1. A travel brush with a hidden compartment where you can store your hair ties, bobby pins, perfume atomizer, razor — anything compact, honestly! It may seem like an insignificant amount of space, but every bit counts. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Bought this brush to replace my old travel brush. Love the storage compartment! Didn't realize that it actually CAME with hair ties, clips, and bobby pins (didn't notice these in the description). Such an amazing surprise. And the brush is great! De-tangles and smoothes wonderfully. Even tamed my static-y hair. Love it!" —Crazy cat mama

Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (also available in white).

2. A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger so you don't have to decide between juicing up your AirPods, Apple Watch, or phone because your hotel room only has one outlet to work with. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I finally gave up and bought a charging station for several devices. I travel a lot, and taking turns charging my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch was annoying, especially if the room had a limited number of outlets and I was not the only one who needed to charge all of them ASAP—plus, hauling all of the cords. Ugh. Hooray, I'm hustle-free now. It comes with one fold-up station, one cord, and one nob for three devices that charge simultaneously. It works with my iPhone 12 Pro Max from 2020, Apple Watch Series 6 from 2020, and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) from 2022 without issues. I am more than satisfied with the purchase." —Sneaky Pete

Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in six colors). 

3. A teensy tiny pack of dissolvable laundry sheetsif you'll be away from home for a while and might need to hand wash some items while you're away. Yes, lots of hotels have washers and dryers, but that requires a whole lotta quarters, and you gotta watch your stuff like a hawk. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Love this product. Easy to travel with. Cleans well. Happy to cut down on plastic use. Cannot use detergent with fragrance. So happy this product has that option." —Andres Arevalo

Get them from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in packs of 32 or 160 and scented or unscented).

4. A compact eight-compartment pill organizer with room for all of your vitamins and prescriptions. This sure beats a ziplock bag full of loose pills!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I purchased this to take with me on a five-day cruise. It was perfect. It held all of my vitamins and supplements, our seasickness pills, my husband's allergy pills, my son's lactase pills, and some ibuprofen, just in case. It was easy to load and easy to access the different pills when needed. It looks adorable and fits easily into my backpack. It also comes in three different colors. My guess is that over time, the plastic insert that divides the pills may break, so you will have two more ready to go. I highly recommend, and really enjoyed using." —Amy B

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $6.97+ (available in two color combinations).

5. Anall-in-one K-beauty balm that does the work of a lip balm ✅, eye cream ✅, neck cream ✅, primer ✅, and face mist ✅! Man, I love a multi-use product that not only saves me time... but saves me MONEY. 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Okay! So I was skeptical at first, but honestly, this stick is life-changing!!! In a matter of minutes, my skin felt hydrated and plumped. After an hour, still hydrated. No greasy after feeling, very light, and you can feel your skin hydrated and absorbing. I love the fact that you can use it on your eyes, lips, and wrinkles!! Game changer for me, will def try the others!" —Kristy 

Get it from Amazon for $22.99(available in six styles). 

6. A *stuffable* travel neck pillow so you never have to go through the mega-embarrassing spectacle that is being told your checked bag is overweight and having to unzip it right there at the desk to move things into your carry-on. This genius sleeve can hold the equivalent of 10 T-shirts!! 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "As a single guy who travels with mostly a few shirts, I find that this has been a great addition. It helps me travel with no bag a lot of times; I am able to fit most items right into it! Very economical buy when used properly. High quality." —Abbasbeydoun95

Get it from Amazon for $44.95.

7. Some reviewer-loved Nippies if you've vowed to have a bra-free vacay.  These silicone pasties come in two sizes and various colors, so chances are you'll find the right fit! 

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I cannot tell you how much I LOVE these things. I had been using a cheaper pair of pasties, and these are a world apart from those. They cover everything really well and are super comfortable. I literally forget that they are on. I have worn them under really thin white shirts, and you can’t see anything! I LOVE THESE SO MUCH. So much that I just bought another pair so that I’ll never be without." —Sara Reiland

Get them from Amazon for $26.50 (available in five colors and two sizes). 

