The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

9 best make-up bags for stylish storage

Calling all make-up lovers, it’s time to store your products in these stylish bags

Amelia Neath
Friday 11 August 2023 10:26 BST
We tested make-up bags large and small for all occassions
We tested make-up bags large and small for all occassions (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

For those of us who are make-up lovers, what we keep our favourite palette and powders in should be just as important as the products themselves. After all, we know the struggle of rummaging into the depths of your bag to find our favourite lip product all too well...

That’s where an on-the-go make-up bag comes in. These handy storage solutions can be a godsend on a day out or the daily commute to keep all your everyday essentials neatly packed away.

Similarly, if you plan on jetting off on holiday, a travel make-up bag should be an essential in your suitcase. Not only will it make packing a lot easier, but it will help keep your foundations, concealers and creams away from your clothes – there’s nothing worse than a foundation stain on a pristine white top.

Of course, make-up bags are so versatile though that you don’t have to limit them to just your favourite lippy. You can also store deodorants, perfumes and skincare in them too.

Whether you’re a keen traveller, want to up your beauty vanity at home, or simply organise your loose products, we have you covered. This is our definitive list of the best make-up bags to buy that won’t break the bank.

How we tested

Over the past few weeks, we have been testing out various make-up bags to find the best for optimal organisation, travel and storage. We looked at the different materials, durability and style. We also stored our various make-up products, from small brushes to large bottles, to test out the size and space of the compartments, and whether they fitted into our work bags and suitcases. Finally, we considered how spill-proof each bag was, judging this by how wipeable the material was. These are our favourite picks.

A selection of the best make-up bags that we tested for this review
A selection of the best make-up bags that we tested for this review (Amelia Neath)

The best make-up bags for 2023 are:

  • Best make-up bag overall – Next quilted foldable make-up bag, £14, Next.co.uk
  • Best small make-up bag – Oliver Bonas Laurie folk floral green wash bag, £12.50, Oliverbonas.com
  • Best luxury buy – Anya Hindmarch small vanity kit, £255, Anyahindmarch.com
  • Best affordable buy – Boots floral box bag, £6, Boots.com
  • Best for day-to-day – Space NK make-up bag, £20, Spacenk.com

Next quilted foldable make-up bag

next bag best make up bags indybest best
  • Best: Make-up bag overall
  • Size: 18.5cm x 24cm x 11cm
  • Why we love it
    • Folds out flat
  • Take note
    • Not compact enough to fit in small handbags

This cream and black quilted make-up bag has three large compartments, big enough to fit bulky bottles, or even eyeshadow palettes. The centre compartment is long and thin, perfect to fit items such as make-up brushes or eyeliners and mascaras. Plus, all the inside compartments are lined with wipeable material, for any inevitable make-up spillages.

The Next make-up bag topped our list due to its versatile uses. We loved that it is small enough to slot into any large handbags or carry-ons, yet still can hold a lot of different products all at once. Once you un-pop the two fasteners it can lie flat, making it easy to see all your products while getting ready, without having to rummage around at the bottom for your favourite lipstick! And if you wanted to reach for something while you are out and about, there are two zips you can use without having to lay it out, for easy access. At £14, you can’t go wrong with this bag, with its storage size, practicality and overall chic look.

  1.  £14 from Next.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Primark clear double vanity case

Primark clear makeup case best make up bags indybest
  • Best: Clear case
  • Size: 15cm x 21cm x 14cm
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to clean
  • Take note
    • Weaker zip

If you love your liquid products, such as lipsticks, eyeliner or blush, or even lots of loose powder, then this is the case for you. We stored a lot of our messy products in here as it was easily wipeable. It has two compartments; the one at the bottom held six 150ml bottles and the top one was suited well for keeping all our make-up brushes flat.

When simple is what you are looking for, the clear material makes this a no-nonsense make-up bag that is easy to spot where every product is. It also has a sturdy handle, making it easy to get in and out of a suitcase if you are off travelling.

  1.  £8 from Primark.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

New Look green swirl towelling wash bag

New Look green swirl towelling wash bag best make up bags indybest
  • Best: For fun
  • Size: 21cm x 24cm 10cm
  • Why we love it
    • Trendy
  • Take note
    • Difficult to clean

If you are looking for a trendy bag to bring to the beach, this is the bag for you! It has a bright green fuzzy beach towel effect and is made from recycled polyester. At just over 24cm long, this whopper can hold large make-up palettes and even 500ml bottles. Its only downside is that the lining isn’t 100 per cent spillproof, nor is it that wipeable, so maybe opt for your more studier products to keep and carry in this one. Even if you aren’t soaking up the sun on a sandy beach somewhere, this make-up bag certainly delivers those summer vibes wherever you are.

