The One Item That R29 Shopping Editors Always Bring On Vacation

Welcome to Travel Week, a seven-day stretch where we celebrate our wanderlust with the best buys on everything from stylish packing cubes to keep you organized to once-in-a-lifetime vacations. Whether you’re planning a local staycation or traveling across the world, adventure awaits. Away we go!

We’re all craving a little bit of escapism and relaxation via summer vacation right about now. But traveling can also come with its own kind of stress, whether it’s making sure you’ve packed every little thing or navigating the airport experience. To make your life (and travels) a little easier, Refinery29 Shopping editors are sharing the one thing they never fail to pack. So whether you’re taking advantage of the long weekend or you’re using that PTO to jet off on a big trip over the summer, these 12 travel products are lifesavers. From toiletry containers (think: capsule organizers and cosmetics cases) to tech accessories (think: handheld steamers and cord detanglers) keep on scrolling to take a peek inside R29 editors’ carry-ons.

FP Movement Good Karma Onesie, $98

“Not only is this sporty one-piece the softest, sleekest piece of clothing I own — it’s just about the coolest off-duty airport uniform I can think of when paired with a hoodie or baggy top. The ribbed fabric snatches your bod (hey, you never know when a meet-cute will happen at the TSA PreCheck line!), and it’s comfortable enough for a longer flight. Plus, if you’re up for a spin class upon landing at your destination, consider yourself already good to go…” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer

Calpak Small Clear Cosmetics Case, $75

“If there’s one thing I’m not doing on vacation, it’s hitting up a pharmacy to buy toiletries or re-buying my beauty essentials at Sephora — my go-to shampoo, soap, deodorant, and makeup products always come with me, no exceptions. As such, I need a pretty sizable toiletry bag, and, as someone who loves an aesthetic accessory, your average plastic food storage bag or packing cube just isn’t going to cut it for me. Enter: the Calpak clear cosmetics case.

“The double-sided design means it has plenty of room for everything I carry with me on trips (and that’s a lot of products) and, thanks to its structured design, my toiletries don’t fall prey to the countertop sprawl I find inevitable when I use soft-sided makeup cases. The clear sides also make it easy to quickly locate the product I’m looking for, and I’ve gotten tons of compliments from people who’ve seen me using it!” —Sarah Crow, Affiliate Director

Skims Cotton Jersey Mock Neck Tank, $36

“The Skims Cotton Jersey Tank is my new ultimate airport top. It’s super-soft, comfortable, flattering, and goes with absolutely everything. It literally feels like I’m not wearing anything at all — that’s how comfy it is! Plus, if you’re not feeling it for the airport, it’s thin and small enough to fit into any corner of your carry-on, BUT it’s not see-through. I own it in both black and gray, but I want it in all the colorways available. I’m not even kidding, I could not recommend this tank enough.” —Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer

Tangle Teezer Compact Styler Detangling Hairbrush, $16.99

“The hair and beauty goods I pack on vacation are always in flux. Sometimes I have a Sephora checkout line’s worth of travel-size goodies; other times I rely on hotel soaps and lotions when I land. But the one thing I always bring along, whether it’s a weekend trip to my parents’ or two weeks in Japan, is the Tangle Teaser compact brush. It has a little cover to keep the bristles from getting smashed (or catching on your things), and it works great on both my wet and dry hair. It is definitely not as compact as those tiny folding brushes, but it’s way more substantial (I do have straight hair, but it’s fairly thick). It works identical to the full-size Tangle Teaser, just smaller, and fits comfortably in my hand.” —Marshall Bright, Affiliate Editor

Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer, $180

“One thing I can’t stand is having unwanted wrinkles on my vacation outfits, but it’s evitable when you’re folding clothes and transporting them in a suitcase where space is limited. This handheld steamer-iron hybrid is the answer to all my questions: it emanates strong enough heat that can straighten up crumpled shirts, while the steam setting lifts and smoothes out even the finest creases from more delicate fabrics. The portable size makes it easy to pop into a carry-on suitcase, and the sage color is just too appealing to pass over.” —Venus Wong, Senior Travel Writer

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Lemon Lime Powder Packets, $23.45

“Hydration is key! I bring my water bottle with me everywhere — planes, trains, and automobiles — but sometimes it’s not just about the bottle; it’s what’s inside. Traveling is exhausting mentally and physically, which is why I always travel with at least 3 LIV packets: one for the trip there, one for during, and one for the return. I know there are alternatives with less sugar (I hear you health people), but I need that sugar to replace what was lost during my travel! This is especially pertinent during a beach vacay when the sun is high and drinks are downed.

