This weekend I’m headed home to spend some much needed time with my family and friends. It’s been a long winter and a few days of ‘eat, drink and be merry’ with those I love is definitely in order. There are a few little beauty items that I like to take with me when I travel, things I didn’t always think to bring but that now I don’t leave home without.

This trip is easy as far as packing is concerned. I’m staying with my mom so I can leave things like hair irons and blow driers at home because she has almost the exact same ones that I use. I will also totally mooch her shower products and body lotion. Moms are the best. Yet still, I need to bring some items of my own and I figured I would share with you a few things I swear by for an easy travel experience.

1. Travel Friendly Fragrance - I have two options here. The one on the top left is a travel atomizer. The one I have is the Flo Atomizer, which I got in a Birchbox a long time ago. I have never tried any other type, but I assume they work similarly and I have heard a lot of good reviews about the Travelo ones as well. Basically you fill it with perfume out of one of your regular size bottles, so you don’t need to cart around delicate glass in your bag. It fills easily with a little pump and sprays evenly. You can also bring it on a plane if you are only using a carry-on, which is convenient. The biggest reason that I use this though, is because I have not once but TWICE broken a bottle of perfume in my suitcase. Out a bunch of money, and smelling like a stripper does not make for a good trip. The second type of travel friendly fragrance is a solid one. Personally I really enjoy the Lush Gorilla Solid Perfumes. They are really inexpensive and a little goes a LONG way. This weekend I’m bringing both, so I can switch from day to night.
2. Goody Doublewear Hair Ties - I think I may have spoken about these before, but I still love them and they come in especially handy for travel. These little guys can go on your wrist disguised as a simple bracelet, but really they are a super chic hair tie. So after a long weary day of traveling you can just take it off your wrist and tie your hair back, but the metal detail helps it look a little more polished. You would think the metal detail would catch in your hair, but I have worn these many, many times without any issue. And my hair gets caught in everything: Zippers, necklaces, elevator doors. You name it. It’s a wonder I’m not bald by now.
3. Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes - I wrote a review of these during the summer when I went on vacation, so you may have read about them before. I’ll keep it short and sweet. They are very gentle and natural, they really do get all of your polish off with one wipe, the travel well and they smell great. They take a little longer to remove the polish, but they also condition your cuticles, which I usually need when I’m traveling. The best part is you don’t have to keep leaky, harsh bottles of acetone remover in your bag where they can damage your belongings. I’m still mad about that melted clarisonic. In case you’re wondering why I always need nail polish remover when I’m traveling, my nails chip easily to begin with, and I have a special talent for destroying them a few days into a trip. Happens every time.
4. Sally Hansen No More Mistakes Manicure Clean Up Pen - Normally at home I just use a Q-tip and acetone if I color outside the lines a little while painting my nails, but as previously stated I’m not taking a bottle of that evil liquid in my bag ever again, so I need another option. I bought this Sally Hansen clean up pen thingy last week for this very reason. I tested it once to make sure it works well enough, and it will certainly get the job done. Now my fresh mani on-the-go can have nice neat edges.

So that’s the plan, and I’m stickin’ to it. I can’t wait to see everyone . . . and to mooch my moms products. She always has the best smelling body lotion 🙂