GEAR LOVE: EYE SEE TRAVEL CONVENIENCE

Contact lens cases in bathroom drawer. Taken by PKSenagore April 3, 2018. All rights reserved.

EASY TRAVEL TOILETRY STORAGE!  A VISIT TO THE ‘TRAVEL SIZE’ SECTION OF THE DRUGSTORE WAS NECESSARY nearly every time I went away for a few days’ trip in which I planned to travel light. Only a carry-on piece of luggage when flying to a destination and an overnight bag for land-based trips was to go with me.
 
The travel sizes were purchased because most of the time it was a pain to prepare little bottles of various items like face moisturizer or sunscreen myself. Usually stray, small-size shampoo and conditioner had been collected from previous hotel stays so there was no need to purchase them. Still, to cram all that into a quart-size bag was not easy for getting past airport security.
 
There’s hardly a need to explain any further. Travel size toiletry preparation is a challenge for many.
 
That’s why I was so excited when I ran across a ‘hack’ in a women’s magazine several months ago that seemed to solve at least some of the problems in this area. I was in a salon, so I don’t have the magazine at home and did not think to write down the reference at the time so as to give credit where it is due. Sorry!
 
Here’s the trick: USE CONTACT LENS CASES to store supplies of items that won’t require huge volumes for the length of stay.  For me, this is facial creams including sunblock, and tooth paste.  Initially, I thought the small containers would not hold sufficient product, but I was WRONG!
 
Using these mini travel aids saved space in my quart-size re-sealable plastic bags for other items like travel-size hair finisher and foundation, which by comparison contain larger amounts of product.
 
The contact lens cases won’t work for all transportable toiletries, but give it a try for some. I store these items in my gym bag as well now.  There is even enough space to take a single application of hair conditioner for apres-swimming. 
 
Another bonus is that the travel product tends not to be wasted. In larger refillable travel bottles, there’s a bit that cannot be retrieved. Or there’s so much in a bottle it never gets completely used.  Contact lens cases store just the right amount and it’s completely accessible with a finger, cotton swab, or toothbrush swipe.
 
My husband no longer complains about being out of those small tubes of toothpaste when he packs at the last minute for a short trip. We just squirt a bit into the little containers.
 
Now that destination competitions are approaching, this life ‘hack’ may lessen the inconvenience of getting ready and concerns of not leaving essential items behind.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!