What essentials are in YOUR toiletry bag?

Packing as a remote worker is different from packing as a regular traveler and presents unique challenges. (Wait until you read my bloody hotel razor story and contact lens drama below.)

Just thinking about it, you need to balance being presentation-ready for Zoom calls while being prepared for in-person industry conferences and everything else life throws your way. You have to cram all the comforts of your daily life into a travel-friendly package.

My solution? I’ve curated a list of 21 essential items that all pack neatly (maybe a little tight) into a cheap $13 Amazon toiletry bag that’s been my go-to since 2021.

Everything listed here fits in this one toiletry bag, weighing in at just under 1.65kg or 3.64 pounds. It’s small enough to fit in a carry-on (if you remove the scissors and full-sized contact lens solution and swap that out for a travel-sized version). However, if I’m being honest, as a Delta Medallion member, I usually check my bag. 

And for extra peace of mind, I keep an Apple AirTag tethered to the inside my checked bag, so I can track it in case it goes astray in an airport like Seville Airport, where bags can take what feels like 900 years to arrive.

I hope you find this essentials guide helpful! I know lists can be a bit dry, so I tried to make it exciting and witty.  But more importantly, I wanted to provide real-world reasons for why I chose each item. To drive the point home, I’ve even included two case studies – after all, I’m in marketing, so I have to give you proof that these items are absolute must-haves for your travel bag.

Happy packing!

Why should I care what’s inside my toiletry bag?

I mean it’s more like why you should just straight up steal my toiletry bag secrets.

From traveling the world and then attending conference events as a marketer, I’ve become a bit of a packing pro. At least I think so.

Hopefully, this list is useful during your remote work travels.  Even if you’re not a frequent traveler, be sure to come back and check this itemized checklist as a handy reference to make sure you’ve got everything you need.

Again, this list includes EVERYTHING I carry on my flights, 100% of the time. It’s not just the everyday items, but also the tools I need to maintain a polished appearance for Zoom/Microsoft Teams meetings.

Gear Used

Upload Image...

Upload Image...

Upload Image...

Upload Image...

What should I have inside my toiletry bag?

I’ve honed my toiletry bag down to the absolute essentials. In my opinion, this is the one bag you should NEVER unpack. Instead, make sure it’s always ready to go when it’s time for travel.

I keep 95% of my items inside this bag. Yes, I calculated it. The only item I take out is my Andis T-Outliner since that is rather expensive, and it’s cost-prohibitive to buy two trimmers.

Here are my 21 toiletry bag essentials as a remote worker:

1. Cotton Q-Tips

Sometimes your ears need to be clean. However, they are bad for your ears if you put them too far in your ear canal. Maybe I don’t have them after all. But don’t take my opinion, see the doc’s advice here. 

 

2. Stolen Hotel Soap

I always have a bar of soap on hand, and not necessarily liquid soap which is harder to travel with. Since I often stay at Westin hotels (part of Marriott) for work, it appears I keep taking their The Westin’s Green Tea soap.

For longer stays, I sometimes packed Every Man Jack 2-in-1 Daily Shampoo + Conditioner since I have to wash my hair often for jiu-jitsu. This can add some weight to your luggage, though.

Pro Tip: If you’re not always staying in hotels, keep in mind that some Airbnbs might lack soap or not have enough soap. Or maybe they have enough soap for the bathroom sink but not the shower. Don’t get soap-stranded! (Yes, I’m coining that phrase.) Just remember, It’s always a good idea to grab some nice soap from a hotel just in case.

Watch Out: Beware of those slippery hotel soaps, though.The Tillary Hotel, for instance, has soap that feels like it’s never going to rinse off. It’s infuriating when you just want to quickly wash your hands. I’ve read that this slipperiness could be due to hard water or high glycerin content in the soap. Either way, I can’t stand it.

 

3. Fancy Cologne (Acqua Di Parma)

Whether you’re going to a conference or going out to meet friends or a date, it helps to have good, high-quality cologne. You also want one that closely matches your natural body scent.

