What's in My Work Bag: The Essentials That You Need
Hello, friends:)
Today's post is rather different from anything I have posted before. Now that I am commuting every day to work, it is important that I have the essentials with me everywhere I go. The majority of my time is spent away from home, so I need to have a number of things on me in case of any emergency.
While I am not sure if what I have in bag is of interest to anyone other than myself, perhaps my bag essentials might help any young professionals out who are just starting the commuting life. It also might spark some ideas for those of you who are wondering if there is anything else you should be carrying with you that might come in handy.
So if you are at all interested in what I carry with me Monday-Friday, or just want to stalk me a bit, then just keep reading!!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
My Bag
Firstly, this is my bag. It is from Coach (my all-time favorite bag company). I got it at on outlet mall for A LOT cheaper than the original retail price. It is in one of my favorite colors, nude pink, and I fell in love with it the moment I found it on the shelf.
It has two deep, open side pockets, and one large secure inner pocket that is closed with a zipper. There are pouches on the right-hand size to drop things in and reach for easy access; I usually put my phone in there when I am holding something. In addition, there is a zippered pocket on the left-hand side so pack more stuff that maybe you want to separate from the rest of your belongings.
This bag is quite deep, and you can certainly pack a lot of stuff into it. I find myself using it on the weekends now too as my everyday purse, I love it that much. Of course, it does not fit my lunch, water bottle, and laptop, so I carry those in my theft-proof backpack.
Inside my bag
On the left is my phone case that also has a attached zippered wallet to hold money, my cards, my train ticket, and my identification. It has a magnet that can hold my phone in there as well. It was one the best purchases I ever made because I can just carry that around with me and have everything that I need.
In addition, I also always have a portable charger on me. Since my train doesn't have outlets, I always want to make sure my phone is charged just in case I need to contact someone or check my email. This portable charger is truly a life-saver, and anyone who does a lot of commuting on public transportation should definitely have one.
I also carry around a pack of mints and a travel size spray perfume because I like to smell good when I get to the office. I feel like there is nothing worse than coffee breath after my morning cup, and I have a lot of walking between the office and the train station, so I always want to make sure I smell clean and not like someone who is out of breath and needs to work out more.
Lastly, I always carry oil blotting sheets with me to help keep my makeup looking fresh. Sometimes when it is very humid, or if it is a long day, my face gets a bit oily, but these sheets make a huge difference. They wick away my oils and leave my face matte without disturbing my makeup. They are one of the best blotting sheets on the market, and they are super affordable!
To purchase the Clean & Clear Oil absorbing blotting sheets on Amazon, click here.
As far as the makeup goes, I don't bring a ton of makeup with me. I bring the Tarte Cosmetics Pro Glow to Go palette that has two highlighters and one bronzer in a nice travel size package, which is perfect for makeup on the run. I also bring my favorite loose setting powder from Maybelline and a powder foundation from Too Faced that I found at an outlet mall that has sadly since been discontinued. Powder foundation seems to last a bit longer on my face than liquid or cream foundations, and this one has a particularly nice satin matte finish (plus it smells like chocolate).
I also bring a Burt's Bee nude lipstick and a ELF Cosmetics Lip Oil so I can add some nice color to my lips that are office appropriate and comfortable to wear for during a long work day. Additionally, I ALWAYS carry my Tarte Shape Tape with my because I always want my face to look fresh and clear. I care about my appearance and always want to make a good impression, so concealer is a must-have. I also have a travel size MAC Fix+ which helps to refresh my face throughout the day since my face tends to dry out from the stale office air.
And, of course, I carry along my necessary brushes and beauty blender to help me with touch-ups throughout the day. I apply my makeup at home and not on the train, so I only really need to fix stuff up rather than start from scratch.
As far as some other very important staples in my bag, I have some hair products to help keep my mane in order all day long. I carry a big clip in case it is hot and I just want to put my hair up while I walk to the office. I also have some hair clips, ties, and two travel size brushes to make sure I am always looking like I have it together, even when I don't.
Perhaps this isn't too exciting, but I always carry some tissues, Advil, Chapstick, a small first-aid kit with some bandaids - because blisters and paper cuts are REAL- and a small deodorant because, again, I have a long walk to work and you can never be too careful. Additionally, I carry a hand santizer because I am a bit of a germophobe when it comes to being in public areas. Clean hands are very important to me because I don't want to get sick and you never know what germs could be out there, especially in a big city. Lastly, I carry around small stain removers because I have a nasty habit of spilling things on myself, particularly coffee.
Lastly in my bag, we have my ever important computer glasses. Since I have a desk job without any window access, my eyes tend to get very sore and I occasionally get headaches from staring at the screen for too long. These glasses, however, make a huge difference. I no longer get headaches or sore eyes, and I get to look a bit smarter by wearing them. One of the best purchases I have ever made, and they were fortunately super affordable.
Click here to purchase the glasses on Amazon for $ 12.99
I also always have my sunglasses on me because I am NOT about to start squinting and giving myself wrinkles around my eyes. The sun is dangerous, and I am not playing games.
The final thing in my work bag, which is essential to all young professionals, is my watch. I never want to be caught looking at my phone to check the time during a meeting, so I keep things professional by having my watch on me at all times. I got mine at Kohls for really cheap, and this one is silver with some gold, so it goes with almost anything. It is a staple in my bag for sure.
So there you have it! Everything that I keep close to the vest (literally) as I commute to work each and every day.
What are some bag essentials that you need to have with you everywhere you go? Let me know in the comments section down below!
As always, thanks for reading!
Stina :)