I’m not going to pretend I have this whole book tour thing figured out. I’m a newly published author, which means I’m now getting on planes more than I ever expected, and fumbling through it with as much grace as I can manage.
But somewhere between book signings, red-eyes, and layovers, I’ve discovered a handful of things that keep the journey feeling like home and keep me grounded. From the coffee that makes me feel like I’m home to the hair care that keeps my waves looking fresh in every climate, these are my six must-haves in my luggage as an author.
Vanilla Horchata Flavored Roasted Coffee
I was never a big coffee gal until I turned 30. Now, I can’t live without it. The first time I tasted this blend from Fresh Roasted Coffee, I sat down on my hotel bed and almost cried. As a Horchata lover, it’s all there: the cinnamon, the creamy vanilla bean, the whisper of toasted almond.
Over a smooth, medium-roast Arabica base that somehow never tastes bitter. I pack a small bag of it every time I travel, and it has become a little ritual that keeps me close to home. The best part? It’s completely keto-friendly, no sugar, no carbs. I can make it in the hotel room or my Airbnb and pretend I’m at a cute café. Travel hack: bring a small milk frother and thank me later.
ICE FACE CAAM
Frequent flying is the greatest enemy of my face. Not in a dramatic way, but after six hours on a plane, two hours in an airport, and whatever sleep I managed with a neck pillow, I look exactly as tired as I feel. That’s where this little device has become my best-kept secret.
Ice Face CAAM uses controlled cold therapy to tone and firm the muscles in my face and neck, and it does it without getting me wet, burning my skin, or leaving any residue. Unlike holding ice cubes directly on my face (which I used to do, and which made me look mildly unhinged in hotel bathrooms), this is designed to actually work. It improves circulation, reduces puffiness, and fights that travel fatigue that settles into your jawline.
I use it first thing after landing, and I swear I look ten percent more like a person.
Súperbomba Triple Repair Peptide Hair Mask by isima
If you have curl-adjacent, humidity-sensitive, and easily-offended hair like me, then you know that raveling consistently turns it into something I’d rather not describe. This mask by the one and only Shakira, has changed the game.
isima’s Súperbomba formula works on three levels: the scalp, the cortex, and the cuticle. That patent-pending peptide technology is doing something real, because after one use, my hair feels like it’s been apologized to.
I do a quick mask in the hotel shower whenever I’m staying somewhere more than two nights, and I step out looking like I have my hair together all the time. It also works on all textures and comes in an incredible travel-size you can take anywhere.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Oil in Radiant Raspberry
I have the world’s smallest makeup bag when I travel. It’s a personal decision I made after checking a bag once and watching it go to a different city. In that tiny bag, Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Lip Oil is an outsized presence.
It’s got hyaluronic acid, which means it’s not just making my lips look good, it’s actually holding moisture in, which, between dry airplane air and cold hotel rooms, matters more than I ever thought it would.
The Radiant Raspberry shade adds just enough color that I look like I tried without actually trying. I wear it alone, over lip balm when my lips are particularly dry, or over lip liner for events. It’s the most versatile thing in my bag, and it takes up almost no space. Dermatologist-recommended, paraben-free, and honestly just a delight.
Griffus Cosmetics Hair Treatment
There’s a reason Brazilian haircare has a reputation. Griffus is a brand I discovered through a friend with gorgeous, effortless hair and absolutely refused to tell me her secrets for longer than I’m proud of.
This treatment restores hydration, reduces frizz, adds shine, and somehow keeps everything aligned when humidity is trying to take over. It’s vegan, approved for all hair care techniques, and works on every hair type.
I travel with a small amount decanted into a travel bottle, and it functions as both a styling step and a little bit of self-care that reminds me I’m a person who deserves nice hair, no matter how early the flight was.
Shark ChillPill Personal Cooling System
I did not know how much I needed this until I was standing outside a bookstore in the kind of heat that makes you question your life choices. The Shark ChillPill is the only personal cooler I’ve found that actually does three things at once: a high-speed fan, a dry-touch mist that refreshes without soaking your outfit, and an InstaChill cryo plate that you press directly to your skin, dropping your temperature up to 16°F in seconds. Sixteen degrees. On contact, I genuinely gasped the first time I tried it.
What I love most is that it’s designed to be worn, not buried in your bag. It clips, it twists into a tabletop mode, it goes around your neck; so it’s working for you while your hands are busy signing books, wrangling luggage, or holding an iced horchata latte. For anyone who runs hot or travels somewhere that does, this one is non-negotiable.
Pack practical items for your book tour
There you have it: six things that travel with me everywhere and hold me together when I’m running on three hours of sleep and trying to sign books with a steady hand. I used to think a good traveler was someone who packed light and complained less.
Now I think a good traveler is someone who knows what makes them feel like themselves, even when they’re very far from home. For me, it’s horchata coffee, a lip oil, and a hair mask that smells like someone who has their life together. Buena suerte, mi gente. And pack accordingly.