8. A Tushbaby carrier sure to come in handy whenever you're out and about somewhere without a stroller. The as-seen-on-Shark Tank product gives your kiddo four comfy ways to sit and can be used from newborn up to 3- years-old (or 44 pounds).

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "We bought this for a cruise and used it every day. We loved it so much, we now only use this instead of our other more expensive chest carrier." —Tyson Bowers

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in three colors/designs). 

9. An Alleyoop makeup brush that's simultaneously a foundation sponge, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, AND an eyeliner brush so you can bring your tiny toiletry kit for once!! 

www.amazon.com

Alleyoop has many other multifunctional beauty products that cut out clutter and simplify routines, which will help make packing light a breeze.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this travel makeup brush and sponge combo! It's so convenient for when I'm on the go and need to touch up my makeup. The bristles are soft and the sponge is great for blending. Plus, it's compact and fits perfectly in my purse. I highly recommend it!" —Mary G. Murphy

Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in two styles).

10. Some pH-balanced deodorant wipes if you're traveling somewhere particularly warm, and you'd love to avoid finding a puddle of melted deodorant stick in your cosmetic bag. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This are great for travel. Throw them in your purse or travel bag or pack them with your toiletries. Lots of great uses. Don’t take up space, don’t count as a liquid, and WORK. Like them a lot." —Lloyd

Get a box of 15 from Amazon for $8.44+(available in four scents or a variety pack).

11. A waterproof travel cable organizer so your various chargers don't get lost in the void that is the bottom of your bucket bag and form one massive knot. 

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "Excellent for travel! Nice to have a go-to individual pouch especially for the chords. Husband travels for business and this is a must, so if he's in an airport or hotel he can locate them easily and they don’t get mixed with others." —Brent Webb

Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in three sizes and 23 colors). 

12. A travel version of Mouthwatchers' ever-popular "flossing toothbrush" with two layers of bristles. One layer being regular firm ones, and the other being longer ones that are 10 times thinner and mimic floss as they get between your teeth but are gentle on your gums. 

Amazon

Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. 

Promising review: "This toothbrush is a new staple item for my on-the-go Invisalign bag. When I need to brush my teeth and don't have time to floss before putting my aligners back in, this brush makes sure my teeth and mouth feel clean and removes debris in between my teeth. The bristles are soft, this toothbrush is sturdy, and the different lengths of bristles help remove debris or help floss your teeth on the go. This brush also dries very fast in between uses." —V. Brown

Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.91.

13. A set of eight compression cubes if — despite your best efforts — you're prone to packing everything but the kitchen sink. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I was the most skeptical of all skeptics that these packing cubes would hold two weeks of clothes for my upcoming Italy trip, but they do!!! In the large cube I fit four rompers (one is thick), four sun dresses, and three pairs of pants; 11 outfits! The next size down has four pairs of shorts and approx. eight T-shirts, a sweater. Next size down has four swimsuits, a towel, belts, bras and other accessories… This is extremely impressive! I will never not use these cubes!!!" —sjaranyi

Get them from Amazon for $16.89+ (available in 18 colors). 

14. Or, if you simply know yourself and between what you pack and the souvenirs you pick up, packing cubes aren't enough — some *compression* bags! You don't even need a vacuum to use them... just roll the air out, and you're good to go. 

www.amazon.com

Just a heads up — these things are SO effective, you may end up packing a whole lot more than intended, so weigh your bag before you leave home!

Promising reviews: "I am a heavy packer when I travel. I prefer to bring my own pillow due to allergies, but obviously it's hard to pack a pillow in a suitcase. But if you use these bags, it's super easy! They're also great for fitting more clothes in your suitcase or keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones. You just roll out the air and it compresses to at least half the size or smaller. If you use them for storage and vacuum them out, they compress even more. So far, they haven't gotten damaged, and I've used them a lot. I'll never travel without them again." —shell0225

Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in sets of 12, 16, 20, or 24).

15. A glare-free *mini* Kindle that was basically made for jetsetters! The palm-sized device can hold thousands of books and has battery life of six weeks, so you don't have to worry about bringing extra chargers on your weekend getaway. 

www.amazon.com

Check out a TikTok of the mini Kindle in action. 

