Dopp Kit Diaries

Two hypochondriac-leaning editors spill the contents of their football-sized Dopp kits

After we rounded up some of our favorite Dopp kits last week, in which some well-traveled friends weighed in on their thoroughly road-tested set-ups, we realized we also wanted to know what people are putting inside their kits. Because if someone travels with a product, it’s the best stamp of approval that it actually works for them. When space is precious, you’re only going to bring your tried-and-trues that will make you look and feel your best. To kick things off we tapped two of our very own who have very dialed-in kits they’ve perfected over the years.

Carly Shea, Yolo’s Lifestyle Editor

My strategy for cosmetics is to use two of the medium Cadence parcels—one for liquids, and the other with everything else. Those both stay in my carry-on suitcase, then I have a leather Cuyana pouch I always keep in my personal item, which is full of things I might need in transit, including some more first aid and wellness-y things, plus a few more liquids to push my luck. My first aid kit might sound insane, but I often travel alone to places where I don’t speak the language or am not near a pharmacy, and being prepared means my Nurse Practitioner mother (who is still my emergency contact) will probably sleep better at night.

In the first Cadence pouch - things that are definitely liquids:
Sofie Pavitt Face Cleanser - Stored in a Ries bottle or Cadence capsule
Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Acid - I used to use Lotion P50 but switched to this last year and it’s much gentler if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum - A great everyday serum, and if you buy it in Europe, it’s often half the price
INNBeauty Extreme Cream in summer or Sofie Pavitt Omega Moisturizer in winter, decanted into a Ries bottle
Soleil Tujours Set + Protect - Sunscreen and setting spray in one, which is the best thing ever because I always forget to put on sunscreen until after I’ve done my makeup, plus it’s so easy to reapply throughout the day.
Westman Atelier Mascara
Mini Roz Santa Lucia Hair Oil - A great heat protectant/anti-frizz oil that doesn’t weigh down your hair. I put it in a Cadence capsule to save space, and because the packaging it comes in is sort of fragile.
Crown Affair Leave-in Conditioner - If I can only bring one hair product it’s this, because no matter how terrible the shampoo/conditioner is where I’m staying, this will revive my hair (I also put this in a Cadence capsule). If I have room, I’ll also bring their hair mask, which I use as a normal conditioner in the shower, and their mini air dry mousse.
Marvis travel-size toothpaste

In the other Cadence pouch - things that don’t count as liquids (at least in my book):
Sofie Pavitt Micellar Makeup Remover Pads
Merit Complection Stick, Brow Pomade, and Flushbalm, which works as blush and lipstick
Dior Foundation Stick
Tweezers, those dermaplaning things, a toothbrush (either swiped from a hotel vanity kit or a Curaprox one), razor, the best Hermes nail files that Yolanda gave me, and floss from Buly—the only floss I’ve ever found that has beautiful packaging, which admittedly does encourage me to floss more.

In the Cuyana pouch:
Biodance Collagen Mask - I don’t do a whole skincare routine on the plane, but for a redeye I’ll wash my face and put on lotion in the lounge before takeoff, then put this on when I’m in my seat and ready for bed. I felt insane the first time I slept with a face mask on a plane, but then I realized nobody really cares and now I don’t either.
YSE Beauty eyepatches - When they turn the cabin lights on for landing, I take off the Biodance mask then put these on, and arrive looking like I actually slept even if I didn’t.
Aesop Hand Sanitizer - It doesn’t smell like a hospital, so I use it often and liberally.
A mini Dove deodorant - I don’t think natural deodorants work as well. Sorry!
Tower 28 Hypochlorous Acid Spray - This spray is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory—if you just feel a bit gross from the plane air or if someone keeps sneezing near you, a few sprays will kind of act like a forcefield on your skin. It’s also great to use after workouts if you have acne-prone skin.
Eye drops - My eyes get so dry on planes, and rehydrating them helps me feel more awake even after short flights.
A travel-size Le Labo or Perfumer H perfume - I hold off until landing to apply (in case my seatmates are sensitive to perfume), but then putting some on after the flight makes me feel and smell like myself again.
Aquaphor and Summer Fridays lip balm are also always in my bag.

In the sleeve of the Cuyana pouch I slip in some packets of: Ursa Major face wipes, AG1, Liposomal Vitamin C, Moon Juice Magnesi-Om powder, LMNT electrolytes, Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis (I also love this propolis spray, but it takes up more space), single-serving Manuka honey sticks I bought in Japan, and two bags each of Spearmint, Ginger, and Dandelion Root tea. And I keep a surgical face mask in there, again in case someone keeps sneezing near me.

Also within the Cuyana pouch I have a tiny Ziploc bag and a pill case from Amazon to keep first aid stuff organized. In the tiny Ziploc bag I keep a few Band-Aids, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, and hydrocortisone cream. In the pill box I keep: my daily meds, enough Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Sakara probiotics for each day of the trip, plus Dramamine, Sudafed, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and charcoal pills. I adjust those contents based on where I’m going—if I’m going to a city I’ll lean it out, knowing I can get anything I need there, but if I’m going somewhere more off-the-grid, I might throw in some Doxycycline, Hydroxyzine, and Zofran, to make sure I could go a few days without access to a doctor if I get sick or stung or bit by something. This is definitely overkill, but it is nice to not have to take time out of a short trip to track things down if you get some sort of ailment.

Matt Hranek, founder of WM Brown (aka Mr. Edwards)

My Dopp kit is stuffed the size of a football filled with every med, cream, beauty product and grooming gear I have ever used or will need. This is my third Prada kit in 25 years…I just love it.

The Prada Dopp has four separate compartments…two narrow outside and two deeper inside pockets that zip closed. I separate things as follows...

The first outside pocket (with Prada logo) is dedicated to nails (clippers, files) and shaving (a small brush, cream, razor and blades) with a few miscellaneous things like a pair of fabric knot emergency cufflinks, collar stays and few buttons, nose hair scissors, a Swiss Army Knife, tweezers and a small hotel sewing kit.

The first inside pocket holds my toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, body powder, contact lens gear, hair stuff, comb, travel size colognes from Hermes and Floris, The Ordinary Azelaic acid and moisturizer, eye cream, small battery operated hair groomer, my Casio F-91w gym watch and a portable head lamp (because I’ve been in hotels where the power has gone out and I don’t want to be in that situation again)…

The second inside pocket is mostly meds: a pill box, charcoal pills, anti-viral, antibiotics, and creams like antibiotic, antihistamine, anti bite, anti fungal, plus Aquaphor, burn cream, a medicated shampoo and a Tide stick.

The last outside pocket holds extra contacts, pain relief, bandaids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory etc…

It seems like a lot—and it is, but every time I take something out I inevitably really need it soooooo….everything has to stay in it. My Dopp kit has a reputation of its own—friends and hotel guests who end up telling me about a weird rash/bite over cocktails know that I’m the guy who always has the meds and elixirs, even when every pharmacy is closed.