A woman must always have certain items with her when leaving the house. And even if the items in our handbags may slightly change as we move through different life stages, there will always be those dependable handbag necessities that every female needs.
Here is my list of the 10 things I absolutely must have in my handbag:
PERIOD PRODUCTS, FIRST Nothing is worse than being taken off guard with a period you weren’t planning on. You might be as consistent as a clock, but from personal experience, I can tell you that it occasionally likes to catch you completely off guard. You must therefore be ready!
Fill a compact cosmetic bag with all of your necessary period supplies and keep it in your handbag. Whatever your preferred period product is—tampons, sanitary napkins, moon cups, period pants, wipes—throw it in there and rest easy knowing you’ll never be caught without it.
2. IMMEDIATE PAIN RELIEF A girl on the run can’t afford to let minor discomforts hold her back. It’s crucial to regain control by making sure you have some fast-acting pain medication stored away in that handbag of yours, whether it’s a headache, period discomfort, or you overdid it at the gym.
When you want something small and lightweight that can fit into your handbag without taking up too much room (I mean, there are 9 other handbag necessities to fit in there too! ), Paingone is ideal. And even better, there are no drugs at all. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I prefer to keep things as natural as possible and limit the amount of paracetamol and ibuprofen I use.
3. A HAND SAINT Even though the Covid limits may have now been relaxed, I have a feeling that we will all continue to use hand sanitizer for some time to come. This necessity for your baggage won’t go anywhere!
I believe that covid most importantly demonstrated how many germs there are in the world. I never used to think twice about touching a grocery cart or door handles, but when you consider how many people have touched them and let’s face it, not everyone has the same standards of hygiene, well yeah, I support continuous hand sanitization.
The majority of public spaces still provide hand sanitizer for patrons to use, however the quality might vary greatly. To avoid using a product that is overly sticky or dries your hands out too much, have a bottle of your favorite scented hand sanitizer in your luggage.
(4) HANDCREME Speaking of which, our poor hands are definitely suffering because of all the hand sanitizing and the chilly winter weather. A high-quality hand cream is the one item every woman must keep in her suitcase, especially at this time of year.
Pick a hand cream that is appropriate for your skin type. The best ingredients are always natural; additionally, aim to purchase goods that are organic, sourced responsibly, and produced sustainably so that you may both benefit the environment and your hands.
5. USEFUL FACE MAKEUP Face masks were previously required to be worn in public areas where there were common areas. Despite this, it is very likely that many individuals will keep wearing them for the foreseeable future.
Additionally, as we are all aware, these regulations are subject to change at any time, so it is best to harness our inner Brownies and be ready by keeping a reusable face mask stashed away in our handbags.
LIP BALM 6. This time of year, chapped, sore lips are prevalent, and the only thing you can do to either stop them from getting there or to help them get better if they’re already there is by slathering them in wonderful lip balm.
Make sure you purchase new lip balm each year, especially if you apply it directly to your lips like you would with a lipstick because your lips can harbor a variety of bacteria. I actually like to purchase many of them so I can keep one in my handbag, one on my nightstand, and several different coat pockets. A girl can never have too many lip balms, in my view!
BOTTLE OF CRYSTAL WATER 7. This one will depend on the size of your bag, but if you want a big tote, this is a must that you simply cannot go without.
We all understand how crucial it is to stay hydrated, and many of you probably already carry a water bottle with you at all times in an effort to meet your daily water goal. But I want to take it a step further, which is why I’m crazy with the crystal-filled water bottles I’ve seen that offer additional health and wellness advantages. In addition to looking really lovely, the crystal releases its built-up energy into your water. As a result, when you drink your crystal-infused water, you also absorb the crystal’s powers.
Naturally, it is up to you which crystal you use. Perhaps you want to reduce your stress levels, in which case Amethyst or Black Tourmaline are good choices. Choose citrine or aquamarine if you’d like to boost your creative abilities. Choose the crystal that feels perfect for you after doing some study because there is a crystal for everything.
8. USEFUL BAG We all use reusable shopping bags and are much better at choosing environmentally friendly options. So, it’s unlikely that this handbag item will come as a huge surprise. But if you really want to be an eco-warrior, you should choose bags that are not only reusable but also either composed of recycled materials or biodegradable at the end of their useful lives.
Be on the lookout for compostable bags made of contemporary materials like plant starch. Or, if you want a stronger bag, choose one made of organic cotton that can be washed and reused often if it gets soiled. You might even try constructing a reusable bag for yourself out of any old items you no longer wear if you’re adept with a sewing machine.
9. THERAPEUTIC PULSE POINT OIL Everyone enjoys smelling good, right? But what if you could simultaneously feel good and smell wonderful? You see, it’s simple to throw a sample bottle of perfume in your purse, but considering the past few years we’ve all experienced, I think we could benefit from using a pulse point oil to harness the benefits of aromatherapy.
You can find them online or at independent specialty stores; I know my hometown has a ton of stores that sell them. The idea is that you apply them to your pulse points as needed. For instance, it would be prudent to search out for an oil like frankincense or clary sage, which have characteristics shown to reduce stress and anxiety, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed. Applying the oil to your pulse points—your wrists or neck—means that it enters your bloodstream more quickly because the blood flows there closest to the skin. And as a result, you get the rewards almost immediately.
10. CONFIRMATIONS THAT ARE GOOD Every woman needs a supporter to help her feel good about herself. Fill your handbag with little words of happiness to make you smile every time you go looking around in there. I love reading positive affirmations to help improve my attitude and empower me throughout the day.
Your keys and phone will obviously be in your handbag; after all, who travels without such handbag necessities? However, why not accessorize them with an uplifting keyring or a phone cover with a motivating quote? We can all use additional motivation and an increased sense of self-worth, which may be achieved by periodically sending ourselves these small messages.
What items would you include as essentials for your bag? You now have it. My top ten handbag necessities that I believe every woman should have in 2022. If I didn’t cover anything above, let me know what you would add to the list. So please comment below or on my social media pages with your thoughts:
A content producer, full-time procrastinator, mother of two children, and owner of one grumpy cockapoo, Becky Stafferton. She works to spread a realistic, enduring, and uplifting view of what it means to live a healthy life while also keeping the idea that life isn’t all rainbows and fluffy clouds. She enjoys racing through mud puddles, making lists of lists, having good old grumbles, conducting random Google searches, and sitting on her bum looking through social media when she’s not writing or doing either of those things.