What to always have in your bag

NEW YORK—A skill I’ve mastered over the years is how to pack on a moment’s notice. Coming from a family of diving enthusiasts (myself not included), I grew up hearing the words “Pack light!” as my cousins and I watched the adults stuff the trunk with bulky regulators, fins and tanks, leaving us kids cradling our overstuffed backpacks on our laps in the backseat of the car.

Over the years I would get more practice as I went on press trips and junkets in various places. From being a thirteen-year-old struggling with yet another burst Rejoice sachet (and later on developing a love for Ziploc) to having way too many toiletries for a three-day trip, here is what I learned: Leave the worries at home, adapt a carefree attitude and carry these essentials:

1. Moisturizer with SPF
The weekend is when you don’t fuss about foundation, powder, or even mascara. A tinted moisturizer like Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture SPF15 is a multi-tasker you shouldn’t leave home without: It softens flaky spots, fills in creases, gives a sheer wash of skin-tone color, and protects from harmful UV rays.

2. Facial wash
Ponds Facial Wash is ingenious. Aside from leaving your face squeaky clean, it can also be used as body soap (with a bath puff), shave cream, and even as a brush cleaner. The best part is, if you forget to pack it in your tote, it’s sold everywhere!

3. Bottle sprayer
Mix 50ml of isopropyl alcohol with 5 to 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice (L’Occitane Lavender is first-rate) in a small spray bottle. Use this as hand sanitizer, sheet spray, cologne, hair refresher-and even to clean the table.


4. Plastic container
Whatever you decide to bring on your trip, make sure your beauty pouch is lined in plastic. If it’s the fabric kind, now’s the time to load up on zip-top bags. This ensures your sachet of Rejoice provides its strand-silkening effects at your destination, and not on the bristles of your toothbrush.

(Original article link here.)