By Mila Johanna Papini. Cover by Margie Mitchem
Have you ever run into trouble at airport security because your liquid cosmetics didn’t fit in the 1-litre plastic bag? Totally understandable, and speaking as someone who usually tries to bring the entire Sephora on the plane (with no success, of course), I get it. But there’s a smarter way to travel with your beauty routine intact: solid cosmetics. From shampoo bars to body scrubs and even perfumes, solid products are compact, mess-free and travel-friendly, and you don’t have to worry about a liquid product leaking all over your bag. Bonus: the space you save in your luggage means more room for souvenirs, more holiday shopping and a stress-free journey from start to finish.
Below, you’ll find some interesting brands and products to check out if you’re ready to make the switch to solid cosmetics.
The Best Solid Body Care Products for Travel
For those looking for accessible options, Tukiki is a standout in the world of solid body care. This Italian brand offers a wide range of solid cosmetics, from soaps and scrubs to creams, oils, hand creams, lip balms and lip scrubs. It also features a solid body wash and a solid face cleanser for oily skin, covering your entire skincare routine in travel-friendly formats. All products are made with natural, vegan ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil, and come in eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging. One of the brand’s unique features is its ingredient index: organised alphabetically, it explains each component in detail: what it is, where it comes from and what it does for your skin. This makes it easier to choose products with confidence, whether you’re looking for sensitive-skin solutions, more sustainable options or simply want to understand what goes into your cosmetics. Compact, versatile and gentle, Tukiki’s solid body care products are perfect for travellers who want convenience without compromising on care.
If sustainability is your priority, Lamazuna is a standout French zero-waste brand with a playful and practical approach to solid cosmetics. Beyond their gentle body soaps and scrub stones, they offer a wide variety of innovative products: solid deodorants, 2-in-1 bar soaps for the lazy, solid shaving
bars, and even a mosquito repellent stick that’s refillable. Their collection extends to face care, dental care, and handy accessories like washable cleansing wipes, making it possible to travel light while covering every part of your routine. One especially clever touch is their magnetic soap holder, which
keeps soaps dry, secure, and in place, perfect for travel or even as a chic addition to your bathroom décor. With eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging and natural ingredients, Lamazuna combines sustainability, performance, and a bit of fun, proving that solid products can be both practical and luxurious for the conscious traveler.
For those looking for a luxury, solid option, Celine offers a beautifully crafted solid body soap. This versatile bar can be used to cleanse your body and hands, or it can even be placed in your wardrobe to gently perfume your clothes.
For a luxury, niche alternative, MUTHA elevates solid body care into a sensorial and indulgent ritual. Founded by a mother and crafted with premium, natural-origin ingredients, this brand emphasizes gentle, nurturing care for all skin types. Their standout travel-friendly product is the Nudist Exfoliating Body Bar, which cleanses and gently exfoliates with biodegradable microfibers, leaving skin smooth and soft. Complementing this, MUTHA’s dry body brush is perfect for those who want to boost circulation and remove dead skin without needing scrubs or liquids, ideal for a quick, efficient routine on the go. While MUTHA isn’t officially a children’s line, its philosophy of “made by a mother, for every body” highlights care, gentleness, and nourishing formulas suitable for delicate or sensitive skin.
Solid Shampoo Bars: The Best Travel-Friendly Haircare Options
When it comes to solid shampoo bars, there are plenty of interesting options to explore. Davines offers its Essential Shampoo Bars with professional-quality results, and on its official website you can find useful guides on how to use them effectively while reducing waste. The brand also offers beautiful containers to store and carry your solid shampoos. Blu & Green is a more niche choice that takes solid haircare to the next level with shampoo and conditioner tablets, combining style, practicality and space-saving convenience, perfect for travelling in a classy way.
For a more accessible choice, Ethique is hard to beat. They offer a huge variety of solid shampoos and conditioner bars, all formulated for different hair types. On their website, you can even take a fun quiz to figure out your hair type and discover the best routine for you. With so many scents and colors, using Ethique becomes not just effective, but an enjoyable experience.
If sustainability plays an important role for you, Senso Naturale is a fantastic pick. This Italian artisan brand offers solid shampoos and conditioners crafted with plant-based ingredients and essential oils, all plastic-free and eco-friendly. They recently released a Valentine’s Day collection, making it
an especially fun time to explore, and they also offer mystery boxes for a playful way to discover new products. Their formulas are gentle yet effective, perfect for keeping your hair clean, nourished, and manageable.
Solid Perfumes: The Portable Fragrance Trend to Try
Fragrance, of course, plays an important role in any beauty routine, so here are some solid perfume options to discover. Diptyque, the French luxury perfumery brand, offers compact solid versions of their iconic scents, like Orphéon, crafted with the same elegance and sophistication as their liquid perfumes.
These solid balms can be applied directly with your fingers, making them perfect for a discreet, intimate fragrance or to freshen up anytime while traveling.
For a more accessible option, AIKU from New Zealand is a very new brand, born in 2024, specializing exclusively in solid perfumes. Their creamy, waxy balms include amazing gourmand fragrances and many more, designed for portability, modern minimalism, and soft, skin-close scents. With accessible pricing and a variety of fragrances, AIKU is ideal for younger or entry-level perfume lovers who want practicality without compromising style.
If you want something sustainable and inspired by nature, Juniper Ridge is an excellent pick. Their solid perfumes are made with wild-harvested essential oils, beeswax, and jojoba, evoking the landscapes of the American West — forests, deserts, and mountains. Beyond perfumes, Juniper Ridge also offers other solid fragrance products, making it easy to keep your entire routine eco-conscious.
Finally, for a niche, artisanal choice, FISCHERSUND from Iceland offers hand-poured solid perfumes infused with inspiration from Nordic nature. These balms use natural oils and waxes, and every fragrance tells a story tied to Icelandic landscapes, from mossy forests to coastal winds. Compact and portable, they are ideal for travelers who want a unique, sensory experience in a small package.
