1. An on-the-go Gillette razor designed with its own case that takes up way less space than a traditional razor. Plus, maybe it's just me, but digging into my toiletries bag to find my razor is honestly one of the scariest parts of my trip (I have definitely nicked myself at least a few times).
It comes with one handle and one blade refill!
Promising review: "I got this for a vacation and it was great! The little carrying container is awesome, and keeps you from having a weird, loose razor floating around in your suitcase. Plus the heads are the same as a regular-sized razor, so you can keep using it when that one is worn out!" —Tegan H
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
2. Tide sink packets packaged with the perfect amount of detergent for a much-needed sink wash because you've already sweated through all your shirts and you're only halfway through your trip.
Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. I've packed these on international trips to much success!
Promising review: "Loved the convenience. Nice for traveling and washing some items to re-wear. Great smell. It's a little pouch but you can wash several items with one pouch. I always take these when I travel." —Lucy
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.90.
3. Or a pack of laundry soap sheets so you can pack fewer clothes because you can actually wash them easily in the hotel sink. And yes, contrary to popular belief, you actually *can* wear the same outfit multiple times on your trip.
"I just came off a 2 1/2-week Europe trip (I went to Nice, Barcelona, Mallorca, and Rhodes Island, Greece) and only had in-unit laundry in one of those places. These sheets were a lifesaver for washing underwear, clothes that I sweated SOOOOOO much in, and also swimsuits that were laden with very salty sea water. They got the job done and I even found that the towel-warming rack in my Nice hotel did a fine job of hang-drying my hand-washed undies much faster! Now, I went through about half of the sheets because my friend and I were having to wash a lot. But it was such a small investment (size- and money-wise) to keep our travel loads significantly lighter." —Elizabeth Lilly
Promising review: "This came SO in handy during my vacation to Europe! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather. With these laundry soap sheets I was able to wash my clothes in the sink — letting me pack just the right amount of clothes for all the different places I went." —Katie Fujarski
Get it from Amazon for $12.50 (also available as hand soap sheets).
4. A pair of elastic band sneakers comfortable enough for all your long walks exploring, and super easy to slip on and off for TSA.
FYI, if you have Amazon Prime Wardrobe you can give this a spin before you buy it!
Reviewers say these are super comfy.
Promising review: "These shoes are so comfortable and well-made. They fit true to size, in my opinion. They fit perfectly. I just wore them traveling. They were the perfect airport shoe — easy on and off. And again, very comfortable for walking and standing for a while. Great shoes, great price!! I highly recommend!!" —Justin D.
Get them from Amazon for $28.30+ (available in women's sizes 6–11, regular and wide, and a variety of styles).
5. And a pair of ~flexible~ flat sandals that are super small so they'll hardly take up any room in your bag. Plus they're super cute and versatile for the days you don't wanna put your sneakers back on.
"And at this price, you can wear them to death on a weeklong trip (like I did with a similar pair of Old Navy sandals on a weeklong trip to Croatia, s/o to For The Love of Travel!) to activities like walking tours, dinner, clubbing even(!!), and if you're really desperate, kayaking (like I said about wearing them to death)." —Elizabeth Lilly
Promising review: "These are so comfortable, I wore them every day on vacation and didn’t even get a single blister. However, I have no arch so I don’t think they would have enough support for people who do. The 'leather' parts are very soft and not stiff. These will be my everyday shoes this summer for sure." —Allie McCarthy
Get them from Amazon for $22.39 (available in women's sizes 5–11 and 10 styles).
6. A compact travel adapter to ensure you're actually able to charge all your devices when you get to your destination and don't have to buy a super overpriced charger in the airport because yours only works in America 😩.
It accepts plugs from more than 150 countries! It has a side for American-type, British-type, European-type, and Australia-type inputs.
Promising review: "This unit is not too large so it fits in carry-on or backpack very easily. I like how I can use this for other traveling abroad, as well. You just push out the correct plug part that is needed in the other country. I also really liked the options of USB ports on there to plug in our phones the same time as the computers. It did everything we needed it to do." —DKMese
Get it from Amazon for $11.89+ (available in three colors and two versions).
7. A Dagne Dover carryall duffle bag reviewers love for all the well-thought-out features: a padded laptop sleeve, two water bottle pockets, a nylon shoe/laundry bag, and more. It also holds even more items than you would think based on the size, and of course, still fits under an airplane seat.
