Apr 4, 2016

My Makeup Bag Essentials: How To Pack for 10 Days Away

Makeup bag on the left and skincare/hair product bag on the right

Ever since I backpacked around Southeast Asia for 3 months, I've become such a great packer.  Before backpacking, I was TERRIBLE.  I would literally pack my entire wardrobe and all my makeup in the biggest suitcase I could find even if we were only traveling for 3 days.  Seriously, I'm not kidding.

Since I had to carry everything on my back for 3 months, I realized how little you truly need to still look good and feel like yourself.  Plus, the benefit of going to Toronto and not Southeast Asia is I can still buy all my needed toiletries if I've forgotten anything, LOL.


The cosmetic bag I chose to use is not the nice new Sephora one I posted about last week but a matching set I bought at Winners.  I chose these two bags because I they match (obviously) and they are small enough to fit in my carry-on suitcase.


Best part of this little bag is it came with the travel makeup brushes.  Yes, I am bringing a few of my own but to include 5 brushes (and fairly decent ones at that) is a pretty good bargain.


At the bottom of the makeup bag are my face items.  They include (from left to right) my ecotools powder brush, Almay Smart Share Anti-Aging Skintone Matching Makeup in Light, NYX Color Correcting Concealer Palette, BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Perfecting Concealer palette, my Bon Voyage Dual-Sided Mirror and Maybelline Fit Me Powder in Classic Ivory.


The next group of items are my blushes and highlighters.  They include (from left to right): Model Co Highlighting Trio in Champagne, Peach Bellini & Bronze, Benefit Ooh La Lift, Pixi by Petra Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold, Sweet Lei Lani Color Tides Mineral Blushers in Star Fish and ELF All Over Color Stick in Persimmon.


I found packing the eye shadows to be the hardest part.  Especially because I didn't have room to bring my Chocolate Bar palette or anything.  I settled on the following items (from left to right) Coastal Scents Glamour Eyes Eye Shadow Sampler, Benefit Air Patrol Lid Primer, LOC One and Done Shadow Stick in Day Trip ,NYX 3 Color Shadow Palette (created for IPSY), City Color Eyeshadow Trio in Falling Leaves, Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner, Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara and Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer.


For my lips, I packed (from left to right) Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in N50, Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Classy, Mirabella Love Velvet Lip Pencil, Jersey Shore Spa Pumpkin Spice Moisture Rich Hydrating Balm, tre'Stique Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Nantucket Nude and Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie in Maverick.


Also in the bag are the following items (from left to right) Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Soft Brown, a spoolie brush I made, a sample of Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme, a L'Occitane nail file, a Forever 21 Brush and Comb set, Davines OI All-In-One Hair Milk and a sample of Clean Reserve in Blonde Rose.


The last item in my makeup bag is a clear little pouch filled with my headbands, bobby pins, hair elastics and clips.  I don't wear my hair up a lot but it's always nice to have these items just in case.


My skincare/hair product bag is a lot smaller and therefore I had to be very choosy about what was coming with me.


First, I always bring a selection of sample moisturizers.  Mainly because mine are too big to pack and also because it's a great way to find new brands that might actually work well.  I also packed a coconut face mask for a relaxed night in at the in-laws.


Besides the sample packs of moisturizers, I am only bringing this group of skin care items.  They are (from left to right) Clarins Bi-Serum Intensif Anti-Soif, pur-lisse Pur-Delicate Gentle Soymilk Cleanser, Acure Brightening Facial Scrub, Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil (x 2), Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid, Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner, 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream and Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Overnight Firming Mask.


Hair products!  From left to right, I packed Moroccan Oil Treatment, Co Lab Dry Shampoo, SG Play It Big Firmer Hair Spray, L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil with Almond Oil, Sebastian Professional Color Ignite Multi Shampoo, L'Oreal Excellence Conditioner, L'Occitane Verbana Body Lotion and Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion Salt Spray.


And of course, no toiletry case is complete without a toothbrush, deodorant, toothpaste and dental floss.

There you have it ladies!  I will say that all my sample/trial sizes from Sephora, Ulta, Birchbox, Luxebox, Ipsy and LipMonthly really helped.  Everything I packed (except the toothbrush, toothpaste deodorant, powder, concealer and foundation) were from these monthly subscriptions.

    

Apr 1, 2016

DIY Beauty Fridays: Uses for Q-Tips You'll Wish You Thought of Yourself


I am currently in travel mode, again.  We are going to be flying to Toronto next Thursday to introduce the Little Man to some of Allan's family.

Hence why I've been posting about travel makeup bags, etc.  I love packing for travel, especially my makeup, BUT I always find that I run out of room before everything I need is packed.  Yes, I know they make those little clear makeup containers for a reason but truly, they are so small, finicky and the leak.

That's why I am always on the hunt for new ways to pack my products using the smallest amount of space possible.  The answer: Q-tips!

Awesome Uses for Q-Tips


1.  Q-Tip Perfume Swabs
Seriously, packing a huge bottle of fragrance is completely impractical.  Spray your favorite scent on some Q-tips and touch up when you're out and about.

2.  Pop pimples with Q-Tips
We all love to squeeze pimples though we do this knowing they can scar.  After a hot shower, when you're skin is still warm, take two Q-tips and press on either side of the pimple and push lightly together.  The pimple will pop, you can easily clean up the mess AND no scarring.  Win-win

3.  Remove puffy eyes with Q-Tips
Place some eye cream in the ends of Q-tips, place in a ziploc bag and freeze them overnight.  In the AM, use the coated Q-tips underneath your eyes to remove bags and look awake!

4. Coated Q-Tip Eye Shadow Sticks 
Coat either end of a Q-tip with your favorite eye shadows, store in a ziploc bag and use when traveling.  Saves the hassle of packing a huge palette!

I know I will be saving a lot of room using these tips.  Anything you think I've missed?

    

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