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What toiletries do you keep in your desk drawer? We’ve talked about the clothes you keep in the office, the food you nibble on during the workday, and the tech stuff you have to have for the office — but what about toiletries? I have such an established list that, when my brother started his new job, I gave him a little bag filled with these items — they’re helpful for everyone! (Pictured: junk drawer #1, my middle desk drawer, originally uploaded to Flickr by zeelicious.) 1. New-Skin. Yes, it’s an electronic world, but there are still far more papers to deal with than you’d think — which means papercuts abound — which means every open wound increases your chances of getting sick. My preferred method for dealing with papercuts is to apply a liquid bandage like New-Skin. It dries quickly, stays on all day (even after you’ve washed your hands), and it doesn’t leave that gummy residue on your nails and fingers. 2. Purell. This is another great way to ward off colds — and it’s particularly helpful to keep at your desk if you commute to work via public transportation (you can clean your hands the minute you get to the office), or if you shake hands with a lot of people during the course of your job. If you get one with aloe, it won’t dry your hands out as much. (And, someone recently gave me the tip that alcohol-based cleaners (like Purell) are a much better habit than antibacterial ones (such as the richly scented ones available at some mall stores). Of course, regular soap and water is best. 3. Thermometer. The higher up the food chain you go, the more you’ll find that a little head cold is not an acceptable reason to stay away from the office if work needs to be done in it. That said, it’s generally poor form to come to work (or stay at work) if you’re contagious. Obviously you’ve got a thermometer at home to know when you’re running a fever — but it can be helpful to have one at the office for those occasional stretches where you’re practically living at the office, or where you suddenly feel lousy in the middle of the afternoon. I’ve always done well with a digital one, like the Vicks Comfort-Flex Thermometer
, available at Amazon for around $30 — you swipe it across your forehead and get a very accurate reading. The new mom in me loves it.) 4. Preservative-free eye drops. Long hours of staring at the computer = dry eyes. For some women this is a particular problem. My suggestion: invest in preservative-free drops. If you use the drops only occasionally, then you’ll be happy to open up a new vial of eye drops. If you use them frequently, you’ll be glad you’re not overloading your eyes with preservatives. I recommend TheraTears Lubricant Eye Drops, Single-Use Containers
Holly
Lots of great suggestions! I keep a toothbrush and toothpaste here, and also some fragrance oils. Sometimes I need a hit of peppermint oil to keep my brain awake. It’s great to rub into your temples when you’re dragging.
Does anyone know how good Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale usually is? It starts this Wednesday, and I’m debating whether to snag a pair of full-priced boots there now, or wait and see if they get included in the markdown Wednesday. My brain says to wait, but my shoe-lust says to order them yesterday.
mamabear
Buy the boots and ask for an adjustment if they go on sale Wednesday. Nordstrom is great about this.
Holly
That’s a great idea! Thank you!
SF Bay Associate
A lot of the merchandise is already on sale online, even if it’s not officially “half yearly” yet.
SF Bay Associate
Sorry, that was unclear. Nordie’s online typically loads all the sale merch up online a day or two before the official sale start date. Usually noonish on the Monday before the Wednesday sale starts. Right on schedule, a TON of new markdowns got uploaded a couple hours ago. It’s usually a rolling load, so more things will pop up over the next few days, so it’s good to check back often.
Bonnie
That explains why a couple items in my shoppingnotes went down in price.
On a related note, what items do you keep in your court bag? I keep a ziploc with hand sanitizer, Advil, Pepto, a Tide pen, nuts and granola bars.
MaggieLizer
The salespeople in the store might already know what’s going on sale. Even if they don’t, they would probably put it on hold for you until Wed.
Holly
Thanks again for all the tips! I don’t usually shop at Nordstrom (the nearest one is 2 hours away) so I had no idea about their sale cycles. I’m gonna buy some boots tonight! :)
Anonymous
They’re not offering to do pre-sales for this event?
a passion for fashion
toothbrush/toothpaste/floss/mouthwash
basic make-up
purell
face lotion
hand lotion
cuticle cream
advil/tylenol
tampons/pads
clear nail polish
oragel
chapstick
body splash
hairbrush
contact solution
wow. who knew i kept so much stuff in my office.
Makeup Junkie
I keep toothbrush, toothpaste, floss; baby wipes and deodorant; contact solution, lens case, and a pair of glasses; cuticle cream and hand lotion because working with paper files = paper cuts galore. I used to keep lavender essential oil to dot on my wrists for stress relief but I ran out and haven’t yet replaced it!
falnfenix
Here’s my (somewhat extensive) list:
– small first-aid kit. i have one in my car, one at the office, one in my purse…i’m clumsy.
– travel-size deodorant.
– mouthwash.
– moisturizer.
