Italy Travel Diary : Packing Your Hand Luggage

I’m leaving for Italy today and I thought it would be helpful to share my tips that help you not to over-pack your hand luggage. For short-haul flights especially, it’s very easy to pack too many “plane activities” that you think you’ll during the few hours on the plane, when in reality you will just end up listening to Spotify for the whole flight.

My choice of hand luggage is my Radley handbag. I prefer this over others as it’s the perfect size to fit all I need in without leaving room for unnecessary items. For your carry – on I would recommend a medium size handbag. The benefits are that it’s in your hand or on your shoulder for security purposes, and they’re able to zip up for added security as well. They also come with multiple pockets to easily organise your belongings for easy access, as boarding passes and passports are often needed to be presented under short notice. A purse containing your usual currency and the currency of the country you’re flying to is vital as well, as you will be needing both before having access to your hold luggage. It is often a good idea to store your health insurance card in your purse as well.

For reading purposes my top picks would be a magazine or Kindle as they’re lightweight and take up little space. (If bringing your Kindle make sure to use a case for protection through security checking.) However, if wishing to bring a hard copy of a book I would recommend one you’ve already started to read. This ensures that you like and want to continue reading the book, so as to not get bored.

If veering more towards using a phone or tablet for entertainment then make sure to pack headphones or earphones. Before leaving your home don’t forget to download your Spotify  playlist or a few episodes of your favourite Netflix show. Making sure to pack a portable charger as well is a good idea. Mine above is only for one full charge, and is available to purchase from Carphone Warehouse along with the rose gold earphones.

If you prefer to write down any notes bring a small size notebook and a pen and highlighter. I tend to also bring a mini size Tippex pen because I prefer to use them to correct any mistakes. Even if you don’t want to bring the notebook I would advise packing a pen just in case. 

These are the necessities I can’t travel without, that I always recommend bringing. Compeed are a lifesaver for blisters and the last thing you want is not being able to walk properly around the airport, so be sure to pack them or an alternative. Chewing gum can be used in many situations, from when you’re just wanting to freshen up or to keep you going until you can find a drink of water. I bring hydrocortisone for my eczema and if requiring anything like an asthma inhaler be sure to pack it with you. Hand gel is self explanatory as there are germs everywhere on the plane and around the aiport. Travel size face suncream is brilliant if you’re going somewhere hot, and it can also be used for your body as well. The air-con on the plane always dries out my hands so I tend to bring a heel balm as oppose to hand cream because it is more rich and moisturising. Make sure to keep all liquids under 100ml! 

Scent wise always bring deodorant because you never want to be the person that smells on the plane! You can only bring roll on in your carry on but it is still worth bringing to freshen up post flight as well. My perfume of choice is either Ghost Eclipse (on the right) and My Burberry (on the left). These are both under 100ml but if you prefer a body mist then The Body Shop ones are brilliant. They’re affordable, 100ml and come in a large variety of scents (the mango one is my favourite for summer). 

Sunglasses are always in my bag in the summer and are great to wear if you’re on an early flight and haven’t lathered your dark circles with concealer. A nude lipstick always make you look pulled together or Vaseline works just as well and a travel hairbrush is great if you want to put your hair up or tame the airplane frizz. (Mine isn’t technically a travel one, I just broke the end off but it works just as well.) Hair bands and bobby pins can also be helpful to get hair out of your face.

For food and drink it is much easier to purchase after security or on the plane. But if you have specialised dietary needs, planes rarely cater for these so buying food in the airport not on the plane, is always a better idea.

For any enquiries about any of the products pictured just leave a comment and I will be updating you with more posts from my trip to Italy!

Meg XO

Brand Discovery : Kiehl’s

For my first post I thought it would be best to introduce a new series I’m planning on continuing, if it appeals to you, so be sure to leave your comments or send me any suggestions you may have.

Brand Discovery takes an in depth look into a brand’s founding history, top rated products and company values, to give you a chance to understand more about where your cosmetics come from.

History:

The first brand under the microscope is Kiehl’s. Kiehl’s started up in Manhatten in 1851 and since then has obtained a stellar reputation for incredible products and unique packaging across the globe. The brand also represents equality between the range of male and female cosmetics available, consistently providing men with ample choice of skincare products to care for all skin types.

Beginning as the apothecary named “Brunswick Apotheke” it wasn’t until John Kiehl purchased the apothecary in 1894, that it was named “Kiehl’s Pharmacy”. After being handed over to an apprentice after Kiehl’s retirement, the apprentices son named Aaron Morse later took charge of the company and introduced it’s first male products.

Kiehl’s gradually increased it’s product range across the next 150 years, increasing brand popularity and sponsoring events such as the “Everest Expedition” and dedicating products to a philanthropic cause. These products include Care for a Cure Hand Care and kick-starting “Kiehl’s Gives” to educate people on their philanthropic initiatives.

The company was bought in April 2000 by L’Oreal for between $100-$150 million and since then has extended its clientele beyond the singularly high end market, increasing it’s current store count to over 250 and sales revenue from $40 million to over $200 million annually.

Skincare and Ingredients:

Kiehl’s pride themselves on using naturally derived ingredients in their skincare products, so consumers can obtain healthy skin without the use of harsh chemicals or animal testing. Their most used ingredients are:

Lavender – Which when inhaled can calm, promote sleep and even have anti-depressive effects

Calendula Oil – To soothe and heal the skin

Squaline – A stem- distilled olive oil with rich moisturising effects, that is easily absorbed by the skin as it is extremely compatible with the skins natural oils

Caffeine – Often used in under eye products for its de-puffing qualities

Vitamin C – Visibly post-pones premature ageing of the skin and has potent effects on signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles

Beech Tree Extract – A type of naturally derived sugar that can firm the skin

Rosa Arctica – The “Regeneration Flower” that kick-starts cellar vitality  by stimulating elastin and collagen production

KIEHL’S TOP 10 PRODUCTS:

1.Midinight Recovery Concentrate – Rejuvenating serum used in evening skincare routines, £38

2.Ultra Light Daily UV Defense – SPF 50 Suncream to protect the face from sun damage, £36

3.Ultra Facial Cream – A rich mosturising face cream for “24-hour” moisutre, £24.50

4.Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate – Vitamin C rich concentrate to reduce the appearance of fine line, wrinkles and ageing, £49.50

5.Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution – Used to visibly colour correct dark spots and discolouration, £37

6.Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado – A mosturising under eye cream to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, £34

7.Super Multi-Corrective Cream – An anti ageing mosturiser to visibly lift, firm and retexturise the skin, £49

8.Facial Fuel – Helps combat effects of environmental stress to re-energize with added SPF 15, £33

9.Hydro Plumping Re-Texturising Serum Concentrate – A serum used to plump the skin and smooth fine lines , £41

10.Creme De Corps – Kiehls’ signature body lotion, designed to nourish and protect the skin £28