In a fashion-filled university, maintaining sophisticated makeup at all times can make you stand out from the crowd. Therefore, it is very important for college students to have a cosmetic bag. These bags not only exude style but also do a great job of keeping your grooming essentials organized.
So, “What Is the Best Makeup Bag for College Students?“
There doesn’t seem to be a one-size-fits-all answer. However, there are a few key elements that go into making a great makeup bag. New York-based makeup artist Jamie Dorman stresses the importance of a makeup bag that’s durable, waterproof, and easy to maintain. On top of that, college students have limited funds. How to buy the best makeup bags with limited funds?
Our team spends a lot of time researching various cosmetic bags and evaluating their price, quality, design, capacity, and additional features. Check out our list of the 10 best makeup bags for college students now.
Table of Contents
- 10 Best Makeup Bags That We Pick for You
- Most Durable Makeup Bag: Pocmimut Cosmetic Bag
- Most Stylish: Meiyuuo Waterproof Makeup Bag
- Most Expensive Makeup Bag on the List: Beis The Cosmetics Case
- Best Makeup Bag for Travel: EACHY
- BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Makeup Bag
- GZCZ Travel Makeup Bag
- Cutest: LYDZTION Flower Makeup Bag
- Best for Organizers: 365park Makeup Bag
- BAGSMART Travel Makeup Bag
- SFXULIX Large Capacity Cosmetic Bag
- How We Choose the Best Makeup Bags?
- Final Thoughts
- Authors
10 Best Makeup Bags That We Pick for You
Most Durable Makeup Bag: Pocmimut Cosmetic Bag

Price: $11.99
Weight: 4.6 ounces
Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.1 x 3.9”
Pros
- Water-resistant fabric for durability and protection.
- Compact and portable design, ideal for travel.
- 2-in-1 design with hook and loop fasteners for flexible use.
- Versatile and spacious, it can accommodate various cosmetics and small items.
- Separate brush compartments keep brushes organized.
Cons
- The materials inside are cheap.
- Zippers do not have long-term durability.
The Pocmimut Cosmetic Bag is a convenient and portable makeup organizer. This bag keeps your grooming essentials organized. It’s made of durable, water-resistant fabric to keep your belongings safe.
Traveling with this bag is a breeze as it is lightweight and easy to carry.
The best part is its 2-in-1 design. You get a large cosmetic bag and a small cosmetic bag. They stick together with flexible hook and loop fasteners for added convenience. The pouch is perfect for storing lipstick and makeup tools.
Plus, the Pocmimut Cosmetic Bag is versatile and suitable for many occasions. It easily holds skincare, makeup, and small items. There are also dedicated brush compartments to keep brushes dust-free and organized.
However, the quality of its internal materials is not as good as expected. The durability of the zipper is also not ideal. After using 10 products for one month, 6 had zipper damage.
Most Stylish: Meiyuuo Waterproof Makeup Bag

Price: $9.99
Weight: 5 Ounces
Dimensions: 9.45 x 6.26 x 1.26”
Pros
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- Stylish design
- Convenient handle
- Sufficient capacity
Cons
- Item cannot be secured securely
- Single compartment leads to clutter
The Meiyuuo Waterproof Cosmetic Bag combines fashion and practicality. Made of soft PU leather, this cosmetic bag is waterproof and easy to clean. It provides plenty of room for your belongings for overnight trips or everyday use. The printed pattern adds style to the bag and makes it visually appealing. The wide, sturdy handle makes it easy to carry alone or store in a larger bag.
However, the makeup brushes and the bag could not be held securely, causing the items to fall. A lack of compartments may result in items being jumbled together.
Most Expensive Makeup Bag on the List: Beis The Cosmetics Case

Price: $68
Weight: 1.38lbs
Dimensions: 9.5 x 4 x 7 inches
Pros
- Easy to wipe clean, durable, lining
- Magnetized brush holder
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Expensive
The Beis Cosmetic Case is a refined and functional product. Designed with attention to detail, this toiletry case offers a range of features that balance style and practicality. The exterior of this vanity case is made of faux leather, which is stylish and easy to wipe clean.
The magnetic brush box is a nice feature that makes it easy to keep your brushes in order. Hidden magnets keep your brushes in place so they don’t get messed up or broken while traveling. The fact that this makeup case is waterproof gives your valuable products even more security.
However, one downside of the Beis makeup bag is that it is more expensive than other beauty bags. This may be a higher price for college students. If your budget is low, we have more high-quality recommendations.
Best Makeup Bag for Travel: EACHY