I tend to rely on Acqua di Parma since it remains a timeless classic. It’s also a perfume brand that people don’t tend to overuse like the ones you are accustomed to dominating your senses, like Axe (which is not even cologne), Aqua di Gio (aka the “My ex-boyfriend wore this cologne”), or Carolina Herrera 212 that everyone has.

You might as well have a less common perfume that’s original and matches your style and personality. And for the love of humanity don’t get the over sprayed Viktor & Rolf’s Spicebomb.

 

4. Razor Blade (Gillette Mach 3)

Having a good razor on hand is absolutely essential. I always have two Gillette Mach 3 blade refill sets: one for home and one in my toiletry bag.

Now, I’m not saying you have to use Gillette. Feel free to experiment with different brands to find your perfect match. I’ll  leave it up to you to pick which brand you want. 

However, if you have sensitive skin like me, be warned: not all disposable razors are created equal. I have even purchased real blades, but honestly, it’s too much of a hassle to pack all the extra blades and deal with loading them up. Sometimes, you just need a quick, convenient shave, and that’s where disposable razors shine. For instance, you can find Mach 3 replacement blades everywhere from Taiwan to Europe.

I’ve also tried my fair share of razors, including Harry’s, Bic, and Schick, and they have all been straight garbage for my skin, leaving me with nothing but horrible razor bumps and annoying cuts.

Case Study #1: Kyoto Cuts Deep – When Hotel Razors Attack, A Razor-Sharp Lesson from Kyoto and the Hairline They Destroyed

I learned this lesson (again) about using a cheap razor instead of waiting to get back to my main destination compounded with the forgetfulness of not carrying my Mach 3 razor.

My friends and I had initially planned a day trip to Kyoto, but we ended up loving it so much that we booked an impromptu overnight stay at The Royal Park Kyoto Sanjo hotel. When I went into the bathroom and took a good look at my face, I saw that my hairline was straight busted. There is no way I could go out looking like this or even be caught dead in a photo. Forget the fact that I was a week overdue for a fade. A photo can kind of hide of fade that needs a quick taper. But a bad hairline? No. no, no! That will show big time in a photo, especially it’s a head-on shot.

Spotting the flimsy hotel razor, I thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?” I grabbed some liquid soap to use as makeshift shaving cream and then began to use their cheap, flimsy razors to fix my lineup. I manage to get a few good touch ups, and then BAM—blood started dripping everywhere. At this point, t I realized and could feel that cut on my forehead despite the possibly small cut. And now not only did I have a half-fixed hairline I now had blood on the floor and towels that needed to be cleaned up.

Now, Kyoto, that hotel, and that flimsy razor are literally forever etched into my forehead—and memory—as a permanent scar.

So if anything, take this as a warning to NOT USE CHEAP RAZORS, especially on your face! Better yet, don’t use razors at all if you don’t have to and instead learn how to “zero-gap” your Andis T-Outliner.

 

5. Nail Clippers (Revlon)

You always want to have a good nail clipper in your bag. And if you’re doing jiu-jitsu like me, you have to make sure your nails are trimmed short. But did you know there’s also such a thing as crappy nail clippers? 

Yes, like nail clippers that give you extra hangnails and worse cut edges. You don’t want to deal with a nail clipper that’s offers no grip. Right as you’re just about to cut your nail your thumb or finger slides off the clipper. Worse is when you finally get to cutting your nail, then the clipper doesn’t depress all the way to get that crisp cut and then gets stuck on your nail.

That’s why I get annoyed when I forget to bring my Revlon nail clipper with me. This clipper has been a rather durable. It constantly clips the way I want and makes the over all process a breezy. And that’s why I’ll say it again—I HATE when I forget it or when it’s not in my bag.

 

6. Scissors

Having a good pair of scissors is key to cutting emerging gray strands (I keep finding one or two) and also for trimming my beard when it gets too scraggly. I did have a nicer pair of scissors until I lost them, so now I just use really cheap scissors that are horrible and I get annoyed every time I use them.