– bottle of multivitamins. i usually forget to take one at home, so the bottle at work is my “backup” bottle.
– antacid, a pack or two of saltines, and some Imodium. i also occasionally stock Pepto for the coworkers, since they rarely have anything.
– antihistamine pills.
– headache meds.
– hair spray and hairbrush.
– toothbrush, toothpaste, floss.
– feminine products.
– Purell.
– lip balm.
falnfenix
oh, and superglue! i’m frequently found climbing around in the ceiling or under lab equipment, and i tend to gash myself rather frequently. superglue works well in a pinch to keep bigger wounds closed and free of dirt.
Fishie
Tweezers! You never know when you’ll notice that your recurring chin hair has recurred.
Nordstrom half-yearly is Nov. 3, I think, Holly.
Fishie
Duh, just re-read your question!
Miss Zarves
Oh my God. Other people get that recurring chin hair too? Mine’s always an inch long and seems to sprout up overnight. What is WITH that?!
Awful Lawful
Me too. It’s the worst!
BigLaw Refugee
Me too! But it’s somehow very satisfying to pull them out. :)
ANON
You forgot the most important thing: Safety pins. You’ll thank me that one day your dress rips right at your underwear line.
b23
Last week, I wrote something about being “on my period.” Someone called me a troll, and others said they did not like that phrase. I’m seriously wondering what’s wrong with saying that. That’s all I’ve heard my whole life. Some people on the same thread said they “had” their period, and some said it was “that time,” but those don’t seem to work in all contexts. And saying “that time” seems kind of . . . I don’t know. Immature or something. How would you say it in the present tense? “I’m crying because I’m on my period.”
Diana Barry
Maybe it’s regional? I wouldn’t use that phrase – I just say “I have my period” if it’s happening at the time.
For toiletries, I keep toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, tampax, pads, bandaids and neosporin. Also an extra pair of underwear for the oops period day.
mamabear
I have never used the phrase you mention. I would say, “I’m crying because you’re an a-hole!”
Ask my husband.
eaopm3
hahahaha. Sounds familiar :)
AEK
I dislike the phrase because I have always thought it to be a sanitized version of the awful “on the rag,” which I’ve never heard used in a non-insulting way.
Always a NYer
(shudders) Ugh, I hate the phrase “on the rag.” I don’t find anything offensive with “on my period” but I’ve never used it, or mentioned my period with anyone for that matter. I’m also not prone to crying or anything else period related except cramps so I haven’t had to explain, nor would I.
b23
Thanks, all! It certainly doesn’t come up in conversation for me either, except with my husband and that one post on Corporette. :)
Anonymous
Nothing is wrong with what you said and nothing is wrong with you. Women who don’t get irrational anger or depression just don’t get it. The women who judge you are the problem. They belong in middle school.
AIMS
I personally don’t love the phrase, but it’s your period so say it however you want to say it.
But I think part of the reason that phrase rubs some people the wrong way is that it is usually men who say it and it just sounds off when they do. I say, “I have my period.” I figure you wouldn’t say you’re “on the flu,” or “on the hay fever,” so “have” works for me.
JenK
I’m pretty sure I say I have my period, or am about to get it. I don’t think I’ve discussed it with anyone but my son in years. I didn’t want to give him the idea that women are inferior, so at first I didn’t tell him anything about cramps, etc, but I do get migraines and there are cycles when I’m really grouchy around then, so I figure it’s fair to tell him as plainly as possible. He deals with it really well and respectfully, sometimes offers to rub my back. He’s 8. When he’s older, I hope he treats women his own age as well as he treats me!
Always a NYer
That is the sweetest thing, he’s going to have all the girls fighting for him! You did a very good job with your son =)
Research, Not Law
“On your period” seems normal to me.
Working Girl
I think it just seems a little off grammatically and therefore sounds like something people said in the olden days. I can imagine a grandfather saying that. I HAVE my period; I am not “on” it. But there is nothing offensive about using a slightly awkward phraseology. “On the rag” is another story–that’s offensive.
nikkiesq
I say “on my period.” It may be a regional thing, but it’s also logical to me because I say “I just got off my period” as opposed to “My period just ended.” What do others say when it’s over?
My work toiletries include:
Feminine supplies
Lint brush
Contact solution
Carmex
Deodorant
Hair spray
Throat drops
Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer Lotion (it changed my life!)
Perfume (rollerballs and sample-size sprays)
Floss
Sephora mirror/brush compact
Hair elastics
Tide pen
Basic makeup (eyes/lips, no foundation)
C.
Shark Week.
Yes, really. The euphemism delights me.
That said, I did go to a women’s college, and I am a big advocate for non-disposable products like Diva Cups, so I’m pretty comfortable referring to “menstruation” in general. For my own menses, though–which usually only come up when I’m reminding The Boyfriend–I just use Shark Week.
