Travel Talk: What's In My (Carry-On) Bag

I'm always curious to sneak a peek into other peoples' bags at airports - I want to know all their travel secrets! What are they reading? A Kindle? A paperback? A hardback? What kind of headphones to they use? Neck pillow? Snacks?

So, I decided to put a little twist on the "what's in my bag" blog post and show you what I pack when I'm about to board a long-haul flight.

Magazines

I have a little ritual before I go on vacation: pedicure, followed by a magazine purchase (or two). I always read Conde Nast Traveller when I travel. I know! It seems so counterintuitive - what weirdo would want to read about other destinations when they're already on holiday? This weirdo. I love travel writing though, and I find the articles and images so inspiring. 

Snacks

Once, I didn't bring any snacks with me on a long-haul flight and ... I pretty much inhaled breakfast when it was served and had to distract myself from hunger by watching a pretty forgettable movie beforehand. Now, unless I'm flying Business class (which is like, never, btw - okay, once or twice), I always bring a snack. For a recent trip, I brought these Kind bars, which are delicious and nutritious (see what I did there?). They're not too sweet, like some other bars (which leaves a horrible taste in your mouth when you're travelling) and they come in sweet and savoury flavors. The bars are made from whole nuts, fruits, and whole grains, so they keep you comfortably full until the next meal is served. I'm a fan of the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond flavor, which you can buy here.

Avene Thermal Water Spray - Travel Size

I know I go on and on about this spray, but it really is a miracle product. I mist it over my face every two hours or so during the flight and it is such a relief from the dry cabin air. You can find it at Boots. I also like to slather a bit of Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask on my face as well, to keep it well-hydrated (though my mom once asked me why my face was so shiny when I disembarked, so maybe wipe it off when you land!).

Powder

I get a super attractive oily and dry face on flights, so I always carry a pressed powder compact with me so I can dab at my face before we land and carry at least a passing resemblance to my passport photo at border control. 

Fragrance

I'm totally conscious of other passengers who might be allergic to perfume, so I avoid applying any fragrance on the flight itself, but I do this just after disembarking because - unless you're flying in a cabin with a private shower (check you out!) - no one smells great when they first step off a flight. I love these roller-ball fragrances that are exclusive to Sephora US and always pick up one or two when I'm visiting the States.

Eye shade

Must. Block. Out. All. The. Light. I alternate between the pretty one you see here (made from Liberty fabric by a friend of mine) or the one I rave about in this post.

Gigantic Scarf

One that can double as a blanket or a cape or a pillow, etc. I've got a great one from & Other Stories but if I'm travelling to a colder climate, I like to use a cashmere wrap.


What are your carry-on essentials? Let me know in the comments below!