Promising review: "This is such a great Kindle! It’s lightweight, the perfect size for going in a purse or bag, and the matcha is SUCH a great color. I already have a Paperwhite SE that I love, so I decided to get this Kindle for travel purposes. The battery life isn’t as great as my Paperwhite, but it still lasts me a while with daily reading! It fits perfectly in my hands and makes reading very comfortable. The only thing it is missing is the warm light option, but that is not a deal breaker for me. If you are looking for a lightweight and comfortable Kindle, this is the one for you." —Christine Heath

Get it from Amazon for $109.99(available in black and matcha, and with or without an ad lock screen). 

16. A 2-in-1 contact and glasses case (with tweezers and a contact lens solution bottle) because dang, wearing prescription lenses/contacts is a whole thing at home even — never mind on vacation!

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Because of my job, I live out of a suitcase, and I am always worried if I need an extra set of contacts or a spare pair of eyeglasses. This is perfect, because I just put it in the bottom of my suitcase, and I am confident I have them both in one place. I got the pink case, and it’s very cute. Very happy with this purchase." —N. Rivera

Get it from Amazon for $13.95+ (available in 10 colors). 

17. A mini belt bag so you can keep all of your essentials — ID, phone, credit card, room key — nice and close, no bulky bag necessary. Plus, it'll keep you hands free so you can pull up your boarding pass via Apple Wallet every three minutes because you're convinced it'll just disappear if you don't have eyes on it. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I used mine nonstop for almost a year and loved the versatility. I travel a lot for my job and wanted something easy for the airport, but I ended up using it all the time. I purchased the brown color, which is more like a mauve pink, exactly what I was looking for. I used mine until it died and am going to purchase another!" —sarah noe

Elizabeth also owns this — she packed it as her only day bag for a busy trip to Iceland, and not only did it hold a ton and keep her hands free, it easily fit around her waist over her outerwear. 

Get it from Amazon for $12.98 (available in 44 colors). 

18. A Subtl Beauty 5-in-1 Starter Stack that comes with a concealer, highlighter, bronzer, lip and cheek balm, and shine control powder all in one tiny package.

Subtl Beauty

Each stack also includes a mirror lid, a base, and a mini brush.

Promising review: "I absolutely love how compact this product is. I have been pleasantly surprised at how natural the makeup feels and I love the natural look it provides. I originally purchased it for traveling, but have been using it daily and love it!" –Paula Bowie

Get the Starter Stack from Subtl Beauty for $60 (available in 19 tones), or customize your own stack starting at $12+ per layer, with up to nine product types available.

19. A vintage-inspired floral bathing suit you can get away with wearing several times on the same vacation thanks to its reversible design. 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Reviewers mention if you're in between sizes, to size up! 

Promising review: "This suit is so pretty! I was nervous that for the price, it would be poor quality, but it looks just like the photos. The material is nice and thick, and I love that it’s padded. I’m between a small and medium, so I sized up based on other reviews." —Morgan Meldrum

Get it from Amazon for$35.99 (available in women's sizes 2–14 and eight styles). 

20. An Alleyoop all-in-one razor— a TSA-approved gadget with a refillable spray bottle, shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges. The design is genius, but even better, the moisturizing bar won't melt, so if you're traveling somewhere hot, it'll fare just fine. 

Amazon

Promising review: "I love this product. I took it on a recent vacation and it really is a time saver. The moisturizer bar it comes with is soo nice. I usually get a little itchy after shaving, but the fact that you can rub in the excess product on the shaved area has helped with itch and ingrown hairs. Now that I'm not on vacation I use it right before I go the pool. I seriously take this thing everywhere." —Karlie Hanson

Get it from Amazon for $15 (available in two colors). 

