Hands up who has a bathroom cabinet crammed full of unopened complimentary mini bottles of hotel shampoos, box sets of body scrub/shaving lotions from the past eight Christmasses and long-dead loofah sponges you can’t quite bring yourself to wash with?
We all stockpile more toiletries than we need, and the same is true for when we travel. So, how should we choose toiletries for long-term travel that don’t take up most of the space in our backpacks?
There’s a fear we won’t be able to pick up certain items in a foreign country so it’s easier to just pack the lot. What we should all do is stop for a moment and question that logic.
If we’re heading anywhere that’s inhabited by other human beings, chances are they also use products to maintain their hygiene so we could buy them there. And if that civilisation really is so remote that they don’t, there’s no reason we should feel the need to keep up such a strict beauty routine ourselves.
Having said that, it’s ok to allow ourselves one or two personal luxuries. After all, we’re leaving so many behind. Sometimes just the smell of our favourite moisturiser can stave off even the meanest bouts of homesickness.
So, my advice is to pick one luxury item and to tell yourself there will be no more compromises. For everything else, first think long and hard about whether or not you really need it, and secondly, whether you could replace it with a more travel-friendly item.
Whether or not you need it comes down to common sense and personal circumstances. Nobody needs to take hair straightners backpacking. I’d go so far as to say you’d look downright silly with poker straight hair surrounded by your fellow travellers who embraced the ‘hippy’ vibe long ago. ‘Traveller chic’ is a style in its own right, where scarves with hidden pockets and bandanas you can wear any one of 20 different ways are the objects of envy. Wear too much make up or, god forbid, high heeled shoes and you might find yourself having to do damage control.
When it comes to considering more travel-friendly products, a handy tip is to try them out well in advance to make sure they work for you. The only thing worse than taking heavy toiletries you like but don’t really need is taking ones you find don’t work at all that you eventually discard after lugging them around for weeks in a humid foreign climate.
Riemann all-day sun cream
You only apply Riemann all-day suncream
My only bugbear of this product is that I have only been able to find it in SPF 10 and 20. For someone like me whose skin tone can only be the result of a recent Irish ancestor’s love affair with a Nord, a long-lasting and high-factor option would be ideal.
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Repel 100 Extreme Insect Repellent
Repel 100
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Octopus hairbrush mirror
I doubt many would question the indispensability of a hairbrush, but is a hand-held mirror really necessary? It could certainly be handy, especially if you like to wear a smattering of make up and haven’t the patience to queue for the bathroom mirror every morning. I have the added issue that I wear contact lenses and haven’t mastered the technique of putting them in without watching what I’m doing so I find a small mirror invaluable. This nifty invention by Octopus is a tiny brush encased in a compact mirror. It’s light, and also comes in lots of cute designs.
Somerset shaving oil
I’ve been known to use all kinds of slippery products to shave my pins, from body scrubs to hair conditioner. It’s hardly economical though – financially or in terms of the weight:use ratio. With Somerset shaving oil
Moon cup
The moon cup
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Solid shampoo bars
I did a trial run of solid shampoo and conditioner from Lush. It’s very lightweight and lasts a long time. It also smells fantastic but, for me, the conditioner didn’t help untangle my long hair like standard ones do. I also felt like my hair began to get greasy after continuous use – though admittedly not as quickly as it would had I not washed it. The jury’s out. You will have to make up your own minds on this one.
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Dry shampoo
Spray it in then comb it out. It really is that easy to get rid of that greasy shine. I’m a washaholic when it comes to my hair so the thought of it still technically being dirty bothers me, but if you’re hiking a trail for 5 days with no shower access, this is a good rescue option. I tried it on one half of my head and that side felt significantly cleaner, softer and less greasy. I would choose between this and the solid shampoo bar depending on the type of holiday and activities I’d be doing.
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Monthly contact lenses
If you’re used to dailies, you can’t really contemplate taking them on a 6-month trip. Prescription lenses or glasses are hard to come by overseas so the best option, save for laser eye surgery, is monthlies you can sleep in. Test them out a long time before leaving so you know whether or not they irritate your eyes. You can also pick up mini bottles of solution for emergencies.
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Microfibre travel towel
This wicks up moisture but dries out about four times more quickly than a regular towel. It packs away to an eighth of the size and is six times lighter than a standard towel too. It feels a little weird at first, but all things considered, it’s an absolute must have. As long as it’s dry, it will also work well as a blanket, so you can use it on those long bus journeys or fold it up and use it as a pillow.
