Essentials For Your School Bag!

Unfortunately for us school kids, September is fast approaching. To be prepared for when September comes around, here are the essentials for your school bag!

Firstly, get a bag! I buy a new school bag every year because most bags either break or look tired by the end of the year from carrying all my books around! When shopping for a bag, bring an A4 notepad with you so you can test the bags and see if they will fit all your books in it. There are lots of options when buying a school bag - you could buy a messenger bag (Gola bags look nice, I've had one in the colour Apple/White but there are other colours and styles available). A popular style of bag is a backpack, I love the Topshop ones! Or you could go for a classic handbag which you can get from many clothing shops. My favourite at the moment is this H&M bag which looks very sophisticated! I would suggest going into shops and looking at the bags rather than buying online as you will get a better idea of the sizing and feel if you go into shops. 

A pencil case is a must-have to keep all school equipment in! These can be bought from stationery shops like WHSmith and Paperchase. My current favourite is this flower pencil case from Paperchase. If you have real exams this school year, just opt for a clear pencil case as you're not allowed opaque pencil cases as you might be hiding notes/things to cheat in them.

Tissues are certainly an essential for your bag! They are great to have on hand if you've got a cold or another situation that may require them. Blotting tissues are great to have in your bag too, for summer especially, as they remove any sweat/shine from your face without taking any of your makeup off. Another similar item that might be a good idea to keep in your bag is wet wipes/face wipes. Face wipes are useful for after PE when you're feeling sweaty and want to cleanse your face. Wet wipes or hand sanitizer is great if you want to wash your hands and it's hard to get to the school toilets.

If you wear makeup, you may want to bring these essentials. Concealer is always a good idea to keep in your bag so you can touch up your makeup, or if a spot randomly appears! Check out our Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer post, it's definitely my favourite concealer yet! Another good makeup product to have on hand is a lip balm/lip product. I recommend Maybelline's Baby Lips Lip Balm as it keeps your lips from getting dry and the one I have (pink punch) gives a beautiful sheer tint of colour on the lips- perfect for school! You may want to take a powder if your face gets shiny throughout the day but if you bring blotting tissues this isn't necessary. Bring a compact mirror so you can apply the makeup if you can't get to toilets easily. This doesn't really fit into makeup, but bringing a hairbrush, hairspray, hair ties and a couple of bobby pins will help if you need to put your hair up for PE or to keep hair looking luscious all day!

It's always good to be prepared for period emergencies at school. Bring at least two sanitary towels or tampons or both! If your school and parents will allow you, bring paracetamol in case your stomach cramps are bothering you. Maybe just keep one or two in your bag at once so there is no danger of taking them at the wrong time and overdosing. 

It's a good idea to invest in a makeup bag of some sort to keep all these items together and so they don't get lost in the bottom of your bag! You'll be able to find one in Boots, Superdrug and probably all makeup shops you come across. You could even use a big pencil case or a pocket in your bag. 

Keep a book you're reading in your bag if you get bored on the bus, or if you finish a test and the classroom is still in silence! Or if you don't want to bring a book, take a magazine or earphones so you can listen to music!

The last and final essential is mints. Some schools don't allow chewing gum, so keep a packet of mints in your bag for when you've just had lunch and want fresh breath.

Don't forget to pack your school equipment and exercise books!

-A x