Travel planning is challenging, but what’s also challenging is travel packing! Believe me, my packing lists were longer and more complex than my itineraries. As time progressed, my travels, a desire to be more mindful, and, surprisingly, my type-A personality trait helped me identify what I really needed out of my travel packing.
- Light and compact – the goal is to make the most of my carry-on (especially for short trips) and keep my luggage light
- Functional and minimal – bonus points for items that serve a dual purpose
- Low environmental impact – wherever possible, I pack locally and sustainably made items in reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging
Many overloaded bags and failed iterations later, I’ve put together a list of travel-friendly personal care items that work. While the list is far from perfect, it’s a step in the right direction, and I hope it helps you travel lighter and more sustainably too. So, here are my must-have sustainable personal care essentials for your upcoming travels and beyond!
Covid-19 essentials
The must-have sustainable personal care items to stay safe are a hand sanitiser and a reusable mask. Also, social distancing—it’s easy, free, consumes and wastes nothing, and it saves!
Eco-friendly hand sanitizer
This sustainable sanitiser is a glass-bottled alcohol-based gel with natural moisturisers, while this one comes with a plastic pump. Eco & Faye has an empties policy – send five glass bottles back, and they’ll send you a fresh bottle of sanitiser.
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Made in India ✔
Reusable mask
If you’re good with the sewing machine or know someone who is, make your own reusable double-layered cotton masks! Else, look for a reusable+mask made with sustainable materials and natural dyes, and when done, can be composted. Most masks come with elastics and brand tags, none of which are biodegradable. W White Reusable Cotton Face Mask, and InWeave Cotton Mask pass my criteria.
Travel-friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Biodegradable ✔ Elastic-free ✔ Plastic-free ✔ Made in India ✔
Dental care
Here are my go-to travel-friendly sustainable swaps for dental essentials, which normally involve loads of single-use or non-recyclable plastic.
Plastic-free toothpaste
I’ve been travelling with this peppermint toothpaste for a few years now. Baking soda and organic oils? Sure! Bare Necessities is zero-waste; they have a refill policy and an empties policy where you can send five or more jars back to them.
If leakage worries you, try toothpaste tablets^ that come in a reusable aluminium tin.
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Empties policy ✔ Refill Policy ✔ Made in India ✔
Plastic-free toothbrush
Sustainably-made bamboo toothbrushes are perfect for travel. When done, remove the nylon bristles with pliers, and compost/repurpose the handle. I use an FDA-approved compostable bamboo toothbrush.
For a 100% biodegradable option, a wheat straw toothbrush is great. Both the handle and the bamboo fibre bristles biodegrade in about six months!
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Plastic-free ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Compostable ✔ Made in India ✔
Haircare
Travelling mindfully doesn’t mean making do with dull and greasy locks. I’ve got you and your mane covered with the next set of items from my travel-friendly sustainable personal care list!
Shampoo and conditioner bars
Let’s hit the (shampoo) bars! This combo of zero-waste shampoo and conditioner bars is a game-changer for travellers looking to reduce their carbon and plastic footprint. Because they’re water-free, they’re good cabin luggage during air travel.
Cruelty-free ✔ Plastic-free ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Refillable ✔ Made in India ✔
Natural dry shampoo
Aerosol-free dry shampoos are great for transit touch-ups and keeping scalp oiliness at bay between washes. I’m partial to the organic cocoa powder dry shampoo because it’s 45 grams of *chef’s kiss*!
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Recyclable ✔ Empties policy ✔ Refill Policy ✔ Made in India ✔
Wood comb
If your current comb does its job, hold on to it. If you’re looking for a new one, a neem wood comb+ is a terrific option. Neem is known for its anti-fungal and anti-allergen properties, and the comb’s teeth don’t cause static charge, making it perfect for running through your hair or beard (or both) as you run to catch that train.
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Biodegradable ✔ Made in India ✔
Bath & body
Here are easy-breezy sustainable options for all your major bath-and-body needs, because hygiene and self-care matter even when you’re travelling.
Soap bar
Any soap bar that’s plastic-free, cruelty-free, and safe for the environment works. I’m drawn to this pack of four soap bars in a travel-friendly size. At the end of the day, soap is soap, we’re just choosing the loving ones.
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Plastic-free ✔ Made in India ✔
Safety razor
My yearning to be hair-free strikes when I travel, which is why I pack a safety razor for longer trips. They’re eco-friendly since there’s no plastic, the handles are durable and long-lasting, and the stainless steel razor blades are recyclable. My favourites are the bamboo razor and the steel safety razor.
Cruelty-free ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Made in India ✔
Body butter
Liquid lotions are so passé! Body butters are super easy to use, leak-proof, and not bulky, so you can just pop a tin or jar into your carry-on. They fit snugly in your carry-on and give you that extra burst of moisture in dry climates. I find these natural body butters absolutely delightful.
Cruelty-free ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Made in India ✔
Solid deodorant
Solid deodorants are easy to carry, don’t have aerosol or alcohol, (some) come in plastic-free packaging, and are kind to your pits and the planet. These natural deodorants take up little space and are kind to the person who uses them.
