Next week, I’m headed to Salt Lake City for my first work trip.  As I prepare for five days on the road, I’m stocking up on the tools and products that I will need to survive the first of many weeks spent in a hotel.  Here’s what I’m bringing to make sure I show up to work looking and feeling my best.

01. The Shaving Balm // Summer travel of any kind means shaving your legs, and nothing is quite as miserable as missing a spot only to find it later while sitting in a meeting.  Why, yes, that is a three inch long strip of hair running down the length of my calf.  

Shave Pillow from Hanni is a miracle product.  Smear it on your legs and shave without water (or fear of nicks and cuts).  It’s perfect for touch-ups, a quick below-the-knee shave, or any time you want to remove hair without taking a shower.  The stick can also be used as a moisturizer, so no need to pack two products.

As for my go-to razor, I like that I can buy Flamingo razors at Costco or Target without having to wait for them to be mailed to me.

02. A Travel Steamer and Iron // A hotel room iron is a path to disaster.  How many times have you gone to use one and wound up with rust stains on your clothes?  Plus, they never get hot enough and the steam feature leaves a lot to be desired.

This Nori Press Steamer and Iron takes up as much room in a suitcase as a hair straightener, but can perfectly press a blouse in minutes.  The panels let you steam and iron.  They also allow you to de-wrinkle both sides of a piece at the same time.  This product is a bit of an investment, but if you travel for work (or you’re just trying to save money on dry cleaning), it is a game changer.

03. Leak Proof Bottle Covers // Yes, I travel with full-size beauty products. Yes, I check a bag. Every.single.time. Do not at me. This is my beige flag, and I waive it proudly.

But whether you travel with full-size liquids and gels or TSA-approved minis, the last thing you want is a leak.  No one wants to open their bag to find that one of their pricey products has spilled.  These Leak Proof Covers from Amazon seal the container and protect other items from leakage.  So much better than a freezer bag filled with goo.

Prefer reusable containers?  This Amazon shop has a mix of jars and squeeze bottles so all of your products have a place to live.

04. A Hydrating Mask // Traveling is so dehydrating.  I can never drink enough water on a trip.  And when my skin is crying out for moisture, I like to give it a boost with a hydrating mask.  This trip, I’m packing the Summer Fridays JetLag Mask (thank you, Sephora samples) but I usually prefer a sheet mask like this Ceramidin Mask from Dr. Jart.

05. Shoe Bags // Packing cubes are great. Especially the compression ones I bought last year.  But shoe bags, shoe bags are the unsung heroes of my suitcase.

I always pack four of these Pack All Shoe Bags. Two hold my shoes (duh).  They’re waterproof, so I use one to haul those liquids and gels we talked about.  And the fourth one, I bring empty and fill with dirty underwear and socks.  The handle can hang off a door handle, so it’s like having a mini-hamper.

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Other products that I like to haul on trips?  A microfiber towel to dry my hair in a snap frequently makes the list, some shower steamers to start my day off right, and electrolyte chews so I don’t have to stock Gatorade.  I’ll also put in a Target delivery order once I arrive for some snacks, some fruit and fizzy water.  This way I don’t have to buy dinner every night and always have something to eat after a long day at work.

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