Still need a New Year’s resolution? Here, I’ll loan you mine. Make and maintain and ever-ready, already-packed travel toiletry kit.
I could spend weeks considering what clothing I might bring on a trip, but then when it’s time to go I start thrashing around throwing all my regular size toiletries into a ziplock and grabbing my whole makeup bag. Hello, Overpackers’ Anonymous!
Because I am usually living in the moment, my trips tend to sneak up on me. This is my solution: Instead of expecting myself not to procrastinate in preparing for routine trips, I will be ever-ready with a small, organized travel toiletry kit.
The first step for me was to find the right vessel for my travel toiletry kit. Preferably something that pleases me aesthetically, as I am motivated by beauty. I chose a hanging organizer to minimize my counter-spreading tendencies.
I found this travel toiletry kit from Field & Stream. It’s a men’s kit, but who cares. Canvas and leather are classic—and aren’t you tired yet of women’s hanging toiletry organizers being pink and green polka dot plastic things?
Here is the list I came up with (adapted from Snarky Nomad, because I liked the category breakdown, and Her Packing List):
Cleaning
- soap (I cut a bar of soap I have to make it smaller)
- shampoo and conditioner (I packed 2 ounces of 2in1 to cut down on liquids)
- toothbrush and toothpaste (or consider a Toob Travel Toothbrush)
- dental floss (doubles as string in a pinch)
- dry shampoo (I recommend KMS makeover spray—they make a travel size)
- jar of coconut oil (to moisturize skin and lips, remove makeup, soften hair, and soften cuticles)
- Q-tips
- contact solution
Grooming
- deodorant (If you like natural stuff, I just tried out Naturally Fresh Ministick Deodorant Crystal. It worked perfectly. 24 hours, no body odor.)
- tweezers
- nail clippers
- razor (If you lack a blade cover, try a large paper clip.)
- hairbrush (optional)
First Aid (for the truly prepared)
- bandages in a variety of sizes
- super glue
- hand sanitizer
- antiseptic
- ibuprofen
- anti-diarrheal
- allergy medication
- insect repellent (and perhaps anti-itch cream)
- sunscreen (and maybe some aloe)
Makeup
- mascara, eyeliner, shadow, brushes, blush, bronzer
- lipstick (This is Wanderlust and Lipstick, after all.)
It may not be practical to have all of these things packed all the time. Still, get a good travel toiletry kit and travel-size bottles, and keep a complete checklist handy so you can pack it in a flash. It will give you more time to plan all the outfits you’ll wear under your trenchcoat.