10 Essentials to Bring on a First Date

Written by Kira Jan

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 References

What should you bring on a first date—aside from your incredible sense of humor and a dazzling smile? When you’re trying to rush out the door to meet your date, it’s totally normal to be nervous, and it’s easy to forget the essentials. No worries, we’ve put together a quick checklist of what you should bring along so you can take the stress out of your date prep!

1

Cash

Bring enough cash to pay for tips, cab/bus fare, and a meal. Even though you can use credit cards or apps to pay for your fair share of the bill, sometimes plain old cash is just easier! Plus, if you opt to stop for a drink, coffee, or small snack you can avoid looking cheap by making sure you have something to leave in the tip jar.^{[1]
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2

ID Card or Driver’s License

Bring ID in case you want to drive to your date or order alcohol. If you’re younger and don’t have a government-issued ID, you can bring a school ID to take advantage of store and theater student discounts.^{[2]
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3

Breath Mints

When your mouth smells less-than-kissable, turn to your trusty mints! Even if you’re not planning on kissing your date, breath mints can save you from wafting the scent of your dinner towards them while you talk.^{[3]
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4

Lip Balm

Apply a little lip balm to get ready for puckering up. After using lip balm, your chapped lips will probably look and feel better both to you and your date!^{[4]
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- For hydrated lips, apply lip balm before bed and in the morning, as well as when your lips feel dry throughout the day.
- If you’re going on an outdoor date, pick a lip balm with at least SPF30 to stay protected from UV rays.^{[5]
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5

Phone Charger or Battery Pack

Give your phone a boost if your date goes longer than planned. Whether you end up staying the night or whether your phone battery drains quickly, you’ll want to make sure you have enough power to tell someone where you are, get a ride home, and use GPS so you don’t get lost.^{[6]
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6

Tissues

Turn to this modern equivalent of a handkerchief to banish unattractive sniffling. Plus, if you come across a gross seat or bench, you can use tissues to wipe it down and save yourself from an icky situation.^{[7]
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7

Jacket

Stay cozy and warm for a more comfortable date. Choose a jacket/sweater appropriate for the weather and date location, and remember that restaurants, museums, and other great date locations might be chillier inside than the weather outside.^{[8]
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8

Touch-Up Makeup

If you wear makeup, bring a small kit to keep it looking good. Depending on what makeup you’re wearing, bring lipstick or lip gloss, concealer, and/or translucent powder.^{[9]
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- To fix makeup moments when your skin gets really oily, bring a beauty blender and blotting paper to pick up oil and touch up your foundation. Then, gently dab translucent powder over your face with a beauty blender.^{[10]
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- Don’t use a brush to touch up your makeup, or the bristles will move the makeup around too much.^{[11]
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9

Condoms

If there’s a chance you’ll spend the night, set yourself up for safe sex. When things start to get hot and heavy, the last thing you want is to find out you don’t have protection. Carry a condom in your purse, pocket, wallet, or leave some in your car.^{[12]
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10

Pepper Spray

Take the anxiety out of walking around at night or in unfamiliar places. Especially if you’re a smaller person or someone going on a blind date, you can get extra peace of mind in knowing that you can defend yourself.^{[13]
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