Price: $23.99
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Dimensions: 9.25 x 4.13 x 4.33”
Pros
- Plenty of room for all your cosmetics
- Water resistance protects your items from water splashes.
- The flat design provides easy access to your items.
Cons
- Interior materials are of poor quality
- Cannot prevent items from slipping
The EACHY Travel Cosmetic Bag features a roomy design and measures 9.254.134.33 inches. It easily holds your makeup. The bag is made of high-quality PU material. It’s waterproof and washable, protecting your items from water splashes. The bag also includes a separate TPU inner pocket, which is stain-resistant and easy to clean.
One of the standout features is the flat design, which allows the bag to be opened flat for easy access to all your cosmetics. When you’re ready to move, it’s convenient to close the bag quickly.
This versatile makeup travel bag suits various occasions, such as business trips, vacations, outdoor events, picnics, and more. Bags are packed with foam padding to resist compression and deformation during shipping.
However, during testing, we also found some problems. For example, the cosmetic bag’s inner material is weak. When the cosmetic bag is closed and shaken, the items inside will slide down to the middle area. This makes things cluttered and disorganized.
BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Makeup Bag

Price: $22.99
Weight: 15.2 ounces
Dimensions: 12.6 x 9.1 x 4.3”
Pros
- Multiple compartments keep things organized.
- Double-zipped compartment design
- Transparent sides provide a clear overview of the contents
- 360-degree swivel, non-slip metal hook
Cons
- Limited water resistance
- Difficult to fold
The BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag packs essential toiletries for your travels. Measuring 12.6 x 9.1 x 4.3 inches, this bag offers plenty of room to hold the whole family’s toiletries.
The bag has four separate zippered compartments and one rear open pocket. The internal main pocket with elastic keeps bottles upright. Dual zippered compartments allow easy access to your items without fully opening the bag.
The 360-degree swivel non-slip metal hook stows away for multiple hanging options, and the handle doubles as a sling. Crafted from soft water-resistant polyester peach skin. The bag is well-padded to hold its shape and protect your belongings.
But despite the plastic zipper compartment, the back of the bag is not waterproof. This may cause leaks that affect other items. And in testing, we found the bag insufficient for larger items. When it is full, there will be folding difficulties.
GZCZ Travel Makeup Bag

Price: $30.39
Weight: 61.76 Ounces
Dimensions: 16 x 5.5 x 11.4”
Pros
- Durable and waterproof
- Easy to clean
- Customizable compartments
- Multifunctional use
Cons
- Limited height
- Inconvenient to carry
GZCZ Travel Cosmetic Bag is made of premium Oxford fabric, durable, waterproof, and easy to clean. With 6 adjustable EVA dividers, you can create your compartments. This cosmetic case is not limited to cosmetics only. It can also hold various items, such as accessories and toiletries.
However, some taller items may need to be placed horizontally due to height constraints. In addition, this makeup case is heavy and unsuitable for carrying around.
Cutest: LYDZTION Flower Makeup Bag

Price: $7.99
Weight: 2.4 ounces
Dimensions: 10.51 x 8.19 x 1.14”
Pros
- Quick View All Cosmetics
- Multifunctional storage
- Cheap price
Cons
- Product quality difference
- The material has a bad smell
The LYDZTION Floral Cosmetic Bag provides a convenient, stylish solution to your cosmetic organization needs. With its unique design and versatility, this cosmetic bag is a handy addition to your travel essentials or everyday life. The LYDZTION Floral Cosmetic Bag has a zippered opening allowing you to quickly see all your belongings. Made of high-quality canvas, this bag is stain-resistant and easy to clean. Its versatile design makes it suitable for a variety of purposes. Best of all, this makeup bag is super affordable, and it’s only $7.99.
However, we found that the product received differed from the image during testing. Missing brand tags, darker than pictured. And the product has some smell. The smell seems to be affecting the cosmetics stored inside.
Best for Organizers: 365park Makeup Bag

