The contents of your purse can tell a lot about a person. Maybe you carry a ton of things because you're always on the go. Or perhaps the few things in your bag mimic your minimalist mentality. Or the crumpled bits of paper, old receipts and sheer amount of stuff reflect your disorganized life. Other than the obvious must-haves (wallet, keys, and phone), there are several other things that you should carry in your purse. Beauty, basic health and hygiene, and self-defense items deserve a spot in your bag, no matter how small it may be. 

The items we choose to carry in our purses should be functional, but there’s no reason why they can’t also be beautiful! Here are our 10 picks every woman should carry in her purse!

Every woman needs a lip product in her bag, and we find room in even the tiniest of purses to keep our favorite lippie on hand. If you have the space, you should keep a lip balm, a lip gloss, and a lipstick in your purse. They all serve different functions and go with different looks. You never know what lip product you may need! 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, $24

MERIT Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil, $24

Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lipstick, $20

A few products to keep on hand in case you need to touch up your makeup on the go are blotting papers, mini mascara, and concealer. These items will keep your makeup looking fresh all day long, and are perfect for little touch-ups after work. 

Sephora Mini Lashstash To Go Mascara Set, $28

And you can always add a mini deodorant, just in case! 

SmartyPits Natural Deodorant Super Strength Mini, $5

Hand sanitizer is one of those things that we can’t not have in our bags. Before you eat, after you handle money, or after simply touching merchandise at the store, you should be sanitizing your hands. These Touchland Hand Sanitizer mists are the perfect size for your purse, they don’t leak, and they come in a variety of colors and scents. So cute!

Touchland Glow Mist Rejuvenating Hand Sanitizer, $16

Another important item to keep in your purse is a few hair ties. You never know when you’ll need to put your hair up or out of your face, and you want to be prepared. Get bonus points if your hair ties are extra cute!

Anthropologie Coiled Hair Tie Set, $12

Bachca Paris Thin Elastic Set, $7

While chewing gum is not the most attractive habit, sometimes we just need a little something to keep our breath fresh during the day or before a meeting. Keep a tiny tin of mints in your bag for just this reason! 

Icebreaker Sugar Free Spearmint Mints, $3

Our phones are not always the most reliable form of record-keeping, so it's a good idea to keep a mini planner or calendar in your bag as well. A pocket planner is a great way to keep track of appointments or simply visualize the whole month when making plans. Plus, it’s cute! Look at you being responsible!

Rifle Paper Co. 2023 Lea Weekly Pocket Planner, $15

If you aren’t sure that a small planner will be used in your bag, swap it for a small notebook and pen. Either way, you can write things down easily and never have to look for a piece of paper when you’re out of the house. 

Ban.Do Mini Spiral Notebook, $12

We all have moments when we wish we could spritz on our favorite fragrance during the day. Whether you have an impromptu date, girls' night out, or after-work drinks, a travel-size fragrance is the perfect solution. Keep one in your bag and spritz away!

Pharmacia Eau De Parfum Gift Set, $34

Don’t forget feminine products! You can easily slip these products into a cute pouch that won’t take up a ton of space in your bag. Even if you don’t think you’ll need one, you never know who might.

Three Potato Four Zip Pouch, $18

It’s 2023, and as women, we need to be prepared in case the worst happens. There's a sense of confidence and security provided when you carry around a personal defense item, like pepper spray or mini taser. There are so many pretty versions of these items that you can carry in your purse or attach to your keys to stay safe! 

SABRE Pepper Gel with Finger Grip, $12

Headaches, period cramps, head colds, and more can easily ruin your shopping trip or your night out. Keeping a small bottle or case of basic ibuprofen is a great item to have on hand in case of emergencies. 

You should take a few minutes and clean out your purse right now. Whether you’re always on the go or switch up your bag for the occasion, be prepared to face the day with a well-stocked purse! 

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