Cruelty-free ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Zero-waste ✔ Biodegradable ✔ Made in India ✔
Zero-waste lip balm
A good lip balm goes a long way when travelling. I prefer ones that double as multipurpose salves, so I go tint-free. This cocoa butter lip balm is deliciously scented, glides on buttery-smooth, and you get quite a bit for the price. Hemp seed oil lip balms are also good options.
Cruelty-free ✔ Natural ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Made in India ✔
Sun protection
Never leave home without sunscreen, kids! It does more than keep a tan at bay – it prevents premature skin ageing and helps prevent skin cancer. Pack an SPF 30 or higher, with a finish based on your skin type.
Cruelty-free ✔ Recyclable ✔
Eco-friendly earbuds
While ear cleaning is best left to a professional, I like to keep the ‘threshold’ of my ear canal grime-free. Single-use plastic swabs are a no-no! For gentle cleaning and correcting minor makeup mishaps, compostable bamboo and cotton earbuds work well.
I prefer a reusable swab+ to disposable bamboo ones#. That said, neither option is perfect, and I see myself switching between them on those occasional ear-cleaning days.
Cruelty-free ✔ Vegan ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔
Menstrual & intimate care
Menstrual cup & reusable pads
Ever since I switched to the cup, I’ve been so relieved—no rashes, less expense, zero guilt from using disposable pads, and freedom! In fact, I walked for hours in Athens on the first day of my period with no complaints, save the cramps and backache. I pack two silicone menstrual cups+ and a few reusable cloth pads to best the beast that is Aunt Flo. Collapsible menstrual cups fit easily into a small bag or purse.
Cruelty-free ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Made in India ✔
Biodegradable panty liners
Pantyliners are so underrated! They help me stay dry and fresh, especially during long journeys. They’re also helpful for spotting and for extra protection during my period. Disposable biodegradable pantyliners are made from organic cotton, as are the reusable pantyliners+. The reusable ones work well if you want to pack super-light.
Cruelty-free ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Biodegradable ✔ Made in India ✔
Eco-friendly pee stick
I was stoked when pee sticks came out because it meant I no longer had to precariously squat on top of toilet bowls and give my thighs a workout, and I could pee standing up when on the road. Cardboard-based disposable pee sticks^ work well when there’s no water source around, while the reusable device+ is a god-sent otherwise. The greatest invention ever!
Cruelty-free ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ ^Biodegradable ✔ Recyclable ✔ Made in India ✔
Other sustainable personal care essentials
Mug
When travelling to countries that are pro-tissue, I always carry my small and trusty HDPE plastic mug+. I also use it to sterilize my menstrual cups between uses, when I have access to hot water. It’s proven to be one of my smartest essentials for international travel. Also, it helps reduce toilet roll usage by a lot!
Reusable ✔ Recyclable ✔
Durable soap case
Gone are the days of mushy bars and leaky suds. This award-winning soap bar case is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for the only solid essentials case you’ll ever need+, or don’t have a reusable aluminium tin. I feel quite accomplished owning a little dry bag for my solid bath essentials. Five stars for this sustainable personal care ‘essential’!
Vegan ✔ Carry-on friendly ✔ Reusable ✔ Repair Program (U.S. only) ✔
In addition to my travel-friendly sustainable personal care essentials, here are some learnings converted to tips that will definitely help you pack more efficiently.
Use what you already have before purchasing anything new. Sustainable personal care starts with buying and consuming less. Less is always more.
You don’t need new reusable travel-sized bottles and containers. If you have empty travel-sized bottles at home, those work perfectly!
Now is a good time to ditch using travel-sized hotel toiletries. They’re designed for single use, resulting in massive wastage. Refer to tip #2 on how to minify full-sized products for travel.
Call your accommodation in advance to check if they provide full-sized toiletries. If they do, skip packing those items.
#Just because it’s made of compostable and biodegradable materials, doesn’t mean it’s better for the environment. The ecological cost of these materials isn’t offset by biodegradability if they’re intended for single use. Compostable single-use < recyclable reusables < compostable reusables.
Glass packaging isn’t the hero if it isn’t reused, repurposed, upcycled, or recycled – if they end up in the trash, that’s where it’ll stay. Work with a local recycler who accepts glass, or look for brands that have a refill or empties policy.
Invest in high-quality reusables. The mileage most of them give is far superior to low-cost, low-quality reusables that break or tear in just a few uses, leading to more trash and more money spent.
+Love your reusables, and they’ll last you a lifetime, even long enough to be handed down! Or simply share the appropriate ones with family and friends, with a caveat – they ought to love your reusables too.
While the list may seem long, remember that you don’t need to carry everything. In fact, I don’t carry everything from the list each time I travel, either! Your sustainable personal care essentials will vary based on what you use regularly, where you’re travelling to, and for how long.
Let me know what your go-to travel-friendly sustainable personal care items are. I leave you with my favourite packing saying –
Less is more. ♥