RVs are not known for having roomy bathrooms. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have a toilet and running water miles from civilization, but RV bathrooms are typically a little tight. As in phone-booth tight. Even if your home-away-from-home is a 40′ Class A motorhome, space is still at a premium in the bathroom. Vanities aren’t as big. Cabinets and drawers aren’t as abundant. So when packing your much-loved toiletries, it’s important to keep in mind that space in your RV bathroom is limited. One way to make the most of this is by packing light for your RV bathroom. Leave the bulk bottles at home and pack only what you need in smaller, smarter packaging for your life on the road. Here are some travel toiletry tips for your hair, feet, and everything in between.
Face
Keep your soap and washcloth together in one little handy travel-friendly package by making a custom soap pouch in just a few easy steps. Perfect for face soap or body soap, create your own following these steps. Instead of packing a bottle of liquid eye makeup remover with cotton balls, use makeup remover wipes instead. They pack flat and you can pack just as many as you need, depending on the length of your trip. Fill old contact lenses cases with liquid concealer, moisturizer, eye cream, or hair gel for quick, easy access in just-right doses. Cotton swabs have so many uses, you couldn’t possibly leave them behind. But pack them smartly in a clean, used pill bottle instead of bringing along the whole box (who would do that?) or even just throwing them in the bottom of your makeup bag. If you don’t have an old pill bottle, you can find a travel case for them in the travel section of any drugstore. To keep your solid powdered makeup from breaking while traveling, put a cotton pad or cotton ball under the lid and snap it closed to add an extra layer of protection. If you use an eye cream or acne cream, fill a straw with the amount you’ll need for your trip. Melt both ends of the straw closed with a match or lighter to keep the contents contained in the straw. Bring scissors along so you can cut one end open when you’re ready to use it. Label them with a permanent marker. If you’re like me, you have your favorite foundation that is a staple in your makeup routine. But if it’s a liquid foundation, it takes up a lot of real estate in your makeup bag. For your trip, find a new favorite “chubby” stick foundation that is a lot easier to pack (and apply). It might take some getting used to, but the space it saves might let you pack other essentials, like lip gloss!
Mouth
Fill a straw with toothpaste so you can leave the larger toothpaste tube at home. Seal both ends of the straw by melting them with a match or lighter. Cut one end open when you’re ready to use it. Label it with a permanent marker. Make dry toothpaste dots by squirting small dots of toothpaste onto tin foil and letting them dry for 2-4 days. Store them in a small plastic baggie and toss them in your camping toiletry kit. When it’s time to brush, pop one in your mouth, chew it up, and brush with a wet toothbrush. Voila! Instant toothpaste. LUSH, a fresh, handmade cosmetics company, makes Toothy Tabs that are perfect for camping trips. Just pop one in, crunch between your front teeth, and start brushing with a wet toothbrush.
Hair
Extend your gorgeous style a day or two by using dry shampoo. Perfect for camping, dry shampoo helps keep oil at bay without having to wash hair. LUSH makes solid shampoo and conditioner bars that pack easily and work like a charm. Made with fresh ingredients, the shampoo promises up to 80 washes in one bar. Just add water! Keep your hair pins neatly stored away in a Tic Tac box so they’re at your fingertips in an instant.
Body
Use a lanyard to hold small bottles of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in the shower. Use a binder clip to protect an exposed razor. Pack lotion and sunscreen towelettes instead of separate bottles of each one to save a ton of room in your bathroom. These are great for tossing in your backpack for day-long hike too. LUSH makes a deodorant bar that gives you pleasant smelling pits. It’s easy to pack and it’s all-natural, too.
Miscellaneous
With its limitless uses, coconut oil is invaluable when in the great outdoors. Use it as shave gel, a makeup remover, body butter, lip balm, moisturizer, itch cream, skin salve, cooking oil, and more. Pack your supplements and vitamins in a baggie to avoid bottle bulk. Use a pill-a-day pill case to hold earrings, necklaces, and rings securely and separately. Create a manicure kit in a hard glasses case. Put your nail file and polish inside and snap it shut.
