10 must-have handbag items for wellness on-the-go

With our jam-packed schedules these days it’s no wonder our biggest gripe when it comes to staying healthy is “I’m too busy”.

Whether you’re a full-time mum running around the park after your toddler, a professional with a back-to-back meeting schedule or have other commitments seeing you outside of your home on the daily, your handbag can be your little portable health hub.

I personally feel naked and under-prepared if I leave the house without a few of these items, particularly snacks. You never know when a quick outing can turn into a half day event so its essential to have a well-packed bag for optimal wellness at all times.

10 must-have handbag items for wellness on-the-go

1. Sunscreen

   Ask any dermatologist for their number one tip for younger looking skin and it’s likely to be about the importance of wearing sunscreen each day, regardless of your daily activities (yep even indoors, new research shows UVA rays can still penetrate the skin behind glass).

   The truth of the matter is an SPF moisturising sunscreen daily is your greatest protection against the sun's harmful rays and will help keep skin hydrated. Many women choose not to wear sunscreen every day because they associate it with an oily, thick consistency that can affect the look of makeup and clog pores. However, I have found some beautiful organic sunscreens on the market that are light weight, non-oily and actually make your skin look more glowing and dewier under make-up. Always opt for organic natural sunscreen, there’s a heck of a lot of toxic nasties in mainstream sunscreen.

   I am currently loving (for myself and my daughter) Simple As That Natural Sunscreen Lotion for face and body.

    

2. Lip balm

   Lip balm is the holy grail of any handbag and one of the most reached items. So it's super important what you are applying on her lips multiple times throughout the day is as natural as possible. Think about the number of times you have accidentally tasted your lip balm as its gone inside your mouth, it’s the biggest reminder how our beauty products end up in our bloodstream.  Look for lip balms that are certified organic or certified natural. You’ll find them inside your health food store, organic day spa or beauty salon or on any natural living websites. Better yet, make your own and flavour with essential oils.

   I am currently loving Hurraw! Coconut Lip Balm and Dearest Lips Vegan Lip Balm - Turkish Delight (it comes in the cutest compositable tube).

    

3. Organic Hand Sanitiser

   At the rate we go through hand sanitiser these days it’s also vital to have one with no nasties. The ones you find on your supermarket shelves are unfortunately filled with cheap thickening gels and synthetic fragrances.

   Don’t worry, organic and/or natural hand sanitiser still use all the important ingredients to ward off bacteria and viruses but don’t add any of the yucky unnecessary stuff. And the best part is most of them won’t dry out your hands!

   I am currently loving Dr Bronner’s Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer (you can also use it as a room spray, deodorant or hand spray for kids sticky hands).

    

4. Hand cream

   Following on from above, if you do find yourself with extra dry hands these days due to all the extra hand washing and sanitising, it’s nice to treat your hands with a beautiful hand cream to keep them feeling supple. Most hand creams use thickeners, artificial fragrances and other nasties so always look for organic and natural certified products which only use essential oils or plant extracts.

   I am currently loving Andalou Natural’s Clementine Hand Cream.

    

5. Deodorant

   An obvious handbag item, it’s a necessity on a stressful work or summers day. But another one that’s oh-so-vital to have in a natural form. Did you know Conventional deodorants can contain harmful ingredients like Triclosan which is an endocrine disruptor, meaning it can mimic hormones or interfere with hormonal signalling. If that’s not scary enough, one of the most common compounds used in antiperspirants is Aluminium, a metal that is a common ingredient in anti-perspirants that works by ‘plugging’ sweat ducts to stop sweating and disrupt the rhythm of cell growth which can lead to cancer. Enough said on this one. If you make one healthy product swap its this one and pronto!

   I am currently loving No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant and I have also heard great things about Woohoo! Or even better, make your own!

   *Note: Its best to convert to a low-tox deodorant during the winter months as your pits take at least 30 days to detox. You’ll find your body odour will remain during this time even with the new deodorant on. Persist! Once you’re detoxed, you’ll be all set for natural-town. 

    

6. Snacks

   This is my field of genius. If I could have a handful full of snacks and nothing else I would. Snacks mean you are never stranded with no healthy food options. Snacks are your insurance policy for when a quick outing turns into a half day affair. When you are armed with good quality and nutritious snacks there’s no excuse for not staying on track with your health. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to grab something not so ideal, leaving you feeling bloated, lethargic and guilty.

   Just like you would a nappy bag, make sure your handbag is always stocked with the emergencies to grab whenever you need. Depending on your dietary requirements, your snack options will be unique to you but some examples are fruit, little bags of organic nuts, protein bars, energy balls, rice cakes and seed crackers. I always look for organic, gluten-free and refined sugar free snacks.

   I am currently loving GoMacro Organic MacroBar Protein Pleasure Bars or Nutra Organics Berry Yum Biotics Bar.

    

7. Essential oils

   I love popping essential oils in my bag to use throughout the day. I usually have the roller bottles pre-made up with fractionated coconut oil for easy application but having the whole bottle can be handy too.

   Just popping a few drops into the palm of your hands and either applying it topically or inhaling in it with a few deep breaks can be a great quick pick-me-up or a calming reset if you’re feeling stressed.

   I don’t use conventional perfume (another no no on the toxic front) so I use these bottles of natural goodness as my daily perfume and re-apply during the day.

   Some great oils to choose are peppermint for focus, lavender for calm and Ylang Ylang for emotional balance. Lemon is also great to pop into your water bottle for a refreshing kick.

   I am currently loving Doterra’s Rose and Jasmine rollers for my daily perfume. Use on their own or together.

    

8. Organic Tea Bags/Re-usable cup 

   These little packets of goodness are always handy to pop in your bag. Whether you’re out and about or over at a friend’s place, its super easy to have your BYO tea bags on hand just in case you are like me and are fussy with tea. Not all teas are made the same and many contain herbicides and pesticides. Organic is always best here to ensure you are only drinking quality tea with no nasties. I also have sachets of organic instant coffee in my bag (my current ones are infused with a mushroom mix like Lion’s Maine and Chaga) for a quick and easy healthy coffee option.

   I am currently loving Pukka Organic Womankind teabags and Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix.

    

9. Crystals

   You may think this one is a bit woo woo but crystals are a wonderful addition to your bag to help balance your energy throughout the day.

   Select small crystals you are most drawn to and feel best for you. As you reach into your bag during the day just sighting them may bring good thoughts and energy or hold them in the palm of your hand while driving, in a stressful meeting or while paying at the counter. Citrine is a good choice for wealth and abundance. Storing one inside your purse is said to bring good luck and protection around money. Rose quartz promotes self-love and calm, Amethyst relieves stress and balances mood while Black Tourmaline brings protection around EMF (Electromagnetic fields) radiation so is a great one to have around your phone.

    

10. Filtered Water

    It’s an obvious and simple one but something that still gets overlooked. Carrying your drink bottle in your bag encourages you to consume more water throughout the day. Drinking more water helps carry nutrients and oxygen to your cells, aids in digestion, improves metabolism, boosts your energy and is the holy grail for glowing skin! To take your water to the next level and amplify its benefits opt for filtered, mineralised, hydrogen rich and alkaline water. There are many at-home and portable filtration systems on the market that offer high grade drinking water for optimal health. Get sipping lovely.