Nothing's worse than waking up at a guy's place feeling... not so fresh (crunchy contacts, smeared mascara, breath like stale sour cream). At the same time, rolling up to da club/tasteful wine bar with a giant Madewell tote of overnight stuff can sort of cramp your style. Also, if it's early in the game, you'll look a little TOO prepared. Instead, take a cue from these 20-something New York City-based women for what to pack when you're not totally sure if you'll play a home or away game that night, but want to stuff just enough in your tote to be prepared either way.
Kendra, 25
1. Condoms. Look. It's 2015. Bring them yourself so he can't pull the whole "I promise I'll pull out" and then when you say no you have to awkward cuddle him until you go home. Just bring your own so there's no muss no fuss.
2. Altoids. Self-explanatory.
3. An emergency $20 bill. You never know when you're going to lose your wallet so you want to have some cash just in case. What if you're in a neighborhood you've never seen before? Yeah. No good.
4. Phone charger. It's sad but in this day and age we are LOST without our smart phones. And in the case of a one-night stand that could very well be literal. You don't want to not have your wallet or a full battery because then how will Siri tell you how to GTF home?!
5. Dove deodorant, travel-sized.
6. Smith's Tinted Roses Lip Balm. This. Is. My. Shit. I love this lip balm. It has just a little bit of color so it can double as blush so I don't look totally washed out, and it saves my lips after the dehydration from all of the booze I probably drank and all of the sloppy making out I did. Let's just be honest: You need a good lip balm if you might be having a slutty evening. It's fine!
8. Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer. It will cover anything and make me look fresh and dewy even though I probably only slept like 20 minutes.
9. Benefit They're Real Mascara, travel-sized. Full disclosure: bought this out of one of their vending machines in an airport when I was seriously sleep deprived after a red eye flight. But the stuff is AMAZING. It makes me look awake and not like a trainwreck. Two thumbs up!
10. Bobby pins. At this point every girl can do a messy bun in her sleep so just have the essentials to toss those tresses up and you are good to go.
11. Hair tie
12. A pair of Victoria's Secret Seamless Undies. Why seamless? They fold up easier and even if they're wrinkled they won't give you VPL. Why panties? Someone lied to you when they told you there was no such thing as a stupid question.
Zoe, 23
1. Always individual feminine wipe packet. Life-saver.
2. Condoms
3. Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume rollerball
4. Altoid smalls
5. Sometimes a snack if I can fit it in my bag... #fuel.
6. Portable phone charger so I can get my own Uber home in the a.m. (Him: "Let's eat breakfast together!" Me: "Aw sorry I already requested an Uber and it'll charge me if I cancel. Bummer!!!!" NOT.)
Elena, 21
1. A sexy pair of Victoria's Secret underwear
2. Glasses (because I have to throw out my daily contacts).
3. Toothpaste
4. Victoria's Secret Noir Tease body mist
5. A pair of socks, because I'm a freak of nature who wears socks to bed.
6. Toothbrush
7. Dickinson's original witch hazel towelettes, to remove makeup at night, and make my skin look good when I wake up before the guy, like Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids.
Sarah, 27
1. Flats. If you come prepared, the next morning can be a breeze and quite pleasant.
2. Most importantly, A PHONE CHARGER. I feel it is assumed why this is the most important. You want a way out, and to not be stranded or confused trying to get home, this is the only way. So you get to his house and you charge that shit.
3. Condoms (duh)...even though I forget all the time.
4. Gum. I would say toothbrush, but let's be real, I'm not gonna take the time to do that at a strangers house. Hopefully he has some mouthwash, but if not, gum is the way to go in the a.m. Also, I like chewing gum on my way out—makes me feel like a confident Jersey girl and I just rocked his world and I got no time for anyone else's shit.
5. Make up remover wipes so you don't wake up looking insane. Also, it just feels better to leave the house not using some boys disgusting, flaky soap bar to get makeup off. It won't work and will leave you dry as the Sahara.
Alexis, 23
1. Q-tips. Completely multi-purpose...They've done everything from fix morning raccoon eyes to act as tiny toothbrushes in a pinch!
2. Floss
3. Wisp travel toothbrushes. Saved me on many an occasion!!
4. An extra pair of undies. You never know!
5. Contact solution
6. Mascara
7. Bobby pins
8. Hair ties
9. Contact case
10. A brush
11. Condoms. You also never know!
12. Deodorant
13. Makeup wipes
Meg, 23
1. Hairbrush
2. Condoms
3. Biosilk hair serum. Tames fly-always and makes my hair shiny. I also like to think it keeps my hair soft—which is nice to know when it gets pulled. Haha.
4. Concealer
5. Colgate Wisps. Easier to carry than a toothbrush and tooth paste. I can brush my teeth anywhere, and discreetly, too.
6. Burt's Bees lip balm
7. Mascara
Nicole, 22
1. Panties
2. Toothbrush
3. Eye drops
4. Bobby pins
5. Pocket vibrator
6. Phone charger
7. Hair ties
8. Pure Romance's Just Like Me Lubricant because it is made to match a woman's natural lubricant, so it doesn't leave the same sticky feeling after the fact that most lubes have. It makes a huge difference in comfort the next morning.
9. Condoms
10. A travel-sized dry shampoo
Alin, 21
1. A hair tie
2. Dior Addict Gloss in Night Fantasy, so I can look pulled-together if I wake up and get sandbagged with a "come to lunch with me!" move.
3. Burt's Bees lip shimmer in Plum. I feel it really adds to my "come hither" look.
4. Granola bar. Anything but Nature Valley. Those crumbs are out of control!
5. M.A.C lipstick in Cyber, a black-purple for da club or a grungy lounge with a fog machine.
6. Face blotters, because I sweat.
