Must Follow Trip Advice: Staple Items to Pack

When it comes to travel, you can never get too much trip advice when it comes to fashion and beauty. Why, because you are funnelling into the unknown. A new country, city, destination, street condition, weather variations. There’s much to think about.

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Trip Advice to Follow When Packing

Anywhere you end up travelling to, you’ll have to pack clothes according to the weather and types of excursions you’re doing. There are staple items that you must pack regardless of where you are going. Regardless, plan your outfits ahead of time so you strike the balance of having what you need without over packing.

You need to think about accessories and shoes to complete your looks and being efficient about the clothing you pack leaves room for those important finishing touches. It also avoids you having to pay for additional pieces of luggage.

Toiletries

Be just as thoughtful and conscientious about what you pack in your toiletry bag. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination to find you’ve forgotten something essential. While some may be provided at the hotel, I like to always take my own just in case. Create a checklist of the items you can’t be comfortable without:

toothbrush and toothpaste
bandaids
shampoo and conditioner
deodorant
tissue paper and wipes travel packs (especially if you’re a mom)
Qtips
makeup
nail polish and remover as well as cotton balls
hair products
facial and body skincare products

Sunscreen

I put this in a category of its own as it’s so important. It may seem pretty obvious when you head to a sunny destination. But are you making sure though that you grab it even when you don’t plan to spend your vacay on a beachy resort in the Caribbean?

Coppertone has products to keep your whole family covered.

Coppertone sunscreen for adults and kids

The Coppertone ClearlySheer SPF 50 is designed with your specific needs in mind. It:

feels weightless on your skin
has sunscreens filter UVA and UVB rays to provide sunburn protection
won’t clog pores or cause breakouts
works wonderfully under makeup
delivers effective, broad spectrum protection in delightfully lightweight and breathable formulas
helps leave skin soft and smooth

The Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60:

is waterproof, so it’s ideal for those water activities
is a non-irritating, hypoallergenic sunscreen lotion
provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, keeping your kids protected from sunburn
retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in the water or sweating
contains avobenzone and other sunscreen ingredients and is PABA-free

If you’re headed to the beach, remember that reapplying is just as important as putting on in the first place. Reapply at least every 2 hours, or after being in the water.

Shoes

You’ll most likely pack flats, but I’m sure you’ll also grab a pair or 2 of high heels to wear for the evening. As beautiful as they are, they ~~may~~ will probably not be comfortable, but as a fashionista, that won’t stop you. Here are some great tips.

Choose Your Heels According to Your Outing

Dr. Nekessa Remy, a well-known Canadian chiropractor, recommends to eliminate the heel discomfort by going with a kitten heel. It’s less than 2″ high, has a wide heel base and an overall thicker heel. This will spread the load more evenly and offer more support. Michelle Obama was often seen in kitten heels so don’t feel they aren’t as glam as their 6″ counterparts.

This is an ideal option if you plan on dancing all night or walking a lot. If you’re outing consists of a dinner where you are mostly sitting, high heels are definitely an option.

Soft Insoles

Reduce the impact on your knees. If you’re not one for shorter heels, don’t let those killer pumps kill your night because of the pain and discomfort they cause.

Dr. Scholl’s® For Her Comfort Insole™ has several insole and cushioning options to fit different kinds of heels and flats, no matter what part of your foot or shoe is bothering you so you can enjoy the night. It:

provides all-day comfort with unique FabuSTEP™ Gel that absorbs shock on your heel and cushioning for the ball of your foot
is discreet for all-day comfort
It has a slim ¾ length design that fits comfortably in your shoes
There is no need to trim to fit in shoes

Choose The Right Size

If they’re too big, the foot will slide forward, adding more pressure on the toes. A wide enough toe box will allow some much needed wiggle room for your toes.

If you’re in love with your shoes that are slightly too big and swear you won’t leave home without them, adding the Dr. Scholl’s® For Her High Heel™ will make them fit better. They are designed specifically for high heel shoes. It:

prevents foot aches and pains
has unique gel arch that helps shift the pressure off your ball-of-foot area and provides all-day comfort
is ideal for heels 5 cm and up
has a slim-fitting design that won’t make your shoes feel too tight or crowd toes
provides discreet cushioning, even in your strappy heels thanks to the FabuSTEP™ Gel waves
has ultra-soft arch cushion and fits comfortably in all your pumps, sandals, sling-backs and boots

Stretch

Dr. Nekessa Remy also recommends stretching your calf muscles and feet by standing on the edge of a step with your shoes off will to alleviate some of the pain. With your weight on the balls of your feet and your heels extending off the edge, drop your heels down to stretch. Hold for 20 seconds. You can also take a tennis ball and roll it under the arch of your foot.

Sunglasses

Of course sunglasses are more than just protective eyewear for your pretty eyes, they are also very stylish. I wrote a post about the perfect pair for round faces to help you choose the best frame for your round face.

It’s very important when choosing a pair that it be suitable for your face shape.

Go with a colour that will match most of your outfits to avoid having to take a few pairs along.

Finally, this may not be common practice, but don’t put your sunglasses over your head when you no longer need them. Either hang them onto your shirt or put them back in your case, especially if it’s an expensive pair. Why?? Because the more you put them on your head, the more they stretch, the loose they become and tend to slide off.

Hats

I suggest taking 1 or 2 hats. Take a stylish straw hat….

….and a practical ball cap for more casual events.

Hats are a must when you are headed to a sunny destination, but I think you already knew that ;). It’s just a matter of finding one that suits your style and look.

Bags

Other thank your luggage, you don’t want to be dragging to many purses with you. A large funky tote like this one…

Vacay beach tote white with white outfits

or this one…

Hola Beach white tote, ruffled top, shorts

that matches your outfits or is of a neutral colour is key.

Grab a small cross body, clutch or a short handle purse that’s stylish yet classy to take with you on your nights out would be enough. If you want something fancier, check these ones out, they’re truly beautiful.

Greg Michaels leather natalie teal mint green

Accessories

I like to go with versatile accessories that I can match with most of my outfits to keep the weight to a minimum. A great watch, cuff, statement earrings, couple of simple necklaces are my goto items. Stay within the same metal colour family to keep it simple. Here’s a list of gorge jewels you’ll want to grab with you that will work with every outfit.

The Gist of it

These tips are great for any vacation destination you are headed to. Being mindful of your bodies needs especially when it comes to skincare and feet is really important to keep your body in good shape. So where are you headed at this time of the year? What are the items on your vaca checklist?

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, you might like to receive my fashion, beauty, fitness, home décor, and DIY tips and tricks that will save your life right into your inbox!

This is Grace

Grace from Color & Grace. Based in Troy, Michigan, Grace is a 41 year-old petite woman who loves colours. Born and raised in China, she moved to America for love in 2007. Her day job – teacher. Her dream job – fashion blogger. Make sure to go and check out her blog and leave her a comment on her awesome outfit.

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