My colleague Emma McAnaw owns this very bag and raves about it. Here's what she has to say: "I use this every time I travel — and I never, I mean NEVER, check bags. I even took this with me to Amsterdam and easily packed about four sweaters, DOC MARTENS, and all my undies and toiletries. To be fair I wore the same pants for four days (I am cheap, guys), but I never felt like I needed more space. And yes — even Spirit lets me take this."
Promising review: "I love this bag for travel. Size-wise it's acceptable as a carry on and I've even brought this bag with my roll aboard and had no problems on Alaska or American airlines. It's pushing the limits on you second personal item, but as long as you don't stuff it too full, you should be okay. This bag has pockets on all sides, a really nice shoe bag and a small zippered pouch that I keep my Lululemon travel shawl in. The grey neoprene is really nice and I get lots of compliments. It is prone to picking up dirt marks, so you need to be careful about putting it on the ground or shoving it anywhere that might be dirty." —CdnNordyFan
Get it from Nordstrom for $215 (available in five colors) or from Dagne Dover for $125+ (available in five sizes, seven colors, and two styles).
Check out Elizabeth's full review in "8 Things You Should Buy Because Your Closet Is Hungry" (#2).
8. Or a Beis backpack that fully zips open like a suitcase so you can actually find the stuff you stored at the bottom instead of having to blindly shove your hand down hoping you can differentiate everything just by feeling it.
"I snagged this backpack after hearing my colleague Chelsea Stuart sing its praises. I had a trusty (now discontinued) InCase backpack I used as a personal item and served me well on dozens of trips for about five years. But I wanted a bag for some upcoming travel (2.5 weeks in Europe with *just* carry-on for five flights) that opens up like a suitcase for easier packing. Since buying, I've taken it on two long weekend trips (Amtrak to Newport, RI, for a wedding and regional train to a CT country lake house) with no complaints. In fact, for both of those trips I packed MORE than I needed.
Inside, you'll find a mesh zippered pocket and a plastic pocket perfect for your toiletries. I can fit enough wet toilet toiletries in the second pocket as I'd be allowed to carry-on for a plane. In the mesh pocket I put other necessities like cotton swabs, medicine, eye glasses, etc. The main compartment is deceptively deep so you can easily roll clothes and Lego-fit them in together without using packing cubes. In fact, I fit all of the stuff in the second picture in that section (a romper, PJs, a bikini, sunscreen, five pairs of undies, a pair of jean shorts, nap dress, three pairs of socks, two pairs of sandals, two T-shirts, a slip skirt, sleep mask, curling iron, mini flat iron, makeup bag, and tote bag). AND it has stretchy X-straps to keep it all secure like you'd see in a roller suitcase so when I unzip it, everything stays put. But before I forget, there's a separate cushioned laptop pocket close to the backpack straps that I found works well for books or a Kindle if your travel leaves you laptop-less.
I love that this backpack has DEEP side pockets so your umbrella or water bottle won't fall out. In fact, I stuck a flashlight and an umbrella in one side pocket. (You could always use a flashlight.) Plus! It has a generously sized pocket on the front of the backpack with easy access for sunglasses, snacks, writing pens...all sorts of those little extras you need to access quickly. To top it all off, the backpack straps and top handle are STURDY. I felt totally secure toting it around and slinging it into overhead storage compartments on the trains. I love the look and construction of it with faux leather and sturdy black canvas, and the trolley passthrough to easily fit on my roller suitcase I'm about to drag through a bunch of airports. At nearly $80, this isn't the cheapest backpack option but if you're a frequent traveler, you'll get so much mileage on it and seriously save on some baggage fees, making it well worth the cost. This backpack and I are going places, for sure." —Elizabeth Lilly
Get it from Beis Travel for $88 (also available in beige).
9. A pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer you easily pump from your normal perfume bottle to make sure your signature scent can go everywhere you go.
