Ever wondered what’s in a shopping editor’s bag? We're basically experts when it comes to packing an everyday tote — we've road-tested countless products and even picked up a few tips from the many celebrities who've given us a peek into their purses. But we discovered only a select few on-the-go hacks and essentials are worth bringing with us everywhere we go.
With the busy summer season right around the corner, Shop TODAY executive editor Adrianna Brach stopped by Studio 1A to share what she never leaves the house without. From beauty multitaskers to award-winning tech, these picks are all must-pack items for long days out and about.
Scroll on to shop our curation of Amazon bestsellers. Trust us, you won't want to step out without these necessities!
Amazon on-the-go essentials seen on TODAY
Brach vouches that this stain remover pen has saved the day for her many a time. She keeps one in her purse and one in her car to treat coffee spills, wine at dinner, kids with berries all over white t-shirts and more everyday accidents.
"Just press onto the stain and watch it disappear... no laundry room, no waiting," Brach claims. "And there is no harsh smell, no bleach or heavy chemicals so it’s safe to use on the go and won’t ruin clothes — I even keep one in my travel bag."
Brach deems this three-in-one device "one of those gadgets you don’t think you need until you need it in the moment." After all, it's a Shop TODAY Travel Awards winner for a reason. It's a personal fan with an impressive battery life for any hot moments, but it's also a power bank for your phone and a flashlight that's surprisingly useful in low light settings. Plus, it folds up when not in use, so it won't take up too much precious real estate in your bag.
While we hope you won't ever need a first aid kit, it's one of those essentials that you'll be so glad you have when you need it. This one has all the necessities: bandages, wipes, ointments and everything else you'd need in the moment or in the great outdoors. It's super compact and organized almost like a little book, with clear compartments and a water-resistant exterior. Plus, it's TSA-friendly. Brach keeps the smaller kids' version in her bag at all times, because with two little ones, "boo boos are guaranteed."
"We’ve all had that mid-day moment when skin gets shiny, makeup starts to melt… this is an instant fix," Brach swears. "It’s a colorless blurring powder from Laneige that instantly mattifies skin without looking cakey. It actually blurs pores and smooths everything out, so your skin still looks like your skin but better. You’re not adding coverage, just a simple touch up before dinner or when skin needs a refresh."
For a 10-second glow-up, this $6 makeup multitasker can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes. Simply dab it on and blend with your fingers... no brushes necessary! It adds color and dimension that can help liven your face up, without needing full glam. Brach points out that it basically replaces three products, which saves space in your bag and is perfect for touch-ups on the go.
This hack is ideal for covering regrowth between color appointments or anyone with rogue gray hairs popping up. It’s a tinted hair gel you brush right onto your roots for instant coverage, but it’s also designed to help brows look fuller and stay in place. It blends seamlessly, dries quickly, and doesn’t feel sticky or stiff, per Brach, who says also uses it to tame flyaways or touch up a ponytail during the day.
More Amazon on-the-go favorites
You don’t realize how often you need better lighting until you don’t have it. For those moments in the car, at a restaurant or during travels, Brach says this makeup mirror is her go-to. It’s slim, folds flat and has built in LED lights. Plus, one side is magnified, which is good for brow plucking, applying concealer and perfecting all the finer details.
"I always carry a pen with me and this one is the best... no one can tell me otherwise," Brach proclaims. "Seriously, they glide across any paper/surface, are so comfy to hold and are a staple for me. Love that it's retractable too — a must for being on the go."
Rooting around in your bag to find your essentials? This hack creates organization and gives everything a place, even in bags with no pockets or zippers. It also makes switching between bags seamless, since you can just pull the whole insert out and plop it into your next tote.
Dermatologists always say you should never leave the house without sunscreen, and this is one you can bring with you without any fear of accidental leaks. The travel-friendly sunscreen stick has been purchased over 10,000 times in the last month and even won for "best matte SPF stick" in Shop TODAY's inaugural Sunscreen Awards.
Summer is prime time for bug bites and sunburns, but this hypochlorous acid spray is a genius solution. Shop TODAY editorial operations manager Jill Ortiz raves that it lives up to its name, almost working like magic to resolve a host of issues, including flare-ups of acne and eczema.
From grocery trips to impromptu errands, you never know when you might need an extra bag. This stylish nylon tote from Kate Spade is super compact, folding into its own zippered pouch when not in use to save space.
A good lip product should never leave your side. Brach's pick is this shiny, hydrating gloss, which comes in a dozen shades and previously won in Shop TODAY's Beauty Awards.
Fix makeup smudges, mascara fallout, errant eyeliner and more with these ready-to-use swabs. They come pre-filled with a makeup-removing solution to ensure you can swipe away any mishaps with precision.
Summer colds are a real bummer, but you can keep things sanitized on the go with this multipack. The hand sanitizers come in an array of pleasant scents and spray out in a fine mist.
Associate editor Erica Marrison swears by this travel mug, which guarantees no leaks on your commute. It's design to handle being jostled around in your bag without spilling a drop of your coffee, tea, water and other beverages.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Adrianna Brach.
- Adrianna Brach is the executive editor at Shop TODAY, with over a decade of experience as an editor covering beauty, fashion and shopping.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
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How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