 

7. Andis T-Outliner

This is the most essential item inside my toiletry bag. I use this for lineups, which in my case occurs every three days. 

What I’ve done here is cut the top part of the casing because it interferes heavily when trying to get a close cut around the ears and when you’re just doing a last-minute taper. 

If you don’t have a case for this—which I don’t—then don’t be surprised if your bag gets mishandled, dropped, or banged up, causing the blades to get damaged. In that case, you’ll want to have extra Andis replacement blades on hand. 

Truthfully, I’m not the best at taking care of my clippers. I run this thing hard and don’t give it much love, but it keeps working. Seriously, kudos to Andis for making such a heavy-duty product!

I sometimes bring Andis Clipper Oil with me for clipper maintenance, which you can carry in check-in luggage, but it’s also super hard to find–even in Hawaii. Additionally, the  Andis Cool Care, which I use at home for cleaning, isn’t travel-friendly either.

So, if I’m in a bind, then I’ve resorted to using olive oil or whatever else I can find. And no, I have no idea if they are good for the trimmers or not, but I’ve been using Andis trimmers on myself for 15+ years. Maybe that counts for something?

 

8. Contacts (The one thing you ABSOLUTELY MUST pack–if you can’t see.)

This one is also an important one. Make sure you have your contacts! Don’t leave home without them! And I’m not just saying that because I’m a remote worker.

When I went to Estoril, Portugal, for a friend’s wedding, I forgot to renew my prescription for contacts. That meant I had horrible photos that I’m embarrassed to post. Don’t end up like me.

And just for everyone reading, in the USA, it costs an arm and a leg to get your prescription, let alone an appointment.

I had to wait over a month for my insurance-approved location to get checked out. That meant that if I wanted to do jiu-jitsu, I couldn’t, or I’d only have enough contacts for just one eye if I made an effort to find a long-lost contact.  

Pro Tip: Contact lenses and eye exams are much cheaper in Europe than in the U.S. If you’re traveling abroad (especially to Europe), consider getting your prescription filled there and save a few bucks!

Let’s look at another case-study using my own real-life examples that might just convince you to double-check your toiletry bag.:

Case Study #2: One Eyed in Seville

Maybe you’ve been there – down to your last pair of contacts due to some unforeseen mishap? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me the night before a trip to Seville.

I had flown down from Seattle to meet up with my brother in Boston the night before our flight to Seville, and as luck would have it, one of my contacts ripped in half while it was in my eye and then proceeded to get lost somewhere in my eyeball. I stammered around the Encore Boston’s hotel bathroom in frustration. 

“Crap,” I thought, “my eye is on fire, and I need to get this fixed before I hop on my scheduled flight tomorrow.” Actually, I’m pretty sure I yelled. Either way, after a frantic 20-minute struggle with my dislodged contact, I emerged from the bathroom victorious, like a Spartan warrior from the movie 300, but with bloodshot eyes to show for my heroic outcome.

However, the situation only worsened. When I arrived in Seville, I realized that the Encore Boston drama had caused me to use my last remaining pair of contacts, leaving me with only one contact lens for one eye.

That meant only one eye would get a contact for our entire 12-day trip in Seville. No bueno!  Luckily, after much searching (and a few desperate knocks on doors), I stumbled upon this optometrist in Seville that miraculously carried my annoyingly hard-to-get Biofinity toric lenses and a spare contact lens case. 

You: Thanks for the story! That wasn’t terribly exciting. I get it, contacts are important. But is there more to this Seville saga?

Me: Ok, I forgot to mention the other part.

You: Wait, what’s the other part?

Bonus Story: The Mineral Water Bottle Cap Contact Case

Me: Before I went to Óptica Delgado Canalejas in Seville (for anyone interested), I accidentally slept in my last pair of contacts, which were already in dire need of replacing. 