21. A lightweight, 20-liter backpack that folds into a tiny sandwich-size bag, so in the (very) likely chance you buy a bunch of souvenirs that don't fit in your already overpacked carry-on, you'll have somewhere to stow them on the way home.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought this bag in July 2017 and it is my favorite and go-to adventure bag. I bought it because I was moving abroad and needed something that was packable for the trips I would be taking. This thing has been with me to many countries and on dozens of other trips. I also use it as a river and beach bag. My husband loves it too as we often share bag duties. It fits easily as a personal item on a plane (under the seat). It fits in the lockers at all of the theme parks. It is extremely easy to clean by hand or throw into the washing machine and it air-dries quickly (and we wash it relatively frequently/when we travel). It is durable and water resistant. After three years of pretty intense use it is showing very little signs of wear. I came back to it as I'm considering getting a larger one from the same company and realized I should leave a review for the original one I love." —Christi Malone

Get it from Amazon for $11.47+ (available in 12 colors).

22. A set of fluted toiletry bottles so you can bring all of your go-to products and not have to shell out money on travel-size products you're not even jazzed about. Now, that money can be spent on souvenirs!!

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I was instantly drawn to these travel bottles because of their fluted design and color options. I am into all things fluted! Bought the neutral apricot set for me and the purple/pink set for my kids’ products. Love the texture, and they are super high quality, leakproof, and functional. They hold a lot (enough for at least a week-long vacation) yet still comply with TSA’s liquid carry-on restrictions. Traveled with both sets on two flights and no leaks at all from any of the eight bottles. They keep their shape, open easily, and squeeze and dispense smoothly as well. These are the best travel bottles I have found, and they even come with a good-quality zippered case for travel. Great value and priced well." —Tara

Get the set from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 12 colors). 

23. Some collapsible travel hangers if you packed wrinkle-prone clothes so you want to get everything hung up right away! 

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly is a fan. Here's what she has to say: 

"This is a product that I put in travel stories over and over and over again, and would always think, "Hmm, I should buy some." Once I booked my first-ever cruise (with Virgin Voyages, which was fantastic, btw), I knew that I needed to invest in these hangers to make the most of what I presumed would be a tiny closet for my cabin. These were super easy to slip into my super-packed suitcase and plenty sturdy for holding up a variety of stuff. In my pic above, you'll see one collapsed and then one in use, with dips perfect for spaghetti or thin straps. So many hotel and rental places' hangers don't have those little dips, and my slip dresses (I own four of this one!) are always slipping off of them. With these, I was able to put a variety of garments on them without anything slipping off — in fact, they work better at that than my regular velvet hangers I have at home!"

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $9.99.

24. An inflatable travel pillow that allows you to relax at a perfect 45-degree angle *and* watch whatever you downloaded to your phone from Netflix all at the same time. Once you're done, simply deflate it and pop it in your carry-on where it'll take up next to no space.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I used this on four international flights last month and it made all the difference in the world. It's compact, easy to inflate/deflate, very versatile in how you can position it, doesn't rely on the tray table, and works well for bulkhead seats as well as those with someone in front of you. I'm 6'2" and this pillow is plenty tall enough to just rest on my lap and let me lean forward into it without feeling crunched over. My wife tried mine out before we left on vacation and loved it so much she had me order her one. We both wouldn't travel without them now." —Still Chilly In Colorado

Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 

25. A genius magnetic luggage tag you can use to hold your sun hat because they are notoriously hard to pack, but what is a beach vacay without one?? 

The Fileist

The Fileist is a Los Angeles-based, woman-owned small biz from Lindsay Albanese. They create fashionable-yet-functional accessories designed to make your life just a bit easier.

Promising review: "Love! Love! Love it! Very sturdy grip, and fashionable! I have had skin cancer numerous times, including melanoma. This is a must-have to keep me safe and fashionable — vacation or otherwise. I have thrown it in the overhead on a plane or shuffled through crowded venues, prior to COVID-19, and never lost my hat. This is a great gift, first to myself, and now to others! Thank you for keeping me safe and on point at an affordable price!" —Emily K.

Get it from The Fileistfor $55 (check out all hat holder styles here).

