I don't wear glasses or contacts, but bought several of those little cases just for my costmetics. Moisturizer, foundation, etc. Works great and they don't leak!

The contact lens cases are probably a bit on the small side for me... I do re-use my lip balm containers (small ones from Body Shop) for creams and hair gels.

If you wear glasses, you can use your eyeglass case to hold some cosmetics. After all, you should be wearing your glasses at all times, except when sleeping and engaging in --ahem -- certain activities.

My wife normally buys her cosmetics when the store is offering sample packs with the purchase. These sample packs are a great way to save space and helps with the new security regulations at most airports.

Sample packets are fab! I took shampoo packets for 2 weeks vacation and it was great not having a sticky bottle to bring back.
I also like the sunscreen samples and hair conditioners.

I recently came across this tip that I'm planning to try next trip. Place a Space Saver bag in the bottom of your suitcase before packing, and as you travel, put your dirty clothes in it and compress. You'll keep the smell off your clean clothes plus free up some space for things you bring back.

Just remember that you'll have more space, but the weight will be the same and more when you add items en route.

Still sounds like a good tip to me!

BTW, on my recent trip, I did use the contact lens case tip here for storing hair gel. Worked well for me and held about 1 week's supply. Thanks!

YK
The contact lens cases are such perfect sizes for those lotions and potions we only need a "dab" of, like hair gel etc. Saves having to pack even a smal tube of gel......Multiply times 6 and you got room for yet another souvenir!

Absolutely true. Even though I have a travel-size tube of hair gel, it's still bigger in size than the contact lens case. Another bonus is I can toss the contact lens case at the end of my trip; whereas I cannot do so with the tube of unfinished hair gel.

It will work well with other items like eye cream (which I need just a small dab).

I have a number of little trial size jars that I received as a "gift" from Estee Lauder, etc. I always keep them when empty to use for other travel lotions, creams, makeup, etc.

Bettyk
Gee and I thought I was the only "container" junkie on the planet. You name it, I use old jars and containers from just about anything. I have a waterproof marker and always have the right size jar for anything I pack. Also, they are FREE!

lollylo, I am a huge packrat. But those containers definitely come in handy!

A good place to find little containers for hair gel and things is the craft store. I found in the scrapbook section these little plastic containers that are made to hold embellishments. They work great and are small.

I'm very new to Fodors, so I'm reading older topics (Packing is my favorite tag). This one in particular is very liberating because I've been seriously "in the closet" about my tiny container collection (only my immediate family know, and they tease me about my obsession with little containers). Yes yes yes! It's great to have an assortment of free/salvaged tiny jars/bottles for trip packing. I print out labels and attached them. If I decide a container can be used optimally for some other goo I can re-label.

Actually I salvage larger containers too: I take an old mailing tube in case I see a painting or too I must have - it's a safe way to get those things home. I recently received a gift basket that had a snack mix in an extremely well sealed plastic container that I will use for ground coffee on my next trip. I also use an old Altoid tin for transporting things that can be crushed. Basically I assess all containers for their usefulness in my travels!

Packing... It truly is an *art*, spcfa!

2 of my favorite sets of packing containers came free with purchase. Don't tell the advertising people but it swayed me to buying the product.
The first came a natural skin care set. Lots of itty bitty plastic cap size containers. And they've lasted a long time. Plus, I like the product.
The second was from Tupperware. I bought a veggie container (that works quite well for storing lettuce) BUT they threw in a set of tiny tupperware. They hold about an ounce and have traveled many miles with me.

Also, I love my Clinique bags because I can squish them in empty space inside the suitcase.

I also spend waaaay too much time thinking about this.

Spice jars (plastic - McCormick, I think -- red lids) are great for small packing. I use for hair conditioner - lasts 2 or so weeks (I have short hair).

Also, empty Altoid tins work great for toothpicks (my husband is toothpick obsessed).

Woo hoo kywood1955! Kudos on the spice jars. I use McCormick spices, but always buy the larger glass jars... Great idea.

The plastic pill bottles from the pharmacy work
very well. I do put them in a ziploc bag just in case there is a leak, but never had one. I also use the contact cases for small amounts.

