A terrible packer's call to reform

On realizing that packing light doesn't always mean packing WELL

Something different today, inspired by my very own Memorial Day packing mishaps. Back to books next week!

Sorry I’m late! I was supposed to write this yesterday, but I ended up entirely immersed in The Safekeep. More on that later.

For now, just know that I’m coming to you as an entirely transformed version of myself.

Why? Because I am now the type of person that travels everywhere with an unscented rose lip balm (this one).

There’s something about an unscented rose balm that makes me feel like a serious adult. My first entrée into the hallowed halls of the beauty industry was a tin of Rosebud Salve purchased with allowance money in fifth grade - I certainly felt grown-up using it then (even more so, when I quickly graduated to Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes the following year), and it seems the feeling hasn’t faded.

PACKING LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN PACKING WELL

The lip balm purchase has left me thinking of the other things that make me feel like I “have my shit together,” which I usually don’t. In the past, I’ve been proud of my self-designated status as a light packer, until I took inventory and realized that I’ve been playing myself this entire time. When I realized on Friday, upon arriving at my destination, that I’d packed five books and zero pairs of underwear for the weekend, it was simply time to face facts (especially after reading

tariro makoni

’s extremely dialed-in London packing list, which you should read if you want to see how a pro does it; this list is designed for amateurs comme moi).

MY PERSONAL PACKING FAILINGS

On the past three trips I’ve gone on, I’ve forgotten, respectively: a toothbrush and toothpaste; all of my underwear (as discussed above); and an entire outfit that I unpacked to replace with something else, and…never ended up replacing (there was a lot of outfit repeating that week).

During my sister’s college graduation, I wandered the streets of Boston looking for contact solution and a case, having forgotten to bring a single replacement for my daily lenses.

On a weekend with friends in Miami, I had to run to Intermix (RIP) to buy a skirt, because I’d completely forgotten suitable going-out gear (worth noting: I still have - and love - the skirt. Not all emergency purchases are cursed).

And so, I’ve finally come to the (obvious) conclusion that I need to make some changes to the way I pack. And, yesterday, I spent a little bit of my spare time building a dream travel accessories setup. Here’s where I landed.

EYES

This pouch isn’t exactly within my price range — or available — but if it were, I’d keep it in my carry-on, filled to the brim with contacts, and never suffer an ocular anxiety abroad again.

FACE

I’d carry another case for makeup; one of the best investments (though apparently not dermatologically safe or sound, so apologies to any medical professionals reading this) I make each summer is an eyelash tint and lift, alongside a brow wax and tint, which means I never need to travel with mascara. So, as far as makeup goes, we’d only need my two go-tos: this coral blush which genuinely always gets me compliments; this bronzer alternative that my wedding makeup artist used on me (per her recommendation, I use a big brush - this one - to swirl all three colors together); and my beloved foundation/concealer stick which also always gets me compliments on my skin, applied using a damp beautyblender.

SKIN

Skincare-wise, I do NOT believe in packing an entire routine (absurd, sorry). I bought this moisturizing spray on my honeymoon, and then brought it on a girls’ trip to London, where my best friend fell in love with it and promptly purchased her own. It’s heavenly, refreshing, and easy on sensitive skin. I’m actually due to repurchase my third bottle. When it comes to cleanser, let’s just stick with a mini Bioderma. The more simply I virtually pack these pouches, the more likely I am to actually do it. And, because I can’t travel with my beloved signature scent (actually, it is small enough, but I live in fear of breaking it), this roll-on never fails me - my husband always asks me for some when I wear it.

I was about to press publish on this when I realized I had entirely forgotten body lotion…I told you guys I was a terrible packer. I’ve never even tried the now-cult body stone, but I feel like the mini in a bamboo travel case is my ticket to never getting a mysterious rash from hotel lotion again (I itch when I think about the heavily fragranced Bulgari minis that most hotel rooms seem to proudly display by their sinks. Hotels, do not be proud of these minis).

HAIR

And, of course, we must discuss hair. I am always caught out at hotels, forced to use the shampoo that, no matter how nice the establishment, you can always somehow tell is Pert Plus (or whatever the 2-in-1 du jour is). This winter, though, I discovered this shampoo, which comes in a travel size and makes me feel like an imperious French woman in the best possible way - it smells like freshly-washed linens and the scent lingers in a way that’s subtle enough it never bothers you.

With regards to conditioner, anyone who knows me knows I can wax poetic about this leave-in conditioner all day long. I use it for flyaways and slicking back my hair as well, and the mini has genuinely lasted me two years; a little bit goes a very long way. And, because I’m one of those people who deals with a perpetually tangled rat’s nest, we’ve got to drop a wide-toothed comb into this travel pouch, too.

ESSENTIALS

Last week, I ran into a woman who had cut her hand on the street and asked if I had any hand sanitizer. I so badly wanted to be the person who could proudly brandish a bottle of Touchland, but alas, this was BRLB (before rose lip balm).

From this day forward, I want to be readily armed with: alcohol wipes, band aids, hair things, hand sanitizer, nail clippers, nail file, tampons, toothbrush, toothpaste, and tweezers. I am not affiliate linking any of those things. I have some pride left.

WHAT WE’RE PUTTING IT ALL IN

Now we’ve come to the fun part: what are we storing this in? I think I need three pouches: one for hair; one for skincare and makeup; one for essentials. I don’t want them to get filthy easily. I didn’t find any travel pouch trios that weren’t hideous, and, if I’m going to commit to this, I’m willing to invest. I’m not sure what Not Another Bill is, but these look like Anya Hindmarch cases for a fraction of the price; so perhaps I’ll monogram three…

WHAT ELSE I’D PACK FOR THIS SUMMER

If money were no object, I’d also keep the following exclusively in my suitcase: an entire set of underwear (Stripe & Stare are my preferred); a pair of pajamas (my sister-in-law just endorsed Cozyland); a white t-shirt (always good in a pinch); and a set of workout clothes (I can’t be the only person who always forgets to bring workout clothes on trips)…also, since this is a dream world, I’d throw in a Crown Affair hair towel, too.

Books, duh. One per day of the trip. Aspirational? Yes. A delusion I want to shatter? Absolutely not.

And, of course - a rose lip balm.

I want to know: what’s your packing strategy? I need all the tips I can get. xoxox