Everything you can find in my tote bag

With pictures

Often, I love writing in-depth, vulnerable personal essays for my Substack. I love cutting open my chest and pouring my heart out for you.

But also, I am just a girl. And sometimes, I don’t have the emotional or mental capacity to even think of essay topics (let alone write the damn things).

So while sitting at my laptop mulling over what to write for today’s post, I reached into my trusty Paperchase tote bag to grab one of my many lip balms. Scrambling through my various belongings, I thought: I love those “what’s in my bag” videos.

And thus, here we are. A fun post to start your week <3

The bag is the colour of sunshine. It was a birthday gift from my boyfriend’s sister and has quickly become my favourite tote. Here’s what you can find inside:

• My Kindle. Or the book I am currently reading. If I am ever out of my home for more than “just popping to xyz” and I don’t have some sort of literature with me, check on my wellbeing.

• My purse. Also a birthday gift, this time from my (very generous) aunty, to replace the one that was a 17th birthday gift. Not quite bursting at the seams yet, it’s filled with loyalty cards, my National Trust pass, emergency plasters, shrapnel, and two Waterstones receipts because I couldn’t find my Plus card when I last went in.

  • I found said Plus card just last week. It was tucked in the purse, in a hidden pocket.

Everything in my tote bag. Sorry about the horrifically masculine bedding, it’s what happens when you move in with a man and you’re on a budget </3

• My “makeup” bag (that has no makeup in it). Valentino, and probably one of the poshest things I own. A 21st birthday gift from one of my closest friends, it’s like a Mary Poppins bag. Contents include:

  • Hand cream. Shay & Blue in English Cherry Blossom. I have about three other hand creams in my bathroom drawers for when I run out - I can never be without one.

  • Naf! Pro cuticle oil. Bought from my nail tech about six months ago with the intention of using it daily. This is still my first one, so don’t ask how that’s going xoxo

  • Loop earplugs - I caved after a particularly loud cinema trip and I haven’t looked back. The only downside is they’re super small and vanish into the depths of a bag very quickly. Hence, they’re tucked safely in this little number.

  • ByTerry Baume de Rose lip balm. No idea where this came from - think it was one of my mum’s beauty boxes? One of many that I have on the lip balm circuit.

  • Skinnydip body spray in Raspberry Ripple. £4 in Boots in the summer of 2023, when I’d run out of body spray on a particularly sweaty day. It’s offensively artificial.

  

  • Eye drops. “For tired eyes”. Feels like I’m putting straight vodka on my irises, but it works.

  • Haan hand sanitiser in Dew of Dawn. Stinks, but fits perfectly in this bag.

  • Medical tape. You would be surprised how often this has come in handy.

  • We’re getting to the bottom now, summer products: Hawaiian Tropic SPF powder. Unfortunately learned my lesson of scalp care after an outdoor viewing of Jaws in 2021. Every summer since, I’ve had one of these by my side.

  • 4head stick.

  • Sun Bum SPF 30 lip balm in Coconut. My second tube of this; I’m transported back to my mum’s destination wedding whenever I use it.

  • A handful of cotton buds, going slightly fluffy due to rattling about at the bottom. Perfect for makeup tidy-ups on the go.

• My water bottle. I never leave the house without it.

• A Robinsons Mini, for said water bottle.

• Glasses case. For the cleaning cloth.

• Keys. Keys. Keys.

  • (Don’t prove I’m riiIIIght)

• A notebook and pen.

• If I’m doing some writing: My MacBook and its charger. It’s seven years old (looks it) and dies at 28%.

My battered and bruised MacBook. Stickers are Will Blood (my fave artist), Glossier and Estrid.