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It’s a KonMari world and we’re just living in it. But if parting with your makeup sends you into a spiral of panic (let’s be honest, all 50 of those lipsticks spark joy), consider simply giving your beloved beauty products their own “proper place” — one that isn’t “somewhere in that one Ziploc under my bed.”
Even if Marie Kondo has shifted away from constant tidiness, a makeup bag is something worth investing in, especially if you’re someone who travels often. And these makeup bags picked by experts (including the Cut Shop team) will help create some semblance of organization in your life.
So what constitutes the perfect makeup bag? As professional shoppers who buy, test, and review beauty products for a living, we have high standards. Our all-time favorites are made from durable, high-quality materials that can withstand everything from travel wear and tear to accidental foundation spills. They feature clever design elements that make life so much easier, including smooth zippers, handles, mesh pockets, and storage compartments.
Whether you want a toiletry bag that will make you feel more organized, a small pouch that expands, or even a customizable carryall, Cut Shop’s list of the 16 best makeup bags, below, will have one you’ll love.
The Best Overall Makeup Bag
My toxic trait is there is no real difference between my beauty routine when I’m home and my beauty routine when I’m on the go. No product gets left behind … ever, which means I need a makeup bag that’s roomy enough to fit way too many products but flexible enough to squeeze into my suitcase. Enter the Structured Beauty Clutch by Rose Inc. The unassuming design is shockingly spacious, and the high-quality material can withstand so much wear and tear. I’ll never stop using it!
Dimensions: 8.88 inches long x 4.44 inches wide x 6.66 inches high | Material: Vegan leather | Colors: One
The Best Double-Layer Makeup Bag
Another toiletry bag that can actually fit all my products, this option from Rare Beauty features an innovative and practical double-layer design. The top compartment has a smooth zipper, so it’s ideal for last-minute packing and grab-and-go items, while the structured bottom compartment is perfect for storing breakable and/or valuable products. It keeps my compact mirrors and glass foundation bottles safe and sound.
Dimensions: 10.2 inches long x 6.2 inches wide x 4.9 inches high | Materials: Nylon and mesh | Colors: One
The Best Clear Makeup Bag
Sometimes you need to see everything to use everything. If that’s the case, Calpak’s cosmetic case is the answer. Its best-selling case comes in three different sizes for the perfect travel companion and features a full zip-around opening and an ultra-spacious zippered pocket on the inside. I own the large version in the limited-edition hot pink colorway, and it’s truly been a lifesaver this summer. On the weekends, I stay in a family beach house where I share a bathroom with my boyfriend and all of his cousins — which means my getting-ready process has to be quick and efficient. The clear compartments combined with the flat shape of the bag means that my makeup essentials are easy to find and neatly spread out, so I never have to waste time digging for products.
Dimensions: 9.75 inches high x 5 inches deep x 7.5 wide | Materials: PU, PVC, and polyester | Colors: 11
The Best Vegan Leather Makeup Bag
Shay Mitchell’s brand, Béis, has become a favorite when it comes to travel, and its cosmetic case is no different. “I love the cosmetics case,” says content creator Ariel Oz. “It’s very spacious and fits all my larger items. The removable brush holder is a game changer to stay organized and keep them clean. The best part is that it is spillproof, so it’s super easy to clean for any foundation spills. We’ve all been there!”
Dimensions: 9.5 inches wide x 7 inches high x 4 inches deep | Materials: PU, PVC, and polyester | Colors: 9
The Best Standing Makeup Bag
Don’t let this simple faux-leather case fool you. Inside is a spacious interior pocket for smaller products and a flat bottom that keeps the bag standing up on its own. Plus, it’s social-media coordinator Candace Molatore’s favorite. “It’s large enough to fit skin care and makeup on either side, and the middle pouch is perfect for anything that might want to be kept separate from accidentally leaky powders or face oils.”
Dimensions: 8.5 inches high x 12 inches wide x 3.5 inches deep | Materials: Polyurethane | Colors: 6
The Best Grab-and-Go Makeup Bag
Let’s be honest. Anything from Glossier is worthy of a spot on social media. “The removable felt pouch inside is genius, and it helps me organize my makeup by category of eyes, lips, compacts, etc.” says New York City–based content creator Vivian Li. “I’m super minimalist when it comes to everyday makeup, so this bag fits everything, and if I’m running late I tend to just grab it and do my makeup on the subway. Gross, I know! But essential for a girl on the go.”
