Travel Essentials Guide: Don't Forget the Most Forgotten Essentials

You're making a list and checking it twice. Yet, inevitably, some crucial item will be left behind on your bedside table and you'll only realize once you've made it through airport security. We've all been there. But, given that summer is peak wanderlust season, we need to be ready to pack up and hit the road at a moment's notice — with no essential left behind. All of our belongings need to be in check, on hand, and able to fit in a sleek carry-on. You've already gone through the work of booking, planning, and stalking geotags on Instagram. Now, it's time to sit back and relax — and actually enjoy the packing process. Here's a list of some of our most forgotten travel essentials. Obviously, don't forget to pack the other essentials like undies, clothing and a toothbrush!

Charge On-The-Go

The perfect on-the-go charging companion, the Gigastone P56-100I ($70) power bank features dual 2.4A USB outputs that can charge your smartphone, tablet, and other devices twice as fast as a typical 1A power bank. This is a must for the traveller! I can’t be the only one that has had nightmares while travelling because the phone died. The 10,000mAh lithium polymer battery can be reused up to 500 times so you know that this powerbank has got your back and can save you from not getting that picture-perfect moment.

Flawless SPF Foundation

We all enjoy the idea of coming back from vacation with a sun-kissed glow, so make sure it’s just that by wearing a foundation with SPF. I’ve been enjoying Smashbox’s Camera Ready CC ($50) cream all summer. With this medium coverage formula, you can reduce dark spots while you prime, perfect, protect and hydrate your face. You can wear this under foundation for more coverage, but I like to wear it alone with a bit of under-eye concealer and gloss and I’m good to go.

Sun-Kissed Bronzing Lotion

We go on vacation for the tan (some of us do, anyway), so we’re not already tanned when we arrive. For a little bit of help, I like to use AlumierMD Moisture Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Sunscreen ($60/120ml). It’s a powerful broad-spectrum protection while offering a sheer tint. So, I get a light sun-kissed glow without the sun burn.

Hair Kit

Sure, most hotels have shampoo and conditioner available to you but I’ve always been skeptical of using products unfamiliar to my hair on the days that I want to do the most grammin’ of the summer. My hair needs to be just as picture perfect as the beautiful sceneray and that’s why I’m packing what I know and love. The Moroccanoil Love Is in the Hair, Hydration Set ($47/ kit) comes with a mini hydrating shampoo, a mini hydrating conditioner and a bottle of luminous hairspray strong. Hair on fleek, check!

Compact Manicure Set

Although having your nails on fleek may not seem that important, I think we've all experienced the pain that comes with a broken or chipped nail. Save yourself from the misery and bring along your The Vintage Cosmetic Company Manicure Purse ($15). It's cute, it's compact, it's floral and it could be a life saver.

Makeup Remover Wipes

I like using makeup remover wipes all wear round, so obviously traveling with these handy pre-moistened wipes is an obvious for me. The KORRES Greek Yoghurt Cleansing & Makeup Removing Wipes ($20, available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart and beautyBOUTIQUE.ca) makes removing stubborn face and eye makeup easy, but it also leaves your skin feeling smooth. The Greek Yogurt addition gives you 2.5 times more skin-nourishing proteins, vitamins, and minerals, so your skin is left revitalized, smooth, and hydrated.

Stylish but Durable Backpack

When on vacation, all limbs are crucial: The legs keep you moving, while the arms are busy 'gramming. So, this isn't the time for clutches or top-handle bags. A sleek city backpack is great for the tourist and commuter alike, keeping your belongings zipped up for the on-the-go lifestyle.

All-In-One Healer

If you’re prone feeling nauseous while traveling, you already have the advil packed in your carry-on. But if you’re looking for something more natural, with many therapeutic benefits, Thursday Plantation’s Peppermint Oil ($14.99 CAD, available at AbundanceNaturally.com) will be your new go-to. It’s naturally sourced essential oil used in aromatherapy for coughs & colds, upset stomach or nausea, stress and join and muscle pain that’s associated with a sprain, strain and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s an all-natural plant-based medicine and it smells great!

The Comfy Headphones Long commutes — whether it's in planes, trains, or automobiles — are much more bearable when you can tune the world out. Find a pair of over-ear headphones that sit comfortably, block out noise, like the The Panasonic RP-HTX7 ($79, available at Best Buy) headphones. They deliver a powerful sound and they will let you zone out to the sound of your favourite artists’ voice (I always enjoy the mellowness of John Mayor’s voice). Plus, they come in pink and I"m a sucker for anything pink.

The No-Fuss Crossbody City-hopping, outdoor festivals, farmers' markets: All of these scenarios require a distinct dress code, but can all benefit from an easy-breezy crossbody you can just drape over your torso and go with.

At Your Fingertips Hair Removal

I personally feel like packing a razor goes under the "obvious travel essential", especially if you're travelling somewhere hot where your bathing suit becomes your new outfit of the day. The Schick® Hydro Silk TrimStyle® is a uniquely designed 2-in-1 razor that gives you a smooth, hydrating* shave and has trimming technology so it’s easy and convenient to show love to all of your lady parts.

The Packable Parka Just because it's July doesn't mean we're free of the occasional chilly day (especially in Canada). The problem is, we're rarely ready for it. So, to avoid getting stranded while out exploring a new neighborhood, we're carrying a no-fail jacket we can fold into our bags and carry everywhere. It's just as handy for our spontaneous travels, overly air-conditioned offices, and way-too-cold cabins.

The Breathable Sneakers Ventilation is important in all of our summer wares — including footwear. So, sneakers that let our (sometimes sweaty) little toes breathe a little bit of fresh air are a-okay in our book. I’m big on Skechers Bobs ($50-$65). They’re super comfortable and they have a large selection of styles that work with every outfit.

Your Signature Scent

At home, we use different perfumes for different occasions – something floral for a weddings, something musk and strong for going out and something sweet and subtle for casual dates. Travelling with a handful of perfumes doesn’t sound very “essential-like,” but chances are you’ll be hitting up a variety of places. So, we recommend packing the CLEAN Reserve Five-Piece Rollerball Collection ($29). You can create your own, unique scents by mixing and matching different scents from their handy, 3ml rollerballs.

The H2O-Proof Phone Case Oh, your phone wanted to go swimming with you? How cute. Avert crisis with a waterproof phone case that'll not only save you a trip to your cell phone provider, but also lead to some pretty sick #travelgrams. Check out Lifeproof, they have tons of different phone cases for different phones and tablets.

A little extra....

Here is a list of the most common essentials travelers forget to pack. I can very honestly say that I’ve forgotten one of every time I went abroad, so check this list twice before heading out on your next vacation!