What’s In My Travel Bag?

A quick little beauty post to break up the contact lens content. I mean, I’m verging on becoming an eye blogger at this point. There are two or three posts on laser eye surgery to come yet and who knows what eye-related things I’ll find to write about after that?

Sunglasses? Lash growth serums? I’m sure the world is my proverbial oyster.

Anyway, here are a few of the things that are nearly always in my travel bag – bits and pieces I find useful or that save space. Most of my travelling is domestic and for one or two nights at a time and so it becomes almost a competition against my own self to see how small and light I can make my luggage. If I can fit everything into one large handbag (ie a spare pair of knickers, cotton nightdress and some toiletries) then I feel really very pleased with life. Here we go then – there’s a video further on down the page, too, for those who like to have a voice on in the background while they do the dishes…

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Elizabeth Arden Retinol Capsules

These are the biggest space-savers – serums in capsules. Throw two into your makeup bag and you have the treatment part of your skincare routine sorted. Arden do these in various forms; Vitamin C, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid and a barrier strengthening one so there’s something for all concerns. I love these. The retinol ones are currently on offer, quite spectacularly, here*.

Sali Hughes Daily Exfoliant

A new fixture in my travel bag, this daily exfoliant is ever so gentle but used regularly gives a great glow and helps to keep my skin clear. The big bottle is brilliantly priced. Find it online here*.

Soft Silicone Ear Plugs, Noise Cancelling

Not a beauty item, or a mini, but I forget myself once I start filming! These ear plugs (orange weird-looking things in the photos above) are very well-priced compared to the Alpine ones that I use for sleeping. They’re not noise-obliterating, but I like them for muffling ambient sound if I’m trying to work and I’m on a train or in a hotel bar or something. I don’t like listening to music or podcasts when I work because I find them distracting so these are always on hand. Find them here*.

Le Labo Santal 33

Possibly the most expensive travel mini known to man, but it’s my favourite perfume and I wouldn’t ever get it as a small size again, I’d buy big (or put it on my Christmas list!) and refill from that. It’s just one of the loveliest, sexiest perfumes I’ve ever smelled – warm, woody, slightly smokey but with a light touch. Find it at Liberty here*.

Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils

You only need to buy these in a small size once: it’s more to discover and find out which oil blends you love, then you can invest in a full-size bottle and know that you will always have spa-level, mind-transporting bathroom moments gloriously on tap. I have been a mega-fan of AA oils for as long as I have been beauty blogging –  Deep Relax and Equilibrium are my favourites – and they truly do what they say on the bottle. You only need a teeny bit at a time and so the little sampling bottles are perfect for holidays or short breaks. Just top up from the big one when you’re home! Find the discovery set (and full sizes) here*.

The Sisley Phyto Teint Nude foundation is here* – I use 2N. The Elf contour wand is brilliant, I use shade “medium” here*.