By Jennifer Hussein , Angela Trakoshis , and Sarah Han
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Owning an intense beauty collection requires practical organization, so grab one (or three) of the best makeup bags. If you've got a serious makeup, hair-care, and/or skin-care collection, why would you stuff all of your beautiful, hard-earned eye shadow palettes, eyeliners, and favorite brushes into just any old boring cosmetic bag?
Beauty bags, makeup train cases, and roll-out organizers come in all sorts of colors, sizes, and fun patterns, but aesthetically pleasing designs aren't the only thing they offer. The most important aspect is storage, which you'll find in abundance, considering most of these picks (including the smaller ones) have quite a few compartments, slots, and pockets for your items.
We scoured the internet to find the best makeup bags, pouches, cases, and carriers money can buy — including compact clutches to stash in your purse or carry-on, and oversized cases perfect for packing on your travels. Find the best makeup pouch for your budget and beauty needs below.
We love the Amazon-favorited Vlando Travel Makeup Cosmetic Case because it was made with our makeup brushes in mind. Inside the waterproof material are slots for each brush so brustles don't get ruined in transit. Plus, there are ample compartments for your makeup so everything stays organized.
Available in four neutral color options, Everlane's The Renew Transit Catch-All Case features five interior pockets and one exterior for organized travel. This chic cosmetic bag snaps down or rolls back for easy access and compactness, so it doesn't take up precious cargo space. Plus, it's made of recycled polyester, which is super easy to clean.
We're in love with the Saie Lilac Oversized Makeup Bag for more reasons than just its spring-ready color. There's one easy zipper all around the side of the vegan leather makeup bag, which makes it easy to locate all of your products — even if they're stuck somewhere at the bottom. Plus, it's so roomy, you can easily fit your entire beauty routine inside.
With the Béis The On The Go Essential Case, you can catch a glimpse of what's inside, instead of rummaging through everything, thanks to the PVC-overlaid main compartments found on both sides. Also included in this semi-clear cosmetics case is a removable mirror in its own slip pocket, so it doesn't get scratched by the rest of your beauty collection.
Made of faux leather, the Rose Inc Structured Beauty Clutch is so chic, that we would even consider using it as an evening purse. This muted beige bag only has one main zippered compartment but it keeps its shape whether it's open or closed, no matter how much you stuff it.
This classic, no-frills makeup case from Tartan + Twine keeps things simple. Its boxy shape makes storage a breeze and the top handle makes it easy to tote around. Inside, you'll find four nylon straps that'll keep fragile glass bottles in place. (Hello, expensive skin-care products.) The Basics Black Train Case also features a zipper-lined pocket to store your brushes, liners, and other slim products.
For the person who can't stand endlessly digging through their makeup bag in search of that one, tiny eye pencil, there's this genius invention: the Lay-n-Go Cosmo. When you're on the move, a simple drawstring transforms this into a travel sack that keeps all your things contained, but when you reach your destination, it unfolds into a 20-inch mat so you can see everything all at once. There's even a raised lip to avoid rolling, a zippered pocket for safe storage, and a built-in elastic strap that acts as a handy brush holder. Oh, and it's machine-washable in case of spills.
Crafted from high-quality Italian leather (certified by the Leather Working Group, which means the leather is tanned in "an environmentally responsible way"), Cuyana's Travel Beauty Roll is not a budget pick in the slightest. This chic organizer is designed with four sections — one zipped, one large slip pocket, one brush compartment, and one detachable pouch — so everything stays in its place. In case anything does spill or leave marks, you can easily clean the leather lining using a damp cloth with a teensy bit of soap or micellar water on a cotton pad.
P.S. We're also fans of Cuyana's minimalist Travel Case Set ($168), which includes two pebbled leather pouches: one larger bag, for storing toiletries and tools, and a smaller pouch, for stashing makeup essentials and hairpins. The set is available in 17 matte-leather shades (plus one metallic option) and can be monogrammed for additional style points.
