Travel Tip Tuesday : Finding Travel Size Products

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As you all know, I am a huge proponent of Carry-on Travel. And part of my success with that involves coming up with creative ways to pack smaller travel-sized products into your luggage while adhering to the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquid’s rule.

In the past, I have written about using products that can do double-duty and given you things to ditch from your luggage.

Today I wanted to share with you a few places to score travel-sized products. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Drug stores. The most well-known place, both on-line and in-store, are drug stores. A treasure trove with aisles dedicated to just travel-sized products. Hair care, dental care, shaving cream, mini deodorants – the works. My personal favorite is Harmon- they have great prices and really kick travel products up a notch with their selection. You can also try Drugstore.com.

2. Ebay. From truck tires to Jesus-shaped toast- Ebay has it all! Sample and travel products are no exception. If you are a frequent traveler, it may even make sense to buy by the ‘lot’, which is a large collection of products. This can be very cost-effective; just make sure you don’t overbid and watch those shipping charges.

3. Save your sample sizes. Next time you place an on-line order for a full size product, ask if the company has a sample size to throw in. Some companies, like Sephora and Beautyhabit, will often throw in free samples with every order. These samples are worth saving for travel – even if it isn’t a brand or item you usually use. It might even be fun to encourage your family and friends to save theirs as well and organize a fun sample swap.

4. Travel size only websites. Did you know there are several websites that are dedicated to just travel-sized products? AllTravelSizes.com and CheapTravelSizes.com are two popular options. You can find a wide selection of travel basics and more unique offerings like organic travel products, self-tanning towelettes, baby powder and mini first-aide kits.

Interested in switching to carry-on travel, but overwhelmed with how to make it happen? Click here to see how I can help you convert!

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Hop on over to Cherrye’s to see her travel tips today!

Gray
March 16th, 2010
I did not know about those websites for all travel-size stuff. Thanks for the tip! I always save the little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, etc. that I get in hotels to use later when needed. Everything else I get from the drugstore.

That’s great Gray. Also a very environmentally friendly thing to do

.-= Gray´s last blog ..5 Reasons to Take an Organized Tour =-.

Janna
March 16th, 2010
You left out the best site! 3floz.com – all name brands, hard to find ones, in 3 fluid ounces or less!

Thanks for the tip!

Eleonora
March 16th, 2010
Any ideas where I can find travel-size products… in Rome??? We don’t have the kind of drugstores or travel websites like the ones in the US, alas.

Last summer, when packing my hand luggage for our California trip I had a very hard time adhering to 3-1-1.

Ciao
Eleonora

That is a tough one E. Can you check the beauty stores in Rome to see if they have some smaller sizes? And what about Ebay in Europe? I thought they also have a European site. If not – I would load up at the drug stores and Sephora back home and maybe ship a box of goodies back to Rome to use during future travels In bocca al lupo!

.-= Eleonora´s last blog ..Kitchen burlesque =-.

Jessica, WhyGo Italy
March 16th, 2010
More & more companies are offering TSA-approved sizes of their products, so check the websites of toiletries you love (even Proactiv has travel sizes now, for instance). I also always get a few extra mini-Sensodyne tubes at the dentist and throw them in my travel stash.

Great ideas Jess. Thanks for sharing

Alan Rider
March 16th, 2010
Hi Robin —

Thought your readers might also be interested in these 2 sources for TSA-friendly travel-size products:

http://alanrider.wordpress.com.....-products/

Thanks for the tips.

Alison
March 17th, 2010
I am definitely a hotel shampoo saver. The bottles are always a good size and even if I do’t like the product I can re-fill it with my own.
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Belgian Chocolate Shops in Brussels, Grand Sablon =-.

Katie Martin
April 3rd, 2012
I’m not sure why, but I love going and choosing the little travel size toiletries I’ll need for trips. It just feels like a treat for myself to get adorable little bottles of new products, even though I’ll only use them for a few days. Maybe that is just me being strange, who knows?! Although another thing that is good to do if you need to use specific products is just buy the travel size containers from the drug stores and fill them with your own products. I did that for a while and they lasted for so long! Plus, it makes it so you already know exactly how those products work.

Good tips Katie and I like that you see the whole experience as a little treat. Travel can be so frustrating sometimes – it’s good to have a positive outlook about it all!