4 travel toiletry items for aspiring minimalists
I don't want to see you lugging around a full bottle of shampoo ever again
I’m not saying I’m never an overpacker (especially when we have a car to fill with lots of jackets for the always-changing weather in Maine, ahem).
However. After spending three weeks in a campervan, I know how to pare down and cut back.
So when one of my best friends, an admitted bag checker and overpacker, told me she was going to try and keep herself to carry-on luggage for a two-week trip to Greece, I got possibly too excited about this challenge.
And it was a great opportunity for me to introduce her — and now you — to some of my favorite items for keeping fresh and clean without having to bring the entire bathroom cabinet on vacation.
My toiletry bag is a constant work-in-progress when it comes to my goal of fully minimalist packing. I’m always trying out and testing new systems, and discarding what’s too bulky or doesn’t work for me.
These are four very small things that make a huge difference to my personal cleanliness when I’m on the road.
Disclosure: I am never sponsored by any company to provide any recommendations, ever. If I’m telling you I love something, it’s because I spent my own money on it and honestly enjoy using it.
I do receive a minuscule commission on purchases made through my Amazon links as an Amazon Associate, but you are welcome to buy things however you like.
I go into detail on all of these items in my full post on caseybarber.com if you’d like to read it, but here’s the Cliffs Notes for you.
Cadence toiletry capsules
Yes, the Instagram-famous Cadence travel capsules are pricey. (I was able to get some of mine half off thanks to an REI employee discount). And yes, I was skeptical when I bought my first set as an experiment.
But boy, are they worth it.
The magnetic stackability is my favorite aspect of these clever containers — they take up so much less space overall than multiple bottles all over a bathroom counter. Bonus points when you’re in a questionably clean bathroom (AKA when camping) and don’t want to put your nice clean stuff down in public spaces.
They are sturdy as heck, easy to clean (something I really hated about GoToobs), and you probably don’t need more than the small versions unless you use TONS of product.
As Heather of
noted in her recent discussion of the capsules (great minds!):Your mileage will vary, so take that into account. But, for example, I ordered the green medium capsule for my face cleanser, and even with my kids borrowing it from time to time, we only made it halfway through the pot. In fact, none of my pots emptied. Small was PLENTY for my face serums, Vaseline, and waterless cleanser for the plane, and I think my curl products and leave-in conditioner would also have been perfectly fine at that size.
Castile soap
I’ll get into my minimalist clothing packing routine and recommendations soon, but here’s the basic idea. You do not need to bring 10 t-shirts and 10 pairs of underwear and 10 bras for a 10-day trip.
You only need to bring four of each, maximum, and wash them in the bathroom sink or shower with magical Castile soap.
Dr. Bronner’s is the most famous brand and it’s what I use — I like the unscented baby soap version — and it’s perfect for washing an.y.thing. on your trips. Undies and merino shirts (again, more on that soon), coffee cups and dishes, even your own body in a pinch or as hand soap on the run.
Mini microfiber towel
Again, I’m not being compensated by REI for telling you this. They pay me for other things! But I’ve had this tiny moisture-wicking, absorbent towel since 2017 and it’s always in my bag, whether I’m heading into Manhattan for the day or out on my paddleboard. It comes in handy for so many situations.
Wipe off questionably clean seats and bleachers at baseball games. Dab off your sweat, then dip it in water and cool off your face and neck on a hot day. Use it as a bandana to keep your hair out of your eyes or shade yourself without a hat. Save yourself when you’re in a public bathroom with weak air dryers or no paper towels at all.
And then in the evening, you can wash it with Castile soap and it will be fresh and ready to go the next morning!
Ursa Major face wipes
First, the name of this product is misleading. Yes, Ursa Major makes insanely wonderful face products that will make your skin want to sing an aria because it will feel so good when you use them.
But these face wipes have have enough juice in them to do a full body cleanse, if that’s necessary. They are an immediate refresher when you don’t have time for another shower, but want to feel more human after a day at the beach or on the trail or what have you.
This is a “when all else fails” item, but I always keep a few wipes in all of my bags just in case something truly gross happens. Bird poop, splashes from a mystery street puddle, full table of drinks tipping on you at dinner… anything could and probably eventually will happen. So why not be prepared?
I asked the universe a question and Casey answered it! My question: What's the best way to wash my race kit in a hotel sink. Answer: Castille soap. Thank you! I'm also psyched about the little capsule things.