Travel essentials that you absolutely need to help you stay organized and make your trip hassle free
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After a recent trip to Costa Rica, packing made its way to the top of my "need to fix" list. Not only did I wait until the day before to find outfits and get my suitcase in order, but I seriously lacked a packing system. When it came to organizing my belongings, makeup and cosmetics were the biggest thorn. I had my stuff in multiple toiletry bags and I could never remember which bag had my makeup, shampoo, razor, etc. I have a girls trip to Vegas at the end of the month and a trip to Jamaica in July. There's no way I can continue to operate like this. I knew I had to upgrade my travel gear.
This is what my travel situation looked like before I bought some new gear. The clear bags were purchased years ago. Once I started running out of space, I used the free cosmetic "gift with purchase" bags. Complete disaster.
So here's what I did:
I made a list of everything I typically need to pack - contacts, phone charger, aspirin, toothpaste, makeup, hair spray etc. I did this to ensure that my storage solution would actually work for my next trip.
Think about what items need to be in my purse vs items that can stay in my suitcase. Sometimes, I like to freshen up before I leave the airport and I hate opening my suitcase in the bathroom. I also hate when I pack my tech items (ie charger) in my purse and can't find it.
Categorized the items - tech vs toiletries vs meds. I'm a huge believer in compartmentalization.. This is the reason why I had so many bags to begin with, but clearly that system needed some tweaking.
Determined how many bags I really needed to carry all of my essentials. I thought using many bags would help me stay organized, but I decided that putting my cosmetics/toiletries all in one bag and keeping tech in another bag was best.
Searched for items that could neatly organize everything I needed to pack on my trip.
This is what it looks like now. Everything is so neat! I still have a few bags, but it is way more organized and each has a specific purpose, which I think is key.
I decided to organize my essentials by using a tech organizer, cosmetic bag, and a clear cosmetic pouch
I'm using the clear bag for my purse. I like to keep a few essentials close so that I can refresh in the bathroom without digging through my suitcase. I put a pill case in it as well. It was sooo inexpensive and can hold my hair ties, allergy meds, and vitamins.
The large makeup/toiletry bag is the highlight of all of my travel items I recently purchased. It is such a game changer! I love the fact that you can hang it up in a closet and that it has so many compartments. It can hold all of my essentials in one place and I don't have to worry about anything leaking.
The front of the bag has a place that contains individual slots to store your makeup brushes. I am using the side with the zipper to hold mascara, bronzer, highlighter, lip and eye pencils. My foundation, concealer, and lip gloss are stored on the other side of the cosmetic bag.
love the small silver atomizer. It's the size of a lipstick!
I had to take multiple photos because it's so long once you open it up. I love that it has pockets so each item is stored in its own section. On one side, I am using it for my sunscreen, deodorant, facial cleanser, perfume and contact lenses.
All of my toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, moisturizer, lotion) and oral care are here. This side has elastic bands that can stretch for different size bottles, but my Vegas trip is only for three days. To avoid checking my bag in, I'm going to keep everything under 4 ounces.
I purchased a silicon travel size bottle set so that I can bring my own stuff. I don't always love the the brands the hotel uses and I have sensitive skin. I even found a mini razor and mini brush that fit perfectly.
Other travel must haves are a hat clip (the one I purchased is no longer available), refillable perfume atomizer so I can take my favorite perfume (and not have to worry about TSA!), and a laundry bag for dirty clothes. The links are all below.
This atomizer is about the size of a lipstick and can fit in any bag. Perfect for freshening up while you're out
tech organizer//hanging travel organizer//pill case//makeup sponge holder //silicone travel bottle set // perfume atomizer //hat clip // laundry travel bag //luggage strap
I hope this was helpful! I already used some of this for a work trip and it was the first time (in a long time) that I stayed organized.