  1.  £9 from Newlook.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

The Flat Lay Co. vibey green full size flat lay make-up bag

the flat lay co make up bag best make up bag indybest
  • Best: For packing
  • Size: 18cm when closed, 52cm diameter when opened
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to pack away
  • Take note
    • Less security for products

There is nothing else on the market right now like this make-up bag. This innovative design lets you completely lay out all your make-up products at once, using a drawstring mechanism, so you can see all your make-up at once while you are getting ready. The bag also doubles as a protective mat, so you don’t have to put your brushes down anywhere dirty. It doesn’t stop there, it also comes equipped with an inside zip pocket for any small or valuable products, elastic bands to hold brushes in place, and two Velcro pockets on the outside. We loved how easy it was to use and close quickly, perfect for people in a hurry.

Back to top

Superdrug 3 piece make-up bag set mint

Superdrug makeup bags best make up bags indybest
  • Best: For organisation
  • Size: Large 20cm x 24cm x 16.5cm, Medium 15.5cm x 22cm x 9.5cm, Small 12cm x 17cm x 10cm
  • Why we love it
    • Lots of storage space
  • Take note
    • Handles are thin

If the sight of your make-up drawer, fills you with dread then maybe it’s time to invest in some large make-up bags to organise and store all your favourite products. We found that these bags were perfect for storage, due to their clear casings, meaning you can see exactly what product is where. There are three bags in total in this set, with the largest being a massive 17cm wide, great for all your large and bulky cosmetics. Alternatively, you can opt for keeping the other two bags inside the larger one and using the handles for an easy on-the-go storage solution.

Back to top

Oliver Bonas Laurie folk floral green wash bag

oliver bonas makeup bag best make up bags indybest
  • Best: Small bag
  • Size: 10cm x 12cm x 7cm
  • Why we love it
    • Compact design
  • Take note
    • Not suitable for long products

While the other bags on this list are great for storing large amounts of make-up, sometimes all you need is a simple little bag to keep your everyday essentials. Its 10cm x 12cm x 7cm size means it perfectly fits into any small handbags, while the green floral design and cute pink tassels gives it a stylish yet simple look. Despite its small size, it has a little separate pocket sewn in too, enough to fit two small lip balms. It may be pricer than some of our larger bags, but we loved that the quality of the material and zip kept our products safe throughout the day.

Back to top

Boots floral box bag

boots floral bag best make up bags indybest
  • Best: Affordable buy
  • Size: 12cm x 19cm x 10cm
  • Why we love it
    • Practical shape
  • Take note
    • No compartments

Sometimes it’s hard to find a make-up bag for a reasonable price that has a sturdy zip or robust material, but this make-up bag does the trick! As well as having an adorable floral print pattern, this bag can hold up to six 150ml bottles in its one large compartment. If you are looking for something to fit all your products for a short holiday or a long weekend away, this is the perfect size to fit in a small suitcase. And at just £6, we think this bag is well worth the money.

  1.  £6 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Anya Hindmarch small vanity kit

Anya Hindmarch best make up bags indybest
  • Best: Luxury buy
  • Size: 10.5cm x 16.5cm x 11cm
  • Why we love it
    • Elegant finish
  • Take note
    • On the smaller side

While this isn’t the biggest bag on the list, it is certainly the most luxurious. This recycled nylon vanity kit is perfect for organising your more expensive beauty products. We loved the bag’s solid structure, which meant it won’t crush down if you are planning on putting it in your suitcase, and that it has an inside zip on its lid labelled “bits and bobs” for your smaller loose items. Its sleek and smooth finish made travelling with cosmetics that much more opulent.

Back to top

Space NK make-up bag

space nk best make up bags indybest
  • Best: For day-to-day
  • Size: 21cm x 12cm x 6cm
  • Why we love it
    • Fits in medium sized bags
  • Take note
    • Only suitable for a small amount of products

This stylish make-up bag comes available in a range of colours and is simply the perfect size for your day-to-day essentials. If you are commuting to work, or just going on a day out, its compact design means it can slip into any medium size handbag. It is large enough to fit your daily foundation, concealer and lip gloss and is capable of holding up to three 100ml bottles at a time. It even has enough space for skincare or a deodorant. We appreciated the robustness of the faux leather case and the strong zip, which held up for many commutes and outings.

Back to top

The verdict: Make-up bags

Our best buy goes to Next’s quilted foldable make-up bag for its practicality. We liked that it has three large compartments with wipeable dividers, as well as that it was able to fold out on a table so we could see all our powders and palettes at a glance. We also rated the Space NK make-up bag for its perfect size and solution for storing your loose cosmetics in your handbag. Not forgetting, the Boots floral box bag for being a great affordable purchase and a perfect fit in any small luggage case.

Fill up your new make-up bag with the best bronzers, to make your summer glow last even longer

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£250 off a 7 night stay with the deal of the week - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on orders with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Get 15% off + Extra 5% on select products with this Cult Beauty voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in