Toiletries & First Aid Kit for Travel
TSA-friendly toiletry kits, essential medications to carry, and what you can easily buy on the road instead of packing.
The goal with toiletries is simple: bring the minimum, buy the rest on the road. Every country in the world sells shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant. You don’t need to pack a six-month supply of anything.
TSA and Airport Security#
The 3-1-1 rule (if you're carrying on)
Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 oz / 100ml or less, all fitting in one quart-sized clear zip-top bag. One bag per person. This applies to carry-on only - checked bags have no liquid limits. Solid alternatives (bar soap, solid shampoo, toothpaste tablets) bypass these rules entirely.
Buy travel-sized containers and fill them from your full-sized products at home. Or just buy everything at your destination - pharmacies in Bangkok, Mexico City, and most European cities carry every brand you’re used to, usually cheaper than airport prices.
Note: some countries are relaxing or eliminating the 3-1-1 rule as CT scanners replace older X-ray machines. The UK and several EU airports no longer require a separate liquids bag. But rules vary by country and change frequently, so check before you fly.
The Essentials#
What to Actually Pack
- Toothbrush and small toothpaste (or toothpaste tablets)
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen (SPF 30+ minimum - buy locally in tropical destinations where it’s cheaper and formulated for stronger UV)
- A razor if you use one
- Any prescription medications in their original packaging, ideally with a doctor’s letter
- Contact lens supplies if needed
- Lip balm with SPF
What to Buy When You Arrive
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Insect repellent (local brands in Southeast Asia often work better than what you brought from home - they’re formulated for local mosquitoes)
- Additional sunscreen
- Anything else you realize you forgot
Pharmacies exist everywhere. You won’t be stranded without shampoo in any country with running water.
The First Aid Kit#
Keep it small. You’re preparing for common travel annoyances, not performing surgery.
The Minimum
- Imodium / loperamide - the single most important item in your kit. When you need it, you really need it, and you won’t want to go searching for a pharmacy.
- Oral rehydration salts (ORS) - for when the Imodium isn’t enough. Dehydration from food poisoning is the actual danger.
- Basic painkillers - ibuprofen or paracetamol
- Antihistamines - for allergies and bug bite itching
- Antiseptic cream - small tube, for cuts and scrapes
- A few bandaids and some gauze
- Tweezers - for splinters and ticks
- Blister plasters / moleskin - if you’re doing any amount of walking
Worth Adding
- Travel antibiotics (ciprofloxacin or azithromycin) - ask your travel clinic before departure. They’ll prescribe these for the trip. Invaluable in remote areas where medical care is far away.
- Anti-fungal cream - tropical humidity breeds fungal infections, especially on feet
- Hydrocortisone cream - for rashes and persistent insect bites
- A thermometer - useful for deciding whether you’re “sick” or “actually sick”
Don’t Bother Packing
A massive pre-assembled first aid kit from Amazon. You’ll carry 2kg of supplies you never touch. Pharmacies exist everywhere and stock everything you need, often without a prescription - particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America, where you can buy most medications over the counter.
Prescription Medications#
Bring enough for your entire trip plus two weeks extra in case of delays or changed plans. This is the one thing you can’t easily replace on the road.
- Keep medications in original, labeled packaging - customs officers in some countries question unlabeled pills, and you don’t want to explain your prescriptions through a language barrier.
- Carry a letter from your doctor listing your medications, dosages, and why you need them. Essential for controlled substances.
- Some common medications are illegal or restricted in certain countries. Codeine is banned in several countries. Some ADHD medications (Adderall) are controlled substances in most of Asia and the Middle East. Strong painkillers may require extra documentation. Check before you travel.
- Keep all medications in your carry-on, never in checked luggage. If your checked bag gets lost, you need your meds immediately, not sometime in the next 48 hours.
Solid Alternatives#
Solid toiletries are a carry-on traveler’s best friend. They don’t count toward the liquids limit, they last longer per gram, and they don’t explode in your bag at altitude.
Options that work well:
- Shampoo bars (Ethique, Lush, HiBAR) - one bar lasts 50-80 washes
- Solid conditioner bars - same brands, same concept
- Bar soap - the original solid toiletry. Still works.
- Toothpaste tablets (Bite, DENTtabs) - chew, brush, done. Weirdly satisfying once you get used to them.
- Solid deodorant - most stick deodorants are already solid and TSA-compliant
- Solid sunscreen sticks - convenient for face, less practical for full-body application
Not everyone likes them. The transition from liquid shampoo to a shampoo bar takes a wash or two to get used to, and some people’s hair just doesn’t cooperate with bars. But for one-bag travelers trying to minimize liquids, they’re worth a try before your trip.