G
My female peer group says Shark Week when around the guys, or “it’s my period” if it’s just us women. With my partner I say I’m bleedy or crampy.
“On my period” doesn’t feel grammatically correct to me, maybe it’s a regional thing. Growing up I would say “I have my period” or “it’s that time of month.” I agree that since starting to use non-disposable products (I use GladRags, so “on the rag” doesn’t really offend me — it’s true!) I’ve become a lot less euphemistic about the process.
Jen
I saw your comment last week but didn’t respond. Being “on my period” reminds me of being teased by middle school boys. “What? Are you on your period?” It makes my period sound like a drug that I am taking and thus am affected by, making me not responsible for my actions. I’m not offended by others using the term, but it’s not how I would refer to myself.
My period doesn’t come up in conversation much, so I don’t often have to refer to it. I typically would say that I was having my period. Were I crying, it would be because of my period or because I was hormonal or because I was having my period. Or just because, now please pass the chocolate.
Anonymous
Blister block!
Anne-on
Second the blister block, as well as a stash of bandaids.
PollyD
I don’t think I even want to imagine what you might need blister block or bandaids for during your period.
Always a NYer
The visual of needing bandaids during your period just provided me with an image I could have done without. Thanks for that =p
Amanda
In addition to many of the things listed, I keep a bottle of dry shampoo in my desk. Fluffs my hair up when I’ve been working all night and nice for those (admittedly few) times I can squeeze in a workout during the day.
Anon
I also keep clear nail polish and a mini-sewing kit. Not technically toiletries, but very handy for runs and popped buttons.
Anne-on
I don’t keep clear nail polish, but I do keep a nail file. It drives me batty to break a nail and then spend the rest of the day catching it on my clothing/stockings/whatever.
K
I keep make up wipes in my desk. Lately, my skin was been greasy AND flaky (figure that one out!) and my makeup looks great when I do it…at 5 AM. When I get to work, it’s a different story.
PollyD
FYI, you may need to up the exfoliation. I get this problem when it starts getting colder – I went to get a facial because my skin felt simultaneously dry/flakey, and greasy. I was told it’s because the lotion can’t penetrate the dry, built-up skin cells, so it doesn’t absorb – hence the greasy feeling. It does make biological sense, and I have found that upping my use of gentle scrubs and Retin-A has made a difference.
Cats Ahoy!
In the absence of Nu-Skin, crazy glue works just as well.
MeliaraofTlanth
Let’s see. at the moment, hydrogen peroxide and band-aids/bandages (nasty fall on the subway into work one morning), eye drops, a Tide pen (very important), a mini-sewing kit, and tampons. Except for the tampons, these were all in reaction to some mini-crisis. I’ve been meaning to add: contact case and solution, hand cream (because winter is brutal), nail clippers, and chapstick.
Seventh Sister
Second the Tide pen suggestion. Especially important if you have little snotty or drooly kids that love to snuggle up to your sweater in the morning.
Also, extra contacts. I am only a little nearsighted, so it’s easy for me to forget to put my contacts in before I leave the house.
AIMS
I find it easier to keep make up remover wipes in my desk instead of actual eye makeup remover because it’s just more compact, no need to worry about cotton pads, etc.
Also: nail polish remover wipes & clear nail polish; travel deodorant for when I forget to put some on when I leave the house (sad but it happens).
In addition to stuff already mentioned above, I also have a mini can of static guard, a shoe shine block from the drugstore (no color, just shine), and a nail clipper (but I would never, ever, ever use it when anyone was around and/or could possibly hear me!).
B
Not necessarily toiletries, but in addition to many of the things mentioned, I have a mega-sized box of Emergen-C, a sewing kit, a little box of safety pins.
On a related note, I’ve always kept a box of Pepto chewables, needing them a few times a week. When I looked in my drawer, I realized I haven’t used any of them since I stopped eating gluten (about a month ago – not Celiak, mild wheat intolerance). Small victories.
Logan
I just looked in my desk drawer and its embarrassing the amount of stuff I have in there:
Shine control sheets/blotting papers
Hand mirror
Manicure kit (includes tweezers)
Bobbi Brown Powder
Bobbi Brown Foundation stick (doubles as concealer)
Sample size Bare Minerals blush
Sample size Dior mascara
Mini Static Guard Spray
Mini straightening iron
Hand lotion
Little q-tip type things that already have the make-up remover on them (I can’t remember what they are called)
Whisps
Hair rubber band
Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon
Fresh Sugar Rose Balm
Bandaids
Super glue
Tums
Neosporin
Systane Ultra eye drops
Advil
Tide to Go pen
Burts Bees Hand Salve
lp
I floss all the time. Actually, I think the only time I do floss is at work. :O I keep a nail file and clipper in my drawer. I know that if I don’t get a hangnail clipped as soon as I see it, it’s sure to get caught on something and leave a gaping wound (always). Rather than bleed all over the files, I take the 5 seconds to clip my hang nails and file any rough edges.