Price: $15.99
Weight: 12.6 ounces
Dimensions: 9.37 x 6.85 x 6.38”
Pros
- High-quality and durable PU leather material
- Smart double-layer design
- ample storage space
- Convenient zipper closure
Cons
- Shipping and Packaging Questions
365park Cosmetic Bags are thoughtfully designed with functionality and style in mind. Made of premium PU leather material and nylon lining, this cosmetic bag is durable, scratch resistant, and water-resistant. This cosmetic second level offers ample storage for all your makeup and accessories.
The cosmetic bag perfectly balances portability and capacity by measuring 9.37 x 6.85 x 6.38”. Dual zippers ensure easy access from both sides of the bag. Its flat bottom allows it to stand on a counter or dresser, keeping your grooming routine organized.
But the packaging of the product could be better, it was folded and creaked a bit when we received it.
BAGSMART Travel Makeup Bag

Price: $15.99
Weight: 7.8 ounces
Dimensions: 11.5 x 6.7 x 1.8”
Pros
- Large opening for easy access to cosmetics.
- Additional mesh pockets store small items.
- The front pocket has a dust-resistant PVC lining and holds makeup brushes.
- Made of waterproof polyester for durability.
Cons
- The product color does not match.
- The zipper is stuck.
The BAGSMART Travel Toiletry Bag is a great way to organize your cosmetics and travel essentials. This makeup travel bag measures 8.2 x 4 x 6.7 inches and is perfect for 5-7 day travel or everyday use. It features a wide opening for easy access and two mesh interior pockets for small items. The front pocket is lined in dust-resistant PVC and is perfect for storing makeup brushes.
The bag is made of water-resistant polyester, ensuring it is durable and will protect your belongings well. A padded design adds extra security and a metal zipper gives the bag an elegant touch.
But due to the bag’s wide design, the zipper on the front pocket frequently jammed during testing. The color of the cosmetic bag is also different from the picture.
SFXULIX Large Capacity Cosmetic Bag

Price: $23.99
Weight: 6.7 ounces
Dimensions: 9.8 x 4.7 x 5.1 inches
Pros
- Durable PU leather fabric
- multifunctional design
- Suitable size for a backpack
Cons
- The color of the appearance is dull
- Functional issues lead to cosmetic clutter
The SFXULIX Bulk Cosmetic Bag is a versatile and stylish solution. It organizes your cosmetics while traveling or for daily use. This cosmetic bag is made of high-quality PU leather fabric, which is easy to clean.
And it has a special water-resistant finish to protect your inner products from getting wet. This is a travel toiletry bag with a large 180° opening and a flat design with double zippers for easy access. This cosmetic bag is suitable for daily or travel use and fits easily in a cosmetic travel case or backpack.
But we found that the color does not match the picture during use. Especially the shades of purple appear dull. While the toiletry bag has a unique 180° opening, we have found that the contents of the toiletry bag can get messy.
How We Choose the Best Makeup Bags?
When evaluating products like this, our testing methodology is comprehensive and detailed. Our professional editorial and copywriting teams put a lot of time and effort into the testing process to ensure we provide our readers with accurate and reliable information.
- Price: As a recommended product for college students, we try to keep the price within $25. Only individual products are outside this range.
- In-house testing: Our team sources selected products and test them in a controlled environment. This allows us to experience the product firsthand and evaluate its performance.
- Real-World Simulation: Our testing process involves using the product like an average consumer. We evaluate them for functionality, durability, and user-friendliness in various situations that reflect everyday use.
- Summary of User Feedback: Besides our testing, we take real users’ opinions very seriously. We collect and analyze feedback from individuals who purchase and use our products.
- Performance evaluation: We conduct a series of performance evaluations on the product’s durability, functionality, etc., based on specific criteria.
Final Thoughts
Think of your toiletry bag as your ultimate beauty companion. More than just a bag, it’s a neat custodian for your precious makeup collection.
In this guide, we have recommended 10 cheap and practical best makeup bags for you. We dissect their strengths and weaknesses to give you advice as a university student. Now it’s your turn to choose a wallet-friendly and functional makeup bag that meets your needs.