Let me set the scene: you’ve just arrived at your scenic hotel by the beach in Italy with your friends.
Everything is perfect. Your flight was easy, your bags came on time, and you found the hotel super quickly, and everyone is in a good mood. You go to open your suitcase, still looking out the window to the beautiful ocean, and before you see it, you feel your clothes have a dewy, lotion-like feel to them.
You look down. Your entire makeup bag has exploded all over your suitcase. Well, maybe not “exploded,” but your clothes are drenched in micellar water, full-coverage foundation, and conditioner.
If you’ve experienced this nightmare before, you know the absolute dread that comes with it.
I’m here to save you from disaster. Not only have I scouted the best makeup bag for traveling, but I’ve sourced actually cute bags that will have you feeling like the IT girl on your vacation without sacrificing your sanity.
Let’s get into my 10 picks for the best travel makeup bag to put in your suitcase!
What to Look For When Picking a Travel Cosmetic Bag
There are a lot of products out there that boast they are the best toiletry bag on the market, but what should you be looking for to determine if the bag is high-rated and worth your money?
Here are a few things to look for when picking your travel bags:
- A waterproof exterior (when possible)
- Travel makeup bag with compartments
- Aesthetic appearance
- Easy to open and pack
- Durable
- Washer/Dryer safe
Here are a few things to AVOID when picking your pouch:
- Bad craftsmanship
- Easily tarnished by cosmetics
- Poor compartment design and structure
Picking the best travel bag for makeup and toiletries can be hard, especially when you don’t know where to look and you don’t want to waste your money trying out a bunch of different bags.
I’ve done the hard work for you. I’ve sourced and found 9 of the best travel makeup bags to take with you on your travels – business or leisure! They’re totally chic and great for both the makeup enthusiast or the professional.
They’re the perfect picks to keep all your beauty essentials!
10 Of My Favorite Travel Makeup Bags To Travel With
I’ve summed up a short list of the best cosmetic bags to take with you on your next trip that have great reviews and are a must-have addition to your luggage.
Depending on your cosmetic bag needs, I’ve offered a diverse array of the best travel makeup bags for those carrying a LOT of makeup and those carrying only the essentials.
1. The Weekender Makeup Bag
This cosmetic case is perfect for the professional or the makeup enthusiast.
The Sonia Kashuk Weekender Makeup Bag is sleek, functional, and has several compartments for easy access to all your favorite makeup. It’s also reasonably affordable and sits flush against the walls of your suitcase.
If you’re planning on a big trip, this makeup bag is great for international travel as it lets you stack in a bunch of products without getting disorganized. The bag has two zippered sections on the top and bottom, with a middle section to store additional makeup brushes, sponges, etc.
The makeup case comes in a simple black color that’s easy to keep looking clean and makes your bathroom setup at whatever hotel or Airbnb you’re staying at look very put together and posh. This high-quality and long-lasting makeup bag is definitely worth the purchase!
Oh, and if you’re really a nut about organization, check out Cadence Pods. They make storing little things so much easier!
2. The ROWNYEON Makeup Bag
I’ve been seeing the Rownyeon Makeup Bag ALL over my TikTok feed and for good reason.
It has adjustable compartments and a massive section to act as a brush holder. The inside of the bag comes with 10 (yes, 10!) adjustable sections to fit to your liking and the outside has a plastic casing for durability. It’s the ultimate bag for A-type personalities like myself.
Depending on how much makeup you have and how much room you need in your travel case, this bag comes in small, medium, and large. AND, if you have too much in your suitcase, this makeup bag has a special handle on the back to fit right onto your suitcase handle.
This toiletry bag really does it all. It’s waterproof and the best large capacity travel cosmetic bag I found. Not only is it super sleek looking, but it keeps everything in place as you travel!
I definitely think the professional makeup artists would love this one! It’s the best travel makeup bag Amazon has.
3. ILEABEC Travel Makeup Bag
If you’re looking for something simple but a little flashy, then the ILEABEC Travel Bag is for you.
With an easy-to-wash polyester fabric, this bag is a go-to for anyone with a lot of makeup that likes to get everywhere.
Coming in at a price of $20, this bag comes in super cute prints and is big enough for your cosmetics, toiletries, and jewelry. Young girls would go crazy for this bag, but it’s also a great pick so you never get confused with your friends over which makeup bag is yours.
Although compartments are sparse, this bag allows you to bring larger items like full-sized moisturizers or leave-in conditioners. Definitely a good pick for longer travels where you need to take more with you and keep track of your stuff! You won’t forget this makeup bag in your hotel, trust me.
4. The Chia Leather Makeup Bag
This one is for my big spenders and luxe ladies. The Chia Leather Makeup Bag by Maxwell Scott is not for the faint of heart.
I love the design of this makeup bag and the materials used. It’s made from full-grain leather, which is the strongest and most durable part of the hide PLUS, the brand offers a 25-year warranty on their products (which is insaaaane.) To feel extra bougie, make sure you stock up on Merit Beauty and Tarte Cosmetics to put into this bag.
Although this little case may seem like it’s for those in a different tax bracket, this small travel makeup bag is a great investment for anyone who travels frequently and needs something that will last.