"^ That's me pumping my signature perfume into one of these travel atomizers I've been using for about a year. As the reviewer down below mentions, it's great to just throw in your purse on the reg for a fragrance re-up throughout the day. As you can see, it's about the size of my thumb and therefore takes up very little room. Plus! It's smaller than most rollerball travel fragrances you can pick up. This first one is working so well that I just have the other three in storage. But if this one bites the dust this summer during travels, I'll be OK about digging into my stores to use one of the remaining three...especially at this price point." —Elizabeth Lilly
Promising review: "These work so great. Love it!!! I put my favorite perfumes in each one. When I wear a perfume I put the matching one to the perfume I’m wearing for the day in my purse. So I can freshen up my scent later! I like to smell pretty all day!!! They are small and compact but hold enough before you have to refill as well." —Nikki
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $7.55.
10. A bodycon midi dress that you can dress up or down so it's appropriate for your romantic dinner *and* casual brunch a few days later. We love an outfit that changes just with accessories so you can wear it a number of times!
Promising review: "I am in love with this dress! It is so soft and stretchy but looks sexy and chic. It wasn’t see-through at all. It hit me at the perfect midi length and it was great being able to slightly adjust the straps. I wore it with nude heels for a fancy dinner out and got so many compliments, but it would also be great layered with tights and boots and a sweater for fall/winter. I 100% recommend this dress! Best Amazon purchase ever! I can’t wait to wear it again." —Sarah L.
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XL and seven colors).
11. Or a satin spaghetti strap dress perfect to add to your vacation ensemble because it's super cute *and* comfy. And for this price, you may as well just buy every color.
Promising review: "I recommend 100%. I loved the fit and was super comfortable. Got a lot of compliments about it and it was accurate on the size. Perfect!" —Cynthia Arizpe
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in women's sizes XL–4X and three colors).
12. A pack of insect-repellent wipes you can keep in your purse or pocket (and take through TSA with no issues) for a quick way to keep those pesky insects from ~bugging~ you.
Promising review: "I’ve used these wipes in a few different countries, exotic and not, and they really work. I wasn’t sure because they were all natural and all that, but they work rather well, in fact, they worked so well I didn’t get any bites on my Panama Canal cruise. In the past I’ve been eaten alive (thank you, blood type O), but no more thanks to these wipes!" —Didi
Get a 10-pack of wipes from Amazon for $5.99.
13. A satin scarf that is SO versatile — wear it as a top, headband, tie it on your ponytail or tote — the opportunities are only limited by your creativity. Now you have like at least four days worth of accessories to spice up any of the outfits you've already worn on your trip.
Beginning Boutique is an Australia-based woman-owned small biz.
Get it from Beginning Boutique for $9.99 (available in one size).
14. A clear TSA-approved toiletry bag so you can toss that grungy old plastic baggie you've been reusing for the past who knows how many trips.
Promising review: "Everything I needed fit perfectly, and I had no issues in TSA/China security. So far I have been through MSP, IAD, NKG, and PEK airports using this pack already, and it's a life-changer! I will never again have to worry about having to scramble to buy plastic bags just for liquids, and it is much more durable." —Courtney Swanson
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors).
Also check out this toiletry bag set with reusable bottles and containers.
15. A set of silicone travel bottles that are perfect for the lotions you just cannot live without, but that are too big to take in their original containers.
I've used containers like these to carry shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, body wash, clothes detergent, and more.
Promising review: "These are perfect for travel or overnight stays. Each bottle holds three fl oz. Bottles are easy to squeeze and easy to fill." —Chris
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $12.99.
16. A solid hair conditioner bar you can easily throw into your carryon without worrying about if it will make it through TSA, or more importantly, through the flight without exploding all over your clothes.
"This is me on a week-long trip to Croatia last year with three city stops that I did a carry-on only for, knowing I had a tight layover in Amsterdam and would be riding two ferries. But, um, my hair had to look good for wonderful sunset photo ops such as this (the bar is Buza Bar in Dubrovnik, go there!). So I packed a shampoo bar by another brand that I felt pretty meh about and this wonderful new go-to bar. Here, I used hotel shampoo (it was pretty fancy, NGL), this shampoo bar, and my roommate's Moroccan Oil curl cream. The bar is basically foolproof. You rub it directly on your wet hair after rinsing out your shampoo. I normally wash my naturally curly hair once or twice a week but on this trip was taking daily dips in the sea, so I washed my hair 5x over a week. Because of this, I let the conditioner sit for a few minutes, though you probably don't need to do that if you're washing your hair your usual amount on your trip. Each bar is supposed to last 200 washes and it might do a little less for me, but I know this'll be good for many future trips!" —Elizabeth Lilly
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two versions).
