Do you feel like you always target at least one essential item every time you leave the house? It can be hard to keep track of everything that you might need. To help you out, we’ve rounded up 17 essential items that every woman should keep in her purse, from phone chargers to anti-aging sunscreen:
Reader's Roadmap
Phone and Charger
Never leave home without your phone! This should be one of the first items that you put in your purse every single time you prepare to leave the house. In addition to the phone itself, you should also bring a charging cable and either a wall outlet or a power bank (or both). Then you’ll never have to worry about your phone running out of battery again!
Wallet
Your wallet is another essential item that should absolutely be in your purse. Make sure that it contains your ID, credit and debit cards, health insurance cards, and cash (ideally small bills). Some people also prefer to ditch their wallet and get a phone card case that can hold everything, so they only have to remember to pack one item.
Keys
Keys are another item that you absolutely must put in your purse every time you leave your house. Hang them on a hook or place them on a countertop right by the front door so that you never forget to grab them. Some purses and bags also come with interior key clips, so that you never have to worry about your keys falling out of your bag again.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is a must-have for those times when you can’t wash your hands, or the bathroom is out of soap. Get a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer and keep it in your purse at all times so that you can clean your hands in a pinch.
Hair Ties and Clips
You never know when you want to get your hair off your neck, so pack your favorite hair ties or scrunchies so you are always prepared. You might also want to carry some kind of hair clip in your purse, whether that’s a claw clip or bobby pins, to give you another option.
Lip Balm
To truly protect your lips, you need to apply lip balm throughout the day, not just when you’re sleeping at night. Pack an affordable lip balm or chapstick in your purse so that you don’t have to be too concerned about losing it. Try to find a lip balm that has SPF in it to protect your lips from sun damage while you’re out and about.
Hand Cream
Similar to lip balm, you should be applying hand cream all through the day, especially if you struggle with dry skin. Fortunately, many popular hand creams come in mini sizes that are specifically designed for travel, so grab your favorite one and add it to your purse.
Sunscreen
You should apply sunscreen as the last step in your morning skincare routine (after your anti-aging moisturizer) and reapply every two hours while out and about — but you can’t do that if you don’t have sunscreen in your purse. If space is an issue, you can put some of your favorite sunscreen into a travel-size toiletry bottle so that you will always always be able to protect your skin from UV damage.
Tampons or Pads
Every woman should carry an emergency tampon or pad (and probably several) in her purse. Even if you don’t think that you’ll need it, you never know when another woman in the bathroom might need one unexpectedly.
Reusable Grocery Bag
Be prepared for impromptu shopping trips by adding a reusable grocery bag to your purse. Find a packable one that folds down small, ideally into an integrated pocket, so that you don’t have to worry about it coming undone in your purse.
Sunglasses
You never know when the sun might come out, so be ready to protect your eyes by carrying a pair of sunglasses in your purse at all times. To keep the sunglasses’ lenses from getting scratched, get a lightweight case that won’t add too much bulk to your bag.
Books or E-Reader
If you’re a dedicated reader, then you should always have reading material on your person. If you’ve got a bigger purse, you should be able to fit a paperback novel in there. But if you’re pressed for space, try a smaller e-reader such as a Kindle that is designed for portability.
Makeup
Even the best makeup will smudge through the day, so you’ll probably want to pack some supplies for touchup such as blotting sheets and powder. You might also want to add some makeup removing wipes to your bag so that you can easily wipe away any runny mascara.
Medications
Even if you don’t take any prescription medications, we still recommend keeping common medications such as over-the-counter painkillers and antacids in your purse. Look for a container with a lid that secures so that it won’t accidentally open and dump the pills into your purse.
Deodorant
With the weather getting warmer, you’re going to sweat more, and it’s best to be prepared by packing your favorite deodorant or antiperspirant in your purse. If you don’t have room for a full-size one, or don’t want to carry the extra weight, get a travel-size one instead.
Tissues
A portable pack of tissues is another essential item that should be in every woman’s purse. Carrying tissues means that you never have to wipe your nose on the sleeve of your expensive blouse, and that you have a backup in case you get stuck in a stall without toilet paper.
Stain Remover
The most effective time to treat a stain is immediately after it happens, so get ahead of the game by packing stain removal options in your purse. There are several different kinds to choose from, including stain removal pens and individually wrapped wipes.
Do you carry all of these items in your purse? Are there any other must-have items that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!