Favorite Travel Products

I remember the first time that I traveled on my own- I was so nervous about forgetting something.  I didn't even know what I needed!  Now that I've gone on a few international and domestic trips, I pretty much have the necessities nailed down.  A major piece of advice that I always tell myself is that as long as I have anything that can't be easily replaced with me, like a passport, wallet, cell phone- I can just repurchase anything I'm forgetting in the place that I'm visiting.  Remembering that really helped calm my nerves!

Besides the necessities, there are a few things that I've acquired in the past few years that help make travel easier, and even help with packing!  Since most of these items are travel-specific, I even keep them in my luggage all the time so that I never have to worry about packing them.  Keep reading for my favorite products, and make sure you let me know what I'm missing in the comments!

Battery Pack

Is there any feeling more frustrating or anxiety-inducing than having a dead phone while you're out exploring a new place?  That doesn't have to happen again if you carry around a battery pack!  It took me a while to get one, but I'm not sure how I survived without one!  Instead of getting a cute, small one, I decided to get a more heavy duty one that has 2 USB slots to charge two phones at once, and a higher capacity (which means I can get 4 full charges out of a full pack rather than the standard 1).  The one I got is no longer available, but this one looks similar.

Makeup and Toiletries bag

When I travel, I tend to keep my makeup and skincare routine pretty simple.  I started to keep all of my toiletries in one location, so that when I'm traveling I can just grab the bag and not worry that I'm missing anything!  If I use up something on my trip, I'll just replenish it when I get back.  Here's what I keep in mine -
Mascara- I use Great Lash when I travel, because it's a reliable formula that looks natural, lasts all day, but is still easy to wash off at the end of the day.
Cream Eye shadow- I typically apply this right at my lash line pretty thickly, then lightly blend.  This doubles as my eyeliner and eye shadow without much effort at all.  My current favorite is by Laura Mercier in Amethyst for a subtle pop of color.
Tinted Sunscreen- This is actually what I use on a daily basis and I love it!  The formula is really smooth and moisturizing, and I love that there is SPF so I don't have to apply a ton of different products.  The coverage is really light, so I don't have to worry about not blending it in, or not matching my skin if I get tan on vacation.
Dry Face Towels- These are great for travel, because you can grab one towel for each night you're traveling, and they are not liquid (so they don't take up valuable space in your quart bag!).  These particular towels work great at removing makeup, having a bit of exfoliation, and cleaning my skin.

Day Pack

Since most of my vacations are pretty active, and I try to squeeze in at least one hike, I always bring along a day pack with me.  I got one from LL Bean years ago that's still in amazing shape, and I use it ALL the time.  I love this one because it's really lightweight but can carry a lot, and has a few different pockets in it.  This also doubles as my personal item on the flight, so it saves space as well!

Packing Cubes

This is another purchase that took me a while to get, but I will never travel without these again!  I use a set of cubes (the ones I have were a special set from Target designed by the blogger Love Taza) to separate all of my clothes and keep them organized, and also to save room in my suitcase.  I keep pants in one cube, tops in another, cords in a small cube, and shoes in another.  They fit perfectly in my suitcase, and I can fit everything in so much easier this way- which is one way that I'm always able to just carry-on.  Find a similar set (pictured above) here!

Notebook and Pens

I started to keep a travel journal on my first trip out of the country.  After I graduated from college, my roommate and I met with her brother in Spain for a trip around Europe, and as soon as we landed, she went straight to a dollar store to pick up a notebook.  I followed suit, and started taking notes on my trip.  Now, my travel notebooks are one of my most prized possessions- not only can I look back on them to help me write blog posts or remember special moments of my favorite trips, but I can also give recommendations to friends who are visiting the same places!  On a more practical note- pens are very important with travel (specifically overseas), because of the forms you have to fill out.  I remember not having a pen and frantically asking for one while standing in line for Border Control- not a great situation to be in!

Solomon Shoes

A few years ago when I was going to Belize, I knew that I needed a pair of water shoes that I could also use for hiking.  We were planning on a cave hike, which would include swimming through some water, as well as climbing rocks and walking for a long period of time.  After some research, I found out about Solomon Amphibian shoes, which (as the name implies) are great for both land and water!  They dry really quickly, and have a sturdy base.  Plus, they're comfortable!  These are one of my most used purchases, and I can highly recommend them.


What are some of your travel must-haves?