I’ve got all these holiday toiletries but still somehow have nothing!

Sorry, what are you actually asking? Do you mean you're overwhelmed with what to take from the pile and actually pack? Or do you mean what else do you need?

It's pretty personal really. Along with toiletries I usually take painkillers, antihistamine tablets and packaged (first aid) antiseptic wipes (weirdly hard to find in some countries where they use liquid disinfectant). Anything else I'd just buy on hols if needed.

Looks like my travel toiletries! Get rid of the boxes. If you split it down into categories, skincare, first aid, sunscreen it’s not that much!

Where are you going? How long for and are you travelling alone?

I

Lost at what? What are you actually asking
Take what YOU need or want

I take

Shampoo & Conditioner - use solid bars
Soap
Deodorant
Small Perfume
Make up and remover and a moisturiser

I buy sun cream and aftersun there

I honestly don’t under what you feel most about? You’re going on holiday not a 3 year expedition to the artic circle

How long are you going for
Where are you going

I take: travel anti-perspirant, travel talc, travel scent, travel hairspray, hand cream, emery board, nail scissors, travel size make-up remover, day cream, night cream, travel sun cream, small bar soap, travel shampoo and conditioner, ibuprofen, paracetamol, anti-histamine, first aid travel pack.

I also have my "toiletry bag" ship shape at all times to chuck into a case. MIL and mum are 90, DS and DIL abroad and we could get an emergency call at any time. Suitcase permanently has: spare knickers, nightie, bra, socks, sweatshirt, spare slippers, for speed.

It's all available overseas.

I can see shampoo, conditioner and body wash - so that’d be all I need for a shower.

I’d want face wash and moisturiser too - which may be in there, I can’t see. Also deodorant and toothpaste.

You have sun cream, so then it’s just a first aid kit. For this I pack:

• ibuprofen
• after sun
• pepto bismol
• plasters
• bite cream
• anti histamine tablets

The chances I’ll need anything else are remote enough that I’d buy it out there.

Do you have those things already? If so, stop panicking. If not, go buy them.

I don’t really know what the overwhelm is. It’s not that much stuff. As PP said, sort it into categories, identify what’s missing, buy that, then pack what you need.

Make 2 piles of essentials...toiletries and medication.
2 piles of nice to have
2 piles of not worth the space.

Remember that unless your on a safari or an expedition there are shops. But i agree re medication as they try to rip you off so definitely take a few plasters, a few antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen (as its an inflammatory too), blister plasters, anti diarrhea (more than one box just in case), anti acid, anti histamines for bites, small antiseptic cream. That should cover most things.

Definite toiletries shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap , toothpaste, deodorant. Anything else is a bonus item.

Makeup is very personal but remember you're not really going to use it in the day and at night, you will have a tan so any usual foundation etc might not work.

This, but I would add after sun cream too, a pair of tweezers and a pin. Because my kids are knob heads who HAVE to piss about under the pier and always get splinters.

I would pop to home bargains (or do a boots/Amazon order) and get the following medical stuff:

• plasters
• paracetamol
• ibuprofen
• anti diarrhea stuff
• rennies/gaviscon etc
• anti constipation stuff
• mosquito repellent/ bands etc
• after bite stuff (salmon anti sting, patches ect)
• if travelling with children get some Calpol
• antihistamines
• sudacream
• hand sanitizer
• handy travel wipes

I'm assuming you've got your normal skin care, hair products etc

I take cold/flu tablets too. I always catch a cold and we’ve struggled to find these abroad before.

You do realise there are shops and you can buy things if you need them
Seriously for 12 days you're really over thinking this

I take a little tin with basic meds in - a strip of paracetamol, strip of ibuprofen, strip of antihistamines, after bite cream, small selection of plasters including blister plasters (which I see you've got), a few antiseptic wipes. Anything else you will be able to get if you need to.

Your other stuff looks quite comprehensive, ahem. I would start by putting the items which are essential to one side, and revising which other items are handy to have but not vital. Some things I use at home but don't bother with on holiday, you may be the same.

I have lists on my computer for what I'm taking on trips, I don't want to forget anything especially something I can't replace easily abroad, like spare contact lenses. It gives me peace of mind that I can tick off items knowing they're packed.

Why is everyone obsessed with first aid kits and taking multiple meds?

Hi OP

You need 3 categories - toiletries and first aid/meds (I have travel meds permanently packed in a separate bag) and makeup

Toiletries
Shampoo
Conditioner
Shower gel
Moisturiser /aftersun
Deodorant
Suntan lotion

Meds
Paracetamol
Plasters
Antiseptic wipes
Sudocrem (for blisters/bites/burns)
Immodium
Antihistamine
A few safety pins
Tweezers

Makeup
Whatever you would normally take

OP, are you the lady I saw at Luton last September with 3 clear bags with about a dozen products in each at the security check?!

Make a list and tick off and pack only what you need. MIne is as follows:

Travel size shampoo
Travel size conditioner
Moisturiser with spf (my Cerave one is travel size anyway)
Full size sunscreen in my suitcase
Travel size face cleanser/make-up remover
Travel size shower gel
Deoderant
Toothpaste
Travel size handcream
Travel size heat protector
Paracetamol
Anti histamines
Plasters
Bite/sting cream

Shampoo
conditioner ( smaller as DONT use daily )
Bar soap
toothpaste / brush
Sun screen
basic moisturiser
prescription drugs
inbuprofen / paracetamol
anti sickness / other end
deo
hotels tend to supply shower gels etc.

@everylittlethingis I fully recommend the packpoint app that helps you create packing lists.

So you've got 3 weeks to pick up a pack of paracetamol with the weekly shop. Plus anything else you think you're missing, I don't see the issue?

If you're flying and using airports that still have the 100 ml rule, bag up your liquids and that's your limit.

If you're going on the train, use a nice toiletry bag and put in what you know you need, job done.

Why do you need 4 full suncream and 2 full size body moisturisers? Two different blister blaster packs? It’s all just overkill