A.k.a. The Reason My Bag Makes Glasses Shake When It Hits a Table
Whether it is the bottomless pit that is my everyday bag or the Jacquemus Mini Le Chiquito there are certain things that make the list every time. These 15 purse essentials are my ride or dies and I think you should be carrying them everywhere you go too! And to those of you that can leave the house with nothing more than your phone with a card pocket stuck on the back, I salute you.
1. Hand Sanitizer
One of the little victories of the pandemic has been that people are once again realizing the necessity of hand sanitizer. When I was a kid I remember my favorite aunt always had some Everywhere. There was hand sanitizer in her purse, in her car, in every room of here house, you never had to reach to too far to clean your hands. Then there was the phase in middle school- early high school when Bath and Body Works (the teen girl mother ship) started selling all of those cute carrying cases for our mini glitter hand sanitizers, but since then I felt like people had forgotten the importance of hand sanitizer. So, thank you COVID-19.
2. Advil
I do not leave the house without a supply of pain reliever. It may seem like a totally Mom Friend thing to do but it is well worth it when a sudden headache comes on. Face it, you never know when you or some one with you will to need it! I am an Advil girl but you can carry whatever remedy you prefer. I carry mine in a plastic pill container shaped like a macron but they also sell travel containers or single serving packs if you want to be more official.
3. Lip gloss
If I was a practical person (don’t let the last two paragraphs fool you, I’m not), I would write lip balm here because more than I need a glittery shine, I need moisture. Since I’m not practical, I always have at least one tube of lip gloss on hand. So, whether I need just a quick touch up of the color I’m already wearing or if I am in such desperate need of lip moisture I’m willing to pretend this will help, I have lip gloss. One of my favorite lip glosses is the Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish.
4. Cash
It is literally printed on paper, you have the room. After working at a cash only ice cream shop for two summers I always make sure I have cash on me. It doesn’t have to be a lot but a single 20 in a side pocket could go a long way in an emergency (Ice cream or otherwise). I suggest keeping this one in an actual pocket because as exciting as it is to find cash between the stack of expired, but still perfectly good, Bed Bath and Beyond coupons like a set of keys when you need your cash you probably don’t want to go digging for it.
5. Wallet with my I.D.
While I love to change my purse, changing out my wallet is one thing I do maybe 4 times a year. I would suggest having a go to wallet and card holder so that as you switch from a full-size purse to a smaller occasion bag you can keep your cards organized. Aside from my I.D. I always keep my debit card, emergency credit card, and my student I.D. for some good old fashion discounts. All of my other wallet fillers, gift cards and old receipts I should probably get rid of, live in my main wallet but those four cards come with me everywhere.
6. Extra masks
Whether you put them there or let them accumulate, extra masks are a must have. If you are keeping them for friends or family I would suggest bringing disposables with you, but if they are just in case you are craving a quick style change, your average cloth masks are good enough. Just remember to clean your masks! It is recommended that masks get washed after every use. Just think of it this way, if you kept a selection of lipsticks in your purse before COVID, you are probably going to want a selection of masks now.
7. Extra hair ties
Even when my hair was too short for a full ponytail I always kept at least one purse-sand crusted hair tie at the bottom of my bag. These things can be life savers and every one who’s ever had long hair knows it. While I don’t normally reach for the plain black hair ties I lived by a couple years ago, they are still my go to for packing in a purse. Scrunchies can be great and have never felt more chic than when I secure my bun with a pair of french pins, nothing beats the convenience of a good old hair tie!
8. Snacks
Again, this probably seems very mom-like, but we all know it is one of the classic purse essentials. Depending on the bag and the mood these snacks could range from squished protein bars to fresh fruit or a sharable bag of peanut m&ms. Whatever snack you want around in a pinch, keep it in your purse. I like to keep a Premier Protein Bar and some trail mix specifically. But with a great snack comes great responsibility, so when you do decide to indulge in your purse snack try not to just toss the wrapper back in and instead try to dispose of them immediately.
9. Extra Socks
Yes, they are clean. No, it was not a mistake that I left them in there. Yes, they do come in handy. As a lover of aesthetic shoes that tend to be less than comfortable, a pair of socks can be a lifesaver to your heels. Or, as I learned a few winters ago, a decent pair of mittens. I tend to keep a regular pair of athletic ankle socks but whatever style of socks you use is between you and your bag. Also, grip socks are a great alternative to those folding flats if you are going to a wedding and expect to need footwear for the dance floor.
10. Tissues
Unless you are someone’s grandmother, please don’t give old out crumpled tissues with lipstick smudge claiming they are still clean. Instead, get a travel pack or just put a stack of tissues in a reusable travel bag. These are absolutely invaluable for makeup touch ups, allergy season, or wiping down questionable surfaces. (Hint: hand sanitizer and tissues can replace wipes on the go) I know some people like to pretend that hoarding fast-food napkins count the same as tissues, but why scratch yourself up with those when you can keep these around instead?
11. A Compact Mirror
I prefer to keep a compact mirror instead of just using the mirror in my powder compact because it is usually cleaner. A mirror is great to keep on hand for checking up time to time. There are all kinds of designs making the compact mirror a fantastic accessory an I am never above aesthetic for aesthetic sake. Plus, anyone who has seen a spy movie knows the versatility of a compact mirror, from checking makeup to checking for trackers under a car these babies are essential.
12. Mini Deodorant
A classic and always useful. This is another one of those products that you hope you don’t need but always do. I keep my mini Native deodorant in my bag at all times, their company is dedicated to natural ingredients good for you and the earth. While most bags can fit a full size deodorant, I prefer a mini because it saves space and I don’t find myself needing to reapply often enough where the smaller package is a problem. That being said, stress happens and you don’t want anyone to smell it on you so your deodorant of choice is absolutely one of the purse essentials.
13. Sunscreen
We should all be wearing sunscreen, always. While this is mainly a summer thing it is always helpful to have sunscreen on hand. If you are a makeup wearer, there are sunscreen sprays and powders that can be applied over makeup as well as traditional creams. Especially since returning from Australia, I have tried to keep sunscreen on hand at all times because as long as the sun is out you can get sun damage.
14. Condiment Packets
Beyonce said it best, “I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag.” I’m not sure if this counts as a mom move or a grandma move, but I never waste a condiment packet. I have carried all kinds of condiments in my bag, including hot sauce. My favorite was a single serving Tabasco in a mini bottle. These are great to have around when your take out, or someone’s cook out, needs just a little extra flavor. Just beware of leakage. I normally find busted sugar packets but I would believe a story about a sauce packet that met the wrong end of a pen and leaked.
15. A Self-defense tool
I am not trying to encourage you to carry around a weapon, but as a woman I know these can be important. A self-defense tool could mean a panic button, a self-defense key chain, or a pepper spray. It is important to check your local laws to make sure that you can legally carry whatever tool you decide on. These can also be very beautiful and cleverly disguised, so it does not have to be super obvious. Even if you decide not to go with something obvious like the above, I highly suggest considering something like even hairspray.
These are of course just a few of the things I keep in my purse. Check out the check list below to make sure your purse is packed and ready whenever you switch them out. What are some of your favorite purse essentials? Are there any uncommon purse essentials you feel people should adopt?
xoxo,
Emelie