I’d also like to point out that the Chia has one of the most beautiful finishes I’ve ever seen on a makeup bag. It’s the perfect addition to a rustic, minimalist style and would look killer in a “get ready with me” Instagram post or TikTok.
5. Beis Cosmetic Organizer
Beis has a great selection of easy, quick, and effective makeup cases that are visually stunning and super functional. My favorite is The Cosmetic Organizer, a perfect weekender makeup case to throw into your luggage, totes, or purses!
The bag is made of newly recycled fabric and is easy to clean. If you’re a regular user of your makeup case, having something that’s easy to clean is a MUST.
For those who love to travel and like to keep things quick and efficient, I highly recommend popping Alleyoop products or some Subtl Beauty makeup stacks into this makeup bag!
It’s the best travel makeup organizer because it’s got two compartments. One soft top compartment and one structured bottom compartment.
This means you can store your more delicate and smaller items up top and your heavier, bigger products down below. If you’ve ever had your foundation leak all over your eyeliners, lipsticks, and eye shadow palettes, you know the benefit of having these two separate sections in a bag!
6. Cotopaxi Nido Accessory Bag
Although considered an “accessory bag” and not a “makeup bag,” the Nido Accessory Bag by Cotopaxi is one for the books and works great for both men and women. Cotopaxi is a great brand that makes super durable and trustworthy items like this bag!
Each bag is one of a kind, with a randomized selection of colors that the Cotopaxi team picks for you. The bag itself has three compartments to help you separate your things, a side carry handle, and plenty of room for all your essentials.
This makeup bag would be the perfect addition for backpackers, light travelers, and people who want more versatility. It makes a great gift too and you can take it with you wherever you want.
If you’re looking for more versatile bags that do more than just carry your makeup, check out Kara’s post on some of the best and cutest Fanny Packs for travel!
7. Rare Beauty Cross Body Makeup Bag
Rare Beauty does everything right, even their makeup bags. Selena knows what the people want, and it’s a makeup bag that’s super cute, functional, and you can actually take out in public.
The Rare Beauty Cross Body Makeup Bag acts almost as a purse, with a cute, clear front and a removable round mirror. The interior boasts a beautiful deep purplish-red color and comes with pockets for brushes, eyeliner, lip liner, eyelash curler etc!
Both stylish and functional, this bag boasts a 5-star rating and has two main compartments to keep your things organized! What is really special about this bag is that it can double as a purse. Put your beauty essentials in the first compartment and your wallet, keys, and phone in the second.
I love this bag because you can bring it out pretty much anywhere and nobody will know it’s a makeup bag! It’s also easy to store as a hanging cosmetic case on any coat rack or bathroom hook.
It’s the best makeup travel bag because you can take it on a plane, and no one will know you’ve got your entire makeup collection sitting under the seat in front of you.
8. Lay-N-Go Cosmo Drawstring
Now, this one might be controversial, but I think the Lay-N-Go Cosmo Drawstring makeup bag is the best makeup bag organizer for the unorganized girl. I have a lot of friends with super messy rooms and though it may appear to the untrained eye to be incredibly disorganized, those friends know exactly where everything is. The same principles apply to this bag.
To use this bag, simply undo the drawstring and let it lay flat. If you’re lookng for a travel jewelry case, this is it. Put all your jewelry or smaller cosmetics into the zipped pocket located inside, and put your makeup brushes into the provided holders. Next, lay all your cosmetics into the bag, pull on the drawstring, and voila – you have your easy-access makeup bag ready to go on your next trip with you.
This bag will save you time trying to jam everything into compartments and instead, you can pile in whatever you want and access it all in one swift swoop.
9. Calpak Cosmetic Clear Case
As I did my research looking for the best of the best in the makeup bag world, this Calpak bag kept popping up!
The Cosmetic Clear Case by Calpak is one of the cutest bags and puts all your products in view! The clear makeup bag is great for people who want to show off their sleek Ordinary serums and expensive makeup or for those who want to know exactly what’s going on in their bag.
This clear cosmetic case is definitely for the IG baddie and IT girl with its minimalist design and matching capabilities.
The case has two large, zippable compartments and a smaller pocket for little essentials. The bag itself is water resistant (win) and boasts 400+ five-star reviews – so you know it’s tried and tested!
This bag is actually one of three and you can complete your entire makeup bag collection with all three and really up your aesthetic game. Although a bit pricey, these bags are sturdy, practical, and will last through many eras of trends.
10. Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Organizer
If you’re able to splurge a little bit, the Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry is a great travel makeup case that doesn’t take a lot of space in your bag. Its unique cylindrical shape is so cute, and is differnt than your usual hanging toiletry with the clear travel makeup holders.
You can easily organize your makeup products in the separate slots, plus the zipper closure is super secure like any Dagne Dover bag.
BONUS: Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set
And if you’re willing to splurge A LOT for a travel makeup bag at least, this case set is it. Not only is the leather exterior beautiful. The set is perfect to seperate and organize your toiletries. I would use one as a cosmetics case and the other for everything else!
Those are my top makeup bags for traveling with! Which one caught your eye? Was there one I should put on the list? Do you have one of these bags and love it? Let me know down in the comments below!
Next, if you want to level up your travel accessories game, these are our favorite anti-theft travel purses to make sure your stuff stays safe on trips!
