Holiday packing costs soar - with the average makeup bag worth £553
Over 36 million pieces of luggage were lost, delayed or damaged worldwide in 20231 – equivalent to around 11 bags for every 1,000 checked. It’s the sort of thing that travellers never think will happen to them, until it does. And, losing luggage today could be far more expensive than you think.
From skincare products to make-up collections and signature fragrances, holiday packing has moved beyond the basics. Driven by social media trends such as TikTok’s “Pack With Me” videos, many travellers now invest lots of time and money to put together the perfect beauty bag for their getaway.
Digging a bit deeper, we wanted to find out just how much the average beauty bag costs in 2026, with our analysis revealing it to be a whopping £553 - easily rivalling the price of a trip itself!
Despite the value of what they are packing, many travellers aren’t aware of what their travel insurance actually covers. Our latest survey found that more than a quarter of travellers (28%) don’t know what their standard policy includes and that around one in seven believe skincare products (14%) or toiletries (14%) are automatically covered.
However, many insurers classify cosmetics, toiletries and similar products differently from other personal belongings, which can lead to limits or exclusions depending on the policy. That means holidaymakers could face a substantial out-of-pocket bill if their beauty bags go missing.
What’s inside a £553 beauty bag?
We analysed popular makeup, skincare and haircare products to understand what Brits are really taking on holiday – and how much it would cost to replace them.
The results show how quickly costs can add up:
Pack hacks to protect your beauty bag
To help travellers avoid expensive mishaps abroad, Alicia Hempsted, our Travel Insurance Expert here at MoneySuperMarket, shares her top tips:
1. Pack a ‘first-night pouch'
With essentials in your hand luggage, so you’re covered if checked baggage is delayed or lost.
2. Reuse hotel-size toiletries
Where possible. Premium mini products from hotels can save travellers from buying expensive travel versions or investing in full-size products.
3. Consider cheaper alternatives or ‘dupes’
To help reduce potential replacement costs.
4. Decant products into travel-sized containers
And secure lids with tape to help prevent leaks from damaging other belongings.
5. Protect fragrances properly
By using travel atomisers, padded perfume cases and sealed bags to minimise breakages.
6. Put makeup palettes in the centre of the suitcase
The padding will help prevent breakage.
7. Be mindful of sharing high-value beauty items on social media
As this can draw attention to expensive belongings.
Travel insurance can provide valuable protection, but only if you understand what is and isn’t included. Taking a few minutes to review your policy before you travel could help avoid unexpected costs if your luggage is lost, stolen or delayed.
Sources:
Methodology
*Research conducted by Censuswide surveying 1,000 UK adults in May 2026.
**Data research was conducted in June 2026. MoneySuperMarket calculated the average value of a cosmetics bag by analysing the prices of popular beauty products sold by Lookfantastic across key makeup and skincare categories. For each product type, between 18 and 36 products were reviewed, depending on availability. Discounted and full-priced items were included. An average price was then calculated for each category, with the combined total used to estimate the value of a typical cosmetics bag.
