- Dimensions: 9.5 inches x 7 inches x 3 inches
- Material: Cotton exterior, polyester and rayon interior
- Compartments: Removable snap-button pouch and two pockets
- Colors: 1
Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
Even though they seem like an afterthought, makeup bags are important for keeping the products essential to your daily routine organized—whether on the road, at home or for quick bathroom touch-ups on a night out. Because there’s nothing more annoying than digging through your purse trying to locate your favorite lip gloss when you’re in a rush.
“The best makeup bags provide a convenient and portable way to organize and carry your beauty essentials, making it easier to access and use them when needed,” says LA-based Makeup Artist Amy Galloway. There’s a lot to take into consideration when purchasing a makeup bag to meet your own unique storage needs. To help you narrow it down, we’ve done the research to round up the best makeup bags of 2023—from roomy cosmetic cases with all the compartments to small but mighty options for on the go.
Whether or not you buy into the Glossier hype, the 400+ positive reviews speak for itself when it comes to this bestselling, budget-friendly Beauty Bag. Yes, it’s tall enough to fit your full-size skincare bottles upright and compact enough to slip right into your gym bag, beach bag or tote for portability.
It has a coated cotton material to protect against makeup mishaps and a removable snap-button interior pouch for your convenience. There’s also lots of little pockets and compartments so you can organize everything to your liking—and actually find it when the time comes.
Bring your entire bathroom with you with the Kusshi Vacationer. Okay, you probably shouldn’t do that, but this luxe, surprisingly spacious makeup bag has the room for it. It can hold an impressive 25-35 products and still fit in your carry-on bag comfortably.
It’s machine-washable, making it easy to clean, and opens on all three sides for easy access and visibility. There are tons of fun color options to choose from too, and the inner linings on each bag come in bright or light hues so you can spot your stuff in a flash. Available in a premium leather or satin fabric, the Kusshi features two mesh pockets to stash your small stuff and a large interior zip pocket for even more organization.
Made of durable and water-resistant nylon, this slim pouch packs a punch in color (so many fun and classic options to choose from), as well as space for all your beauty essentials on the go. We love the slim design, which makes reaching in and grabbing what you need fuss-free since nothing gets lost at the bottom. The best part? You can personalize it with playful patches—think glittery letters, hearts, smiley faces and more—for a custom touch.
The Beis Cosmetic Case is a must-have TikTok favorite that went viral for its ability to stand up to the toughest makeup stains, including nail polish spills, liquid foundation, crushed blush, and more. It’s garnered a nearly-perfect 4.8-average star rating and racked up over 3,000 rave reviews from obsessed customers.
The Cosmetic Case itself is spacious, fitting plenty of products, and has a wipeable interior and easy-to-clean faux leather exterior. There’s a removable brush holder with hidden magnets (so you can easily take it on and off), plus a PVC flap to protect your brushes when in storage. There’s even a removable mirror for those necessary on-the-go touch-ups.
An heirloom-worthy option with all the bells and whistles. This gorgeous Vanity Case is crafted from Smythson’s signature Panama cross-grain leather and boasts two internal compartments to safely store all your stuff in a super stylish and organized manner. There are two internal zip pockets, an elastic divider in the top section and two ruched pockets on both the top and bottom for storing brushes, lip balms, eyelash curlers, tweezers, and more. A leather top handle makes for effortless transportation. This luxe makeup bag is made to last.
Cuyana is known for its luxe, signature leather totes, and you can expect the same expert craftsmanship and quality here. Responsibly handmade by skilled artisans in Argentina, the 100% sustainable Cuyana set comes with two separate zip bags—a bigger one for toiletries and skincare and a smaller bag for makeup and hair accessories—to accommodate all your storage needs.
It features an easy-to-clean leather interior, which you can simply wipe down with a damp cloth and some soft soap or micellar water. There are nine core minimalist colors to choose from and four more fun shades if you prefer a splash of color (and to make it easier to spot in a weekender bag). For an extra $15, you can monogram it to make it your own, too.
A classic cosmetic kit is equipped with elasticized pockets inside for extra organization and a mirror on the underside of the lid so you can apply your makeup anytime, anywhere. Adorned with so many Gucci signatures, including the gorgeous gilded hardware and red and green webbing, the Ophidia is a timeless cosmetic case with plenty of space to store your luxury beauty essentials. We love the two-way zip closure and flat base, which prevents your products from falling out when you open it all the way.
If you’re not the throw-everything-into-one-big-bag-and-pray kind of girl, this sizable Duo Vanity Case will be your BFF. This is one of the best makeup bags if you’re a stickler for organization, as it features a high-bottom compartment to sit all your skincare products and foundations upright, as well as a wide-top compartment for larger palettes, and a compact mirror that folds out for touch-ups. We especially like the detachable flexible insert divider with pockets for the bottom compartment as it offers so much extra and, in our opinion, necessary organization. The nylon lining ensures any spills and makeup messes are quick to clean up.
While it’s not a traditional makeup bag that can travel with you, the storage capabilities of this modular modern beauty organizer (which can live directly on your bathroom countertop or vanity table) made it a must for our list. It has rubber feet, so it’ll stay in place and won’t damage your counters or tabletops. Three drawers offer ample room for all your at-home beauty essentials, and there are customizable dividers for maximum flexibility and to help you keep it all tidy. Stack each drawer on top of each other to maximize space or use them separately, whatever you prefer.
If you’re looking for a high-end, hanging makeup bag that’ll go the distance (literally), the Tumi Cosmetics Case is our top choice. It features three transparent, interior zippered compartments to organize and protect your products when you travel, and fits nicely in your luggage. There’s also a detachable pouch you can pop in your purse with all the daily makeup basics—or bring it over to the hotel bathroom countertop for even easier access as you get ready. You can hang the Madeline up at eye level to save limited counter space or lay it flat on the bed to get what you want.