“While LIV isn’t a cure-all, it does help me feel more hydrated and refreshed and I recommend it to all my friends whenever I get the chance. Pro tip: I also take LIV to help my body recoup after a night of overindulgence or a big hike when I gotta re-up the electrolytes. Basically, LIV is a life-giver. Invest and you (and your body) will not regret it!” —Becca Sax, Affiliate Coordinator

Bagsmart Large Hanging Toiletry Organizer Bag, $31.99 $27.99

“As my beauty routine has grown, so has my skin-care and makeup collection, which all need to be contained while traveling. Though I’m not above throwing a bunch of bottles into a gallon ziplock baggie, it doesn’t keep the more delicate bottles protected and isn’t the most organized system, either. When my girlfriend was gifted this hanging travel organizer, I knew I needed to upgrade to one myself. On our last trip (a 10-day international venture to Colombia), we easily fit the rows of zippered sections with skin care, sunscreen, thigh chafe, deodorant, shampoos, conditioners, detanglers, face wipes, and every other travel toiletry on the face of the planet. And when we got to our hotel, we hung it up in the bathroom for easy access to all the products, perfectly on display and ready to be grabbed at a moment’s notice.

“For a shorter trip (my gf took it home for a weekend in Philly recently), it’s perfect for putting bath products on the top two sections and filling it with makeup below. It’s shockingly roomy and seems to fit much more than it looks too (much like Mary Poppins’ bag). Not to mention it folds up flat, so it’s easily packable on top of clothes as well. For $20, it’s well worth the price (and will last much longer than my Ziplock baggies).” —Charlotte Lewis, Sexual Health & Wellness Writer

Cadence Days of the Week 7 Capsule Bundle, $98 $88

“I’ve waxed poetic about Cadence’s capsules before, but they are literally the first thing I pack whenever I travel. The modular system allows me to take as few or as many as I need, which is perfect for keeping things efficient for overnight or weekend trips. They’re also super durable, and I love that I can customize the tiles if I want to fill them up with anything from vitamins to sunscreen. I even got a separate one for my jewelry since I tend to misplace dainty rings as soon as I take them off. A set of seven is pricey, but I can see them lasting me a very long time/potentially forever.” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Beauty Editor

Too Faced Let’s Play Mini Eyeshadow Palette, $29

“You will always find a mini Too Faced palette in my travel bag — honestly, even in my at-home makeup bag. Just like the others, this one fits in the palm of my hand and has a wide color range for two or three different looks for when I want to switch it up. But, the best part: The palette is magnetic, so when you clap it closed it stays closed. My days of crumbled pots, wasted product, and stained makeup bags are over.” —Alexandra Polk, Affiliate Lifestyle Writer

ELFRhino Earphones Wrap Cord Organizer – 3 Pack, $11.99 $10.39

“I seem to always travel with two pairs of headphones (yes, I’m very much team cords) and multiple chargers. These little wraps are a lifesaver, so everything doesn’t end up in a tangled mess at the bottom of my carry-on.” —Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist

Bpluma Leak Proof Travel Bottles Kit, $9.99

“I always carry some variation of mini travel bottles to hold TSA-approved amounts of liquid formulas when I travel. My mixed-and-matched tiny containers usually hold toners, serums, shampoos, and conditioners. But I’ve recently purchased this TikTok-viral toiletry kit that’s so cute, compact, and organized. I love that there’s a case to hold the four bottles, so they don’t roll around my suitcase. It also comes with a funnel to help transfer my skin- and hair-care products easier, and labels to help distinguish each one. I’m going to be traveling to Italy this summer, and I am excited to bring this life-saving kit along with me.” —Victoria Montalti, Associate Affiliate Writer

Palace JCDC P 6-Panel Cap, $83

“My wavy permed hair has a mind of its own. Sometimes the curls work, and other times they hate each other. Thus, I never pack for a vacation without bringing my trusty Palace cap. I have the white version, but I also steal this black one from my boyfriend. Both of them keep the unruly hair at bay and match any outfit.” —Vivien Lee, Affiliate Fashion Writer

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