Much like contestants on Australian Idol or MasterChef, earning a coveted top 11 position in my Travel Toiletries Bag is no easy feat.
The selection of products deemed worthy enough to take up valuable luggage space and weight must pass a series of rigorous tests before accompanying me on my journey. Meet the VIPS…
Nars The Multiple in Orgasm, $58 at Mecca.
Sex jokes aside, this wonder stick has saved my face time and time again. Firstly, it’s not a blush palette so you don’t have to worry about it smashing to smithereens en route. Plus, you can use it on your cheeks, lips and eyes if you see fit – yes, that’s three-in-one – saving valuable bag real estate. The hint of highlighter doesn’t hurt to holiday-ify your skin either.
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L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil, Oil in Cream, $9.99.
The age-old “Do I pack a leave-in cream or a hair oil?” debacle has been solved in one very smooth move. You can add it to lack-lustre ends when your hair is dry, onto wet hair to protect it before blow drying, or on damp hair to stop frizz.
Or if you’re someone with as brittle hair as moi you can slather it on post-swim (I’m assuming you’re escaping the Aussie winter like I am) so it doesn’t dry looking as though you’ve been electrocuted.
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Essano Rosehip Gentle Cleansing Facial Wipes, $9.99.
As essential as a gloating selfie when visiting any travel landmark, face wipes must make it into your final cut of travel products. These smell delicious and contain rosehip oil, aloe vera and green tea, which will nourish your skin after it takes a flogging in the cattle class section of the flight.
They can also be used as an emergency “shower” if you miss your flight/are in transit for 30 hours and are starting to repel other humans with your smell.
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Batiste Dry Shampoo in 50ml, $4.99.
Arriving at your destination and realising you didn’t pack dry shampoo is almost as bad as forgetting your passport on the journey to the airport. Almost. The tropical scent of this prod? The cherry on my pina colada.
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De Lorenzo Instant Travel Pack in Rejuvin8, $14.95.
Great for coloured hair, this shampoo and conditioner each come in 90ml containers. These are so teeny, tiny and cute! Just look at them! Naw.
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Ultraceuticals Ultra Travel Essentials pack in Oily/Normal, $75 (available in participating Ultraceuticals salons, online and in David Jones).
Containing a gel cleanser (50ml), hydrating lotion (25ml), a serum (10ml) and a mattifying moisturiser with SPF30 (25ml), you have your skincare routine down pat.
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More room for that pair of heels you already know you won’t wear. (Post continues after gallery.)
Eyeliner wing-spiration
Revlon Eyes, Cheeks + Lips Palette in Romantic nudes, $34.95. (Available in August.)
Instead of packing one million little eyeshadow palettes and 1834 lip shades, I’m packing this. It features every MVP of the nude world in terms of eyeshadow (it’s a very summery palette - if you’re going somewhere a little moodier, check out one of the other colour schemes) and some gorgeous natural pink lip shades.
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Garnier Skin Natural Micellar Water, $6.95 at for 125ml at Chemist Warehouse.
If you haven’t tried this holy cleansing water, do it. Soak a cotton pad with a few drops and wipe off a day’s worth of makeup with ease. I’m pretty lazy with cleansing on holidays, so this makes my skin feel fresh and clean with minimal effort.
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Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, 50ml, $220.
Years after a holiday or a certain period in my life, spraying on the fragrance I wore at the time will bring back all the happy memories I made (Chanel Coco Mademoiselle will always remind me of turning 18).
We test out the new Dyson hairdryer. Post continues below.
This year, I’ll be spritzing on the white florals and amber-sandalwood that make up Soleil Blanc’s summer-in-a-bottle offering. It's a little on the exxy side but memories are priceless, right?
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The Goodnight Co, Silk Eye Mask, $39.95.
Whether you’re on a plane, in a 5-star hotel or lying on the ground at LAX airport on an eight hour stop-over (most likely), having a good mask that doesn’t scratch at the delicate skin around your eyes or pull so tight you feel as though you’ll have a permanent line on your face is key.
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This one is pillowy and silky (no marks here, guys) and the head strap is adjustable. Halle-freaking-lujah.
Original & Mineral Sea Salt Spray 50ml, $10.95 at Sephora.
You know that amazing, gritty wavy hair you get after a swim in the ocean? Yeah, well I don't get that hair either. This stuff lets me fake it and injects a bit of volume into my unwashed holiday hair. The little mini-me bottle? It makes me giggle it’s that cute.
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What are the products you always have to pack on holidays?
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