Pill or spice bottles are HUGE compared to what I use. I have a set I've gathered of 1 or 2 oz. soft plastic squeeze bottles that I refill. Maybe I don't use as much as some people but these easily last for a 2-3 week trip for shampoo, conditioner, etc. Experiment at home to figure out exactly how much you really use of each thing. For me it's surprisingly little.

<<...1 or 2 oz. soft plastic squeeze bottles that I refill. Maybe I don't use as much as some people but these easily last for a 2-3 week trip for shampoo, conditioner,...>>

LOL. I generally go through about a 3 oz container of conditioner in a week, shampoo in two weeks. Short hair would definitely have traveling benefits! I tend to grab a handful of 3oz containers from walmart before I go on a long trip and then just throw them out when empty.


Those 7 day pill organizers can be great for taking multiple medications. Monday = Benadryl, Tuesday = Imodium, Wednesday-Friday = advil, etc.

I don't even carry contact lenses in those cases - they leak, except for Clear Care.

Some people also recommend those 7-day pill cases for such things...

For toiletries, I collect travel sizes and refill them with the products of my choice. There are also terrific resources online for tiny travel bottles that don't leak and are more appropriate for the contents.

For pharmaceuticals, the smallest bottle holds a lot more when refilled from a larger bottle, and it's labelled correctly.

Agree you really need far less of things like shampoo and conditioner than you would presume. Fill a one ounce container and test how long it lasts you at home, using only a reasonable amount of product, rather than a handful, which just takes longer to rinse out.

How about travel-size deodorants? They look so small - does anyone know if they'd last for three weeks? Two weeks? That's one thing I'd hate to run out of!

Buy a travel-size and try it at home to see if it lasts you for three weeks. If not, put two in your carry-on.

"How about travel-size deodorants? They look so small - does anyone know if they'd last for three weeks? Two weeks? That's one thing I'd hate to run out of!"

Sure they will. Depending on the brand, travel sizes are usually around 1 to 1.5 oz and full sizes are 3 - 4 oz. But if that panics you (I've never run out of deodorant on any trip less than a month) simply buy full sized solid instead of full size roll on. Solid deodorants aren't restricted by the 3oz liquid rule . . . Because they aren't liquid . . .

I tend to put ziplock bags over every item that could leak, even when it's carry-on.

For the bigger carry-on liquids I use the soft lightweight "sandwich" bags and squeeze all the air out before sealing and then putting the item in the regulation one quart bag. For smaller things (I have tiny travel tubes of conditioner, neosporin, etc.) I put them in special tiny bags that I get a craftstore.

I love the tiny zipper bags. I buy mine at a craft store but you can also get them online. I like two different sizes. The smaller size is maybe 1.5 by 2 inches. The larger size is about twice that size.

The little bags are great for things like pills, extra buttons, even costume jewelry earrings and so forth. They are also good to take as extras for small purchases that you want to separate from larger things and not lose.

I use travel-sized deoderants - they last a long time. I have them in my travel bag for multiple trips.

Maybe everyone knows about this for prescriptions already, but it works well to get small zip-lock type bags (in the bead dept. of a craft store is one place to get them) for prescriptions. Carefully pull the prescription off your pill bottle and stick it INSIDE the plastic bag before pouring in the amount of pills you are taking. This way your prescription number, etc. is with the pills, and the bag takes up so much less space than a pill bottle.

For keeping the stink out of your bag between wash days. Pack a small stack of dryer sheets, when you pack the bags of dirty clothes you can throw one or two into the bag and it will help your clean clothes stay clean smelling.

I like the idea of putting the label from the pill bottle on the ziplock bag. I would never have thought of it! Thanks Sandal. I had been worrying about this. (I get my prescriptions mail order from my insurance, and they come in huge bottles for some reason.)

Another tip I have to share is that large ziplock bags (2 gallons or bigger) can be great for doing small bits of handwashing when you don't want to use the sink (because it has no stopper or because there is only one sink and you want to soak things but your travel companion has an irrational desire to brush his teeth. )

sandals - have you ever had the bag inspected? I'm not at all convinced that would work if TSA or customs actually took a look. What would stop you putting unrelated pills in with the label? Safer to take the bottle - but ask the pharmacy for a small one.