How to Travel Without Liquids or Gels

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Sign Up

If you’ve ever watched a TSA agent toss away your toiletries because they were a smidge over the 3-1-1 limit, then it’s time to learn how to travel without liquids or gels. Forget counting the ounces on your bottles or cleaning up sticky goo at the bottom of your toiletry bag. Your daily travel toiletries are now available in solid, unspillable, TSA-approved form—and you don’t even need to place them in a clear plastic bag.

Shampoo Bar

Leave the mini shampoos at home and bring your own shampoo bar instead. It lasts longer and, most importantly, it won’t spill in your bag. The Jojoba Shampoo Bar is especially good for travelers, acting as both a shampoo and conditioner that will keep your hair shiny, clean, and smelling great.

Conditioner Bar

Whether your hair is a little harder to manage or you prefer to use shampoo and conditioner separately, you’re going to need a back-up bar of conditioner. Go for something like the 100 percent natural Honey Silk Hair Conditioner Bar or this Detangling Conditioner Bar.

Face Cleanser

Between the dry air of the plane and the stress of flying, travel is hardly ever kind to anyone’s skin—which is why this compact and rose-scented cleansing stick is perfect to fight travel breakouts. The Su:m 37 Miracle Cleanser lets you exfoliate and cleanse on the go.

Lotion Bar

It’s no secret that the key to youthful and healthy-looking skin is moisturizing. And just because you’re traveling, it doesn’t mean you have an excuse to fall out of your moisturizer routine. You can skip the hassle of liquid moisturizers by bringing along products like the Lavishea Lotion Bar. It absorbs quickly, isn’t greasy, and won’t leave behind any stains or residues in your luggage.

Toothpaste Tabs

Travel-sized toothpaste never seems to last the whole trip. Instead of trying to squeeze out every last drop, bring all the toothpaste as you need with toothpaste tabs. These bite-size tabs are easy to use. Just bite down, activate with water, and start brushing. There’s no more need to bring a whole bottle of toothpaste for an overnight trip or a travel-sized tube for a two-week vacation.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Sign Up

Sunscreen Stick

It’s easy to run out of sunscreen, especially when you’ve only packed a carry-on appropriate amount. There’s no better alternative than a long-lasting sunscreen solution like the UltraSheer Face & Body Stick. This compact and super-portable stick of sunscreen blends in with any skin tone and is perfect for protecting your skin without the hassle of liquid sunscreen.

Bugspray Stick

If you spill bug spray in your bag, you run the risk of damaging other items in your toiletry kit. This Insect Repellent Stick is easy to keep on your person, won’t ever spill, and is much longer-lasting.

Soap

The original solid amenity, bars of soap should never be underestimated as the perfect travel toiletry. However, carrying along a large bar of soap can be an annoyance. Instead, purchase a pack of mini-sized soaps like this Shea Soap Sampler or start a collection of soaps from different hotels. They’re much smaller, and if by the end of the trip you’ve got some leftover, you can just throw it away.

Bar Carrier

With so many soap bars to carry around, you need to make sure you have the right cases to carry them in. Anything with a lid is great for keeping these products separate, but you want to make sure the case can drain the excess water for products you use in the shower.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 20 Smart Travel Hacks You Should Know
• The Ultimate Carry-on Toiletry Kit for Travelers
• 3 Priceless Hacks for Packing Jewelry

Jamie Ditaranto is a writer and photographer who is always looking for her next adventure. Follow her on Twitter @jamieditaranto.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Sign Up