image by Anchal
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The Best Sustainable Makeup Bags & Toiletry Travel Bags
As some people begin to travel again via road trips or flights for personal or work reasons, the need for travel bags has increased. For example, we recently went on a trip to visit family in Arizona for the first time in more than a year and a half, and my daughter needed a new bag for her toiletries. I was surprised to see most stores were out. So, of course, I needed to research and find some sustainable options, and my research can benefit you. This article provides you with 13 wonderful options for your upcoming trip.
How to Choose Sustainable Toiletry Bags
When I first started researching toiletry bags, I thought, what makes toiletry bags sustainable, and what should I look for? It turns out the same as most other products – sustainable materials and ethical production practices. Look for materials like organic cotton, linen, canvas, and recycled plastic. Shop from trusted brands that follow ethical and humane practices. Most importantly, make sure it is high quality, functions for how you travel and is a style that you will keep for many years.
Now Our Top 13 Picks for Sustainable Makeup & Toiletry Bags:
1) Chebeague Toiletry Bag
Brand: Sea Bags
Price: $65
The Chebeague Bag has a minimalist design that works for all genders. The toiletry is made from recycled sails, like all of the products from Sea Bags. The side handle, zip-top, and being machine washable make it practical as well. Their products are all made in the USA by skilled Maine craftspeople.
2) Cabana See All Vanity Case
Brand: Paravel
Price: $95
This clear case is made with canvas from recycled plastic bottles, LWG eco-certified leather, and silicone coating. The case is a classic and sophisticated design. It is easy to clean and waterproof. The vanity is also convenient with a simple handle for carrying, and you can see all the contents, so you don’t have to rifle through things to find one item. As a bonus you can get the vanity case monogrammed.
3) Cross Stitch Toiletry Bag
Brand: Anchal
Price: $32
The cross-stitch base is made from GOTS certified cotton and canvas lined. The bag has a great cross stich design in 6 colors to choose from. Anchal is women owned, with Fair Trade products that support artisans in India. The toiletry bag has a front pocket, as well as the main compartment, for storing small items and ones you need to reach easily – I personally love multi-pocket bags.
4) Makeup Bag
Brand: Sezane
Price: $55
The makeup bag from Sezane is made from all organic cotton and has a super cute print – one of my favorites. The softness of the bag makes it easy to collapse to the needed size to fit in most bags. Sezane makes most of their products in Europe and all of their workshops are audited by independent experts. I highly recommend their Behind the Label videos for educational information about their practices.
5) Lok Pouch
Brand: Terra Thread
Price: $15
The LOK pouch comes in more than 10 colors and is a neutral enough style to be unisex. The pouch is made from organic cotton, lead free zippers, and using Fair Trade practices. I love that the Lok pouch is machine washable, large, and easy to roll down and resize as needed for your packing needs. Each purchase also provides support to Feeding America.
6) Elise Makeup Bag
Brand: O My Bag
Price: $82
This very French styled makeup bag is made with GOTS certified cotton outside and a canvas lining inside. The Elise is a great choice for all your travels with an inner zip pocket for small items, a handle, classy style, padded sizes and plenty of room. The bag also ships from Europe, so I suggest ordering other items at the same time to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.
7) ReNew Catch-All
Brand: Everlane
Price: $30
The ReNew Catch-All Case features five interior drop-in pockets and one exterior zip pocket, which makes it perfect for organizing toiletries (and other small things). The catch all can snap down for smaller size or expand out as needed. The bag is made with 100% recycled polyester from plastic bottles, a water resistant finish that is fluorine free, and Bluesign certified dyes.
8) Blair Vegan Toiletry Case
Brand: Matt & Nat
Price: $65
Matt & Nat is a leader in sustainable vegan bags, so of course they would have a toiletry case. This bag is a classic, unisex style that comes in 8 colors, with a convenient side handle. There is an interior pocket to organize smaller items. The exterior is a vegan cruelty-free material and the interior lining is made from recycled water bottles. It looks durable and easy to clean. While the vegan material is PU (polyurethane), which is biodegradable, and not as eco-friendly as some other organic materials.
9) Large Zebra Pouch
Brand: Ubuntu Life
Price: $27
This fun Zebra patterned pouch made by artisans in Kenya. The large pouch is made from 100% cotton canvas and lead-free water based inks, plus leather sourced from Kenya’s oldest tannery. All of Ubuntu Life’s products ensure living wages and a future for women artists in Kenya. It is a large size that is collapsible to hold as much or as little as you need. It only has one large pocket, which some people really prefer – I like an additional interior pocket for organizing.
10) 2-in-1 Cosmetic Pouch
Brand: Sakroots
Price: $30
These cosmetic pouches are made from REPREVE Eco Twill which is durable, water repellent, stain resistant and made from recycled materials including plastic bottles! This set is also PETA-approved and Vegan Certified. Sakroots is focused on using original artwork that supports environmental charities.
11) Sagebrush + Sand Clutch
Brand: MZ Made
Price: $44
The Sagebrush + Sand Clutch is unique in that it is the only one with an exterior made out of wool. The interior is cotton lining. It is handwoven, hand dyed with non-toxic dyes, and Fair Trade certified. The soft earth tones are really appealing, and it has an interior pocket for smaller items. MZ Made has a meet the maker section on their site where you can learn about each artisan they partner with.
12) Free to Grow Houseplant Pouch
Brand: The Tote Project
Price: $22.50
These sweet little pouches are great for organizing your belongings for trips. It’s hard to tell in this photo, but the base expands out to hold many personal belongings! Based on friendship and a shared dream, Fay Grant and Michelle Chavez started The Tote Project to support the recovery of victims of modern-day slavery.
13) Toiletry Bag
Brand: Grunbag
Price: $60
The Grunbag Toiletry bag is made from surplus material from tarpaulin production and a recycled zipper. The toiletry bag is very practical with 2 inner pockets, a side handle, and a zip closure at the top. It has a utilitarian look that comes in multiple colors, which gives it unisex appeal. It is also conveniently water resistant and easy to clean. The bag does ship from Europe, so I suggest ordering other items at the same time to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.
About the Author: Mindy Redburn-Smoak has enjoyed a 20+ year career in corporate learning as a consultant, designer, and manager. She is passionate about sustainable living, family, travel, and dog rescue. She has been on a mission to live more sustainably for several years, and loves the journey of learning and trying new things in this space. She is on another journey pursuing her dream of writing about things she is passionate about and that can make a difference in the world. The best way to connect with Mindy is via email at mredsmoak@gmail.com.
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