Sidra ImtiazThe handbag is so much more than accessory for women – rather a necessity! Each one is packed with a random assortment of items, tailored to support its owner in any prospective situations! Men are constantly asking us girls the same questions – why do you need such a big handbag? What do you keep in there? I delved into the bags of women to answer this exact question.
ESSENTIALS
Of course, its very rare than anyone will leave the house without their essentials. This includes the basics; mobile phone, wallet, keys. In the modern day and age, leaving the house without a mobile phone is almost like leaving without your right arm! Especially when smartphones have the capability to do so much, heading out without access to the internet is vaguely terrifying.
BEAUTY
Topshop Lipstick | Sidra Imtiaz
My personal beauty essentials that I tend to take everywhere, even if I’m not carrying other make up, are a face powder and my lipstick of the day. Regardless of how many products I use that swear to help my lip colour last I always find that it needs touching up during the day. I find that a quick coat of lipstick keeps my make up looking fresh and prevents me looking washed out. As for the powder, there’s nothing that bothers me more than a shiny T-zone, and I suffer from this quite badly – having the right product to mattify my face when necessary, is definitely crucial for me.
FRAGRANCE
Vera Wang, Princess | Sidra Imtiaz
I asked a couple of friends what products they couldn’t leave the house without throwing into their handbags and an extremely popular answer was perfume. Carrying a small perfume bottle can be valuable, especially as some scents do wear off after a couple of hours. A few sprays can definitely lift ones spirits and boost their confidence. Just make sure you’re not too attached to it, as revealing a perfume amongst a group of girls will result in it being passed around and you’ll soon find yourself clutching an empty bottle surrounded by the mist of your favourite birthday present!
MISCELLANEOUS
The Body Shop, Hand Sanitiser | Sidra Imtiaz
Aside from the essentials and beauty products, there are a couple of other things that are always present in our handbags. For me personally, I rarely go anywhere without a bottle of water – whether I’m headed out to the shops, going to class or simply sightseeing being dehydrated is the worst feeling in the world so I ensure I always have water handy.
I discovered that hand sanitiser is also a popular item in handbags. With the amount of people, the heat and the tube system in Madrid, I can understand why some women insist on carrying it around. Keeping our mitts germ-free stops bacteria transferring to our faces too, which prevents breakouts and keeps our skin healthy! Furthermore, it also lessens the risk of any sort of sickness being caught from strangers.
I also found that tourist essentials differ from essentials when you’re at home. For instance, in the UK I never find myself throwing a pair of sunglasses into my bag – doing so would definitely be wishful thinking. One tourist admitted that she actually takes her selfie stick everywhere with her on holiday! I suppose missing the perfect Insta opportunity would be fairly frustrating, especially in a city as pretty as Madrid.
Travel Essentials! | Sidra Imtiaz
What can’t you leave the house without? Are your handbag essentials listed here? Let me know by tweeting me at @RoosterGNN or @sidraimtiaz_ using the hashtag #Glamour!