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You Can’t Eliminate The Stress Of Holiday Travel, But You Can Reduce It With These 25 Target Products
Pack easier, enjoy your flight, and take care of your skin on the go with these helpful travel essentials.
1. A memory foam travel neck pillow so you can rest your head and take a little nap on your way to — and probably more importantly — on your way back from your trip.
2. A set of silicone bottle caps that keep any spillage from your cosmetics tightly contained, so there aren’t any tears when you open your bag and realize everyone’s presents you packed are covered in toning shampoo.
3. A hanging toiletry bag, if stuffing all of your travel items into a well-organized bag has been a pipe dream so far. This baby has TONS of pockets, so all of your tools, makeup, skincare, fragrances, and other toiletries can have their own little place.
4. A pack of Mighty Patches for keeping up with your skincare routine, even if you don’t feel like bringing a million tiny bottles of liquid along. You’ll at least be able to pop these magic little stickers on any breakouts for some overnight relief without any TSA hassle. All the more important with holiday photos on the way.
5. An E.l.f lip mask formulated with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and castor seed oil to keep your pout feeling its best, even if your seat neighbor’s little air thing is pointed right at you and winter weather is drying you out.
6. An AirFly adapter lets you connect your Bluetooth headphones directly to the in-flight entertainment for the highest quality sound without a wire in sight. Your fiftieth viewing of The Holiday is gonna be your best yet.
7. A Frenshe by Ashley Tisdale cashmere vanilla-scented body serum stick infused with magnesium and squalane to add a dose of moisture to any patches that start to feel a little dry or itchy in midair. I love some good mid-flight and mid-holiday self-care, and if Sharpay from High School Musical makes it, consider it already in my bag.
8. An expandable hard-shell carry-on suitcase with four spinner wheels and a built-in lock to bring your luggage firmly into adulthood with you. The last thing you need to happen in an airport during the busiest time of the year is a wheel breaking.
9. And a 35-liter travel backpack in case you need some packing overflow or if you want to forego the suitcase altogether and pack everything hands free. It opens suitcase-style so clothes are as easy to access as a more traditional bag.
10. Some classic Apple EarPods that are minuscule to store when you’re not using them, don’t require charging, and don’t break the bank. I’m a believer that these classics are underrated, especially when it comes to traveling light and stress-free. Who needs another thing to charge?
11. A Hatch Rest Go portable noise machine so your little one can get some shut-eye on the road and in their new location, even in the presence of unfamiliar noises. And hey, this works for adults, too. I know a lot of my pals swear by their white noise machines, especially when they’re in new spaces.
12. A small pack of disinfecting wipes to give you peace of mind when using high-touch surfaces away from home. Nothing’s worse than discovering your airplane tray is mysteriously sticky.
13. And a mini bottle of The Honest Company hand sanitizer spray for getting your hands squeaky clean before you dive into those tasty plane snacks you brought.
14. A Kindle e-reader, so you can bring a ton of books with you on your adventure and stay entertained in transit without any bulk. And once you arrive, sometimes you need to take a break from family fun time to check in with your favorite characters.
15. A seven-piece set of packing cubes to keep your items as compact and organized as possible. I used to be skeptical of packing cubes at first, but I can confirm they help even the most disorganized of travelers (me) maintain some semblance of order. Especially key when trying to travel with presents, to and from festivities!
16. Some strawberry lemonade flavored Liquid IV so you can pack a little more hydration into the water you bring on board a flight or in the car. Getting up to go to the bathroom on a flight or having to pull over is the worst. Make the most of the liquid you decide to drink!
17. A travel throw blanket to stay toasty warm even if your seat neighbor is blasting the air. Plane naps are so much better when you’re at the right temperature. And when you’re not using it, it folds down into a plush bag and doubles as a pillow.
18. A box of sleep earplugs so you can rest in peace and quiet, even if your plane neighbor is snoring, you’re on a road trip with a honker, or once you arrive, your family is yapping deep into the night. You love them, but…it’s bedtime, besties.
19. An eight-piece toiletry bottle set to decant literally all of your favorite toiletries into small, manageable, TSA-approved bottles — yes, even sprays!
20. An AirTag so you can track your luggage juuuuust in case it gets lost. No more looking out the window watching the airline workers load suitcases on the flight, praying yours make it on.
21. An adjustable cushioned sleep mask that’ll help you get some serious shut-eye and be totally worth the room in your personal-item bag. Arriving at your destination well-rested is such a gift, especially when there are lights to hang, family recipes to make, and memories to cherish.
22. A mini travel steamer so you can look your sharpest for the holidays, even if there’s no iron in sight. Now, when you pull your dress out of your suitcase and see how wrinkled it is, there’s no stress. Worth the room, even in a carry-on.
23. An RFID-blocking waist pouch to keep around you in transit or in the seat pouch in front of you while in flight, so you always have your eyes on your most important essentials.
24. A five-piece compression bag set that doesn’t require a vacuum to squish down nice and small and maximize space. All you need to do is roll the air out, throw them in your bag, and be on your merry way with a whole wardrobe in tow.
25. A compact pill organizer allows you to bring the correct amount of medication and supplements you need for travel without lugging around full bottles. Way to stay on top of it all, even during a hectic trip!
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Rachel Dunkel is a former editor and contributor to the BuzzFeed shopping team with over seven years of experience testing and recommending products that help make life a little easier. A lover of solo backpacking trips and a good waltz to the mall alike, she’s here to help you find your next favorite piece of ultralight gear, holy grail serum, jeans that fit just right, and everything in between.
25 Target Items To Make Holiday Travel Less Stressful
