It's just a few more days until I'll be off to New York! I'm so excited as I've wanted to go for literally years and it's finally here. I'm not good with flying but I really want to stop letting it stand in the way of me seeing more of the world. Today I thought I'd share with you my long-haul essentials. Luckily we're flying with BA so you get two pieces of hand luggage. I'm taking minimal stuff with me as I want plenty of space for purchases so a lot of what I'm packing for the journey is going to be what I'll be using over there, with as little as possible in my hold luggage.
My mum bought me this gorgeous (slightly Chanel Boy-esque?) and surprisingly roomy Zara Chain City Bag (£89.99), which I have as my small handbag and I want to use my River Island Weekend Bag (£65) as my cabin luggage (though I need to measure it and check it isn't too large - otherwise it'll be my little cabin suitcase!) The weekend bag I have is now sold out as it was a limited edition design, so I've linked the same style in another print as they're really roomy and perfect for this kind of journey (less so if you're walking around carrying it for ages though, be warned!)
Beauty
I have the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Hand Food Mini ( £2.50) packed because I think I have the driest hands in the world so don't go anywhere without a little hand cream in my bag. Hand Food is one of my favourites as it's so hydrating but still very lightweight and fast-absorbing. I love the tangy scent of Sugar Crush - it reminds me of mojitos! I also have the matching Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Hand Sanitiser (£2.50), which is a must for me in any situation where running water and soap isn't going to be readily available.
I got the This Works Deep Sleep Can't Sleep Duo (£10) in the post-Christmas sales because I'm such a huge fan of the pillow spray (it genuinely does help me drift off into a natural, deep sleep). As well as the pillow spray for when I arrive in New York, I also have the Stress Less rollerball in this, which can be applied to the wrists or neck to calm you down. Hopefully this will help with my nerves - I'll let you know! Another de-stressing product I've packed is the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (£11.50). It's a handbag-sized mini and I find the minty fragrance really calming. Obviously you have to be careful not to be inconsiderate to people around you as it's a fragrance face mist but a quick spritz before boarding helps me relax.
I have a couple of hair bits in there too: the Bagsy Hair Wonder Dry Shampoo (£5) just in case I need a bit of a refresh when we get off the plane (as we will have to go straight out and get some food when we arrive!) and an Invisibobble (£3.75 for 3) because I will almost definitely want to tie up my hair at some point and this doesn't cause damage or leave a kink.
I have a couple of skincare bits too. I won't want to be wearing makeup if I go to sleep so I have the Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution Makeup-Removing Wipes* (£7). I'm normally the biggest face wipe hater but realistically; who is really going to be getting out a little bottle of micellar water and cotton wool pads on a plane? These are by far the most gentle and effective face wipes I've ever used. There's no dragging a tiny, thin, dry wipe over your face about 10 times before it gets some of your makeup off with these. They're nice and substantial and are saturated with enough product to do the job. The only downside for me is that the packaging ripped open when I unsealed these the first time, which is a bit of a design flaw! I also have a mini Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (£20 for set) because my skin is extremely sensitive to atmospheric changes and this always helps keep it soft and hydrated. I've packed a product I've been using a lot this month, which is the Avene Hydrance Optimale Skin Tone Perfector* (£16.50) because it's kind of a do-it-all tinted skincare product designed for combination but sensitive skin like mine. It has SPF and is supposed to restore dull complexions. It feels very hydrating but dries down to a semi-matte and non-sticky finish. It can be used as a serum but I'm using it both as a serum and a moisturiser whilst I travel. The tint means it gives a tiny bit of coverage, which will probably do for most people whilst travelling as it just makes your skin look a little more flawless. I also have an EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruits* (£3.99) - the shape of these are just so handy for travel and they keep my lips hydrated without being overly thick or heavy and the amazingly nourishing tinted Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Red Berry* (£19). I managed to miss these out of my shot so you can see them in one of my images further down (I knew that would happen at some point!)
I have my Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne (£42) in there too as it's a gorgeous sweet, floral but very light summer scent and the size of the 30ml bottles are the perfect size for travel. I also have a mini Mitchum Deodorant in Powder Fresh (which bizarrely I can't find anywhere online), as I find this to be such an effective deodorant with a fresh, clean scent.