Of course, I also had to stretch the contacts one extra day. The problem was, I didn’t have my contact lens case! I left it in Boston! So, I improvised by using two mineral water bottle caps filled with Opti-Free solution and covered with a paper towel. Shh, don’t tell my eye optometrist!

You: Wow I definitely learned my lesson from your mineral water bottle cap saga. Always pack extra lenses (and a spare lens case!). Also, you need help. Like bad, man.

Me: Cool, cool! But, yea you’re probably right. 

The Takeaway: Always Pack Extra Contacts and a Spare Case

This experience taught me that packing extra contact lenses and a spare case is an absolute must for any traveler, especially if you wear contacts regularly. Trust me, you don’t want to find yourself in a foreign country with a ripped lens and no way to store it.

Plan Ahead, Contact Wearers! Choose Between Wearing Dailies or Monthlies.

Another tip: think ahead about how many contacts you’ll need for your trip.

I once bought a whole box of dailies from an eye doctor in my old neighborhood in Courbevoie (a suburb of Paris) because it was easier than trying to buy just a few pairs. I was actually able to use the set for a few months. 

You will also want to plan and decide whether you want to use dailies, monthlies, or weeklies. And if you have hard lenses, then I feel for you. If you have monthlies, just know that if you do jiu-jitsu on your travels, your contact lens WILL pop out. And if you’re the type to put that back in your eye, then good luck to you. So, to be honest, I would recommend packing both dailies AND monthlies if you’re doing jiu-jitsu on your travels.

P.S. If you want to buy cheap contact lenses stateside, I use this site interlenses.com to buy the same lenses I would from my optometrist (who I told I buy them from Portugal). These take a little less than 2 weeks to arrive, so make sure if you’re buying this before your trip you allow enough time for shipping. 

From Portugal to Seattle, it took 12 days for the package to arrive.

 

9. Hair Comb & Brush

Make sure to have good combs that you can use to trim your beard and maintain your hairstyle. I use a combination of a Tail Comb that I use to maintain my beard and maybe a combo with the scissors and maybe the Andis T-outliner to trim my beard. I also have a Denman Curly Hair Brush D3 which helps to easily detangle my curls, especially when my hair gets tangled.

 

10. Toothbrush with a Clip-On Protector Cap

This one should be a given. Have a reliable toothbrush that you prefer. My dental friends say that soft is the best kind—so that’s what I use. 

I also make sure to have a Steripod cover over it since you don’t want to see how these germs travel, especially in bathrooms. Granted this thing probably also serves as a germ harbor itself over time, so maybe it’s just placebo.

 

11. Contact Solution

Make sure you pack a contact solution that you’re comfortable with. Otherwise, you might end up borrowing someone else’s and getting stuck with that hydrogen peroxide-based one—yes, Clear Care–that burns your eye. Yep, that’s what happened on a trip when visiting friends in New York City. Even if you tell me to wait the required time, it can still sting. When you’re a remote worker on the go, you need a solution that’s easy and comfortable to use.

So, do yourself a favor and pack the travel-sized solution you prefer. I personally use the Opti-Free Replenish solution, but it’s surprisingly hard to find in some places.I scoured Taiwan for it and came up empty-handed! You’re more likely to find Biotrue or Bausch & Laumb’s Renu, so if you’re picky like me, plan accordingly.

 

12. Razor Blade Pack (Gillette Mach 3)

Make sure to pack replacement blades for your razor. In the case of the Mach 3, a pack of three should do the trick. Simply toss the whole pack in your bag and you’re set.

 

13. Non-Branded Cologne (Dua Brand – Impulse)

While having a signature cologne is great, it’s always handy to have a backup or a second scent for variety

I personally enjoy The Dua Brand and choose several options. Why? Well, one might be citrusy for daytime wear, while another could have a warm vanilla or leathery tone for evenings. You can choose your favorite scents from a renowned fragrance house or opt for a more affordable brand like Dua. To get an idea of how they stack up, check out Basenotes (it’s like the Yelp of colognes).

