My Travel Essentials: What to Pack on Your Next Trip

I’m giving you a peek inside my suitcase – the following list spills everything I pack for a fun vacation with family! If you’re like me and curious about others’ must-travel items, this is the post for you!

I’m sharing all my non-toxic personal care items as well as what I use for the kids, sunscreen, parasite prevention remedies, healthy snacks, a few must-have products for my perfect morning bevvie, and more! 

In my Pool/Beach Bag

Can I start out with a moment for the bag? This Bogg Bag is literally the best pool/beach bag I’ve ever had. So durable. Easy to hose down, and holds a ton. 

I keep most of our pool/beach stuff along with my boys’ toiletries in my Bogg Bag. I’ve found I’m often showering the boys right after the beach or pool, so it’s easier to have the supplies on hand. Now for what’s inside… 

• Amazon sunnies – I like to keep a budget-friendly pair of glasses in the beach bag. No sweat if they get stepped on or swept up in the waves!
• TDW Electrolytes and Lemonade – The most refreshing poolside sip or beach day hydration! Pro tip: mix them easily with water using this frother.
• Lack of Color Breeze woven hat – A hand-woven 100% raffia straw fedora hat keeps the sun off your face in fashionable style – check! Love any Lack of Color hat, and this one is the perfect summer accessory for literally any outfit. 
• Sunscreen – I have an entire article on sunscreen HERE if you want the whole low down. I like to bring Thinkkids sunscreen because it doesn’t leave a white cast on my boys’ faces. I go with Juice Beauty for my body and CLEARSTEM (use code TAYLORDUKES) for my face. 
• Rowe Casa Swim Spray – While I don’t love the chlorine exposure, I’m all for getting outside in the sunshine and fresh air while burning energy in the pool. This spray makes it easy to dampen the effects of chlorine and make it less irritating on the skin! More tips for detoxing from chlorine HERE.
• Primally Pure Nature Spray (use code TAYLORDUKES) – I never know what the bug situation will be like, so this is a must. 
• Mullein Garlic Ear Drops – This is a must whenever I know my boys will be in the water a ton. It fights off swimmer’s ear/ear infection symptoms before they have a chance to worsen. 
• Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo and Wash in travel size – Love this brand!
• Primally Pure Baby Balm (use code TAYLORDUKES) – The most legit after suncare cream I’ve ever used. It has non-toxic and soothing ingredients that calm redness or inflammation after being in the sun. 
• Risewell toothpaste (use code TAYLORDUKES) – My boys as well as Ryan and I use this fluoride-free, hydroxyapatite toothpaste. 
• Coterie – We use them for travel wipes, diapers, pull-ups and now swim diapers, too! traveling with kids, these are a must. Hello Bello are the swim diapers we used before Coterie came out with theirs. 

In my “Travel bag”/Diaper bag 

These are the things I take in my travel bag to make long waits in the airport a little easier for all of us! 

• Ray-Bans – Never without my sunnies, because travel (hopefully) involves plenty of sunshine. 
• TDW Electrolytes – Traveling can be extremely dehydrating, so I always bring a pack of my electrolytes and usually have 1-2 a day.
• Supplements in a travel case – I keep these in my purse/diaper bag in order to have them on me when I’m eating out or during long stretches in an airport. Also, I never check my supplements just in case luggage gets lost. 
• Tech Wellness headphones – My favorite EMF blocking headphones are a must for travel. 
• Primally Pure hand sanitizer (use code TAYLORDUKES) – Always in my bag. Effective and smells amazing without all of the harsh chemicals. 
• Primally Pure lip balm (use code TAYLORDUKES) – This has been a staple for years. I typically also throw one in a pool bag to keep my lips from drying out in hot weather. I have a ton of these for every bag, pocket, and purse. 
• Coterie wipes – I’m a mom, so these are a must!
• Lego kit for travel – Like this or this. My boys will sit and play with these for hours. Screen free activities make for kids who are as happy as can be instead of overstimulated after hours of travel. 
• Other plane hacks: Snack trays (yes, I realize they’re plastic, but we do the best we can!) are like tackle boxes for food, and my boys think they’re so fun! Dollar store items/games are always a hit. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to come up with some fresh, screen-free ideas!
• Snacks!! – You best believe my bag is full of all the healthy snacks! See the section below for my go-to’s! 

Snacks

All my snacks (except for the individual nut butter packets and Skout bars) are purchased at a discount from my favorite online healthy grocery store – Thrive Market! If you don’t have a membership, you’ve got to give it a try. Use my link for even steeper discounts off your first order. 

