Digital Nomad's Cosmetic Bag, or Minimalism in Practice

Does it also irritate you when a movie or TV series heroine goes to bed with full make-up? Where is the two-step cleansing? Where is the hydrolate to restore the skin's proper pH? Where, I ask you, is the cream?!

Okay, I'm kidding a little bit... but not really. Since I've been conscious about my skincare routine, I know how important it is to go to bed with a clean face (my thoughts can be dirty, or I might have a nice dream). So even a one-night stand means taking more than just a toothbrush.

At the same time, I don't like excess. It tires me out, overwhelms me, makes it difficult to keep things tidy, and in the end I only use about 30% of the things I own. Does it happen to you too? In my case, it's a good thing, because having a lot of stuff doesn't fit my lifestyle at all. Since I was 16, I've changed cities on average every two years, and apartments even more often. A few years ago, I moved abroad, and recently I fulfilled my dream and became a digital nomad.

Minimalism – why is it important?

This nomadic lifestyle has taught me to buy things thoughtfully, including cosmetics. When shopping, I have in my mind that each new item potentially takes up space in my suitcase, weighs me down in my backpack, and forces me to get rid of something else. Although I am not a cosmetic minimalist like my mother, who doesn’t put on any makeup at all on a daily basis, and simply splashes her face with cool water or pats a little moisturiser into her skin (if she remembers), years of living out of a suitcase have forced me to limit the products I use to a comfortable minimum.

I coined the concept of the "comfortable minimum" while looking for a compromise between the "absolute minimum", which I personally did not find myself in, and the "unnecessary maximum", which in turn was a burden for me (both metaphorically and quite literally).

I know there are more people like me. So I decided to make a (subjective) list of features I want in hygiene products. I hope that this article will be useful not only to those who are starting out as digital nomads, but also to those who would simply like to have… less in their bathroom.

Hygiene products for travel – what to look for?

1. Multifunctionality

While a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner has never worked for me, there are indeed products that can be used multiple times (although it doesn’t necessarily say so on the label). They’re worth hunting down.

I realize that this may seem like an intrusive promotion, but seriously, I can't find a better example than... the intimate hygiene fluid from Your KAYA . It's so gentle and neutral that I use it to wash my whole body. It also served me as a facial cleanser for a very long time - and sometimes it still does, for example during shorter trips when I want to fit everything into a small backpack. I only received it once as part of a collaboration, I normally buy a supply with my own money. ;)

Another sincere recommendation is the SOS cream . My boyfriend is particularly fond of its moisturizing, versatile capabilities – he stole it from me so often that he probably used more than I did! The cream worked well on chapped lips, dry hands, and flaking skin around the nose. We took it on trips to the mountains and to the beach. We don't need it at the moment, but if it gets too dry and rough again – we know where to look for help.

I'm still looking for the perfect tint that I could use as a lipstick, blush, and occasionally eye shadow (if you have something worth recommending, let's chat on Instagram!).

2. Efficiency

You know those "family" supermarket own-brand dishwashing liquids that run out surprisingly quickly, considering the size of the bottle? Another example of how size doesn't necessarily matter. ;) I'll happily pay more for products that only require a tiny amount to work, because I know I'll end up better off in the end.

3. Unisex

I admit I'm a little jealous of my friend who has the same size feet as her girlfriend, so they can swap shoes. I won't steal my boyfriend's shoes, but that doesn't mean we can't share other things (and I'm not just talking about his shirts).

If you are in a heterosexual relationship and you are travelling together, it is worth considering which cosmetics could be used together. Toothpaste is a fairly obvious choice, but maybe something more? Shampoo? Body wash? Neutral-smelling deodorant? Of course, it doesn't have to be everything, just reducing your collection by a few products will help to relieve the pressure from the zipper in your suitcase. I remember how proud I was of myself when I managed to find a unisex perfume whose beautiful citrus scent suited us both. However, it is one less glass bottle (and a considerable financial benefit!).

4. Proven formula

A short, previously tested composition equals no risk of allergies. And an unexpected itchy rash all over the body is definitely not a welcome guest on our trip.

I admit that I myself have been tempted a few times by a regional "magic cosmetic", available for such a (not at all low, by the way) price only in the part of the world where I was staying. Maybe I was unlucky, but unfortunately no magic will ever work, unless it's black magic. ;) These few mishaps have taught me to rely on tried and tested products from brands I trust, even if it means taking a small supply with me or ordering online from abroad. In my opinion, traveling is not the time for cosmetic tests (it's definitely better to test new flavors!). For the same reason, it's not worth taking samples of untested products on a trip, even though they will take up a little less space in your suitcase. It's better to decant/pour your favorite cosmetics into smaller containers.

5. Appropriate packaging

A large package will be useful when we are going away for a longer period and will not have the opportunity to replenish supplies (for example, we are abroad for several months and our favorite cosmetic is produced and distributed only in Poland). Smaller ones are easier to stuff in a suitcase. Before buying a product, we determine how long it should last us, or whether it is available in the place we are going (I also recommend comparing prices on the Internet beforehand, from my experience I know that in Portugal or Spain we will pay relatively more for cosmetics and medicines than in Poland or Germany).

If our means of transport is an airplane, it is worth remembering that in hand luggage we can have containers with a maximum capacity of 100 milliliters (important: it is about the capacity, not the content!). Personally, I avoid glass (unless it is very thick, as in the case of the SOS cream jar), and I always check whether the closure is sufficiently secure. A scene from the sixth season of "Girls" had an effective effect on me, when after arriving at surf camp, Hannah opened her suitcase and found that the large tube of cream, which she had thrown loosely on top of the clothes, had not withstood the tension.

6. Practicality

Let us illustrate this feature with two examples – not of cosmetics, but of products related to intimate hygiene:

Menstrual cup

I’ve been taking birth control pills for a while now , and I used to use an app that tracks my menstrual cycle, so I know more or less when to expect “strawberry season” (as Marta Dzido nicely called menstruation in her collection of short stories of the same title). Still, there’s a nice sense of peace when you know you’re protected if something happens. Plus, this protection is so small and light that it can fit into even the smallest cosmetics bag in the world.

A friend recommended a menstrual cup to me. I hesitated to buy it, fearing problems with the application (do you also feel like these things are usually more difficult for you than the average person?). It turned out that this delay was completely unnecessary. If you have similar concerns, be sure to check out our article, in which we dispel doubts about the cup.

It worked great during a weekend spent in a camper, during a whole day at the beach (including a swim in the ocean), and when conquering the Trail of the Seven Hanging Valleys (yes, that's exactly the replacement in survival conditions!) . Not only is it unnoticeable once you put it on , it's also easy to clean , and mega-ecological!

I realize that the price may be off-putting at first. My cup cost 80 zlotys. Assuming that one pack of random tampons from a foreign supermarket costs around 3 to 5 euros, it is easy to calculate that the investment paid off after just a few cycles.

If we care about the environment, perhaps menstrual panties or reusable pads would also be a good idea, but only if we have the opportunity to do laundry (for example, in Portugal, renting an apartment with a washing machine is not such an obvious option, and using the municipal laundry is an additional cost) or we don't mind frequent hand washing.

Standing Pee Funnel (for people with a vagina)

I've been thinking about buying it for a while now. It may not be the sexiest thing in the world, but damn, anyone who has ever been bitten in the butt by mosquitoes or held off peeing for a long time because they couldn't imagine taking their pants off in such freezing temperatures knows why this is such a tempting proposition!

Iii... that's all I can think of at the moment. ;) If I've managed to inspire you to change towards a comfortable cosmetic minimum, then my job here is done !