By the time you read this I’ll be gone. I am going to be in Toronto, Canada with my bestie lounging around and eating poutine (JK, I do not like poutine, please don’t make me feel guilty about it. I don’t like donuts either!) Packing sucks. Unless you’re one of those “always prepared” people, it’s nearly impossible not to forget something. I am neither high or low maintenance but I will absolutely go out of my way to bring the least amount of stuff possible. When I studied abroad I brought one big suitcase whereas everyone else brought four of them. I’d rather not carry a bunch of stuff than be unprepared, I guess. This is why it’s very important to make a packing list based on the things you will probably be doing upon arrival.
The three keys to travel packing is: practically, size and longevity. You want to bring essential, small sized products that are long wearing. Since I am not going to any galas or doing anything rugged, I don’t need anything all that special.
Here is what I bring and why.
1. Eye print notebook and pen. I am a writer. I like to write my thoughts and the although the plane ride is less than 2 hours, I may have an important passing thought or story idea like, “10 Best Dog Butts From Mars” or something.
2. Duane Read Travel Size: Face wash, body wash, mouth wash. I’ve tried putting my regularly used products inside travel bottles and the result is always gross. By the end of the trip everything has spilled and I end up wasting so much product. The pharmacy has great $1 mini versions of basic toiletries that I can ditch at the end of the trip. Less to carry back home.
3. New age print flask. I am going to be hanging out with my best friend what do you think I am going to be doing. Seriously though, we’ll save a ton of money not paying for so much alcohol. Liquor tastes the same in every country, right?
4. Make Up Forever HD Pro Finish Foundation. I have oily, acne prone skin but I hate wearing a ton of makeup. I have “bad skin” but you know what? I am over it. This is a foundation that multitasks as a powder or medium-to-full coverage foundation depending on how you apply it. It’s great for travel because it’s not a liquid and doesn’t need a finishing powder on top of it.
5. Minimergency Kit. All the little just in case things put together so that I don’t have to worry about it.
6. Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds. Protein + Carbs = Awake/Energy. Plus they have the same name as me.
7. Travel Size Simple Kind To Skin moisturizing face wash. I bought a cheap-o Duane Read face wash and this one because I think it’s always best to have two options. I am all about the double cleanse. One for the makeup and one for the skin.
8. Clinique Acne Gel. You’re on vacation but the zits are still at work.
9. Sample Size Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Serum. Traveling is a great opportunity to whip out those free samples so that you don’t have to carry a bunch of bottles with you. I popped into my local Kiehl’s and got samples of the products I already use so that I don’t have to transfer them into smaller bottles or buy travel sized versions. The beauty of this is that you can just toss the packets away. Less to carry back home.
10. Sample Size Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer Moisturizer. Ditto ^^^
11. Travel Size Tooth Paste and Tooth Brush. Well, c’mon.
12. Sephora Smart Liner. It’s an ergonomically correct eyeliner with a felt tip that makes applying liquid liner quick and easy. I am uncoordinated so this is the only liquid liner I can use.
13. Murad Oil Control Mattifier SPF 15. Holy shit. This mattifier is the only that I’ve used that has ever worked and boy does it work. I have very oily skin but this works accumulatively. The more you use it the less oil your skin produces altogether. It lasts all day long. Perfect for a long commute and small enough to travel with.
14. Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara. ‘Cause my lashes have to look fresh to death. This mascara is great for a bold look which means you don’t need liner. Vacation is all about laziness so the least amount of effort into the superficial is key.
15. Hello Kitty Contact Case. I use a contact case to carry a tiny bit of my favorite products just in case. One eye gets moisturizer, the other gets retinol. It’s super portable and spill proof!
16. Aquaphor Lip Conditioner. The holy grail of lip balms. Nothing compares to this. Your lips feel like delicate rose petals and it won’t stop moisturizing until you literally wipe it off.
17. iPhone. Duuuuh.
18. Sephora Lip Last. This lipstick lasts 10 hours. Again, it’s good for a long commute or a really long day of hanging out. I am light packer so I only bring one lipstick with me, red is the easiest way to look done up without trying and it goes with every outfit. Since makeup will be minimal a bold lip can really tie things together.
19. College Candy Shades. The futures so bright—I got to wear shades.
20. Tonymoly Tea Tree Soothing Sheet Mask. I like to bring a sheet mask with me because it’s not a liquid but it is a nice pick me up. Travel can bring a lot of stress to the skin so it’s always good to have something that’ll calm it down when worse comes to worse. Pro Tip: (Raw) Honey works amazingly for calming the skin and is available in most countries.
21. The Giver. You can’t travel without a book, you never know when there will be down time. Since the movie is in the works I thought it would be great to re-read one of my fave middle school novels.
What I Pack For Vacay Besides Clothing Because You Must Have All The Things
