I cannot recall how many times I’ve been asked what’s inside my travel bag. And while I am the kind of person who tries to fit random stuff in his bag, I do have some essentials that I always bring. Always. So I’m sharing to you My Travel Essentials which is more on vanity and med. These are items that I think should be in everyone’s bag.
Inside my bag
My bag consists of stuff divided into 3 category: clothing, photography and vanity/med. For clothes, I just bring whatever I am comfortable with. It’s usually items that can be mixed and match especially for longer trips so you can save space while staying stylish. A jacket is definitely a must for me. For photography I have my camera, charger, sd cards and adapter and tripod. And for my vanity/med, it’s more on waxes and hair styling products (because I have such a messy hair).
Haircare
I can never live without some hair product. Well it depends on my mood actually. I use 3 products for my hair and I use them randomly. My fave products include: hair polish from Splash, taft wax from Schwarzkopf and Axe Old School wax (not in the photo; this was a gift from Germany and I think it’s not available in the country).
Face and Body
I easily get sunburned. And unfortunately, I hate using sunblock creams. I find it gross and while I have tried several products already, I can’t find one that’s just perfect for me. So what’s my solution? The Nivea Men Revitalizing Body Lotion. I always use this after taking a shower from the climb. It helps cool down my skin preventing those red spots caused by sunburn. I don’t know if it works for everyone but it works for me like magic! Plus it’s not sticky. Bought this during their mega sale so I’m hoping they do a sale again so I can buy more. 🙂 If you have a moisturizer for your body, why not use a moisturizer for your face as well? I currently use Celeteque Acne Solutions Facial Moisturizer Gel and since it’s a gel, it’s not sticky. I actually have 3 of these plus 2 complete sets of their product. Yes, I am a hoarder! Haha!
I also use the Flawless Sun Protect Gel. I use this one for my face as an alternative to sunblock creams. It’s gel as well so it’s not sticky plus it doesn’t have that instant white effect which looks extremely horrible on pictures. And guess what? I have 2 of these! While it’s quite pricey for its small size (it’s around Php 290), expect it to last for a long time especially if you only use this for travel trips. Been using this summer and it’s still half full.
Hygiene
Of course it’s important to stay hygienic so a mouthwash and toothbrush/paste is a must. If your’e into hotels, I suggest bringing home some of their hygiene kits (they’re free and you paid for it anyway) so you can use them on your future trips. They’re travel friendly as they come in small sizes so you can save a lot of space.
Meds and Bandages
One thing you should never forget is your first aid kit. As a climber, I always get bruises and while I can just treat them home, it’s another story if you’re doing a long trip. I suggest bringing some bandages and gauze pads. Also, bring medicines. You’ll never know when illness will hit you. It’s common to suffer from colds and runny nose during trips especially if the weather is bad so a piece or two of Neozep and Biogesic is good. Bringing Vicks Vaporub is also great as you can use it to give you instant warmth and cure common cold.
Perfume
One last thing that I always bring is a perfume. This is Pleats Please by Issey Miyake. It’s a woman’s perfume and it’s actually my gift to my mom but I ended up using it more. The smell is just so addicting.
That’s it! These are my travel essentials and I hope I can give you some ideas on what to pack for those adventure trips. It’s all about preferences actually but always make sure you bring only what you need. Nobody wants to carry a heavy backpack.
Cheers~!
– Justin –
