Parallelle Makeup Bag Review: I'm Never Traveling With Another Cosmetic Case Again | Condé Nast Traveler

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Wherever I'm headed, be it on a weeklong European vacation or a one-night stay at a friend's house, I'm always going to pack a makeup bag. Even if I'm not planning to wear much makeup, like on a beach trip, I always bring one just in case. As essential as a makeup bag is for me, though, I've never found one I really love.

The classic cosmetic case is usually a large empty pouch, no pockets in sight, where all my many products get dumped inside. This means that when it's time for glam, I spend twice as long rummaging through my bag to find what I need as I do actually putting on makeup. It also means that if my foundation leaks or a lipstick tube opens in transit, my entire collection is a mess. When I arrive at a hotel or an Airbnb, I usually have to empty my entire makeup bag and lay everything out on the bathroom counter just to find what I need. This was all a regular occurrence, and a travel pain point, until I discovered the makeup bag of my dreams: The Parallelle makeup bag is a total game changer for travel; my products have never been more organized, secure, and easy to reach. I finally found a cosmetic case that I actually love.

The standout feature of the Parallelle makeup bag is its foldable shape. After you unzip the bag, each side can be pulled down to lie flat, allowing you to easily see all of your products at once. It's designed to keep each product secured in an upright position, again making them easy to spot and reducing the risk of any spills.

The other feature I love most: pockets galore! I have the medium-size case, called the The Carry-On, which features 16 wall pockets, 4 elastic mesh pouches, and 3 adjustable compartments. The small wall pockets are ideal for holding slim products like makeup brushes, mascara, eyeliner, lip liner, or lipstick. The four elastic mesh pouches hold loose items, like blush, bronzer, and pressed powder. And the adjustable compartments are where you can stash bottles and containers, like foundation, makeup remover, and setting spray. There's a place for everything—and I mean everything.

The medium-size Carry-On bag keeps makeup organized and standing upright

My first time traveling with the Parallelle makeup bag was for a four-day girls trip to Montauk. I tucked all of my makeup essentials into the individual pockets and compartments, zipped up the bag, and tossed it into my weekender bag. After four hours of being squeezed into an extremely overpacked car, all of my products were still secure. No spills or leaks, and everything was in its correct place. When it was time to get ready for our first dinner out, I was relieved that I didn't have to dump all of my products onto the bathroom counter for once. Instead, I simply pulled each product out of the case as I needed it and slipped it right back into place after I was finished with it. After packing it on this trip, I will never travel with another makeup bag again. The thoughtfully designed Parallelle makeup bag keeps my essentials organized and visible, and makes doing my makeup on the go easier than ever.

Since that first trip, I've packed it a few other times—for other weekend getaways and overnight stays visiting my parents. After using it several times, I noticed that some of my makeup products that tend to get dirty, like blush or pressed powder, transferred onto the bag. The interior lining is made of water-resistant twill polyester, so I can easily wipe it clean with a damp cloth. The exterior of the bag is pretty sturdy, so it can definitely handle some wear and tear.

The bag is available in three different sizes: the smallest is The Travellite, a compact case that holds enough for your daily routine. It features nine pockets, five elastic loops, two divided compartments, and two mesh pouches. The medium-size option, The Carry-On, is best suited for short trips and weekend getaways (although this size offers me more than enough room for everything I'd need on a longer vacation, too). The largest size is The Check-In, which is designed for extended trips and overpackers. Inside, you'll find a whopping 20 pockets, 3 divided compartments, and 6 mesh pouches.

I recommend The Carry-On for most travelers. If you don't wear much makeup regularly, go for the small. And if you like to pack some toiletries and skincare products in the same case, like face wash and sunscreen, The Check-In would be ideal. I have it in a sweet shade of blush pink, but each size is also available in hues of lilac, blue, beige, green, tan, and black.

The only con is the price tag: $98 for a makeup bag isn't cheap, but it really is worth it. I've never used anything like it before—its smart design makes it stand out against any other makeup bag I've tried before. Its durability also means I'll have it for years to come. I'll be packing this travel essential on countless future vacations and weekend trips ahead.