• Epic bars – We love the bison variety. 
• Chomps sticks – The small sticks are perfect for kids, and these are super easy to throw in a bag. I love that they’re a great source of protein instead of the typical carb and sugar-heavy shelf stable stacks 
• Artisana nut butter packets – My family loves the raw cashew butter. We’ll spread it on fresh fruits or veggies. 
• Skout bars (use code TAYLORDUKES) – These are our favorite bars. Clean ingredients and tons of yummy flavors to choose from. I always customize my box. 
• Gimme Avocado sea snacks – A great source of iodine. Kids love these for their salty crunch. 
• Solely strips and gummies – These are reminiscent of fruit roll-ups, but healthy. Just real, dehydrated fruit. 
• Joolies dates – These come in individual packets that look like raisin packets, except they have creamy, sweet, pitted dates. 
• Thrive Market pitted green olive individual packs – We love these! Salty, briny, and a good source of healthy fats. 
• Lesser Evil popcorn individual packs – Popcorn, minus the processed vegetable and seed oils. Love that these are made with coconut oil and sea salt – that’s it!

The Extras

These are some of the extras I pack. A few things that are necessities and a few that are niceties. I love that my morning matcha is so delicious, healthy, and enjoyable that I actually crave it on vacation as much as when I’m not! 

• TDW Organic Superfood Creamer – I use this literally everyday. In matcha, coffee, tea, or even sometimes even in a smoothie. I have a few of these individual packets in my purse at all times. 
• Pique matcha – All time favorite matcha. I love it more than anything store bought, so why not take it with me?!
• Breville frother – Y’all, this feels a little extra. But I love my matcha, and this frother is the key to the process. I want to enjoy my morning matcha as much on vacation as I do at home, so it’s coming!
• Arsenicum Album 30c – I take this homeopathic blend with me whenever traveling, especially outside of the country. It’s great for food poisoning/traveler’s diarrhea. 
• TDW Bind – If you’re traveling, especially outside of the country, this is a must. It binds toxins and parasitic pathogens. 

In my Hanging Amazon Bag

This bag contains all of my personal care products, makeup, and beyond. While it may seem like a lot, I do get travel-size products when I can in order to save on space. It’s totally worth it to me to pack non-toxic personal care products instead of using conventional products that might already be at an AirBnB or hotel. To me, it doesn’t feel much like vacation if I’m covering my body in toxic creams, soaps, etc. 

I also want to point out that I often pack some “extra” items like dry brushes, facial cupping devices, etc. because I love taking a little more time on vacation for self-care. I don’t always have time for these things in the daily grind, so it’s a real treat to have them on hand and be able to make space for them on vacation. 

• Risewell toothpaste (use code TAYLORDUKES) – The only toothpaste my family uses. 
• Primally Pure facial cupping (use code TAYLORDUKES) – Because who wouldn’t want to take a little extra time on vacation to plunge away some of the wrinkles and stress?
• The Skinny Confidential dry brush and mint travel roller (use code TAYLORDUKES) – The ultimate self-care tools that make you feel like you’re on vacation. Spa vibes for sure. 
• Ilia mascara and Ilia eyeliner – My go-to’s. I don’t wear makeup every day on vacation, but when I do, these are what I’m wearing. 
• Rituel de Fille bronzer + blush – So luxe. The most beautiful colors for a natural, sun-kissed glow. 
• Youth Foria Skin Tint Serum Foundation – I’m trying and loving this non pore-clogging and non-toxic light foundation. Perfect for summer. 
• Toups and Co Organics lip balm – I absolutely love this brand, from the founders to the products. 
• Primally Pure charcoal deodorant (use code TAYLORDUKES) – My OG non-toxic deodorant. Ride or die right here! 
• Primally Pure cleansing oil (use code TAYLORDUKES) – I use this to take off any makeup and/or sunscreen, including eye makeup, foundation, etc. 
• CLEARSTEM gentle cleanser (use code TAYLORDUKES). I use my Primally Pure cleansing oil to take off the makeup, then follow it with CLEARSTEM’s gentle cleanser for a double cleanse. 
• Primally Pure body butter (use code TAYLORDUKES) – Quelches dry skin after a day at the beach. 
• Aleavia rose water facial mist (use code TAYLORDUKES) – So refreshing after time in the sun. 
• CLEARSTEM facial sunscreen (use code TAYLORDUKES) – This is my facial sunscreen of choice. Clean, non-toxic and mineral formulation. 
• Primally Pure everything spray (use code TAYLORDUKES) – This heal and tone spray is light and crisp. I’ll spray it on underarms and face for a quick, fresh spritz. 
• Kosmatology free and clear lotion bar (use code TAYLORDUKES) – I’ve officially landed on my favorite lotion for kids, and this is it. It looks like deodorant, which makes it amazingly convenient for easy application. Hydrating but light, and not greasy. 
• CLEARSTEM Lips&Cutes (use code TAYLORDUKES) – The best hydrating lip and cuticle cream. This is great for super chapped skin anywhere!
• Primally Pure body wash (use code TAYLORDUKES) – My favorite body wash ever, and it comes in a travel 4 oz size. 
• CLEARSTEM shampoo and conditioner (use code TAYLORDUKES) – I have a few shampoos and conditioners I rotate between, but I love this one for travel because I don’t have to worry about leakage. It has a more secure cap than my other pump ones. 

While your destination will definitely alter what you need to pack, these are the basics that make their way into my suitcase (or carry on) regardless of where I’m going. If you haven’t made the switch to non-toxic products or clean snacks, this is the time. I have everything you need listed above to get you going! Happy packing!

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