4 Australian creatives show us what’s in their bag

“My gym bag also looks like my going-out bag and my work bag, because they’re all sort of conjoined into one bag.”

Journey back in time with us to the heyday of online lifestyle content, when YouTube was filled with makeup tutorials, storytimes and the ever-iconic ‘What’s in my bag’ vlog craze. There’s something so satisfying about watching someone you admire dump out the contents of their handbag in front of you, explaining the carefully thought-out reasoning for every little thing kept inside it.

It scratches that very human urge to be a sticky beak and rifle through people’s belongings, while also being a very entertaining way to get product recommendations. The logic stands that if something is worthy of taking up prime bag real estate, it must be good.

Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.

Knowing what lip balm someone carries with them every day is somehow a more convincing sell than seeing it dredged up from the bottom of a drawer or makeup bag. It implies habit, loyalty and effectiveness. We love good habits, and so do the folks at Vitable, the masters of curated vitamin packs.

Vitable creates personalised daily packs of vitamins and supplements based on your unique health goals. The process is straightforward, too. You take its expert five-minute quiz, and Vitable will recommend you a unique plan out of 1.2 million possible vitamin combinations, saving you confusion in the pharmacy aisle.

You’ll then get your personalised daily packs to your door each month in plastic-free, home-compostable sachets. So, with Vitable’s help, we asked four of our favourite creatives and vitamin enthusiasts to dig deep into their bags and show us the things they never leave the house without. 

Chrissy Lafian, founder and designer of Suku Home

Running my own brand, my main roadblock right now is feeling really tired, or if I get brain fog and can’t think. My energy and stress levels are really important for me to manage. Also because I move around so much, working from both Melbourne and Bali, my body just takes longer to adapt. So in my travel bag, I always keep something for my sleep. I used to bring sleeping tablets because I couldn’t sleep at night when I landed in Bali. But Vitable has a Magnesium Night Powder that’s designed to support healthy sleep and muscle relaxation, which is just what I need after a day of travel. 

I also take vitamins daily and make sure I always have a pack in my carry-on and some spares in my suitcase. Right now, my pack includes biotin for my hair, skin and nails, probiotics for my gut health, B12 for energy levels, vitamin D for my immune system and ashwagandha for stress. I always pack a pair of Suku pyjamas, too. A lot of our styles can be worn during the day, so I find they work for flights and bedtime. And I’ll always have pieces from the most recent Suku collection. Other than that, I actually travel pretty light. I’ll bring my phone, my charger, my wallet and my skincare.

@sukuhome

Rachael Akhidenor, founder and director of Self-Care Originals

One item I keep with me all the time in my everyday bag is my headphones. I love podcasts and audiobooks. Often when I’m travelling or in transit, or even if I have a few minutes to just go for a walk, I’ll always have them on me so I can pop something on and listen. I also have my Vitable vitamins. I take lots of supplements daily – they’re really important to me and have been tailored to me and my needs.

I’ve got vitamins in here for my skin and hair. I’ve got ones for stress and energy [and] supplements for immunity, because I can’t afford to get sick. And, of course, something for my gut health. I always keep a little black notebook with me, and I’ve gotten into the practice of bringing two of my Only Human Prompt Cards with me. So if I’m ever waiting, like before an appointment or something like that, I can just sit and reflect on the prompt and then write.

Often more ideas will come and flow, and I’m reminded to do X, Y and Z. Another thing that I love and always have on me is my pawpaw cream. I have dry skin, hands and lips that need to stay nourished and moisturised. And then, of course, my drink bottle, because I drink so much water during the day. Because I practise hot yoga, I can often be dehydrated so I’ll always bring my blue bottle of water.

@rachakhidenor

Sianna Catullo, Brand and Marketing Manager at Clothing the Gaps

I’m really active, but I think I’m active because I’m quite chaotic. For example, my gym bag also looks like my going-out bag and my work bag, because they’re all sort of conjoined into one bag. When I go from exercise straight to work, I don’t have time to, you know, switch the bags around. Okay, so what’s in it? A sweat towel, always. At Clothing the Gaps we’ve got this really cute ‘Always was, always will be’ microfibre sweat towel. It rolls up real tiny so it’s perfect. My one-litre water bottle.

I got the big one so I pretty much have to hold it because it doesn’t always fit in my bag. But it makes me drink lots. If I’ve got a small water bottle, it just goes in my bag and never comes out, so this makes me drink more water. I’ve always got a little toiletries bag with a toothbrush in it, and deodorant and a little perfume. It also has my vitamins, which are tailored to me.

So in my pack labelled Sianna, I have vitamin D for immunity, magnesium for muscle relaxation, fish oil for [the] heart and brain and something called acetyl L-carnitine for energy production and cognitive function. I have my Apple Watch, and I try to keep my charging port and my phone charger in my bag as well. And then I’ve also got my bigger bag, which holds my laptop and my notebook.

@siannacatullo

Aisha Kuryana, freelance dancer and choreographer

In my dancer’s bag, I have quite a few things that I need in order to teach a class. The first thing would be a face towel. I make sure I always have that because I sweat so much in class. I also always have face wipes for afterwards. I have my Vitable pack, always. Within it, I have magnesium to support energy levels and muscle relaxation. There’s also astaxanthin to support athletic performance. Vitable also has a plant-based protein powder, which is good for satiety and muscle tone. 

I think the main thing for me is keeping healthy habits. I think it’s really important for me to continue to work on strengthening and conditioning my body because I want to have a long career and longevity is my key. So I’m just investing in my health as much as I can now. I have this really nice roll-on perfume that is really small, and I keep it in my bag with me. What else do I have? I always have electrolytes. I always have water. I always have my AirPods because I like to listen to music on the way to class, to kind of get me in the zone. And I always have my laptop as well. Oh, and I always have a pair of earrings to jazz up my outfit.

@aishamarydance

Vitable’s goal is to remove the fuss around vitamins and make healthy habits accessible to everyone. The brand’s expert quiz asks questions about your health goals, lifestyle and diet, and gives you a personalised vitamin recommendation. You can take the quiz here. 

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, change, or worsen, talk to your health professional. Vitamin and supplements should not replace a balanced diet.