Married, with Miles

I realized today that my little baggie where I keep toiletries needed to be refreshed.  It’s the ziplog bag I use for air travel, but I didn’t notice this because I’m taking a trip.  I keep my 3-1-1 bag packed all the time because I also keep it in my gym backpack. I love this because I always have a well-packed, well-tended supply of personal-care items available for a trip or the gym.

When I was traveling more and realized what a pain it was to start fresh each time I had to pack for a trip, I started keeping the same toiletry bag stocked for the gym as travel.  Back then I was traveling enough, and the TSA restrictions on liquid didn’t exist, that I would simply buy 2 of almost everything and just keep one set ready for the road, another set in the bathroom at home.  Now that everything needs to be in packaging 3.3 oz or less, it’s easier & more budget friendly to get a nice set of reusable plastic containers in a variety of sizes.  I personally prefer the little tubs in mine over a lot of squeeze bottles since it’s easier to wash out a small tub than a bottle with a narrow neck.  These contain my moisturizer, tinted moisturizer, face wash, and 2 hair products.  I also look for my favorite products in the smallest available size, including saline solution. I also search out double use products (like the Vincent Longo liquid blush that also works as a lip color).  Sometimes you can get samples of your perfume in small vials, too.

A work friend complains she always has to check her luggage because of the liquid restrictions.  It was harder for me to fit all these items in the picture than in the bag!  I keep a second bag of “dry items,” including powders & cosmetic items.  I do not carry shampoo because I usually find good shampoo in the hotels where I stay.   I never used to carry toothpaste, either, but found I really prefer my own brand to what I can get at hotels.  If I need to put more in the baggie (cosmetics, lotion, sometimes), I can pull out certain items when I need more room for a longer trip since I can use solid products in place of certain liquids.  This really helps me travel lighter & always feel ready to go.  This has worked for me on trips upward of five days, and I prefer to have this packed for international travel, ready to use when I land in the morning.