The Packing Battle-Round 2: Toiletries

Second in a series about packing issues. First in the series was about taking vs. wearing what you take on your trip, called The Packing Battle.

Thanks to Cynthia M. for her previous comment about packing and toiletry kits! I’m happy to share the ins and outs of how I pack my toiletries.

 

I tend to have 2 toiletry kits, and they stay packed. I do review all items before each long trip, and if I am carrying on, I do switch items that need to be in the quart bag and reorganize.
Over time and much experimentation, I have figured out a few “Must Bring” items and a few that It May Be OK To Leave At Home.

 

Larger Kit that Gets Packed in the Suitcase:
In the photo you see in the left half the small bottles I use for my shampoo, conditioners, body wash, body lotion, tooth paste and small tubes of OTC creams like triple antibiotic cream, cortisone cream, tooth pain gel, and a small perfume atomizer. These items can go in the quart size bag for carry on.
In the right half of the bag are the band-aids, deodorant, razor, toothbrush, pads, nail clippers, tweezers, Berocca tablets, small bottle with ibuprofen and naproxen. There is a small envelope attached with a loofa scrubbie and a shower cap. If I’m going on a longer trip, I add in washing powder and sometimes a clothesline I made from rubber bands. When fully loaded my kit weighs about 1 lb. It measures 9″ long x 6 1/2″ wide x 3″ deep.

Must Bring: Your own shampoo and conditioner. This is important because hotel brand shampoos can strip your hair color and no one wants that! Even if you don’t color your hair, you probably will want you hair to look its best with the products you normally use. Small bottles are worth it.
Leave at home: the hair dryer. It’s important to find out if the place you’re staying has one, but most do, so save the space and the weight. If you do bring a hair dryer on an international trip, make sure it has the proper voltage (or is switchable) and the correct adapter plug for the country. I’ll never forget blowing all the fuses in a small hotel in Amsterdam because my hair dryer wasn’t internationally rated. Quite embarrassing…. and no hair dryer for the rest of that trip.

Smaller Kit that Goes in My Carry On Bag:
My ‘On-The-Way” carry on kit has what I need in transit and holds meds for the trip. It has 2 plastic pill holders with spots for the days of the week, ear plugs, eye shade, tiny tube of hand cream, lip balm, hand sanitizer, emery board, flashlight pen, $10, dental floss, a small plastic bag with must have OTC meds like Pepto Bismol tablets, GasX, anti constipation and anti-diarrhea pills (have to cover all the bases), ibuprofen or naproxen, and my fitbit charger cord. On long trips I also put a travel toothbrush in there. Note on the prescription meds: It is recommended that you travel with your prescription meds in their original bottles and that you carry copies of your prescriptions. This would be helpful if you need to refill something on your trip.

Must Bring: whatever prescription meds you need and whatever OTC meds you usually use. While it can be fun to shop for toiletries in a foreign country, it will not be fun if you are desperate for an immediate remedy. Of course, accidents happen: I was in Chicago walking through the Brookfield Zoo when I took a tumble. I had road rash on my knees and hands, and I turned my ankle pretty severely. Definitely needed to get some tape and gauze but I had band-aids and an antibiotic ointment that was helpful and saved me some money.

Leave at Home: Any medications that are old or out of date; things you don’t use regularly.

A tip for the women: Bring panty liners! They are lightweight and thin and can help maximize the use of underwear.

Feel free to share your toiletry tips and tricks, I’d love to hear them!