics with added cushioing. Considering that some items need to breathe, while certain need to protect against spills, and others may contain fragile belongings, this diversity of pocket types will help you safely store everything.
Depending on what you plan on packing, you may want a variety of pocket materials, too, including plastic, mesh, and fabrics with added cushioing.
Frequent travelers who scrutinize hotel bathrooms may find that some accommodations are just too small for their well-curated collection of toiletries. That can make a hook for hanging very useful on an organizer. That way, you don't need to take everything out. You can just leave your items in the organizer, open it, and hang it up. It won't take any precious counter space. As for when you're en-route to your destination, you will want a sturdy carrying handle, and perhaps a bag that rolls up or is compact so as to not take up too much real estate in your luggage.
There are tons of designs and styles to choose from, too. If you're a makeup artist, fashionista, or anyone who feels that the look of her toiletry organizer says just as much about her as the items inside, you might want one in a bright color or with a stylish print. Meanwhile, there are subtle designs for the more discreet individual or rugged man who would never want his organizer to be mistaken for a makeup bag.
What To Keep In Your Organizer When Traveling
A well-stocked toiletry organizer can make your routine on the road go a bit more smoothly. There are some items that no such bag should be without. A small bottle or container of lotion always comes in handy while traveling. Between airplanes and airports, travelers spend a lot of time in dry, stale air, so rehydrating the skin is essential. It can also be nice to refresh your mouth between flights or at rest stops on long drives, which makes travel size toothpaste and mouthwash essential additions to these bags.
A well-stocked toiletry organizer can make your routine on the road go a bit more smoothly.
If you have a stacked agenda with back-to-back activities, finding the time to wash your hair every day may just not be an option. Dry shampoo can be a life (and look) saver in those instances. Since all the static on planes can do a number on your locks, consider packing an anti-frizz spray, as well. Those who need to revitalize their face when there is no sink in sight might like face cleansing wipes, too. With a smartly-packed toiletry bag, you can make it look like you had plenty of time to do your regular routine, even when you didn't.
Nobody likes to get sick at any time, but being under the weather while traveling is especially upsetting. Keep hand sanitizer in your toiletry bag, so you can remove germs after touching handrails, elevator buttons, and other bacteria-ridden items. If you're worried that someone sick is sitting near you on the plane, keep echinacea or Emergen-C tablets in your bag. Toiletry organizers can really be your go-to resource for handling a number of situations when you're away from home.