The Sunday Post: Vacation Packing
I’m a bit of a contradiction when it comes to packing: I love to pick through my closet to curate a small array of things I’ll wear/use, yet I hate having to limit myself by either suitcase size or TSA laws. A lot of the beauty products that I like and use on a daily basis don’t come in a travel-friendly size, and the hassle of having to de-pot things into a small (usually expensive) canister freaks me out and takes up way too much time. Same with clothes: I’m the kind of person that always carries my luggage on, so I’m usually really limited by size. Checking my bags in is not something I particularly like doing: one of my biggest irrational fears is having my luggage get lost on a trip, and then being left with only the clothes on my back.
Lately, I’ve been finding new ways to keep the packing stress to a minimum. From an impromptu weekend getaway to a week-long trip somewhere warm and sunny, here are my tips to eliminating packing stress!
Give yourself plenty of time. I know that time is not a luxury we often have (especially for quickie trips!), but the important rule here is to not procrastinate. If you planned your trip in advance, leave roughly a week for packing. I always try to give myself a week-long time frame to start and finish: if I only leave myself a couple of days before I jet off, I always end up being busy and having to stuff everything the night or morning before. If you give yourself a week, you’ll have plenty of time to figure out what you want to bring, and won’t feel rushed that morning. Plus, you’re giving yourself a lot more time to remember things that you might’ve missed. Isn’t that smart?
Distribution is key. If you’re traveling with someone else and either (or both) of you are checking in your luggage, be sure to pack some things with your traveling partner. In case one of your luggages get lost, you’ll be safe. No need to split it 50-50, but try and leave at least two or three outfits with your friend, along with the basic makeup routine (you know, just in case).
No travel size? No problem. If you’re a beauty junkie like me and just feel naked without, like, three types of foundation and at least five different hair masks in your makeup bag, this is for you. While a lot of beauty products do come in handy travel or sample sizes, many don’t — and you don’t want to be forced to empty out your makeup stash in front of the TSA officer. Many drugstores and makeup stores sell special travel-size bottles and tubes for you to pour all your liquids in to (they also usually come in a clear, TSA-approved pouch). Sephora, for example, has a travel-size bottle and jar collection perfect for flight travel — and it even comes with labels. If you don’t want to splurge on a special set, use items around the house. Try using your contacts case for any lotions and creams, or an old prescription bottle for your foundations and tinted moisturizers.
Those hotel room samples? Time to use ‘em. This doesn’t pertain to just those teeny-tiny shampoos and body washes you snagged from your stay at the Marriott. All those samples you’ve got from Space NK and Sephora that you’ve never used (‘fess up!) are made to be used while traveling. They’re small and usually one-time use, so they’re perfect to tag along.
What are some of your favorite vacation packing tips? Let me know in the comments below!
