1. A handy travel wallet complete with a RFID-blocking shield to stash and organize all your many important docs in one safe place. It's also great for having your ID readily available so you're not *that* person in line at security.
2. Some itty bitty laundry soap sheets you'll need if you suddenly find yourself in a sitch where you've run out of clean undies, or spilled something on the *only* white tee you packed. Simply add some water for some on-the-go hand washing.
3. A helpful "Pack this!" checklist that'll ensure you've got allllll the things you need for your trip — and some you may not have even thought of. So long to the haunting feeling of "did I pack my phone charger?!"
4. A nifty travel pouch to secure your most prized possessions and keep them ~abreast~ (sorry, had to). This thing attaches to your bra so your cash, credit cards, and copy of your passport are less vulnerable to pickpockets.
5. Or, if you need something more accessible, a belt that looks like a regular ol' accessory to keep your jeans up and has a secret compartment that will fool any purse-snatcher.
6. OK and one more, an ingenious (and adorable) scrunchie with built-in storage you can use to discreetly stash your cash, extra bobby pins, lip balm...whatever you need to keep handy when you don't want to carry around extra weight.
Hustle Sew Shop is based in Oregon and hand-makes goods like face masks and scrunchies.
Promising review: "Love this scrunchie! This is perfect for when I walk my dog; it fits my house key, Chapstick, and treats, and STILL holds my hair up! I will be buying more for friends in the future. Highly recommend." –Sarah Dickinson
Get it from Hustle Sew Shop on Etsy for $8+ (available in 14 fabric colors and three zipper colors).
7. An electronics pouch created to organize your most-used devices and their forest of tangled wires. Keeping everything in its place will not only ease the accessibility of your belongings, but also tame your disposition when you don't have to spend minutes (read: hours) unraveling cords.
8. Vacuum seal bags for a serious space-saving solution in your suitcase. Now you can get away with packing a couple of extra things...just in case you end up going to a fancy dinner, or if there's a drop in temperature, or you end up swimming one extra day....It's always good to have options, right?
9. A digital luggage scale that I, a consistent overpacker, would not be able to travel without. I can't tell you how many times my scale has saved me from the inconvenience (and embarrassment) of paying overweight fees....
10. A heat-resistant silicone mat for when you don't have the time to wait for your hot curling iron to cool before your journey to the airport. Wrap it up and toss it in your carry-on without fear of it burning a hole in your bag. (It can be used to protect countertop surfaces, too!)
11. Tower 28's mini SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray which packs a major (and figurative) punch for stressed-out skin with only three ingredients. Think: a gentle hypochlorous acid toner with H2O and sodium chloride that refreshes and rescues irritated skin and prevents flare-ups caused by travel woes.
Tower 28 is an Asian woman-owned small clean beauty brand designed for sensitive skin. Their products are nontoxic, nonirritating, vegan, and cruelty-free, so you can rest easy when applying.
Promising review: "HOLY GRAIL!! I tried this spray for the first time about a year and a half ago. I had moved from a dry climate to a humid climate and my acne was out of control! I tried so many products before SOS. When I tell you my acne cleared up within a week…. SHEESH! I haven’t been without this spray since! I keep a mini with me at all times and for travel and recommend to all friends with skin concerns. Don’t walk, RUN to Sephora to get it!" —KuhKristen
Get it a 1 oz. bottle from Sephora for $12 (available in two sizes).
12. A set of shoe organizer bags so your sneakers can stay neatly packed and your fancy suede shoes can remain scuff-free while traveling. Plus, it's a great way to keep the dirt on the bottom of the soles from going anywhere near your clean, folded clothes.
13. Silicone earplugs that work to relieve discomfort experienced on airplanes, whether that's a change in air pressure or the sound of a screaming baby that just happens to be sitting in the seat directly behind you...
14. Some compression socks to comfortably keep your ankles and legs from ballooning mid-flight. Because let me tell you, having to squish swollen toes back into boots after some time in the air is no easy feet.
15. A TSA-approved toiletry bag that'll stash all your travel-sized liquids and ensures they're easily identifiable. No holding up security lines here!
16. A genius car cupholder adapter built to extend the capabilities of the one you already have in your car — one that clearly wasn't designed to fit your motivational drinking bottle or Yeti coffee mugs (aka the necessities you'll be reaching for as you cross state lines).
Wine & Whiskey Co. is a Texas-based Etsy shop selling a wide range of adorable phone cases and T-shirts, plus genius car accessories (obvi).
Promising review: "Love it. Perfectly holds my 40-ounce Hydro Flask. No more rolling around the truck cab. Arrived quickly and works as described." —Jason J. Mease
Get it from Wine & Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99 (available in multipacks).
17. A reusable water bottle with a daily pill organizer so you can stay hydrated and stay on track with medications — even when you're a few thousand miles away from home!
18. A 27-piece first aid kit you'll be patting yourself on the back for packing since, I don't know why but, we seem to be more accident-prone when we're away from home.
19. A collapsible, pocket-sized coffee cup if you, like me, cannot conceive what a day of travel looks like without caffeine. This reusable gem is great if you need a pre-flight refill, and is perfect for when you arrive at your destination only to find that your hotel doesn't have clean mugs.
Stojo is a small biz founded by three New York dads who wanted a better way to get their convenient coffee fix without all the waste. Now they make stylish collapsible essentials in a variety of sizes and colors, including bottles and food storage containers!
My BuzzFeed Shopping colleague Danielle Healy has this and tells us: "This is one of the first zero-waste swaps I made and I've never looked back. If you buy to-go coffee – whether you're jet-setting or just grabbing a mid-day pick-me-up — this cup is a must-have. So long as you remember to bring it, it's all the convenience of to-go coffee with none of the waste. It's leakproof and, when you're all done, it collapses down teeny tiny and can be tossed back in your bag. Oh! And it comes with a straw, so all you iced coffee lovers can get in on the action, too."
Get it from Amazon for $15+ (available in four sizes and in 20 colors).
20. Some biodegradable hypoallergenic wipes that'll come in handy when you're traveling all day and there's no chance of taking a shower before you head out to dinner. One quick swipe with this in the airport bathroom and you'll feel refreshed and ready to take down some international cuisine.
21. A jewelry organizer to store your vacation-ready accessories in one tidy spot. It also provides some assurance that your necklaces won't become a bundled up mess (which always seems to be a thing no matter how far the journey).
22. A buckled luggage strap you can add on to any bag for carrying extra items like scarves and jackets, which are usually super annoying to hold when you're on the move.
23. Curie Whipped Body Wash made with a frosty, non-liquid, looks-good-enough-to-eat soap. Now you can pass on the hotel cosmetics and lather this all over your bod, or use it on the areas you choose to shave (since it doubles up as a shaving cream!) for your most moisturizing vacay shower yet.
I use this gem as a delectable shaving mousse. It's florally scented — if you like that kinda thing — and helps me achieve a close, super-smooth shave. I personally just love scooping this out of the jar, because it literally feels like a dessert! (I mean...tell me that doesn't that just look like a dollop of ice cream on my hand!) And it lathers up really well so my legs feel smooth, moisturized, and full of life after each and every use.
Curie is a woman-owned brand that launched a clean, aluminum-free deodorant in 2018, and quickly grew a cult following because it actually works. Since then, they've expanded their product selection to include natural hand sanitizers and body oils.
Promising review: "I love the whipped body wash! I just bought three more to give to my daughters. The texture is so fun and unique, and it really leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. This is so much more than a body wash! It makes me happy every time I use it." —Curie Customer
Get it from Curie for $16 (available in three scents).