Items Every Girl Should Keep in Her Purse

No matter your style, there are certain items every girl (and guy) should carry at all times.

1. Mint/Gum
Let’s be up front in saying that talking to someone with rank breath is probably not something you look forward to doing. Whether you throw a container of Tic Tacs in your bag or slip a pack of gum into your pocket, you should always be prepared to freshen your breath. You never know when you might run into a potential employer or last year’s crush while out and about. After spending an entire semester behind a girl that nearly killed me with her morning breath, let me say that you’ll be doing everyone a favor by keeping this little gem on your person.

Photo by rooey via Flickr.com

2. Floss
Continuing with elements of hygiene, let’s not forget that when people talk to you they tend to look at your mouth. The last thing you want is this morning’s breakfast sticking around to let the world know that you had pepper with your eggs and some pieces of mango on the side. And let’s face it, sometimes there’s only so much you can do by swishing water around in your mouth and trying to wedge your nail in between the creases of your teeth. Whether it’s the usual square container or the one-use Dentek picks (my preference – no matter what brand) you should always have some dental floss within reach. Just make sure you’re making a pit stop to the bathroom before cleaning out your teeth. In dire situations, discretion is your friend.

3. Nail Clippers
I cannot begin to stress how many times I’ve been sitting in class, walking to work, or going out with friends when the inevitable happens – a chipped nail. The temptation to rip, chew, or pick a damaged nail hits instantaneously and consumes my thoughts for the rest of the day. If I can make it through ten minutes without launching an all-out assault against my damaged nail it’s a miracle. To alleviate the irrational need to fix a torn nail immediately through harmful means, keep a pair of nail clippers in your purse. Glorious. Not only do these compact little miracle-workers fit nicely in whatever-sized bag you decide to wear that day, but they’re also cleaner and faster than using your teeth (we’ve all been there). Just make sure you keep it classy and clip your broken nail over a trash can or in the bathroom.

If you’re just clipping your nails because they’re too long, save it for when you get home.