It comes with a generous two-year warranty, TUMI tracer (in case your case gets lost or stolen) and has a high quality finish on the exterior fabric to enhance the bag’s longevity. The lining is also wipeable with a water and stain-resistant coating. And the entire thing is made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and recycled nylon, which we applaud.
No more melted makeup or ruined medication with this genius, insulated standing makeup case that many celebrity makeup artists swear by for keeping all your beauty essentials protected from steamy bathrooms, hot cars and ice-cold airplanes. It features a luxury vegan leather exterior, signature aluminum lining that’s easy to clean and protects against germs, as well as an ultra water-resistant zipper to keep the humidity out.
This beauty case even doubles as an insulated lunchbox (just add an ice pack) when you’re not using it to store your makeup. It comes with a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap for hands-free carrying too.
There’s room for everything in this extra large leather makeup bag. The interior is thoughtfully designed to maximize your storage needs with space to fit seven-inch full-size products, and plenty of pockets to organize it all. There’s even elastic bands to secure your stuff when traveling.
For your most-used items, an interior mesh zippered pocket on the inside of the lid provides easy and convenient access. The dividers are removable too so you can take them out to pack in more stuff. The entire interior and pockets are lined with a water-resistant fabric so liquid spills are no problem.
Minimalists will love this modern, hyper organized, and compact neoprene toiletry bag from Dagne Dover. It’s constructed of durable, water-resistant, hand-washable neoprene with lots of clever storage to keep all your stuff tidy inside. While it won’t fit your full skincare regimen, it’s plenty spacious for toiletries and all your on-the-go makeup essentials—and it’s a great size for a travel tote.
There’s a removable zippered compartment, side slip pocket for small makeup wipes or a contact lens case, and handy elastic loops to store your lip balm, razor, or tiny travel perfumes.
A clear choice when it comes to travel (it’s TSA-friendly) and everyday makeup organization, too. The CALPAK Clear Cosmetic Case is a cult-favorite, TikTok viral sensation and it certainly lives up to the hype, with over 3,000 sold by the brand alone each month and an average 4.8 out of 5 star rating from over 500 enthusiastic reviewers.
Some features to love, aside from the obvious being able to clearly see your stuff, are the lay-flat carrying handle to take it anywhere, two roomy zippered compartments for all the things and a water-resistant lining to stand up to spills. We also appreciate that it comes in four classic colors and six bold hues to suit every style.
This pretty puffy toiletry bag will quickly be your new favorite, thanks to its roomy, two-layer design that allows you to fit all the things without stuffing them in. It’s made of lightweight, easy-to-clean nylon with a convenient collapsible handle for toting around. It also has a structured bottom and opens wide, so packing it with products isn’t a pain, nor is getting them out to get ready at your destination.
An interior mesh pocket is the perfect place to store all your makeup brushes, lipsticks, eyeliner and more small stuff.
We spoke with a seasoned makeup artist to discover what features to look for in the best makeup bags, from quality and portability to storage space, built-in organization and ease of cleaning, then used that criteria to curate a list of bestsellers and top-rated options (according to real reviewers) in each category.
While it’s easy to get caught up in what’s trending on TikTok or how cute a makeup bag looks visually (and, of course, that’s important too) what’s more critical though is if it’s functional for your life and fits your favorite tinted moisturizer, concealer, night cream, makeup brushes, and other essentials in a nice, neat fashion.
Size matters. You’ll want to look at the dimensions of whatever makeup bag you’re interested in to ensure the size works for you and your intended use—be it in your purse, suitcase or underneath the sink. If you plan to fill it up with toiletries, skincare products, makeup and more, you’ll need to make sure it’s big enough to house everything in an organized way. On the flip side, if it’s intended for on the go, is it small enough to stash in your purse comfortably? And can you open it and easily see and access everything at a glance?
Regardless of size, the best makeup bags should offer some level of built-in organization—be it separate compartments, different-sized pouches or internal zippered pockets—so you know where everything is and can find what you need fast.
Makeup bags can take a beating, so it’s worth it to buy one that’s well-made, will protect your products, and won’t fall apart after a few months, especially if you’re a maximalist known to pack in as much as possible.
This one’s a biggie. Many modern makeup bags are waterproof to protect against spills or equipped with a machine-washable interior so when the inevitable makeup mess happens you can just throw it in the wash for quick cleaning. This is important for sanitary reasons too, as makeup bags can carry dirt and bacteria so you want to be able to wipe it down easily.
According to Galloway, nylon is a popular choice for makeup bags, especially the lining, as it offers several advantages. “It’s strong and resistant to wear and tear, making it longer-lasting. It also protects makeup from water damage and is easy to clean,” she says. Last, nylon is lightweight so your makeup bag won’t weigh you down.
“A makeup bag is a portable case for carrying cosmetics, while an organizer is a stationary storage system to keep cosmetics organized in one place,” notes Galloway.
Generally speaking, Galloway recommends two: “One that you can keep in your purse and use for travel and one for everyday organization.” Some women may want a compact one for their purse, a larger one for longer vacations and an organizer for at home—it depends on your personal needs and whether you’re a minimalist, maximalist or just like to be hyper organized for every scenario.
The more you can pare down, the better, and consider packing multi-purpose products to save space. For organization, group like things together, such as all your makeup brushes in one compartment, liquids in another, powders in another and so forth. You may also have your own method of grouping cosmetics that works for you, such as makeup in one compartment and skincare in another.
Always check the care instructions for your particular makeup bag. Generally, Galloway suggests using a damp cloth with soap—or even a makeup wipe or Clorox wipe—to wipe your makeup bag down.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.