I can’t find my favorite cologne anymore; it’s officially sold out unless I convince Jean Paul Gautier to remake it again! It was such an understated cologne that people would always ask what it was—it was like my secret scent weapon to be honest. The closest contenders I’ve found are Angel for Men or Kenneth Cole Black and even Yves Saint Laurent’s L’homme, but none of them quite compare.

The Dua Brand colognes I mentioned have excellent blends inspired by fragrances that are no longer available. Normally, I’m not a fan of replica colognes, but these are surprisingly good, and I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on them.

 

14. Deodorant (Nivea)

Don’t underestimate the importance of a good deodorant, especially on those long journeys. Don’t lie, you know you are not showering as much as you should. You know good and well those showers are few and far between.

I’ve found Nivea’s line of European deodorants to be super good. Some of them even contain silver, like this one.  I’ve seen some debate online about whether silver in deodorant is healthy or not, but most deodorants contain strange chemicals that could be harmful. Nivea deodorants are super expensive here in the U.S., but they are super cheap abroad. So when you go on your European trips, use it as a chance to stock up.

 

15. Earrings (JQS & Alexander McQueen)

I have my ears pierced, so I always pack a set of earrings. For everyday wear, it’s either the more affordable JQS Gold Earrings that I got from Etsy. But if I’m dressing up, I’ll opt for a more stylish pair of Alexander McQueen earrings, like this one. 

 

16. Hair Ties (Scunchi)

If you have long hair, hair ties are a must. For the last few years, I’ve had long hair that either got twisted or just pulled back. 

I’m pretty particular about hair ties and prefer the more rubbery Scunci No-Slip Grip (weird name) that doesn’t pull on the hair as much. These are ones that are hard to get and are always out of stock. I usually carry a few because they can break, especially when I use them for jiu-jitsu.

 

17. Beard Brush

A good beard brush with firm bristles is helpful to keep beard hair in check and maintaining overall beard health. It’s also useful for longer stretches between your fades, especially if you can’t find a barber.

 

18. Toothpaste

Of course, this is a given, but make sure to bring your favorite brand. I switch between Crest 3D White and Sensodyne. The one in the photo is what I picked up at my work offsite in Austin, TX when I ran out of my usual toothpaste. So if you want that Crest 3D, there’s proof right here to make sure to pack it.

 

19. Tide Stain Remover Pen

Make sure you’re never caught without a Tide Pen! And I’ll tell you why…

It’s a lifesaver for removing those pesky stains, whether it’s a drop of oil from Mala soup or Udon noodles. 

Or maybe you dropped some tasty olive oil on your nice olive pants (the ones you picked up in New Zealand), because you were so eager to eat your Galician-Style octopus (Pulpo a Feira) in Spain.Wait! What about that other time you were devouring that delicious Cataplana dish in Lagos, Portugal! (A dish that for some reason Google spellcheck thought this word was kattapanayile)! 

Oh no, of course that didn’t happen to me! I was just being specific for no reason. *cough* *cough*

 

20. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat (Daily Moisturizer)

I’m a big fan of keeping my skin moisturized. There used to be a men’s skincare brand that I absolutely loved called Skeen that was purely focused on men’s dermatological care, but it went out of business. 

If you know of other men’s focused skincare lines that are backed by board-certified dermatologists, please let me know. Or, if you’re interested in creating a skincare line together, ping me!

Since Skeen is no longer available, I’ve turned to La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Mat. It offers a similar dermatological approach and has become my go-to daily moisturizer.

For my nighttime routine, I use Innisfree’s Jeju orchid skin cream.

 

21. Hair pick

If you have curly or textured hair, a hair pick is essential for detangling. I’ve been using Afropick hair picks since 2022, and they’re still holding up great. They come in some fun designs, and the company founded by several brothers. 

 

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Shoot me a message!

What are your toiletry bag must-haves? Also, have you discovered any amazing travel hacks? If so, send me an email at info@homsontravels.com

Stay tuned for a more COMPLETE and FULL packing guide.