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

Get a clear plastic box (or bag) and add tablets, medication, plasters - your mini first aid kit as you will. Take them out of boxes.

put your mini toiletry’s to carry on the plane in about bag and pack whatever else you are taking into the suitcase. I bought the July toiletry bag that has a clear case and put toothbrush, minis and toothpaste in that to carry, the rest in the luggage and I always have a mini first aid kit.

This is what I take

Solid shampoo bar (hair & body)
Toothbrush
Tooth paste or tooth tablets
Solid deoderant
Blister plasters
Antihistamine tablet
Anadin
Stomach upset tablets
Travel insurance
Sometimes small scissors
Sun cream

Anything else can be bought while away

Keep the boxes, you may need them depending on where you travel. Many countires advise you to keep medicines in there original packaging.

Plus in a lot of European countries, supermarkets don't sell painkillers etc, you need to go to a pharmacy, and unless you find the one on the emergency rota, they're shut between Saturday lunchtime and Monday morning.

And simple painkillers are a few euro instead of about 50 p. So seeing as they weigh nothing, it makes sense to take a pack with you.

My list is…

Cleanser, acid toner, serum, moisturiser, face spf, face tanning drops (I don’t tan at all, but burn easily so am always lathered in factor 50).

Bar soap, body moisturiser, sun cream, aloe Vera type after sun. Shampoo, conditioner, hair product.

paracetemol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, bite cream, roll on jungle formula, blister plasters, compeed stick. I know I can buy these abroad but I like to have them on hand when I need them. I went somewhere without bluster plasters recently and had to walk for ages to find some which was a painful error.

Make up - tends to be a bit pared back on holiday, cc cream rather than foundation etc.

i either buy travel sized versions of products or decant stuff into mini pots I have bought.

Who says people are obsessed? It helps to be prepared, so if you get a headache/stomach ache/itchy bites/blister or whatever, you can treat it promptly instead of waiting until morning and finding a chemist or supermarket. I don't want to be having a miserable night with a headachy child when I can fix it then and there!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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?!

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

How long are you going for
Where are you going