Best Travel Essentials
23 Travel Essentials Our Editors Can't Fly Without
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What you bring with you in your luggage or carry-on can truly make or break a trip. Sure, you may be able to purchase a replacement at your stop, but nothing can beat your favorites. I asked POPSUGAR editors for their travel must haves, and they shared their beauty, tech, and comfort essentials ahead. See 23 items that will make your next vacation the best.
1 Charcoal Makeup Cleansing Balm
"I swear by the travel size Charcoal Makeup Melter cleansing balm by Boscia. I'm often stuck cleaning my face with hotel soap because all of my other liquid face cleansers leak in transit. The constitution of this balm is perfect — much less harsh than soap and it won't make a mess." — Cynthia Puleo, copy editor
2 Lingerie Bag
"I have a lingerie bag that has two sides — one for clean and one for dirty with little 'wear me' and 'wash me' icons printed on either side. I love that it keeps my underwear contained, and it makes it easy to identify laundry when I get home." — Dawn Davis, senior Native editorial director
Joyus Lingerie Bag ($38)
3 Key Cable
"I never go anywhere without the Native Union key cable. I hate carrying around a big cable to charge my phone or to connect it to a mobile charger, but with the tiny key cable, it's so easy and portable." — Ann-Marie Alcantara, assistant editor, News
Native Union Key Cable ($30)
4 Mobile Charger
"I never ever travel without the Mophie Powerstation 5X. It's so thin that I can easily stow it away in my backpack and never arrive anywhere without power. It's also thin enough to carry around in a purse, so if you're exploring somewhere new, you'll never have a dead phone. It's easier and more convenient than carrying around a charging case." — Ann-Marie Alcantara, assistant editor, News
Mophie Powerstation 5X ($80, originally $130)
5 Face Mist
"I'm prone to in-flight skin dehydration, and while sheet masks are a nice idea, sometimes it's a faff. I keep a mist on me to spritz all flight long." — Tori Crowther, assistant editor, POPSUGAR UK
6 Swimsuit
"Always, always, always pack a swimsuit. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, you never know when an opportunity to swim in the perfect pool, river, or lake will appear and you want to be ready to dive in. Trust me. I have spent too many hours trying to find a swimsuit off season, in small towns and remote places, just so I could take a dip. Just pack the suit; it doesn't take up a lot of space." — Susi May, senior director, editorial
7 Kleenex Fresh On the Go Moist Wipes
"You never know when you're going to encounter food that you want to eat, so you should always be prepared. Kleenex makes small packs of moist towelettes that don't dry out your hands but clean them well enough that you can lick your fingers. They are a must for anyone traveling out of the country or to any destination where you're unsure if you'll have water to wash your hands." — Maggie Pehanick, editor, PS Voices and SEO
Kleenex Fresh On the Go Moist Wipes ($36 for 24-pack)
8 Oversize Knit Cardigan
"I'm always freezing on flights, and this oversize knit is the perfect solution. The mohair and wool blend keeps me toasty, the slouchy silhouette doesn't feel restrictive, and I can easily throw it over whatever I'm wearing (unlike a scarf, which I find to be more hassle than helpful). It's like a blanket!" — Stephanie Nguyen, associate editor, Native
9 Mini Disinfectant Spray
"I have quite a weak immune system and get sick easily when traveling. When I was backpacking, I got very sick and kept antibacterial spray on hand for the particularly dirty aspects of the trip (even in hospital). It helped ease my germaphobe anxiety, if not anything else!" — Tori Crowther, assistant editor, POPSUGAR UK
10 Neck Pillow
"I don't know how I ever traveled comfortably before I bought this pillow. It's memory foam, so it cradles your neck shape in all directions; it doesn't fall to the side; and the best part: it squishes super small into the pouch it comes in, so you don't have to find a way to clip it to your luggage or shove it into your carry-on." — Alessia Santoro, editor, Moms
11 Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
"I always carry a couple of these Zicam nasal swabs in my work bag, purse, and carry-on. Anytime I feel like I'm about to get sick, I swab my nostrils for an immunity boost, and I swear that they've effectively prevented many colds." — Nicole Yi, assistant editor, Smart Living and Love & Sex
