Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

How to Avoid the Purse Curse

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Riverside chapter.

What’s in your purse? I’m not talking about the obvious cell phone, wallet, and keys. I’m talking about those essential items that we, as females, depend on to look and feel our best. Here are some items that every girl should consider having:

1. Compact mirror – Ever walked around with smeared eyeliner or food stuck in your teeth all day? And no one said anything about it and you got weird looks all day? Prevent embarrassing situations like this by checking for mishaps with a compact mirror.

2. Mints/Gum – No one wants to be able to guess what you had for lunch by smelling your breath. Keep fresh by chewing a piece of gum or popping a mint in your mouth.

3. Blotting Paper – A long day can lead to an oily face. Prevent oil and shine by keeping a pack of blotting papers in your purse. It’s also the perfect solution to prevent glare in your pictures, if you’re planning to take any for those nights out.

4. Chapstick/Lip gloss – Not only are chapped lips unattractive, they hurt. Keep your lips looking and feeling incredibly soft with the help of chapstick. Also, tinted chapstick or lip gloss is a perfect way to play up your look with a few quick and easy sweeps.

5. Tampons/Pads – You never know when mother nature will call and surprise you.
Save yourself the humiliation, and always be prepared by keeping those feminine
products with you.

6. Hand lotion – Prevent ashy hands by keeping a travel-sized hand lotion in your purse. Your hands will thank you!

7. Hand sanitizer – Opening doors, shaking hands, and don’t forget the ever-so-popular texting. You’re always using your hands, and there’s bacteria crawling everywhere. Use hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of germs.

8. Aspirin – There’s nothing worse than an unexpected headache. Having a small bottle of aspirin with you can save you the pain, so you can go on with your day.

9. Hair ties – Do you find your hair adding to the heat? Does your hair get in the way of enjoying your meal? Just plainly having a bad hair day? Just tie it up!

10. Mini notebook/Pen – Whether you’re jotting down directions, signing a check or the bill, or exchanging numbers with the cutie you met on campus, a mini notebook (or something to write on) and pen is always handy to have around.

Keep these items in your purse and you will thank me later!


Photographs provided by: Ashley Herrera

Monica Pena is a sophmore at the University of California Riverside and is originally from the valley of San Fernando in the city of Los Angeles. Monica and her room mate Nicole Danille Matinez both enjoy writing and are now Co founders of the UC Riverside Her Campus Branch. Monica dreams of moving to New York and going to Law School. Aside from Law school, she is a fanatic of fashion and writing and also wants to pursue a career in journalism.