Here you’ll find my must-have travel gear, beauty essentials, and photography equipment. I personally bought, tested, and loved each of these items during my adventures in over 45 countries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase. Rest assured, I only promote products that I truly believe in and consistently use during my travels.

Travel booking platforms

  • Expedia: My favorite platform for getting flights! Sometimes, I get lucky and find flights to be cheaper there than on the airline’s official website.
  • Booking.com: The best accommodation booking platform, especially for Brazil! Being the main platform in Brazil, booking.com includes many smaller (and charming) B&Bs that are not available on other platforms.
  • Hostel world: My favorite platform for booking affordable hostels

Travel gear and accessories

  • The perfect travel backpack: I traveled all over the world wearing this backpack and never had any trouble taking it as a personal item on planes (even on budget airlines!) The backpack has a shoe compartment, a waterproof compartment, a laptop compartment, and a clothing compartment that fits almost as much stuff as my carry-on! As a plus, it has a strap that fits perfectly on top of your carry-on, so no need to carry all this weight on your back. If you ever see me at an airport, you will see me wearing this backpack!
  • My beloved carry-on: I spent my whole first full-time paycheck on this carry-on. It has been a few years of owning it and it is as good as new, with wheels that don’t tire my hands at all.
  • The best budget carry-on: My boyfriend was jealous of my Rimowa carry-on and we started looking for a budget alternative. This $150 Quince luggage did not let us down! If my Rimowa ever breaks or disappears, I will also grab this Quince carry-on as a replacement!
  • My favorite checked luggage: I have been traveling the world for over 7 years with this Kipling checked bag. The bag’s price, weight, and durability are unmatched! Kipling luggage can be pricy on the regular website, but this $140 option on the Kipling Outlet website will not let you down!
  • A lifesaver quick-dry towel: A towel that folds to the size of a sunglasses case is my #1 beach travel must-have. This quick dry and lightweight towel has saved my life on many occasions: when hostels charge for towels, when going diving (this beauty dries up in between dives unlike regular towels), when picnicking, when needing to cover up… You will not regret taking this towel on your next trip!
  • A protective UV shirt: The sad truth is that I don’t reapply sunscreen enough. Also, as a solo traveler no matter how I move my arms, I can’t cover my back 100%. This shirt is my best friend in avoiding sunburn (and skin cancer!)
  • Beautiful sunglasses that you won’t mind losing: These sunglasses are stylish, protect my eyes, and are affordable! I cannot count how many times I lost fancy sunglasses and cried over the spilled milk. Now, with these fantastic sunglasses, I travel worry-free as they are quick and cheap to replace!
  • A waterproof Kindle to keep you entertained: Having a Kindle was a game changer in my travels. For starters, it stops me from carrying weight (books are heavy!), which is a good enough reason to give it a chance. In addition, the true value of the Kindle lies in allowing me to easily find books and articles in English no matter where I am.
  • My favorite lock for hostels: For the longest time I lived dangerously by not locking my goods in hostels. Now that I travel with a variety of electronics, I find it crucial to protect my goods. This flexible lock fits in almost any hostel locker, making it the best choice for long-term usage!

My travel beauty and hygiene routine

I pack light, so I often choose to buy products like body sunscreen and shampoo at my destination. Although it would be amazing to be able to find amazing products everywhere on Earth, reality has proven otherwise. Here are all the products I take with me on my travels because it is too hard or expensive to find good replacements for them while on the go!

Hygiene essentials:

  • Etude House Sunprise 50+ Sunscreen: My favorite sunscreen that works well with all skin types. It serves me when traveling to cold places, where my skin gets dry, and warm places, where my skin gets oily! Like every good Korean sunscreen, the Sunprise does not leave a white cast and blends perfectly with my bare skin!
  • EOS Lip Balm: Lip balms are a travel must-have, and they can be hard to find depending on where you are traveling! For example, I struggled to find lip balms while traveling in the Philippines, so I watched my lips dry out so much over a week that they started looking like the Salt Flats in Utah. These EOS lip balms are my favorite, and now I bring at least 3 on every trip.
  • Degree Clinical Protection Deodorant: I had a traumatic week in Taiwan when I ran out of deodorant and could not find any for sale… did you know that most east asians do not have BO, so it is crazy hard to find deodorants for sale if you are not in an area packed with foreigners? After learning this lesson the hard way, I always bring this deodorant, which has a small bottle, lasts a long time, and keeps me from sweating all over my clothes.

Beauty essentials

  • R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream: When traveling in Korea, I learned that this is the best-seller moisturizer there! I had to give it a try and it did not disappoint. The 70 ml bottle lasts me 6 months and its small glass bottle does not take up much space in my luggage.
  • Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum with Retinol: Now that I am over 25, it is time to introduce Retinol to my routine! Unfortunately, most retinol items require refrigeration, which does not go well with my travel-heavy lifestyle. Happily, the Joseon Revive Eye Serum with Retinol does not require refrigeration and can be used in the full face. When traveling, I apply this product to my face every night, except when in sun-heavy destinations!
  • Cetaphil travel face cleaning foam: My dermatologist gifted me this travel bottle and it works wonders: my face feels clean and fresh after using this face soap! Once I run out of this free sample, I will probably grab a travel-sized face-cleaning oil.
  • ELF Monochromatic Multi-Stick: This is the perfect travel make-up companion. I use it as blush, lipstick, and eyeshadow. This product is the only make-up item I bring with me, and it serves all purposes while coming in a tiny little package.

Lightweight camera gear for travel

  • DJI Osmo for clear underwater footage: I looked around a lot for an underwater camera and the DJI Osmo 4 was by far the best. The clarity of the image and incredible stabilization allows me to take tons of amazing footage. The cherry on top is that I enjoyed this camera so much that I use it for land shots and vlogs as well!
  • DJI Mini 2 SE for aerial shots: When buying your first drone, it is important to pick one that will not break the bank. Flying a drone is harder than it seems, and I recommend looking at a first drone the same way you look at a first car: it will be scratched, hit, and maybe even destroyed. The DJI Mini 2 SE came out as the best starter drone, providing amazing image quality at a fair price!
  • Sony ZV-E10 for amazing photos and videos: The ZV-E10 is the perfect camera to take scenic pictures and profile pictures. It is also my go-to for wildlife! This is the camera I use to shoot my sit-down YouTube videos and I love it!