By traveling back to basically the same place 3 weeks in a row, I've managed to postpone the problem of toothpaste and moisturizer (I use hotel-provided shampoo and conditioner) but, inevitably, I will have to face the problem. Fortunately, some comments to Rourke over the weekend about how there must be solid toiletries out there somewhere (and if not, market forces would quickly move into adjust) caused him to go out and do most of the research for me. (I also am not important enough to have a secretary make 43 identical toiletry kits and mail them out strategically across the country.) Thanks Rourke!
The one remaining item is moisturizer, since he doesn't seem to use any. Fortunately, a page dedicated to the topic was close at hand (a quick google for "solid moisturizer") and it seems like an unscented stick of Surgeon's Skin Secret is my best bet.
I'm also a little torn about toothpaste. Hotels have tiny tubes of toothpaste easily available at the check-in desk. However, the toothpaste that the EWR Sheraton had was some of the nastiest I've ever used. I'm not sure if I could stand using that toothpaste 3-5 days a week. The a solid alternative is tooth powder, a really old school product. But there are some potential problems with this plan. One is that these powders all seem to be excruciating natural and contain no fluoride. Another is an amusing comment from the FlyerTalk forum that reads:
Had my first tooth powder experience after arriving in GRU with no security issues in sfo or ord. It reinforces my belief in rational markets. There is a reason, absent of TSA, that of the 100 sku spaces alotted for tooth pastes, gels, and powders, only one is set aside for powders. Do not buy tooth powder stock unless you think the TSA ban is permanent.Not exactly a glowing endorsement. Rourke says I should just use the hotel toothpaste. I probably will get a little tooth powder to carry around as a backup and generally rely on hotel-provided toothpaste.
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