It’s hard to believe that it’s already mid-August. Even with scorching hot temperatures, at this point in the season, it starts to feel like fall is just around the corner. The truth is, we still have several weeks of summer left to enjoy! This means, we aren’t ready to say goodbye to the hot, humid weather, BBQ’s, summer parties, or weekends away at the cottage. A lot of people take holidays in August, because it’s a great month to escape the city and head up north to the cottage, even if it’s just for the weekend.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m invited to a cottage, I get a little bit anxious about what to pack. I’m always afraid of under-packing, but I’m also afraid of being that person, who shows up with way too much “stuff.” I love going for weekends away in cottages, they’re so relaxing! I’ve even been looking at some large properties in Wales since I’d quite like to visit somewhere like Conwy in the summer. I haven’t booked anything yet though! You’ll always need to pack the basics (ie: clothes, toothbrush, etc), but after that, it can be a nightmare deciding what else to bring. Will you need a hairdryer, for example, or will it be provided? And what about shampoo and conditioner, or will there be those little travel bottles waiting in the bathroom for you when you arrive? To help take away some of the anxiety around what to pack and everything else that you need to think about, you might want to consider taking some budder to make the trip less stressful. After all, it’s meant to be a relaxing getaway, so there’s no need to get your knickers in a twist! What happens, happens, and if you forget anything or if something breaks, it’s no big deal, just breathe in the fresh air and be grateful for the summer whilst it’s here! So, in an effort to reduce your stress levels, I’m sharing the 7 essentials you need to pack for a weekend at the cabin or cottage.
Scroll through to see which items you need to put on your next cottage packing list!
7 Essentials You Need For a Weekend at the Cottage or Cabin
1. Moisturizer with SPF
The odds are, if you’re going to the cottage, you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors. It’s important that you don’t forget to bring sunscreen and apply it to all of your skin that will be exposed to the sun. I’m not picky when it comes to the type of sunscreen I use on my arms and legs, but when it comes to protecting my face, I am. I’ve been using the Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense with SPF 50 for the last few months and highly recommend it. The special formula works to moisturize and protect your skin. I love that it has a matte finish, even in hot, humid conditions. It’s lightweight and dries almost powder-like, which helps even out your complexion. Since I’ve been using this product all summer, so you may recognize it from my summer beauty essentials post.
2. Lip balm with SPF
It can be easy to overlook the fact that you need to protect your lips from the sun, too. Of course, once you’ve experienced sunburnt lips, you may not be so quick to forget! I’ve been using the Nivea Sun Lip Care with SPF 30 for years. It’s inexpensive, protects your skin and leaves your lips feeling smooth. A total win!
3. Minimal Makeup collection
Some would argue that it’s silly to bring any makeup with you on a trip to the cottage or cabin. That may be the case, but I’m the type of person who always needs to be wearing at least a little bit of makeup to feel like myself. I find a little bit of bronzer and some blush on my cheeks can go a long way. Ultimately, just keep the number of products you bring to a minimum. The cottage isn’t the place to try that bold new eye shadow palate that you just got your hands on.
4. Texturing product for hair
The cottage is not the time or the place to be fussing over how your hair looks. That being said, after a swim in the lake, or hot day in the sun, you may want to give your hair a quick refresh to bring it back to life. I recently discovered Lush Sea Spray Hair Mist and it’s instantly become a go-to product for me. Lush’s Sea Spray is made from a blend of sea salt, sea water and sea weed, to add shine and give that beachy look to your hair. It’s perfect for that quick refresh, but also to add volume, texture and shine. It also contains orange flower, grapefruit, neroli and rosewood blend perfumes, so it smells ah-mazing!
5. Dry Shampoo
I never travel without dry shampoo. I absolutely love the shower at the cottage – it’s one of those large showerheads and it has glass shower doors which makes it feel really spacious. Nevertheless, despite the fact I’ll be spending so long showering, dry shampoo is just a given on any trip. The combination of getting sweaty and wearing hats means greasy hair is inevitable. I’ve tried a number of dry shampoos over the years, and hands down, my favourite is Batiste. All of their dry shampoos are made of natural rice starch powder, which absorbs the oil from your hair. They’re both Paraben and Sulphate free, as well as vegan friendly. Their original scent is available in a travel size, so it’s easy to bring it along to the cottage. Some people like to give their hair a break when traveling and go au natural, but I like to take something to style my hair in case we go out for a nice dinner; curling while traveling can seem like a daunting task but there are plenty of high tech tools that make the job easy.
6. MAKEUP REMOVER
This is a horrible thing to admit, but when I’m at the cottage, I can get a little bit lazy about washing my face properly. If I’m just staying up north for a night or two, I typically use a bit of makeup remover or Micellaire water and call it a night. At home, my go-to makeup remover is Bioderma, and they now come in travel size.
7. Bug Spray
A trip to the cottage just isn’t complete without a few bug bites…but you want to bring bug spray to avoid feeling like you’re being eaten alive! Over the last few months, I’ve fallen in love with so many of the products from Saje Wellness, including their B-Gone Chemical-Free Outdoor Mist. As someone who’s been experimenting with more natural beauty products, I loved the idea of a chemical-free bug spray. Saje combines a number of essential oils, including catnip oil, to create an scent that keeps the bugs away. My assumption is that if you have cats, they may react to B-Gone, but I’ve yet to test that theory.
What else goes onto your cottage packing list?
Katie says
Aw I love this list! I’m planning a lil weekend trip for Mum & I in the south of England, I’m pretty neat on most of these things but I always end up forgetting a lipbalm with spf & getting chapped lips!
Katie // wordsbykatie.com
Jackie says
Chapped lips drive me crazy! I hope this helps you remember your essentials and that you both have a great time on your trip!
Sara Strauss says
Dry shampoo is always a must!! I would totally bring the same items. Now I need to find a cabin to borrow! 🙂
~Sara
Jackie says
Haha me too! 😉
Violette says
These are all a must! Great post!
http://violettedaily.com
Kathrine Eldridge says
Love this post for weekends at the cottage which I do frequently. I couldn’t agree more with wearing less makeup. I love all your essentials!
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Jackie says
For me, it’s “less” and not “none” – I figure a lot of people are the same way. Thanks for stopping by!
Nada says
lovely!
NEW POST : THE COLORFUL THOUGHTS
Jane says
Love these bronzers! Great selection!
xo, Jane
http://www.fitfabfunmom.com
LINDSEY of THE NOMIS NICHE says
Bug spray is a must! I get eaten alive whenever we visit my family’s cabin. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Love, Lindsey
http://www.thenomisniche.com/
Jackie says
Me too, which is why I always make sure to bring the bug spray 😉
Tamara says
These are all great products! Dry shampoo is definitely a must!
XoXo,
Tamara – LoveofMode.com
Tessy says
Great products, great tips, great post. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.tessyonyia.com
Isabel says
Love d you tips. Thanks for a great post!
Isabel
http://www.isabelalexander.us
Jessica says
I need a cottage to go to first, but otherwise this is perfection!
Love your site lady!
xx, Jessica
alljessedup.com
Carla Gregory says
Love your list here, pretty cool!
xo
http://www.missydress.com.au
Rachael says
Couldn’t agree more with the dry shampoo!! Great list. Definitely saving this for our next vacay.
xoxo, ❤︎ rachael ❤
RachaelBurgess.com | Instagram
Andréa says
great post!
I will have to take some of these tips for my upcoming trip!
-Andréa
A.Viza Style
Amelia says
I love your list! In my case, the moisturizer and mini makeup set along with lipstick are a must have!