Finally, of course I have a few makeup bits (the mini bag is from Next) because, as I mentioned, after landing at 9pm we will be dumping our stuff at the hotel and heading straight out for food! I have the Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick (£23) which gives a gorgeous light coverage that's nothing overly dewy. All you have to do is swipe it on and buff it in - I've also packed the Nanshy R01 Buffed Base Brush (£9.95) for this. Then I have my Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (£17.50) because it gives amazing coverage whilst still being so light and easy to blend. It also works well both for under the eyes and blemishes. I've got the Real Techniques Setting Brush (£6.99) to blend it out under my eyes seamlessly.
For a bit of colour in my cheeks I've got KIKO's Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush in 02 Golden Peach (£7.90) because it's a very natural shade that's so easy to apply with my fingers, long-lasting and non-greasy. Of course my beloved Bourjois Healthy Balance Compact Powder (£8.99) is in my handbag no matter what, as it's virtually traceless on the skin but mattes down my shine, and my go-to Morphe E3 Precision Pointed Powder Brush (£13.50) to apply it with. I have this super-cute mini Soap & Glory Matte Lip Colour in Chocoberry (£3.50) as the formula is creamy and comfortable and the deep, dusky pink colour just seems to pull together any look.
Then I have my By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon (£29), which is a super-pigmented long-lasting cream eyeshadow stick that can be applied in seconds and can also be used to line the eyes. It's a gorgeous dewy bronze shade that makes it look like you made far more effort than you did! Finally my Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (£7.99), because it adds so much length and volume every just with one coat. I've actually not packed a brow product because I'll be getting them shaped and tinted a couple of days before.
Gadgets
Usually when we go away, my boyfriend will take his laptop just in case and I'll just have my iPad because realistically we won't be spending much time on screens anyway. I find my iPad is enough to keep me amused during a flight and to check anything I need to in the hotel. I have an original full-sized iPad (I want to say it's a 3rd Edition), not the mini and it's about 4 years old but is still going strong! I use the Pages app to write up blog posts (I also have a little keyboard stand I got for under a tenner on eBay) and download TV shows and films to watch offline.
Of course I also have my iPhone and earphones and will be downloading Drake and Beyonce's new albums, as I've been meaning to check them out and a flight seems the perfect opportunity! Of course I also have my phone cable and a Portable Charger, which apparently can give a good 4 charges and I think will be essential whilst we're out and about in New York.
I also love to read on a flight and so have a few new books downloaded onto my Kindle including the Invasion of the Tearling, because I absolutely loved the Queen of the Tearling which I read last summer and this is the next book in the series. Think high fantasy meets young adult fiction. I know a lot of people like the 'feel' of a real book but in my opinion you can't beat the Kindle for travelling as you can store literally thousands of books in a device that takes up less space than one.
Essentials
I've packed my Ivy Park Sweatshirt (£28) in case I get a bit chilly during the flight and also because it's just really comfy! Along with that I have some very fetching Flight Socks, as I've had blood clotting problems in the past. I obviously needed a Travel Pillow and just couldn't resist this awesomely tacky emoji-covered offering from Primark! I use earplugs and an eye mask every night anyway so I packed those too. I have the Soap & Glory Eyes Cool Mask (£6) which comes with a cooling eye mask inside. However as this is all just about comfort and a good nights sleep, I've slipped that part out and left it at home.
I have some chewing gum in there but I'm wondering whether I should have my toothbrush and toothpaste in my hand luggage too, just in case. I was actually going to pack some over-the-counter sleep aids in case I got panicked and just wanted to be knocked out for the journey! However you can't actually take them with travel sickness tablets so I packed those instead because I can't think of anything worse than being nauseous for hours and I find Kwells really work for me. Also I figured that because the travel sickness pills are drowsy (which is why you can't take to two together), I shouldn't have any issues drifting off even in the uncomfortable environment. I also have non-drowsy antihistamines because last summer, having avoided it my entire life, I had really bad hay fever so have these with me at all times. I also have some ibuprofen, because I found out the hard way that toothache on a flight is the worst experience ever...
Finally, I of course have all my travel documentation, hotel booking and boarding pass print-outs in a separate little compartment, as well as my glasses (the case is from Paperchase). My Travel Document Holder (£3.95) was just something I found on eBay and I also have a super-cute Sass & Belle Luggage Tag (£3.50).
What are your long-haul essentials?
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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS.
ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
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