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This Is The Only Packing List You Need This Summer
Your summer travel checklist featuring must-haves from CVS.
If there’s one universal truth, it’s that summer is synonymous with vacation, whether that means a sun-drenched beach, a buzzing city, or a spontaneous road trip. And for frequent traveler and fashion content creator Yvette Garcia, who’s no stranger to living out of a suitcase, that also means being prepared for anything. As enticing as time off might seem, traveling inevitably comes with headaches—forgotten toothpaste, crowded airports, and the unfortunate sunburn after spending a little too much time outside.
The good news: Just like booking your flight and finding a place to stay, putting together a smart packing list can make a big difference in how relaxing your vacation actually feels. A pit-stop at CVS should also be on your list when you’re gearing up for a trip. Whether you're jetting overseas or planning your next big adventure, CVS is your one-stop shop for travel prep—offering passport photos and a wide range of travel vaccines you may need depending on where you’re headed, like typhoid, hepatitis A and B, cholera, rabies, and more. It’s also a mecca for essentials, from TSA-friendly beauty staples to compact first-aid kits. It can be a game-changer—especially if, like Garcia, you tend to pack at the last minute. “I wish I was an early planner, but I always end up packing last-minute,” she says. Instead, she relies on a stash of strategic, versatile products to stay ready for anything. Here’s what practically lives in her luggage.
Sun Bum Skin Care Travel Essentials Kit
When she hits the road, Garcia relies on travel-size versions of her daily skin-care products to keep her skin glowing. “I never skip cleansing and moisturizing, no matter how tired I am,” she says. “Hydration is key.” This trio checks all the boxes with a hydrating, coconut water-infused cleanser, brightening face scrub, and moisturizer with SPF 30—along with a travel pouch to make packing that much easier.
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e.l.f. Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30 Sunscreen
Even if you don’t plan to be beachside (and are instead sightseeing in a city or heading out for a hike) it’s still critical to wear sun protection. This thoughtful formula, which comes in three shades, takes the guesswork out of it: It serves as a face sunscreen, a makeup primer, and a sheer skin tint in one. It's also infused with aloe, hyaluronic acid, and squalane, so it also moisturizes skin as you wear it—saving you precious space in your toiletry bag.
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Pixi NutrifEYE Rose & Chamomile Nourishing Eye Patches
Whatever the reason for undereye circles—be it lingering jet lag, exploring a new nightlife scene, or both—these hydrogel patches can help you look more awake, whether or not you feel it. Infused with aloe vera and chamomile, they cool skin on the spot, minimize redness and puffiness, and leave eyes bright.
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Revlon Insta-Blush
Garcia’s trick to streamlining her makeup routine? She swears by “a blush stick that works as eyeshadow, blush, and lip tint,” she says. (Consider this your sign to try the monochromatic trend.) In four shades, this creamy blush blends in quickly and feels weightless on skin. And because it's so forgiving to apply—just dab and blend—you can use it as Garcia does to add a touch of color to the lids, cheeks, and lips.
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Batiste Dry Shampoo
Spend time enjoying your destination, not fussing with your hair. A travel-size dry shampoo can help. “Dry shampoo is a must for refreshing my hair on busy travel days,” says Garcia. This mini version makes quick work of grease and grime at the roots, adds lift and volume, and imparts a fresh scent to strands.
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WELLY First Aid Kit
It's always better to have a first-aid kit that you don't use than to need one—and not have it. “It’s a lifesaver for blisters, headaches, or any little mishaps along the way,” says Garcia, who packs one whether she’s soaking up the sun or exploring cities. Roughly the size of a deck of cards, this clever tin comes with 60 bandages in a variety of sizes and colors, antibacterial ointment, cleansing wipes, and hydrocortisone cream.
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Purell Advanced Soothing Gel Hand Sanitizer
No one wants to spend summer vacation in bed—which is why hand sanitizer is always a good idea. “Hand sanitizer or wipes are a must-have for travel, especially when constantly touching things in airports, restaurants, or public spaces,” says Garcia. This classic formula is infused with aloe and glycerin to keep hands soft and hydrated, too.
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