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Extra bits and bobs you mustn’t forget
Razor
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Soap/shower gel
Small tube of toothpaste
Hand sanitiser
Make up remover (if you’re taking make up)
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You might also want to stock up on any pills you don’t think you’ll be able to pick up where you’re headed. Mine include:
Ibuprofen
Antimalarials
Travel sickness tablets
Immodium
Water purifying tablets
Definitely add some condoms to that toiletry bag. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, boys and girls – especially in a foreign country where there may be HIV/AIDS and where it’s not as easy to get hold of the morning after pill or sexual health advice.
And finally, don’t forget your toothbrush!
Once you get to South America you will realize they have all the same toiletries we have at home, and in travel sizes so you can just buy them along the way. They are SO much cheaper down there too.
Ayngelina recently posted..Food Friday: Birthday Food!
Yay! That’s good to know. I’m taking the bare minimum and it won’t last me long. I’ll probably end up stocking up there and bringing some home at the end for future trips!
I recently did an article on travelling light too but I love your insight of actually getting right into toiletries. I’d love my friends to read your post as well, because it’s witty and definitely needed (wish they’d speak a better english and didn’t need me to translate it all…)!
As Ayngelina says, you’ll be fine in South America, everything is easily found, easily packed!
Have fun getting ready, it’s already part of the adventure!
Jul’
lespetitspasdejuls recently posted..The Art of Travelling Light
Thanks Jul! It’s crazy but I think I’m pretty much packed now – and I don’t leave for 2 weeks! It’s better being over prepared than under prepared though, right!?!
I’m getting better and better at travelling light, and it has actually also helped me a lot with sorting out unnecessary toiletry stuff at home I rarely or never used, and am now not tempted to buy anymore. But I’m always looking for tricks how to minimalize even further, and I haven’t quite overcome the irrational fear of not being able to buy ‘my’ toiletries in another country -but next time I will ‘stop for a moment and question that logic’!!
I think we all have that irrational fear. And I get quite picky with my toiletries, which means that while I know they’ll sell sunblock where I’m going, I’m not sure if it’ll be a high enough SPF with a spray application, clear cream and a familiar smell!!! Sometimes I care about this stuff so much I’m prepared to carry the extra weight. It’s a gamble and, to some extent, a learning curve. I definitely still overpack!
Since I’ve started using only natural products for my skincare routine, it’s been way easier as I can find them pretty much everywhere at low cost. I only carry with me the essential oils I use the most (I never forget tea tree oil), a little of rice starch and baking soda, Vitamin C and Potassium rock (excellent for mosquito bites!), the rest is easily available everywhere ;)
Angela recently posted..Photo essay: Granada’s Arab souk
Ohhh, interesting! Perhaps I should try some of this stuff. Not one of those products is something I’ve ever bought, let alone taken travelling, but it’s good to know there are alternative options out there to my usual Boots purchases!
Some great tips here! I’m going to have to check out the Riemann all-day sun cream. I’m not satisfied with the stuff I have now.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Happy Canada Day! Happy Nomadic Samuel & Backpacking Travel Blog Day!
Thanks! I’ve been pretty pleased with it in the UK, but whether or not it stands the test of more intense sun in South America while I’m on Doxycycline remains to be seen…
Great post – I LOVE Riemann all-day suncream, it’s so much easier!! x
I know. It’s a great invention – and brilliant for me in the UK. I just hope the factor 20 will be enough across the pond!
This list is super helpful, and I’m about to lighten my load the next time I go to the coast. Thank you!
Amberr Meadows recently posted..6 Unique Honeymoon Destinations
Glad I could help :) I’m finalising my packing list right now and trying to follow my own advice – but it’s hard not to sneak in a few luxury items!
I have just bought some of that sun cream upon your recommendation! Xx
I still have some in my rucksack! It just got burried and I kept forgetting to take it out with me. But it is good. And I love the way it just sinks into your skin without you having to worry about streaks!
The same bottle you left with?!!
Rebecca recently posted..Brrrr, London is flippin freezing; warm yourself with an Indian masala chai
Yep! Same bottle. I am carrying so much extra weight right now. I think the fluorescent pink wig takes the biscuit!