Summer Essentials: The Handbag Edition
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There was a time when my handbag was fairly minimal — cards, keys, phone and a little makeup were usually enough.
These days, what I carry is a little more considered. I still don’t want to haul half the house around with me, but at 50 I’ve found that a few carefully chosen extras can make being out for the day considerably more comfortable.
Summer brings its own requirements, and menopause has definitely added a few new non-negotiables. So rather than thinking of my handbag as somewhere to throw everything, I think of it as a small, curated edit of the things I genuinely use.
Keeping Cool
The first thing that goes into my bag is a handheld fan. In fact, I have several because I like to keep one in different bags. Obviously it’s useful during the summer, but for those sudden menopause flushes it has become an absolute essential.
I also carry a travel-sized hydrating facial mist. At the moment I have the mini Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray, which is lovely when my skin feels hot or I simply want a quick refresh.
I’ll often have an electrolyte sachet tucked away too. It takes up virtually no room and can be added to a bottle of water when I’m out for a long day.
SPF On the Go
SPF is another summer non-negotiable. I like having a small facial SPF in my handbag rather than carrying around a full-sized bottle.
I also keep an SPF spray that can be applied over makeup. It makes topping up during the day far more practical when I’m already wearing makeup and don’t want to disturb everything underneath.
For me, the best handbag products are often the ones that make something I already know I should be doing that little bit easier.
My Mini Beauty Edit
My makeup bag has become much more edited over the years. I don’t carry a complete makeup routine — just a few small products that can make me look a little more polished in a couple of minutes.
Usually that means a mini blusher, highlighter and lip product, ideally in cream or stick formulas that are easy to use on the go. I also carry a small mirror and a comb for a quick tidy-up.
Then there’s fragrance. Rather than buying a travel size of every perfume I own, I love a refillable fragrance atomiser. I can fill it with whichever fragrance I’m wearing that day without carrying the full bottle around.
The Little Practical Things
Not everything in my handbag is particularly glamorous, but some of the least exciting things are probably the ones I’m happiest to find when I need them.
A hand sanitising spray, small packet of wipes and tissues are always useful. I keep a hand cream in there too — preferably something small enough not to take over the entire bag.
And then there are my reading glasses. Once I started needing reading glasses, I quickly discovered that owning one pair was never going to be enough. There is now a pair permanently living in my handbag.
My keys have a deliberately jingly keyring attached to them too. Apart from making them easier to find at the bottom of my bag, I’m far more likely to notice if I drop them or leave them somewhere. A small concession to those slightly forgetful moments that seem to appear with age and menopause.
A Notebook Instead of My Phone
A Notebook Instead of My Phone
One of my favourite additions is actually a small notebook and pen.
Of course I could put everything into my phone, but sometimes I actively want a break from looking at a screen. There is something about physically writing down an idea, a recommendation or something I need to remember that feels both creative and productive.
If I’m travelling by train, I’ll usually add my Kindle too. It makes a journey feel like an opportunity to switch off rather than another reason to scroll through my phone.
The Foldable Bag I Never Leave Behind
A foldable tote bag is another permanent fixture.
It sits almost unnoticed at the bottom of my handbag until I suddenly need it — whether that’s for some unplanned shopping, something I’ve picked up on the way home or a few last-minute bits for dinner.
It’s one of those very ordinary things that earns its place simply because I use it so often.
When the Day Turns Into Evening
If I’m going somewhere straight after work, I add a couple of extras to my handbag edit.
A body mist is an easy way to freshen up, and I’ll usually add something for my hair too. At the moment, that’s JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray — a quick spritz helps perk up my hair without needing to completely restyle it.
They’re small additions, but they make the transition from workday to evening feel that little bit easier.
My Summer Handbag at 50
My handbag certainly contains more than it did twenty years ago, but I don’t think of it as carrying more stuff. It’s more about carrying the right things.
A fan for a sudden flush. Reading glasses because I now actually need them. SPF that I can reapply over makeup. A notebook when I want to put my phone away. A tiny fragrance atomiser because something as simple as smelling lovely can make me feel more put together.
It’s practical, but it still feels like me — a small edit of things that make everyday life a little easier, more comfortable and, where possible, a little more beautiful.
What has become a non-negotiable in your handbag as you’ve got older?
