I use contact lens cases for my hair pomade, Neutrogena towelettes for facial cleanser, tube moisturizer, mini size bottle of eye drops and my must have L'Occitane shea butter hand cream in a tube.

For makeup, I keep it to a minimum and use travel sizes where ever possible.

I am picky about conditioner so I pack a tube of my own.

And for body lotion, I refill a small plastic bottle with my preferred brand.

Ronael,

One specific necessity I highly recommend - moleskin! If you get blisters, band aids will not be enough. Moleskin really pads the blister/hot spot and stays on! Get some moleskin and some tiny scissors to cut it with. You will be SO glad!

Moleskin? What is our equivelent here in Oz?
Over here Moleskins are beige jeans that are worn by farmers when they make a dressed up trip to town!
I'm guessing it's like fixemol?

Ever since getting blisters on a very long bike trip, I carry Spenco 2nd Skin Blister pads. If I am concerned that the pad will come off I use tincture of benzoin (a sticky skin-prep available at some pharmacies) to prepare the area where the blister pad will stick (NOT ON THE BLISTER). That thing will stay on a week!

Regarding the polar fleece-you can buy bags that are similar to the space bags that don't require a vacuum to deflate the bag- you just roll it or sit on it and zip it up. They stay flat for quite a long time. Look in the camping section of your local department store. I took a picnic blanket with us to Europe and it took up very little space.

Since I don't know what's absolutely essential but am always super picky about what I travel with,just to help you know what's available generally in Europe (wait, I don't know where you're flying in from! If you're not American or Canadian this may not matter):

Herbal Essences and Pantene shampoos and products
Soaps are generally QUITE different so if you're allergic to a lot you may want to bring your own. The Body Shop is now popular, and you can definitely find Dove just about anywhere.
And of course Garnier Fructis and a lot of Loreal stuff.
Semi permanent dye in funky colors is harder to find but possible, though I find better quality in general in the US. La Riche is a good German brand available in The Netherlands as well.
Vaseline products are available too. Applicator tampons, sadly are a no.
Aquafresh and Colgate are around, but no Crest and Axe (Lynx in some places) is popular but Secret is not.
Lush however is a GREAT place for anyone who likes all natural products and is allergic to a lot, and is a great alternative, available in most countries....Hope that helps some!

Ronael,

I have no idea what you might call it in OZ. It's a Dr. Scoll's (foot products) item. It's a kind of heavy felt-like product that has amazing adhesive. It doesn't stick to the blister (from personal experience)! Google it and see what it's like.

Even it your shoes/sandals are very broken in, as mine were, the walking and the heat may make blisters.

Buona fortuna

I use the schick intuition razor when I travel. It's slightly large, but you don't have to take shave gel with you because it's already on the blade. My only must haves that I take with me are my face wash and facial moisturizer. I have a tendency to get rashes from anything but my regular products so I make sure I take enough. Shampoo, conditioner etc, doesn't matter to me. I'll use what's in the hotel or try something local.

The rules seem to keep changing but can you take sharp things in carryon now? i.e. scissors, tweezers, razors and so on. Can you replace Eucalyptus with tea tree oil? In England at least that is widely available.

Scissors only allowed if they have round edges.

Razors with old style blades cannot be carried on - the kind that can be taken out and used as a weapon.

Tweezers we have not had an issue with.

And things change often so check the TSA website before you go.

BTW, I really like Vichy products, widely available in Europe.

The best website I have ever found for packing light is RickSteves.com. He has some great ideas about really paring it down. I enjoyed having to go into the drugstore or pharmacy in Europe and having to figure out what I needed. The pharmacist was extremely helpful and I got some items that I wish I could find back in the US. PLAN to run out of stuff, it's part of the trip!

Whatever magic potions you decide to carry, do follow the good advice of packaging them in small containers. Then put the containers in small zip-top bags, even if destined for checked baggage. The bags prevent leakage and can be stuffed in crannies of your suitcase to save space. Toiletry cases, though convenient in a hotel room, can be bulky and awkward.
Another tip mentioned above is essential: Take your own wash cloth since you are unlikely to find a face cloth in many European hotels. A zip bag for the damp cloth makes it easy to pack.

"We've done up a first aid kit, with the help of a Travel doctor. It contains a range of antibiotics and the like. Fungal cream, ear/eye infection drops, Vicks Vaporub, Stingose, Hydralyte for upset tummys, Panandol etc. Advil is something I will add to it - thanks for that tip Janeyre."

I'd skip all that if you need any of it they are readily available at pharmacies, most often without Rxs

Ha ha ha. Why pack anything when everything is available?

I bring some advil and something to help me sleep the first night. I also bring moleskin or another blister product. other than that I love the pharmacy visit.

Kerouac -- with you on that one!

Several years ago, my husband got stung by a bee in Honfleur. We went straight to the pharmacy and the pharmacist sold us a wonderful product that took the sting and the swelling down quickly. No way would we have travelled with anything that would've taken care of the problem so effectively.

Paule

I agree that you need to take very little. As someone said, favourite brands of sanitary products for any women in the party--tampons, etc.

Small shampoo and conditioner. Soap if you tend to be allergic.

Antibiotic creme. The rest you can buy when you need it.

3 1/2 months! Wow, that's great!

The OP first posted this six months ago - I wonder if the trip has happened yet?

Anyway, for those who are still interested, in England there is a pharmacy chain called Superdrug where they sell loads of travel size items.

I have tons, yes tons of travel size Shampoo, Conditioner, Cream and small soaps from all our trips. I'm bringing most of them to get rid of them on this 2 months trip. I think it easier for me to bring the little bottles instead of carrying big bottles, so I can get rid of the weight once used.

pooky - I do that.

DH thinks I'm mad - now I can tell him I'm not the only one.