17. And a botanical bar of soap made of plant-based and organic materials so you can feel good knowing you're actually getting clean (instead of it just feeling like you're rubbing dirt around like it does with hotel soap). And since it's a bar, you can easily toss it in your luggage knowing it'll make it through TSA with no issues.
Get it from our Goodful shop for $8 (available in three versions).
18. A set of compression bags perfect for overpackers (guilty 🙋♀️) who just cannot seem to narrow down their clothes selection even when the suitcase literally will not close. With these you can easily shrink down your clothes to a more manageable size…so now you can pack even more stuff LOL.
And they come with a hand pump for travel!
Promising review: "This is a great product. I have a memory foam pillow that I try to take on trips, due to neck issues, so I purchased this product and put it to the test to see if it could flatten the pillow so I can also carry my clothes and the pillow in the same carry-on size travel bag. The pillow's been sitting in the vacuum pack for the last three days now and hasn't let any air into the package at all. The pump removed so much air that the foam is as solid as a rock with less that an 1/8 of an inch of give when I press on it firmly with my thumb." —EE
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in four sizes and two quantities).
19. Or a collection of compression packing cubes that can be reused endlessly to not only help you save space in your bag, but to help organize all your clothes into neat sections so you actually know what's in which bag.
"Just be sure to look up any weight restrictions on carry-on luggage. I recently ran into that problem myself but the person at the airport check-in counter that gave me some trouble about my bag, just seemed to care about my roller carry-on. So I'd suggest using these in a backpack or tote bag you plan to put under the seat." —Elizabeth Lilly
Promising review: "My daughter challenged me to travel her way with just a backpack to our recent five-day trip to Portugal. When I found these on Amazon, I thought they were just what I needed. I have cubes, but they don’t compress. I was so impressed that I bought a set for my daughter and son-in-law. The large one contains a swimsuit, cover-up, sun shirt, windbreaker, shrug, dress, cardigan, T-shirt, capris, and underwear. My husband’s medium bag contains swim trunks, shorts, two shirts, one long-sleeved T-shirt, and two pairs of underwear. The small contains misc. items." —Trish
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in three colors and two quantities).
20. A multipurpose passport-holding wallet designed to hold basically everything you could ever need. Stay with me here, it has: a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder AND a pen holder. Mary Poppins called, she wants her wallet back.
Promising review: "Despite visiting 20+ different countries without a wallet, on my last trip with JetBlue I had approximately five layovers to get home and realized how desperately I needed a wallet. After much research I decided on this wallet! It holds all the essentials and then some. There's a place for a pen to fill out the custom forms, a money pouch, and a pocket for your phone and passport. Also, it is light and compact. I am someone who travels light — a three to four week trip needs to fit in a carry-on backpack. This wallets enables you to carry everything you need in one spot. I don't want something that takes up more space than it needs to or adds extra weight." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 36 colors).
21. A stylish quilted crossbody bag you can easily store in your carryon or keep out to be your personal item. Reviewers are obsessed because this seemingly small bag can actually hold ~a lot~ of stuff, which is perfect for all the excursions waiting for you at your destination.
Promising review: "Excellent travel purse! Very comfortable on the shoulder because of its wide strap. Fits reading glasses, a long wallet, small pouch for lipsticks, mask, and sun glasses comfortably in the main compartment. Hair tie, small hand sanitizer, and keys in the inside pocket, checkbook, pen, and business card holder in the inner zippered pocket. And my iPhone XS in the outside pocket. And here’s the kicker, you can even fit a small umbrella on top of all this in the main compartment and zip it all up! AND it goes from day to night seamlessly! Does not look cheap. Ridiculous!" —TinaMat
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in 29 colors).
22. A makeup-removing cloth to remove A L L your makeup by just adding water…yes, even waterproof makeup. Buhbyeee wasteful (and bulky) makeup removing wipes! How does it make sense? IDK maybe it's magic, but whatever it is, it *works.*
Their plush microfiber gently lifts away dirt, oil, and makeup! Use it wet with water or your fave liquid makeup remover.
Promising review: "This product...I have no clue how this works, but it does! Let me start by saying I was wearing a full face of makeup. I mean foundation, contour highlight, eyeliner, seriously the whole nine yards. All I did was wet it and wiped my face, my jaw literally dropped. This is hands-down my favorite makeup remover. The best part is that they are reusable so you don't have to keep buying those expensive disposables that leave your face feeling greasy." —Heather Griffith
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in eight colors and a two-pack).
