At 26 I feel way too old for Vegas. By 9:00 PM I’m in bed on most nights and I like to drink but I’m at a good level with three doubles.  My go to drink by the way is 3 ice cubes, 2 shots of tequila, Crystal Light Mio, and soda water in a Hydroflask pint glass.  Add a mint leaf if you really want it to be perfect.  However,  I’ll be going harder than my usual speed because I have a bachelorette party to attend.

The last time I was in Vegas was in 2014 when I had just graduated college and I was a little more energetic.  There are some blurry embarrassing pics of past trips lower in this post. I’m such a homebody now and my idea of a good night out is a brewery with (very) hoppy IPAs so this will be a challenge but I’m excited. To mentally prepare I like to make packing lists.

For a special occasion like going out in Vegas, there are extra getting ready essentials that I like to make sure to bring along. My friends and I are pretty much all into makeup so the part I’m looking forward to most is getting ready together. I like to start a list a few days before and add to it as I randomly remember things. Even as I’m writing this I just realized that I haven’t put down ANY hair tools or products… that category always seems to be the part I neglect! 

PDF Printable List

Tips

 

1. Build out outfits from head to toe based on what you’ll be doing for each event. See how I like to write out each day below.
2. I tend to do a bit of extra online shopping with going out dresses, shoes, and casual clothes the months before with the trip in mind. This helps me avoid feeling like I have nothing to wear when I’m going to a new climate or state out of my ordinary routine.  My go to online shopping stores recently are Asos, Missguided, Forever 21, Pretty Little Thing, Fashion Nova, Windsor, Dottie Couture Boutique, Shop Hopes, Urban Outfitters, and Free People. 
3. Having your travel clothes laid out the day before the airport is helpful for not having any more stress that day.
4. Bumble & Bumble Pret a Powder dry shampoo (non spray version) is my life saver on trips for volume and oil reduction. The bottle literally has lasted me years so it’s worth it but I’ve heard good old corn starch is great too.
5. Bringing a paired down version of my skincare routine keeps me feeling like myself
6. If you’re checking a bag, put liquids in ziplock bags and squeeze the air out of bottles so they don’t explode from the pressure.  If not you’ll be left with empty containers and a wet suitcase
7. Snapchat travel companions/ friends as you’re packing to help them remember crucial things
8. Prep a good playlist. I love that Spotify has the collab feature so my friends and I have been working on ours for a few weeks now.

Outfit Scenarios

Nights out / Heels, jewelry, dresses, spanx, sticky boobs, strapless bra, faux leather (or any dressy style) jacket just in case, clutch or crossbody bag, perfume

Daytime Activities / Sunglasses, cute top, cami, bralette, denim shorts or sundress, something to throw on top or tie around my waist like a flannel, walking shoes that are comfortable but stylish like Vans, Converse

Restaurant / Jewelry, cute top + shorts, sundress, or romper, sandals

Comfort / Rough mornings require comfy clothes. I like baggy shirts and soft loose shorts

Pool / Swimsuit, denim shorts, kimono, sandals, extra pair of flip flops

Airport / Leggings or shorts, loose casual shirt, hoodie, slip on shoes, baseball hat

PACKING LISTS

Toiletry Items

Travel sizes of hairspray, shampoo & conditioner, hair oil, heat protectant, skincare, body lotion, self tan, sunscreen, perfume

Deodorant

razor

Lip balm

Self tan mitt

Medicines

Hair brush, comb, bobby pins, hair bands

Toothpaste, toothbrush

Washcloth

Hair straightener, curler

Dry Shampoo

Blister prevention- Vaseline, shoe inserts, band aids

Nail polish matching pedicure and manicure (nights in heels can cause a pedicure a lot of embarrassing damage)

 

Makeup Toolkit  / see additional makeup checklist here

Lashes, glue, mini scissors

Tweezers

Qtips

Makeup remover wipes

Glitter glue, eye and face primer

Tape

Brushes

Setting spray

Lip liner

Facial Moisturizer

 

Extras

Bluetooth Speaker

Chargers

headphones

Backup phone battery

Milk Thistle

Airplane snacks

Iphone selfie light / so extra I know but I want these memories to be well lit lol.

Clothing for four days including travel

Cute tops, bodysuits x3

Casual tees x3

Romper or sundress

Loungewear top & bottom, leggings

Underwear x10000, strapless bra, sports bra, bralette, shapewear
Shorts x3

Pair of jeans

Swimsuits

Outerwear / Hoodie, flannel, kimono, dressy jacket

Going out dresses x3 (bringing an extra never hurts!)

Camis x2

 

Accessories

Sunglasses

Baseball hat

Small going out bag

Jewelry

Sandals x2

Heels x2

Walking shoes / Current fave

When I do my makeup for special occasions, here’s what I like to consider packing and using:

1. Best primers for long lasting, sweat proof makeup
2. All my “extra step” products
3. Lots of bronzer in all forms- spray on, matte and shimmer powders, powder contour, cream contour
4. Foundation without SPF because there will be pictures taken with flash
5. This is the time to go all in bringing high end foundations and other products that I ridiculously like to reserve for fancier events
6. Pigments and liquid glitters like Stila Glitter & Glows 
7. I like to bake under my eyes and under my contour to look extra chiseled
8. False lashes look great in photos whether it’s a more wispy lash for daytime or a dramatic style for night
9. DIY dermaplaning before I leave to prep my skin for makeup
10. Setting spray & Urban Decay Velvetizer powder for oil control

Before I go I prep a few ways:

1. Freshly dyed roots
2. Waxed and tinted brows (DIY!)
3. Whitened teeth
4. Exfoliated and self tanned
5. Face and hair masks in rotation
6. Fresh nails
7. Drinking tons of water to debloat

I’ve talked about how I like to pack my makeup in this post to make sure I don’t forget anything if you want to check that out. A lot of prepping goes into getting ready for the trip a few weeks before. Check out my pamper routine here.  If I can get enough good pics I’ll try to share what I wore this trip!

-Kim