You’ve arrived at your accommodation in desperate need of a shower and open your bag to a sweet smelling smell. And find, OH NO, your shampoo bottle has leaked through your clothes and bag. Solution. Travel with solid toiletries for travel! Don’t know about them? Let me explain.

Like you, I have opened my bag to find a toiletry has leaked. And it is so annoying. And with the amount of travel I do, it has happened quite a few times because I don’t want to arrive in a new place and have to buy toiletries again. So I travel with half empty toiletry bottles! But I don’t have to anymore, because I have discovered solid toiletries that do a good a job as my favourites! They are a game changer for travel.

 

What Are Solid Travel Toiletries?

 

Solid toiletries are well, toiletries that are solid. They are a mess-free alternative to liquid counterparts. 

 

Types of Solid Travel Toiletries

 

You have probably thought of soap as being the only solid travel toiletry around.  But a lot of liquid products are products solid for travel. As well as the obvious soap bar, think about solid toothpaste, face creams, shampoo and conditioner. Keep reading to work out which solid toiletries might work best for you for you next trip. 

 

Pros and Cons of Solid Travel Toiletries

 

As with everything, there are pros and cons. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling with solid toiletries.

 

Pros of Solid Travel Toiletries

 

• The biggest advantage of solid travel toiletries I think is they take up less space in your bag and help you to pack lighter. And this is necessary, particularly when flying as we are often limited by weight as to how much we can take on our travels. 
• Speaking of airlines, getting through the airport security should be easier. You shouldn’t have to take them out of your bag like you do with liquids.
• Solid travel toiletries are compact and save space. With more space you will have more room to pack other items with the space you are saving by not travelling with bottles of liquid.
• Solid toiletries are concentrated products that don’t need storing in bottles that you will throw away so helps to reduce your carbon footprint. The packaging they come in are usually recyclable boxes or containers so there is less waste going into landfill and the ocean. 
• Products are made from essentials oils and other organic matter rather than harsh chemicals. 
• Save money using solid toiletries as they are often more concentrated and last longer. 
• Avoid disasters from liquid products leaking in your luggage. Say goodbye to ruined clothes.

 

Cons of Solid Travel Toiletries

 

• Can melt when really hot or wet, so appropriate storage is required.

 

Types of Solid Travel Toiletries

 

The main types of liquid toiletries than can be turned into solid travel toiletries are limited, but are mostly shampoo and condition, body wash, sunscreen and insect repellent. 

 

TIP: Try them out at home beforehand so you can work out which solid toiletry bar will suit you and your travels.

 

Solid Shampoo and Solid Conditioner Bars

 

There are a number of different types of solid shampoo and solid conditioner bars on the market. And yes, they latter up nicely and leave your hair clean easy to manage. There are bars for different hair types – dry, gray hair and scalp issues. Check these out on Amazon.

Bambo Earth Natural Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

 

Solid Soap, Body Wash and Cleansing Bars

 

There are some beautiful smelling soap and body wash bars on the market. Many of them with essential oils to keep you skin clean and nourished while you travel. One of my favourites is a lanolin bar that keeps my skin clean and soft. Some bars can be used for face, body and even double up as shampoo. There are also cleansing bars to help remove make-up after a long night partying! Check these out on Amazon.

Zero Waste Natural Soap

 

Solid Lotion Bars

 

Your skin can dry out at any time, particularly while traveling through different climates. There are bars available to help keep your skin moisturised. Check these out on Amazon.

Moon Valley Organics Herbal Lotion Bar

 

Solid Lip Balm

 

I have been using a solid lip balm for many years. During long flights, at the beach and a night before bed. They are so discreet, easy to use and fit nicely into a lipstick container. Check these out on Amazon.

O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair SPF 35 Lip Balm

TIP: Some of the bars are best applied when soft, such as the lotions. To make them soft, after your shower and when you are warm, warm the lotion container in your hands and then apply.

 

Solid Sunscreen

 

Heading to a hot climate on a beach holiday, ensure you pack some sunscreen – preferably reef-safe. And you don’t know when you will spend the day in the sun so having a solid sunscreen bar in your bag will come in really handy. Check these out on Amazon.

Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Stick

 

Solid Bug Repellent Bars

 

Annoying bugs can ruin your holiday. From a mosquito here to flies there. Solid bug repellent bars when rubbed on your body can help keep this annoying critters away. Check out these on Amazon.

Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent Balm

 

Solid Deodorant

 

I’ve used solid deodorant sticks for a long time. They are convenient and compact and fit into my bag easily so I can whip it out and use at any time. Check out these on Amazon.

Speed Stick Solid Antiperspirant and Deodorant 

 

Solid Toothpaste

 

These little gems took a while for me to get use to and I avoided them for a long time until my travel-size toothpaste tube exploded from a large object. Solid toothpaste come in bite size tablets in different flavours. Bite and chew the tablet until it becomes pasty and voila, toothpaste. And clean your teeth like you had squeeze the toothpaste onto a toothbrush. Check these out on Amazon.

SuperBee Dentos Toothpaste Tablets

 

Solid Perfume

 

Yep, even perfume can be turned into a solid. And there are some great smelling ones on the market. Check these out on Amazon.

Valley Lily Solid Perfume

 

Best Way to Carry Your Solid Toiletries

 

You will notice when the solid toiletry bars get wet or extremely hot, they melt and can be like soft melted butter. Keeping them dry and cool is essential. To do this, so they travel well with you, here are my best tips:

• Keep your solid toiletries in an airtight container such as a small tin or a Ziplock bag or lunch bag. I like the lunch bag myself as they move to any shape.
• Let the bar air dry before you pack them. This allows them to harden.
• Keep them dry and cool is essential. 

 

Are You Ready to Travel with Solid Toiletries?

 

Solid travel toiletries didn’t sound overly nice when I first heard about them. I thought, how could a hard bar of shampoo wash my hair the way a liquid could? But I tried them and now I’m a convert. I admit, I don’t use them all the time. I do use them while traveling and once I am back in my ‘home base’ or staying in one place for a while I often revert to my old liquid toiletry favourites! Have you used solid toiletries to travel with? I’d love to hear.