Elle21
toothbrush
toothpaste
face spritzer (unscented; very refreshing)
body spray (light scent)
floss
feminine products
safety pins
makeup (foundation and mascara only)
mirror to apply said mascara and foundation
deoderant
contact solution
nail clippers and file
hair ties
hand lotion
hand sanitizer
back pad that can be microwaved or put in freezer depending on whether I want hot or cold for sore back
Research, Not Law
In the 10+ years that I’ve been working in an office, the only thing I’ve ever needed was burn cream.
Ironically, I was working at a major medical center and could not obtain it!
Fiona
I keep vitamins in the office – I’m more likely to remember to take one when I’m there all day rather than trying to remember as I’m running out of the house in the morning.
I also keep an extra bottle of prescription migraine meds just in case one comes on when I’m at the office.
b23
That’s a good idea. I may copy you on the vitamins.
LinLondon
My desk is like a drugstore-
A few different kinds of hand cream
Regular Lotion
Dry Shampoo
Nail files
Cuticle Scissors
Nail polish remover
Base/top coat
About 5 bottle of nail polish
A mini Sephora palette
Q-tips
Deodorant
Toothbrush/paste and floss
Advil
Pepto
Emergen-C
Antihistamines
Bandaids
Tylenol with codeine (for coughs)
Cough drops
Blotting papers
Tampons
And currently my gym toiletries are on there, since I’m being realistic these days and accepting that I’m not going to wake up in the morning and think “gee, maybe I’ll go to the gym” for at least several more weeks.
Zebs
Lint brush. I always find a little lint on my dark clothes when I get to the office no matter how carefully I brushed at home.
joyce
i keep some of those go smile tooth whitening sticks for a quick touch up before an important meeting
Flossing nerd
I’m sorry, but the statement that you probably won’t use floss a lot really grossed me out. Please floss, ladies! Even if you don’t see an obvious chunk of food in your teeth, there’s still stuff building up there that if you don’t remove it by flossing, will eventually harden and make for a painful visit to the dental hygienist (assuming you even do that–if not, make that a painful visit when your teeth fall out or you get gum disease). Also, no one wants to look at your visible plaque. Just like chewing tobacco residue in someone’s lower gums is disgusting, so is three months of accumulated food. And it certainly doesn’t smell minty fresh either.
I say this with love. Flossing is your friend :)
Emily I
I think what was meant was that regular flossing would likely take place at home, and the floss at the office would be for those days when a coworker brings in boy scout popcorn and that little piece gets stuck after you’ve accidentally eaten half the bag.
Flossing nerd
Haha, fair enough (I’m laughing at the last sentence because it’s so true). I’m one of those people that gets a migraine if I don’t eat lunch, and I always feel the need to brush and floss after a meal. But your post made me remember that a lot of people don’t stop for lunch and just have smaller snacks throughout the day, making it less likely to feel that “need.”
I guess I just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to proselytize flossing :)
AZ
If you use OTC medications often enough to know the dosage and guidelines by heart, you can get pill dispensers that contain a pack of stickers rather than days of the week. I use these for a mini travel pharmacy for myself, putting the drug name on the sticker, and if I worked in an office would keep one there. I have one like this:
http://www.forgettingthepill.com/products/stackable-7-day-pill-organizers-items-368-379
Items to put in it:
– Allergy medication: Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec
– Pain meds: Advil, Tylenol, Aspirin, headache meds
– Cold meds: it is so time consuming to get the kind with pseudoephedrine, and it’s annoying to get multiply carded and database-entered when you’re standing at the drugstore with a head cold, so think ahead!
– Diarrhea pills.
You cold also get those single-dose packets, but I find those hard to find in all the medications I want.
terri
Ive been known to bring a flat iron. You laugh but you don’t turn into another person on rainy days!
Kate
Tide to Go pen – has saved me on countless occasions
Nail file and clippers
Cuticle oil pen from Sephora
Nail polish remover wipes
Advil
Claritin
Travel-size lint roller
Travel-size First Aid kit
Black shoe polish (great for when the tips of my pointy-toes shoes get scuffed)
Travel-size umbrella
Lizliz
I wouldn’t last 16 hours in the office.. That is the point where I drag the computer home with me.
Natalie
It’s taken me a while to build up a good desk stash, but I finally think I have what I need: deodorant, nail clippers & file, tweezers, toothbruth, toothpaste, dental floss, small mirror, small bottle of perfume, spare camisoles and pantyhose, and spare nicotine gum. That last one probably isn’t something everyone should have. :)