This Barbie keeps her beauty essentials organized and looking cute. There are plenty of pockets and compartments to store smaller items, such as lip balms — never again will you lose them to the depths of your purses. You can also easily fit full-size skin-care bottles which, as a bonus, will stand upright so you don't have to worry about any unfortunate spills.
P.S. Make it a Glossier party by nabbing the brand-new Glossier Duffle as your go-to weekender bag.
Sometimes you need more than just the essentials. Compared to its smaller siblings, the Everyday and Signature, Kusshi's Vacationer Makeup Bag claims to fit about 20 to 30 products and zips open wider than most makeup bags, so you can see basically everything at once. The built-in pockets and snap-in organizer (if you need extra storage) are perfect for separating smaller items like mascaras and eyelash curlers. Choose between 23 color combinations (as seen on Kusshi's website) across fabric (machine-washable) and leather ($60 more) options.
If you'd rather store your bottles and vials of beauty products vertically to avoid potential spills, Nishel's Double Layer Travel Makeup Bag stands at 10.5 inches to make things easier. The three bottom slots are roomy enough to hold eye shadow palettes, foundation bottles, and tubs of moisturizer with ease, and the top slots keep your brushes, eyeliners, and slimmer products snuggly tucked away.
Constructed from easy-to-clean neoprene, Dagne Dover's multitasking Hunter Toiletry Bag might just be the most durable of the bunch, with room for essentials like a razor, a full-size fragrance bottle, or even your favorite hot tool. Plus, the high-tech, water-resistant fabric is both breathable and hand-washable, making it the perfect addition to your prone-to-clutter gym bag. In addition to an interior slip pocket with organization-friendly elastic loops, the self-cushioning kit also has two fully removable mesh pouches with zip closures, so everything will be right where you need it post-workout.
P.S. It also comes in a larger size for $65.
Away's The Hanging Toiletry Bag is great for those who want to keep all their beauty products in one place — yet neatly separated and organized. With three mesh pockets and one removable clear pouch, you can have all your makeup, skin-care, and hair-care products with you at all times. Not to mention, this bag is ready to be hung up in any bathroom you travel to.
Reminiscent of your favorite puffer coat, Caraa's Vanity Kit is made of plush, water-repellent nylon for fashionable protection from the elements. This beauty tote has nine separate compartments to carry your entire makeup stash (even full-size bottles), no matter where you're headed. Use the removable shoulder strap to sling it across your body for hands-free carrying. Then, once you're ready to get ready, its hanger-like hook allows you to hang it vertically from any door, handle, you name it.
Trish McEvoy's Small Power of Makeup Makeup Planner opens like a book to reveal a well-organized interior featuring four brush slots, one large, elasticized pocket, and a removable, zippered, mesh compartment for stashing beauty essentials. The best feature? Fully functional binder rings that accommodate up to four Trish McEvoy "pages" (miniature, customizable palettes that can be filled with any combination of Trish McEvoy makeup pans).
The stylish, quilted Caboodles Long Tapered Heartthrob Tote is hardly reminiscent of its candy-colored predecessors favored by teens in the '80s and '90s. The sleek exterior opens to reveal a world of storage options: seven elastic pockets, elastic bands to hold brushes and bottles, four side pockets, and a removable divider. But, really, this tote bag is so fashion-forward we're tempted to pair it with a Chanel dress and pass it off as a handbag.
It's hard to know where to start with this versatile Herschel Chapter Travel Kit. Should we effuse about its affordability, or its generous size that's large enough to fit lipsticks, concealers, your brush collection, a palette or two, and still have room for your keys and phone? Maybe the ultra-convenient handle? Or the fact that it comes in 15 eye-catching colors and patterns? We'll let you know when we decide, but in the meantime, we'll be storing this functional bag at our desk and taking it through TSA without breaking a sweat.
Need more shopping inspo? Here are a few makeup products we've been loving:
And now, watch Becky G break down her most iconic music videos:
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