Packing can really feel like a beast of a process whenever you’re staring down the barrel of your suitcase. I really feel like I’ve wasted DAYS of my life Googling “how you can pack a suitcase” and taking a look at different individuals’s recommendations on packing. Fortunately, I’ve traveled sufficient within the final yr to have some tricks to share, together with my golden ticket: a capsule journey wardrobe (with a TOG twist, ofc).

This put up is partially sponsored by EVOLVh, an moral haircare line that meets ECOCERT necessities, COSMOS necessities, is Soils Affiliation Authorized, NaTrue Authorized and World Authorized. As at all times, This Natural Woman solely works with manufacturers who we belief are making the world a greater place.
By: Lisa Fennessy
IN THIS POST:
Right here’s my downside. I like touring, I hate packing. I at all times overlook one thing, I’ve to pack for a number of individuals, the method makes me hate all my garments and the entire thing stresses me method out. To fight the stress of all of it, I make lists, analysis different individuals’s lists and typically I block off a whole day simply to pack. It’s so much.
However, as a 44-year-old mom of two who travels fairly a bit, the perfect hack I’ve for simplifying the packing course of and decreasing stress isn’t one thing I examine someplace on the web. It’s one thing I got here up with myself and it’s fairly GENIUS. You need to know what it’s? It’s capsules.
Now, I’m not speaking a few conventional wardrobe capsule—that may change each time relying in your vacation spot. I’m speaking about retaining a skincare capsule, a private care capsule and a hair care capsule that you could seize and go as wanted.
What makes these capsules work so nicely is they’re TSA compliant (clear bag + 3.4 oz), so I can use them for any scenario together with a “keep it up solely” scenario, which we had lots of this previous yr. Over the previous 6 months, my husband and I (and typically our children) hit up Turks and Caicos, Florence and Rome, Cape Cod, southern Maine, Beaver Creek Colorado and Orange Seaside, Alabama. And I did carry-on solely for all of them (!!!), which is actually award-worthy. Right here’s how…
RELATED: A easy two-week packing listing that every one suits in your keep it up.



The right way to pack a suitcase
Use packing cubes
I assumed packing cubes have been a complete joke…till I used them. 🤣 We bounced round from place to position this previous summer time on our New England journey and I needed to repack my suitcase a number of instances. For the instances I bought lazy and didn’t use the packing cubes, I couldn’t match every little thing in. After I did, I may.
I like these ones, that are each World Recycle Commonplace and Oeko-Tex Commonplace 100 licensed and are constituted of 16 plastic water bottles. I bought the black on black monogram, which I personally assume is delicate however tremendous stylish.
Preserve a skincare capsule
I believe I dread packing skincare probably the most as a result of I at all times really feel like I’m going to overlook one thing. I can’t operate with no Q-tip and one time I forgot my moisturizer. Absolutely the worst. Now it’s simple breezy as a result of I hold a small bag stacked with journey measurement and pattern measurement skincare / private care for an entire skincare routine, so I simply seize and go and I don’t even assume twice. You possibly can try what I included on my 2-week New England trip right here.
Preserve a hair care capsule
The identical applies to my hair care. I hold a hair care capsule journey bag with the necessities. (I even have an additional brush.) The one factor I be certain that so as to add outdoors of that is my hair dryer—which I positively DO NOT have two of, lol. Right here’s what I embrace:
EVOLVh’s SuperFinish Sprucing Balm – Fortunately my all-star fave hair product is available in a journey measurement. SuperFinish Sprucing Balm defrizzes, provides moisture, softness, shine, energy, prevents breakage, splitting AND gives UV and warmth safety. I apply this on towel-dried hair earlier than I let it air dry or blow dry it.
However the perfect half, and why I like this formulation a lot, is it does all of this with out including weight or texture to my hair. In some methods, it’s like including every little thing and in different methods, it’s like including nothing. I by no means go away dwelling with out it (learn my full overview right here).
EVOLVh’s UltraShine Moisturizing Shampoo – Now that I’ve grey hair, it may be drier at instances. I like this shampoo as a result of it strikes the proper stability between clear hair and moisturized hair. Love the sunshine citrusy grapefruit scent. Plus my husband can use it too.
EVOLVh’s UltraShine Moisturizing Conditioner – I additionally deliver alongside its sister the EVOLVh UltraShine Moisturizing Conditioner. My hair is SO LONG proper now and this conditioner is a good match as a result of it’s a lighter, water-based conditioner that works to detangle and moisturize with out weighting my hair down.
Save: The code THISORGANICGIRL will prevent 15% in your first order at EVOLVh.
RELATED: For those who haven’t tried EVOLVh shortly, you want to get their shampoo.
Scale back the variety of liquids you pack
Now that you just’ve bought your magnificence journey capsule wardrobe, see in the event you can scale back the variety of liquids you want in your keep it up. Attempt bar cleaning soap, bar lotion and waterless toothpaste, all of that are usually smaller, received’t spill and have the aspect advantage of being sustainable.
RELATED: My present capsule wardrobe: 5 issues I can’t cease sporting this season.

Make your private merchandise a purposeful bag
Most airways will say you may carry-on one suitcase and one private merchandise without cost. Don’t waste your private merchandise on a fanny pack or your on a regular basis bag. As an alternative ante up and swap in your seashore tote, weekender bag or exercise backpack. It will mean you can tackle extra gadgets in addition to provide the freedom to day journey appropriately. I like this enjoyable tote, which is a HUGE private merchandise that doubles as a cute seashore bag or day tote.
Skip gadgets that may get you pulled over by TSA
Realizing what you can and might’t carry-on will provide help to keep away from getting pulled over by TSA and prevent time. I’ve gotten my bag looked for the next gadgets, which I received’t pack once more: a security razor, razor blades, gadgets that appear like razor blades and steak knives (for a marriage current, doh! lol). Additionally, Nicolle says she’s been stopped for having grilled rooster and sea salt in her carry-on (the hazards of journey with meals allergic reactions!), so make notice that some meals might flag safety.
BYO water bottle…and filter
Save your soul and don’t drink the water, espresso or tea on any airplane. As an alternative deliver your individual water bottle, fill it up earlier than you board and use a journey water filter to filter your water any time, wherever. This additionally is available in so useful if you find yourself staying in a lodge and don’t need to have to purchase a bottle of water 16 instances a day.

Choose the fitting carry-on suitcase
The Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus is the proper measurement as a result of it’s the utmost measurement you may have for a carry-on AND you may match probably the most in it when touring on bigger planes. I can match every week’s price of garments and a couple of pairs of sneakers in with out a lot problem. Plus it’s sustainable, which means the shell, deal with, vegan leather-based particulars, zippers and lining are all constituted of recycled supplies. It’s additionally carbon impartial. And it additionally occurs to be tremendous cute. I bought it within the colour Domino Black.
Don’t throw in last-minute gadgets
When you’ve nailed down your journey capsule wardrobe (particularly skincare, hair care and different private care gadgets), don’t be tempted to throw in last-minute gadgets. You in all probability received’t want them they usually’ll take up undesirable area. Belief that you just’ve deliberate your “wardrobe” nicely and you understand how to pack a suitcase.
What do you consider my packing ideas? What ideas are you able to share?

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