1. Band-Aids
I can’t express how many times my friends and I have desperately needed a Band-Aid, because apparently you only cut yourself when you’re not prepared. Paper cuts, hang nails, and blisters are usually what get me needing a Band-Aid, so go get some cute little princess ones and always be prepared.
2. Nail File
I think one of the worst possible things to happen is to have freshly painted and shaped nails, only to go out and have one break. Not only does it piss you off to no longer be looking perfect, but the damn nail catches on everything!
3. Tide to Go
I personally don’t use this one so much, but I can’t even stress how many times it has saved friends. For those of you who have a boyfriend that enjoys wearing his food from time to time, pick up a tide to go mini just in case. I’m sure that you’ll end up using it more than you had intended.
4. Dryer Sheet
Living in Canada, specifically in the winter, my hair tends to dry out like no other and static is a HUGE problem for me. But did you know that if you rub a dryer sheet along your hair, it’ll reduce the static? Also, if you get deodorant on your shirt, once again, rub that dryer sheet on it! Dryer sheets tend to be lifesavers that not many people know about.
5. Lip Balm
This one is pretty obvious, but who likes chapped lips? NO ONE! I’m getting pretty excited for summer and my current lip balm is adding to the excitement… ALOHA COCONUT!
6. Eye Drops & Contacts
For my contact wearers, there is literally nothing as uncomfortable as dry contacts! Wearing them all day, staring at the computer, or reading books kills my eyes until they’re so dry that they literally FALL OUT! I’ve gotten into the habit of carrying eye drops and an extra set of contacts with me at all times, just to avoid the discomfort and blindness.
7. Crest Wisps
These were popular a few years ago, but now they lack advertisements and I think most people have forgotten about them. Wisps are essentially little disposable toothbrushes, with a minty cleaner bead in the center, that breaks and freshens your breath when enough pressure hits your teeth. I can’t tell you how many times these have saved me when gum isn’t just cutting it! There’s also a toothpick on the opposite side, in case something gets stuck at lunch or dinner – you don’t want to be the one with spinach in your teeth all day.
8. Advil/ Painkillers
This one is obvious – no one wants a headache when the day needs to be conquered. Most brands offer on the go packaging, but I personally enjoy getting a little makeup sample container (from Mac or Sephora) and putting a few Advil tablets and allergy medication inside.
9. Gum/ Mints
Most people don’t need to be reminded of this one; everyone always has gum. #nobadbreath
10. Tampon
I literally never leave the house without a tampon for one main reason: YOU NEVER KNOW! I’m typically the one to save my friends when the unexpected happens.
11. Wet Wipes
EW! Sticky hands. ‘Nuff said.
12. Hair Elastics & Hair Pins
As much as I enjoy the look of my hair down, when I’m at in class, studying, or shopping – basically anything that isn’t going out at night or posing for a photo – my hair just gets in the way. If you actually use your hair tie to keep your bobby pins together, they’ll be a lot easier to find! This all being said, I’m a scrunchie person.
13. Oil Blotting Sheets
These are one of the biggest lifesavers of the face of the earth. I prefer powder and a brush to blotting sheets, but they just take up too much space. So, blotting sheets are way more convenient (and sanitary, for that matter).
14. Hand Lotion
DRY HANDS! When my hands get dry, I feel like I’m incapable of doing anything. Typing hurts, writing notes hurts, turning the pages of a book hurts… literally everything is uncomfortable! The L’Occitane hand lotion is not only incredibly good, but it also doesn’t have a harsh smell and it comes in this itty bitty baby size that’s perfect for on the go.
15. Hand Sanitizer
GERMS! That’s all.
16. Safety Pin
Chances are you wont need one, but it’s so little! Why not have it around in case of an emergency?
17. Concealer
Let’s say you’re at school and have been on campus all day, studying hard and trying to get good grades. You still have 4 hours left on campus where you need to socialize with people, and what appears on your face? A lovely, big, red stress zit! This honestly used to happen to be all the time, so I started carrying a mini concealer with me at all times. Now if it happens, I have the resources to cover it up and my self-confidence doesn’t get shot.
18. Emergency Cash
In this day and age, I know that it’s rare to carry cash. All we use as a society are credit and debit cards. However, I feel more comfortable keeping cash on me in case of emergencies. The only thing that I’ve ever used my emergency cash for is parking – not so much an emergency, but hey, I actually had cash on me! You just never know what predicaments you’ll run into.
19. Tissues
This year, I feel like the Laurier plague didn’t just occur in September, but has somehow managed to linger around the entire school year. This was definitely the year of shot immune systems for us Golden Hawks. I found some cute Betsy Johnson tissue packs, and not only do they have a super cute pattern, but their shape is perfect for fitting in an on the go makeup bag.
21. BONUS: Perfume Sample
I know there are many people who are opposed to scent, and that some schools or work places don’t allow perfumes or fragranced products. But, maybe you just finished gym, or broke a sweat walking up stairs on campus (don’t lie, we’ve all been there, rushing to class). You just aren’t feeling cute and need a pick-me-up. That’s where your perfume comes in handy. I tend to HOARD the Sephora samples (you can pick 3 free samples when you order online) and they take up no space at all. They get more use than you would expect!
Another little tip, if you plan in keeping this makeup bag in your backpack or school tote, a thinner bag is easiest for storing! Here are some cute makeup bags available for purchase now.
Let’s state the obvious here: Forever 21 online is life. It has almost EVERYTHING you could need. Not only are their makeup bags so damn cute, but they’re incredibly affordable, usually less than 10$. Try this bag!
Here’s a picture of mine:
Moral of the story: as a girl, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW! Moral #2 of the story: my purse is a black hole. The final moral, #3: I’m the mom of my friends. So there you have it, all the products you may need, and why you should carry them in your backpack, purse, or even leave them in your car! I hope this article was beneficial, and that I’ve been able to save some of you from uncomfortable situations.