23. A travel-sized bottle of Poo-Pouri small enough so you can always keep it in your purse for those times you *cannot* hold it anymore and have to do the deed in a public restroom (but don't want anyone to actually know what just went down).
Promising review: "I think this is the most adorable thing ever. I bought it so I could keep it in my purse, but once I started working in an office, I decided to tuck it into my desk drawer. It's discreet, and when I need to go to the restroom, I can bring it along without anyone noticing. Now I don't need to use obnoxious chemicals to mask the smells. One of the women in my office has a sensitivity to chemical perfumes, so I'm sure she'd appreciate that I'm not contributing to her suffering." —brinnet
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
To learn more, check out "Everyone Needs A Bottle Of Travel Poo-Pourri In Their Purse."
24. A mini 2-in-1 hair tool to help you achieve that salon-like style without bringing a bunch of tools that'll take up a whole chunk of your (already limited) suitcase space.
That's right, it's both a hair straightener *and* a curling iron! And it has a carry-on bag.
Promising review: "I bought this in advance of a big trip to Asia, because I was worried about blowing out my other curling iron and straightener, and this was perfect. You obviously need to purchase an adapter in order to plug it into international outlets, but it doesn't require a converter which is awesome, since the converters are the ones that get super expensive. I also have super thick, straight hair, and have been through, almost literally, 20 separate curling irons in my life in an attempt to find one that actually works on my hair, so I was a little skeptical of this guy, but it works great! This guy will be a new staple. And it's reasonably priced, so it's a win-win!" —Katy B
Get it from Amazon for $59.95 (available in two colors).
25. A wheeled carry-on bag small enough to qualify as a personal item — and fit underneath an airplane seat! — on even the strictest airlines (looking @ you, Spirit Airlines). All with the added bonus of not having to lug it around on your shoulder.
Now you won't even have to pull your suitcase outta the overhead!
Promising review: "I purchased this bag specifically to use with Allegiant airlines. They have some of the smallest dimensions making it difficult to find a 'personal item' bag that will fit in their size. Well, this one works. It is a tad bit wider than allowed but if you don't pack it completely full it will fit. All the pockets are nice for storing various things to carry on. It also has an external charge port for a power bank. So you can plug the bank in and leave it in your bag and just plug your cord into the little port on the side. I only wish the clear pouch was removable. Overall I am happy with the quality and the price." —Mark F
Get it from Amazon for $48.13+ (available in three colors).
26. A collapsible silicone water bottle that won't take up like half the room in your backpack, but still saves you from having to buy an $8 disposable water bottle when you get to the airport.
Promising review: "My GO TO BOTTLE for hiking. Holds it shape half full, does not taste funny, does not sweat, I can freeze some water in it the night before (I do that with just some water in bottom with lid off) and the bottle is easy collapsible once empty!!!! It rocks!!!" —Cyn
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sizes, four colors, and multi-packs).
27. A folding toothbrush with its own protective case so you don't have to get the heebie-jeebies when you open your toiletries bag and realize the cap on your real toothbrush fell off so it's just been marinating with all your other products for the past five hours. Plus it folds to like half the size of a regular toothbrush, and any space saved is a bonus when you're living out of one small bag.
Promising review: "Finally, it appears that I have found a toothbrush for travel that I'm happy with. I have been using my home toothbrush (once I found an effective cover for the head), but its length can be a problem; plus if it gets dropped or contaminated it becomes unusable so for any long trip an extra should be taken. It is difficult to find a folding brush with really soft bristles, but finally I have. Looks good so far. I am using the brush every day for a week or two to see how it holds up." —KG
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in two versions).
28. A pair of cushioned ballet flats comfy enough to be your all-day shoes, and small enough not to take up any of your precious cargo space.
Promising review: "I originally bought this for the unique color and thought for the price I would give it a try. When I tried them on they were so comfortable. I wore them all day without any issues. Needless, to say I ordered another pair in black since I wear flats all the time to work. If you want shoes that look nice and are super comfortable, I would recommend these shoes. " —Scuba one
Get them from Amazon for $45.99+ (available in women's sizes 5–12 and 21 colors).