Dimensions: 9.5 inches high x 7 inches wide x 3 inches deep | Materials: Cotton, polyester, and rayon | Colors: One
The Best Makeup Bag With a Detachable Brush Holder
Created to be the travel bag, the customizable design from Away is the Cut senior shopping editor Bianca Nieves’s favorite. The exterior is made from a water-resistant nylon and the bag features a spill proof interior, multiple pouches and storage, and a removable brush holder.
Dimensions: 8.3 inches high x 6.3 wide x 3.9 inches deep
Materials: Nylon and neoprene
Colors: One
The Best Hanging Makeup Bag
“As a long-term digital nomad, I love this Bagsmart water-resistant travel case, which is easy on the eye and has various pockets,” says travel writer Rosie Bell. Not only is the bag available in multiple colors, but it has three separate pouches to fit makeup and toiletries, and it can be hung up in bathrooms.
Dimensions: 12.6 inches high x 9.1 inches wide x 4.3 inches deep | Materials: Polyester | Colors: 12
The Best Neoprene Makeup Bag
If you’re looking for a makeup bag that you’d be comfortable pulling out in public, this pouch is for you. It features a removable air mesh zip-top pouch, inside slip pockets, and three loops for smaller items. It’s the perfect middle-of-the-road size for holding the essentials with some room to spare. As someone who is constantly spilling products, I love the fact that the neoprene material is water resistant and so easy to clean. Plus, it comes with two removable air mesh pouches that help me keep my makeup brushes and beauty tools nice and organized.
Dimensions: 9 inches long x 4.75 inches wide x 5.5 inches high | Material: Neoprene | Colors: 9
The Best Makeup Bag for Organization
This well-rounded bag comes with two removable zippered cubes, a flat cosmetic pouch, and protected brush holders, making it both a solid way to clean up your sink or vanity at home and a useful travel companion.
Dimensions: 10 inches wide x 4.5 inches high x 9.5 inches deep | Colors: One
The Best Hardcover Makeup Bag
To avoid any unnecessary breakage, a hardcover makeup case is a great option. This duo vanity case from Etoile is made from a luxurious faux leather while the inside reveals two separate compartments containing a foldout mirror, a number of pouches, and a detachable divider insert.
Dimensions: 9.4 inches wide x 7.1 inches deep x 6.7 inches high | Materials: Vegan leather and gold hardware | Colors: Eight
The Best Large Makeup Bag
If you’re still struggling to get it together, fake it ’til you make it with this fun contraption. Simply throw all your crap onto the flat circle, tuck a few of the cylindrical things into the straps, then pull the drawstring to create a bag. Once you get to wherever you’re going, reflatten the bag to quickly see what you packed without having to dump it all onto a bed.
Dimensions: 20 inches wide (when expanded) | Material: Polyester | Colors: 15
The Best Machine-Washable Makeup Bag
This makeup bag is perfect for weekend trips and is machine-washable for the ultimate no-worry use. It has a roomy interior and side pockets, but opens wide so you can access all those products you overstuffed.
Dimensions: 6 inches high x 11.5 inches wide x 5 inches deep | Colors: Nine | Materials: Luxury Micro satin exterior and Nylon interior
The Best Makeup Bag for Maximalists
This customizable carry-all comes with plenty of pouches and an impressive seven sections. The sections are made up of removable dividers so you can customize and create the seven divisions best suited to your makeup collection or current mood.
Dimensions: 10.2 inches high x 9.8 wide x 3.8 inches deep | Materials: Cotton and nylon | Colors: Two
The Best Designer Makeup Bag
At the top of Veyssi’s wish list is the Dior Vanity Case. Crafted from lambskin, the bag features a band embroidered with the Dior signature. Plus, when our editor-in-chief, Lindsay Peoples, is flying, this Dior case is her makeup bag of choice.
Dimensions: 7.5 inches high x 5 inches wide x 4 inches deep | Material: Lambskin | Colors: One
The Most Reliable Makeup Bag
Fashion news writer Danya Issawi has had her Vera Bradley cosmetic case since high school. “I don’t feel bad roughing it up and wiping extra lipstick on it or spilling in it,” she says. “The fact that it’s held up for 13 years? I’m getting emotionally attached.” While the patterns might have changed over time, the interior pocket and durability make this bag worth a trip or two, even if one of them is down memory lane.
Dimensions: 6 inches high x 9 inches wide x 4 inches deep | Materials: Cotton | Colors: 19
Our Experts:
- Ariel Oz, a beauty and travel content creator and founder of Oz Lane Agency
- Candace Molatore, a social-media coordinator
- Danya Issawi, the Cut’s fashion news writer
- Hanna Flanagan, the Cut’s shopping writer/editor
- Rosie Bell, a writer, lifestyle entrepreneur, and educator
- Vivian Li, a content creator who focuses on fashion and beauty
