travel essentials (extended)

As someone who has overcome a need to over-pack, I am happy to share the following musts for travel - no matter the destination!

I've sorted these into categories that work great as a checklist when I'm getting ready for a trip.

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Basics:

1. Dental Care Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss)

2. Eye Drops (my go-to's are Visine and Clear Eyes)

3. Advil/Ibuprofen (I rarely need this while traveling, but very helpful for headaches or muscle aches)

4.. Cold/Flu Medicine (Tylenol, Nyquil, Ear Drops)

5. Vitamins and Probiotics (I cannot stress enough how much these will help you during your trip. Just carry yours in a reusable zippy bag and keep them with any snacks you carry - it'll serve as a great reminder!)

6. Aquaphor/Vaseline (Another item I never forget. I am accident-prone and will land up with random scratches to almost-serious wounds so both of these do a fantastic job in protecting the skin if I do not have access to first aid. Also, I have found Aquaphor to be a healing balm for dry skin. Any time my skin feels dehydrated or irritated, it serves as an alternative in eliminating the dryness and restoring my skin.)

7. Bandaids and/or Neosporin

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Beauty:

1. Face Halo (no cleanser? no problem! Check out how they work here: https://facehalo.com/pages/how-to )

2. Cleansing Oil (I love cleansing oils because they serve a dual purpose - cleansing and massaging. This is a product relatively new to my daily skin care, but it's staying because of I have a few minutes to help my skin relax and unwind. Highly recommend giving this a try!)

3. Moisturizer with SPF (If you find a moisturizer with SPF that works for your skin, please save one for travel. If there isn't an option for you, a setting spray with SPF or a setting powder with SPF are great alternatives . My personal favorite is Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen and in setting powders, I would recommend Supergoop's 100% Mineral Invincible Setting Powder.

4. Eye Cream (Your eyes need extra love during travel! Check out Banana Bright™ Eye Crème and Kora Organics Noni Radiant Eye Oil. )

5. Face Roller/English Breakfast Tea Bags (These babies will have you feeling and looking fresh and ready to take on the day. The known trick is to stick these in a fridge for 5-10 mins to help combat puffiness and the I-just-woke-up look.)

6. Sunscreen (Yes, yes, I mentioned this above for the face, but don't forget the rest of the body needs protection, too! Make sure to keep some in your bag if you plan on staying in the sun longer than usual and need to reapply. Waterproof sunscreen is perfect for your beach getaway or staycation in your backyard pool.)

7. Body Moisturizer (If you find a body moisturizer with SPF, you've just successfully reduced your baggage weight and waste by one bottle. Keep at it!)

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Electronics:

1. Travel Adapter (Keep in mind the wattage of the places you are visiting as well of the devices you plan on plugging in, to avoid frying your electronics.)

2. Travel Converter (I list this separtely for all of the hair straighteners, hair dryers, and/or curling irons you may be thinking of packing. Travel converters like this make sure you don't fry your hair or maybe kill the lights in your room.)

3.. Charger for Phone, / Laptop / Camera (carry an extra USB wire or plug for backup!)

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Other:

1. Laundry Bag

2. Scent Packets

4. Comfy Sweater

5. Leggings/Joggers

6. Sneakers/Flats/some sort of everyday comfy shoes

7. Travel Journal

8. Camera (if you are not relying on your smartphone)

9. Sunglasses/Hat/Baseball Cap

10. Pillow Case