29. A glare-free Kindle Paperwhite so you can read allllll of the books you want on your vacation, without having to pack an entire suitcase to bring 'em along. Plus, this bad boy only has to be charged once every few weeks (!!!) and is waterproof so you don't have to fear the pool or ocean.
Check out the Kindle Paperwhite in action on TikTok!
This version of the Kindle is incredibly versatile: You can see your screen even in the sun, and you can customize your fonts, size, and layouts.
Promising reviews: "I am in love this with this Kindle. I debating which one to get for awhile and then decided on this one because it is water proof and can be read in the sun. I love being at the beach and outside during the summer so it was a must have for me. So far I have read more and had access to so many more titles than having a hard copy book. The lighting is just bright enough so that it doesn't hurt my eyes and is great for reading at night. The battery life has been great. For anyone contemplating getting this, it is worth it." —jennifer
"I LOVE Kindles, and this one is no exception. The warm light is in the pictures as yellow, but it also goes the other way to an ice blue! And the touch response is miles better than the older Kindle; a tap is almost instantly registered. If you are on the fence, just try it! You have my permission and recommendation!" —ErikJuun
Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in two storage sizes and three colors).
30. A lightweight, waterproof raincoat that folds up into a compact travel bag because you've gotta be prepared for those unexpected rain showers, but shouldn't have to sacrifice a whole corner of your suitcase to do so.
Promising review: "I got this a little bigger to go over my sweatshirt and it was perfect. It is super lightweight and kept me dry. It also helped lock in some extra warmth so that was a bonus. It's the perfect little rain jacket for the price." —Amie Linsday
Get it from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XXL and 32 colors/patterns).
31. A pair of tall compression socks perfect for anyone whose feet tend to swell on long flights. Just throw these on before you fly and you're ready to hit the ground running as soon as you land.
Read more about compression socks and swelling on long flights at Cleveland Clinic.
Promising review: "I've purchased these for my trip to Russia, which is total 24 hours of travel. It's a 12-hour flight to Turkey and then a nine hours layover and then connecting flight to Russia. Let me tell you that when I did it last time, my feet were size of an elephant's. These socks worked great. I took them off when I arrived at my parents' house in Russia and my feet looked semi-normal! No painful swelling or cramps! I used to spend first night after the trip crying from aches and cramps, but this time it was NOTHING! No pain at all. I wore them again on my return flights to US and same great result." —Natalie
Get them from Amazon for $18.57+ (available in three sizes and 13 colors).
To learn more, check out "Nurses, Athletes, Pregnant People, And Travelers Swear By These $20 Socks."
32. A fashionable travel scarf designed to be the perfect secret storage solution to keep your passport and other valuables safe. Which means a) you'll have a cute accessory, b) you don't have to worry about pickpocketers, and c) you'll have some extra space in your bag for other goodies.
Waypoint Goods is a small business focused on creating travel and lifestyle accessories for women to empower them to explore the world safely. Their Travel Scarf was debuted in 2015 on a Scandinavian urban cycling trip where the founder, Caitlin, realized a purse was not an option. Each color and style has a unique story behind it that inspired the design.
Promising review: "Fabulous scarf for traveling. Hidden pocket is very discreet and large enough for cash, passport, credit cards, etc. Sturdy zipper and beautiful design. Just got back from three weeks in China. I was able to easily carry all of the above, leaving my hands free. Superior product, practical and discreet. I've since purchased two more!" —Florida Girl
Get it from Waypoint Goods for $40+ (available in 10 styles).
33. An Alleyoop Pen Pal that will allow you to fix your eyeliner, lip liner, brows, and highlighter wherever you are and without having to bring along alllll those full-size containers. Remember those fun pens you had growing up with four colors in one? Yeah, this is that, but with makeup. 🤯
Alleyoop is a woman-owned small business creating compact and multi-functional makeup products!
Check out a TikTok of the 4-in-1 pen in action.
My BuzzFeed shopping colleague Jasmin Sandal has this and loves it. She says:
"I didn't realize I'd ever use a makeup product in my 20s that had the ability to transport me back to something I used in sixth grade, but here we are; and here I am using a multitool pen... for my face. I gotta say, I love the concept of the Pen Pal from Alleyoop! After using all of the functions (eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, eyebrow pencil) and as someone who LOVES makeup but was applying as little as humanly possible during lockdown, I think it’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their routine. It's ideal to use for touch-ups come the end of the work day, or a subtle, minimalist way to apply makeup in the a.m. The brow pencil is particularly soft and pigmented, and filled in my eyebrows quickly. I just adore the ease of application of each product, and appreciate the universal, does-it-all-for-you concept. Plus, it saves me so much room in my already overflowing makeup bag!"
