I Don’t Know How I Ever Traveled Without These Smart Makeup Bags

No matter the destination or trip length, I rarely travel with more than a carry-on. That’s not to say I’m a light packer—I always bring enough outfits to avoid repetition, plus a 10-step skin care routine. I pulled it off for a nine-day vacation to Ireland when the fickle summer weather ranged from hot, direct sun to chilly gusts and sudden torrential downpours. I’ve done the same for bachelorette parties in Las Vegas and Miami with themed dress codes and a need to come stocked with sunscreen, face glitter, and hangover remedies.

Packing, I would argue, is one of my greatest talents, but I can’t take all the credit for my organizational prowess. In addition to the usual solutions like compressible packing cubes, my newest hack is storing my beauty products and toiletries in Afform Traveller makeup bags.

Meet Afform, Formerly Parallelle

Founded as Parallelle, the brand has a newly refreshed identity, but fans will be happy to know that the products themselves aren’t changing. The craftsmanship, sophisticated aesthetic, and innovative functionality that made the bags viral must-haves are as elite as ever.

According to founder Annie Fan, the rebrand is less a reinvention and more a clarification of purpose. “Afform brings our design philosophy to the forefront: A Functional Form,” she says.

In this new chapter, Afform’s mission is to help customers arrive organized. “The rebrand is an expansion beyond beauty bags into organization for tech accessories, daily travel, and weekend getaways,” the company notes.

How I Use the Afform Traveller

As a beauty writer with rosacea and curls that refuse to air-dry gracefully, I have an extensive routine that I’m not willing to compromise when I’m out of town. Before I discovered Afform’s bags, I relied on flimsy cosmetic pouches I’d collected as free gifts with purchase. I’d organize products into a series of bags by category, only to watch the system collapse into chaos the moment I arrived—rifling through pouch after pouch until everything ended up dumped on the bathroom counter.

With my Traveller, every product has its own dedicated place in a single bag, thanks to a patented fold-down design that keeps items upright, secure, and visible with just a partial unzip. Each bottle, jar, and compact remains accessible and just where I left it, even when I’m hopping between multiple cities on one trip. It’s like traveling with a portable vanity that doesn’t eat up half the suitcase.

Travellers come in three sizes, each equipped with wall pockets (the large has 20!), mesh pouches, adjustable dividers, elastic wall holders for brushes and razors, and adjustable Velcro connectors for even more compartments. With the rebrand, the Large Traveller now has a newly added zipper pocket and extra elastic loops—small tweaks that make an already Type-A-friendly design even more so.

The Large Traveller, at 9.5 inches wide and tall, is my go-to for longer, international trips, and can somehow fit my full skin, hair, and makeup routines. The medium is perfect for long weekends, and the small is just right for storing everyday essentials. Made with vegan leather and water-resistant twill outside and water-resistant inside, the material can be wiped clean and is sturdy enough to double as a luxury accessory I’m proud to display.

Another great option that the brand has brought back with the rebrand is The Kit. It has a fold-down square shape that’s ideal for holding larger bottles.

Getting all of your prized beauty products into a space-deprived carry-on and then through airport security is an art and a science, but take it from someone who considers packing a sport: Afform’s Travellers remain the bags that will help you reach first-class status.

Shop my favorite Afform Traveller bags, The Kits, and the brand’s new travel jewelry Vault below.