12 Sleeping Liner
"This was a lifesaver for me as a slight germaphobe traveling through Southeast Asia. It made sleeping on a train through Thailand with bugs crawling on the carriage bearable. I say soft because I liked having something a little more cozy than a sleeping bag material." — Tori Crowther, assistant editor, POPSUGAR UK
13 Mini Dry Shampoo
"This is weirdly specific, but I don't go anywhere without a travel bottle of dry shampoo. It's a lifesaver after long flights, red-eyes, delays, and cancellations, because at the very least, I don't feel completely gross no matter how long it's been since I've had a chance to wash my hair. When experiencing a major time zone change (like US to Europe), I like to hit the ground running and stay up in order to get on the new country's time. After a little bit of dry shampoo (or a lot), I feel more ready to start my adventure — even if it's sans shower." — Hilary White, editor, Smart Living and Love & Sex
Batiste Dry Shampoo 1.6 oz. ($15 for three-pack)
14 Makeup Remover Wipes
"I never travel without makeup remover wipes. I know that they don't clean my face nearly as well as actually using face wash or liquid makeup remover, but at the end of a long day of sightseeing when I just want to flop in bed, it's a fast and easy way to get rid of leftover oil and makeup. Not to mention, since the wipes aren't liquid, I never have to worry about them getting taken out of my carry-on by TSA!" — Quinn Keaney, assistant editor, Celebrity and Entertainment
15 Large Scarf
"My 'personal item,' ie the bag that stays with me at my seat, is packed with the usual essentials, but in recent years, I have added one thing I can't do without, in the name of comfort: a large, soft scarf that is big enough to be a blanket — no matter the temp where you are going or coming from, it's always chilly on the plane. It can also be used as a blanket or pillow for sleeping, and if you can't fit it in your bag, you wear it." — Shannon Vestal, director
Halogen Cardigan Stitch Cashmere Wrap ($74, originally $149)
16 Fuzzy Socks
"I also always have a pair of really soft socks that I put on once the plane takes off. These little creature comforts make flying feel way more luxurious, even in coach." — Shannon Vestal, director
17 Hand Cream
"I have pretty dry skin, so I seriously cannot travel without one of my small L'Occitane hand creams. Their size is perfect for traveling because they perfectly fit in my backpack, and they come in so many different yummy scents. The hand soap on airplanes really dries out my skin, but this stuff comes to the rescue without making my hands feel greasy." — Victoria Messina, editorial assistant, Trending and Viral Features
18 Leggings
"They cost around 100 bucks, but they are worth every penny. You can't beat the comfort, and they go with every outfit." — Tori Crowther, assistant editor, POPSUGAR UK
19 Makeup Remover
"This makeup remover is one of the best I've ever tried — it gets everything off efficiently without stripping my skin, it's gentle, and it eliminates redness. And it's the perfect travel size. My regimen is a little more complicated when I'm not traveling and have my full arsenal readily available, and I actually have to stop myself from reaching for this on a daily basis!" — Stephanie Nguyen, associate editor, Native
20 Rosewater Spray
"This one-ingredient rosewater spray has changed my life when it comes to travel. I stash it with me everywhere I go. It comes in a 1.8 fluid oz. bottle that makes it easy to take on planes, and I spritz it on my face midflight to feel refreshed and to avoid breakouts when I land. It smells so good, and it feels like a mini spa treatment in the sky." — Madison Meltzer, associate social media strategist
21 Lip Balm
"My lips are prone to dryness on land and especially in flight, so I always carry a tube of this rosebud salve in my purse. It leaves my lips moisturized throughout the entire flight, and the best part is that it's multipurpose." — Nicole Yi, assistant editor, Smart Living and Love & Sex
22 Mini Perfume
"I use Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine vaporisateur natural spray in travel size. I used to avoid traveling with a fragrance for fear it would spill, but this keeps fine and the citrus scent gives me energy when I arrive." — Cynthia Puleo, copy editor
23 Sleep Mask
"Trying to get a good night's sleep while traveling is one of my top priorities, so this eye mask is a lifesaver, whether I'm on a plane or in a hotel room." — Tara Block, content director