Promising review: "Such a time saver to have this 4-in-1 tool! I use it daily and love that it is so compact." —Lauren F.
Get it from Alleyoop or Amazon for $25 (available in three shades).
34. A Hackwith Design House shirt designed to eliminate the "need" to pack 12 shirts for your week-long trip. This shirt is made to be worn six different ways, so no one will ever know you've been wearing the same shirt for the past three nights.
Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business. Their sustainable designs are made to order and sewn in their Minnesota studio. Their sizes run from XS–4X. On Mondays, they also release limited-edition designs so you can be one of only 25 people to own a piece!
My colleague Chelsea Stuart owns this and loves it. Here's what she has to say:
"All credit for its discovery goes to TikToker @jennifer.bianca who I happened to stumble across on my FYP. It checks all my boxes: black, comfortable, versatile, and durable. My initial worry was that I wouldn't feel secure in it (I have a 38DDD chest and most wrap tops/dresses I've tried haven't stayed where they're supposed to), but I haven't had an issue with this! I've worn it tied in the front giving me a square neck (like the middle picture) and tied in the back giving me a V-neck up front (just like the photo on the right) — both were super comfortable and I didn't have to adjust myself at all. As someone whose weight fluctuates, I also appreciate that this piece can handle pounds gained and lost. The fabric is medium weight so I'll be wearing it season to season and there's just enough elasticity in the arms that if you roll up your sleeves, they won't fall back down. All that is to say trust that I will be buying additional colors!"
Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and five colors).
35. A cosmetic travel bag to help you keep all your makeup brushes, makeup, and all the other random stuff you brought organized and not randomly laying throughout your suitcase.
Promising review: "This purchase was so worth it! I had my makeup in three different bags and was able to consolidate everything into this one makeup case. Easy to travel with and great to organize everything. The inserts to separate items were a little strange but I made it work by overlapping them." —Tammy Otarodi
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
36. A foldable jewelry organizer with designated spots for all your necklaces, earrings, rings, and more so you don't have to worry about opening up your bag to see that your three necklaces have tangled into one giant (and unwearable) one.
Promising review: "This is the perfect way to organize all of your jewelry pieces when traveling. It is compact yet holds a lot. Keeps necklaces from tangling and rings from getting lost. Perfect for plenty of bracelets as well. Love it!" —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).
37. A mini steamer so you don't have to decide between wearing wrinkly clothes and figuring out how to use the hotel iron.
Promising review: "I travel constantly for work, and I would hate to use the irons at the hotel. I bought this on a whim right before my most recent work trip (I'm telling you like three days before I left). I didn't have much hope for it as I had another steamer at home that was AWFUL. This steamer? AMAZING. I was genuinely shocked, when the wrinkles from one of my most difficult shirts just came out effortlessly. I was so excited I steamed ALL of my work shirts in ONE GO. It was very unlike me to actually be motivated to continue to steam my clothes. PLEASE BUY. I am never going on another work trip without this machine. PLEASE BUY IT. Worth every penny." —J Ortiz
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
38. An inflatable neck travel pillow to make sure you're extra comfy while you take your mid-nap flight. And once you wake up feeling refreshed you don't have to worry about lugging a hefty pillow all over the place because you can just deflate it and shove it in your bag.
Promising review: "I have always preferred inflatable travel pillows for my air travel, because of ease of packing and stowing them when not in use. I have never been attracted to the stuffed pillows because there is no reducing them — people need to either wear them around their neck or hang them from their carry-ons pre-boarding. I prefer to have my pillow in my carry-on bag/purse. I found it easy to put back in its bag and either stow it in a carry-on, or externally attached by its carabiner to carry-on or belt-loop. I definitely recommend!" —Phoenix K
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three colors).
39. A packing list because space is ~limited~ and you can't afford to accidentally pack 40 pairs of socks and wonder why you don't even have room for one sweater!
Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming — especially for trip longer than a few days. I have found this list to be a lifesaver and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. Overall, a wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" —Mike D.
Get it from Amazon for $7.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.