For when France seems too far away. Shop for inspiring images of France and discover travel tips, packing advice, recipes, book reviews and more.
For when France seems too far away. Shop for inspiring images of France and discover travel tips, packing advice, recipes, book reviews and more.

Packing Toiletries – For Your Trip And Your Flight

Chanel

Last week’s guest post from Claire – the Multiples Of Two Packing Plan – really resonated with the Distant Francophile community.

And why wouldn’t it?

Who doesn’t love picking up advice from fellow travellers.

Well, luckily for all of us, Claire has generously agreed to share another of her packing lessons – thank you so much and over to you Claire!

 

Packing Toiletries – For Your Trip And Your Flight

‘Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty you get the face you deserve’. – Coco Chanel

And therein lies my problem. While I’m definitely a minimalist packer and traveller, I have a fair few lotions and potions in the bathroom cupboard. Having said that, I’ve decided to travel with essentials only. I’m sure my skin won’t miss the rest.

Having returned from four weeks away with some very definite ideas, I hit the shops to find the items I would have preferred to travel with while the ideas were fresh in my mind.

Here is my plan:

I travel with three small bags, all flat with a zip across the top:

  1. My make up bag;
  2. My toiletries bag;
  3. My in-flight bag.

I need:

  • To replace  flat, round make up items with sticks and pencils;
  • A soap that can be used on the face and body;
  • Travel sized toothpaste, sunblock, talc and a rich body lotion that can do hands, face and body;
  • A tiny BB cream or tube of foundation so my larger one stays home;
  • A snap lock bag with a few bandaids and special blister plasters (sore feet ruin a holiday);
  • Wet Ones – individually packed. These can be split amongst bags/case and are easily added to my handbag daily;
  • A contact lens case – a great tip I read for travelling with small amounts of liquids – make up, concealer or a special cream.

Both my make-up and toiletries bag pack flat and fit on top of my case. The important thing to remember is that most countries have supermarkets where all of these items are easily recognisable. You only need enough for the first few days, particularly if you are staying put in an apartment.

My Ah-Ha moment came when I thought to create an ‘in-flight bag’. Once onboard, I put my bag away and prefer not to be up and down getting things from it during the flight. Likewise, I don’t want things around my feet.

My in-flight bag is a small plastic bag that a collection of plastic toiletry bottles came in. It is structured and see through so things are easy to find, it zips up so items don’t fall out and it is small enough to fit in the seat pocket.

Packing toiletries

My In-flight Bag

  • A ziplock bag containing a sleeping mask and earplugs – they are not always complimentary;
  • A ziplock bag containing 3 individually wrapped Wet Ones (hand wipes) and 3 wrapped panty liners (a travel convenience);
  • A ziplock bag containing phone charger cord, iPod mini and headphones;
  • 2 pocket packs of tissues for me or the person next to me who keeps sniffing;
  • Lip salve – can’t live without it;
  • Small tube of rich face cream;
  • Small tube of pawpaw cream – lips, nose, nails, itches, rashes or anything else.

 

Thanks again for sharing your tips Claire. You certainly learned a lot on your recent trip!

Do you have any favourite toiletries packing tips? What about in-flight packing tips? If so, please share them in the comments section below. And, you can find my favourite tips for making a flight more comfortable right here.

Until next time – au revoir.

 

Photographs courtesy of Claire Collins 2016.

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