My Packing List: Part 2

Hey again,

As promised, here's my madness method of packing toiletries for a trip. Keep in mind, choosing toiletries is completely personal, and this is simply my way of picking what to bring. If you're sane, you'll use a bit more scrutiny than I do...

Here we go!

First, I go through my daily routine and note what essential products come into play at each step:

• Wake up/shower time: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, loofah, pumice stone, bath gloves, razor & blades, towel, face washcloth, face wash, toner, acne treatment, spot treatment, Q-tips, cotton balls, deodorant, brush/comb.

• Make up time: face lotion w/ SPF, BB cream, concealer, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, blush

• Hair time: hair brush/comb, leave in conditioner, hair gel, hair spray, dry shampoo, mini flat iron, headbands, mini hair ties, bobby pins

• Bed time: lotion, baby wipes (for makeup)

Next, I think about the things I use less often, but still need on occasion, such as medicine. 

• Other/misc./meds: tweezers, perfume, sunscreen, nail file, nail clippers, nail polish, polish remover, hand sanitizer, pain pills, allergy pills, band-aids (for blisters), lint roller, dryer sheets, 

After this, I toss out anything that can be easily picked up at my destination, or is too bulky to take such as sunscreen. Then I go through and rebottle anything above 3.4 oz., which is the size limit for carry on liquids, gels and aerosols. This time, I reused hotel shampoo and conditioner bottles, and tiny hand sanitizer bottles to pack some of my own products.

Once I've made sure all of the lids are tightly screwed on (and taped if they're loose), the liquids go straight into a clear divider in my makeup case (1 quart, as per TSA regs.).

Whatever doesn't fit gets abandoned in order of how easily it can be reacquired at point B, and the solid stuff goes into another section of my toiletry kit to save precious space!

Bam. So so simple.

Next time I'll show you my capsule wardrobe for the trip.

Au revoir!