26. A dual travel hair straightener/curling iron if you're so dedicated to your 'do, that whether you're at home or on vacation, it gets the same salon treatment. 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This little thing is amazing! I have searched high and low for a travel flat iron that was worth saving suitcase space for and FINALLY found it. Switching between flat iron to curling iron is VERY easy...the switch is right by your thumb, but unlike other irons, it doesn't open at the slightest breeze. I haven't noticed any issues with the temp being too high." —bellewithab

Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in two colors; clip the coupon for 20% off this price!).

27. A Levi's denim jacket that I won't even waste your time explaining. You and I both KNOW there's nothing more versatile.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I absolutely love this jacket!!! It goes with just about everything, and is comfortable. I went up a size after reading some of the reviews, and that worked out well for me. The length of the jacket is also a nice feature, it hits right about the hip, and is not a midriff. I'm really glad I ordered this jacket, it's so cute, and I know it will last a lifetime, Levi's makes the best denim wear as far as I'm concerned." —Jo Packer

Get it from Amazon for $34.97+ (available in sizes XS–XL and 1X–3X and in 11 washes).

28. A first-aid clutch kit so you have all the necessary gear to attend to on-the-go booboos like blisters and bug bites. It also comes with safety pins so you can address fashion emergencies. 

www.amazon.com

Bling Sting is a small biz that makes all sorts of safety products. 

What's included: 6 antiseptic cleansing wipes, 6 sting relief pads, 6 alcohol pads, 10 safety pins, 18 cotton swabs, 10 fabric bandages, 5 knuckle bandages, 5 finger bandages, 2 butterfly bandages, 5 gauze pads, and 1 gauze tape.

Promising review: "I carry this in my purse 24/7! I get cuts and scrapes all the time. It’s the perfect size, and the design is super cute. I love the little quote on the inside cover. It has absolutely everything I need; I’ve tried a couple of other 'emergency' packs/pouches, and they just always had something missing. This one is just perfect." —Alexis Trombley

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

29. And some tablet-to-gel freeze-dried serums which are both highly potent and exceptionally easy to travel with. Once you get to your destination and you're ready to do your skincare, simply activate the treatment with a few drops of water and you're in business.  

Onelogy

Onélogy is a small, sustainable skincare brand from Roxana Bazgoneh. 

Current serums include: Niacinamide 2%, Alpha Arbutin 2%, Peptides-CU 0.6%, HPR Retinoid 0.3%, and Pad Azelaic 5%. 

Promising review (for Alpha Arbutin 2%): "I absolutely love the Alpha Arbutin. It has made such a difference with my hyperpigmentation spots! I feel much more confident without makeup on where as before I would never leave the house! It has made a noticeable difference evening out my skin tone. I also tried the Niacinamide which really helped control oil and breakouts. My skin feels fabulous after application — super fresh and tight! I love these products and I have tried so many other brands but none of them have worked as well as these!" —Kate

Get them from Onélogy for $32+. 

30. A Hackwith Design House shirt that can be worn ~six~ different ways so you don't have to lug around a large checked bag or wear the same exact outfit every day. 

Hackwith Design House

Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business that creates made-to-order apparel. This shirt can be worn as a V-neck, off-the-shoulder, boatneck, V-back, and even open as a jacket. And the color is simple, which means it can be paired well with many different bottoms. 

I have this shirt and I *love* it. All credit for its discovery goes to TikToker @jennifer.bianca who I happened to stumble across on my FYP. It checks all my boxes: black, comfortable, versatile, and durable. My initial worry was that I wouldn't feel secure in it (I have a 34G chest and most wrap tops/dresses I've tried haven't stayed where they're supposed to), but I haven't had an issue with this! I've worn it tied in the front giving me a square neck (like the middle picture) and tied in the back giving me a V-neck up front (just like the photo on the right) — both were super comfortable, and I didn't have to adjust myself at all. As someone whose weight fluctuates, I also appreciate that this piece can handle pounds gained and lost. The fabric is medium weight, so I'll be wearing it season to season, and there's just enough elasticity in the arms that if you roll up your sleeves, they won't fall back down. All that is to say trust that I will be buying additional colors!

Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and in three colors). 

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.