Travel Beauty Tips! What to Bring with you on Vacation/Holiday!

Now that Summer is approaching, it's the season where many of us are packing our bags and heading off to a luxurious destination (well, hopefully it's a luxurious location). With that said, that may bring flying anxiety to some, and panic upon what to pack among others. Hopefully my couple of tips will help you with your future trips. 

FLYING?

If you're checking in your baggage, make sure to pack anything liquid safely in sealed bags. I've had self tanner leaks and nail polish remover leaks in my luggage, but I packed them in double sealed bags so nothing of mine was ruined. Any toiletries/fragile items you're checking in, make sure they are tightly shut and place them in sealed bags. For extra protection, you can wrap the bag in bubble wrap and then place it in the middle of your suitcase between clothing. Also, if you have "lost luggage" phobia, don't bring any makeup items that can't easily be replaced, such as your all time favorite discontinued Guerlain Meteorites that you paid $150 for on eBay. Try bringing your powder products on board with you in your carry on baggage. There is a possibility they can shatter in your suitcase. To avoid this, wrap them securely and place them in the middle of your suitcase between clothing. For your pressed powders, you can place a round cotton pad on top of the product and close the compact shut, and for eye shadows, you can place a cotton ball on top and close the lid shut. This will keep them extra secure.

Place a cotton pad over any pressed powder compacts and a cotton ball over any eye shadows. Then, close them shut.

**Make sure to check your airlines baggage restrictions by checking your airlines website.

Typically, you are allowed as many liquid items as you can fit in a quart sized zip bag.

DRIVING?

Make sure your makeup is located in a cool/shaded place in your car. If you're driving in heated conditions, its a good idea to bring along a small cooler or cold insulated lunch bag to store your makeup bag in there. This will prevent any of your lipsticks or cream products from melting. 

*Wear sunblock as you'll be exposed the the suns harmful rays for several hours!

PAMPER PREPARATION

While you're away, you're most likely going to have a fun packed agenda with little time to pamper. A couple of days before your trip, make sure to tweeze your brows and any other strays on your face so you won't have to worry about tweezing on your trip. Also, exfoliate and shave your legs and apply a moisturizing lotion to your whole body. You don't want alligator skin while you're lying out at the pool. Also, while you're in the shower, spend an extra 5-10 minutes using a leave in conditioner in your hair to keep any dullness at bay. Trim and file your nails so you won't have any jagged or hang nails. If you're going to give yourself a manicure, using a very light color is best, because if your nail polish chips, it won't be as noticeable as if you were wearing a darker color.

TOILETRIES 

Carrying a lighter load when traveling always feels so much better than lugging around a bag you can barely move. Try bringing travel friendly sized items with you. If you're going away for the weekend, you won't need a 12 oz bottle of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. You can find a good variety of travel sized items at Target for around $1-$2. Their selection of travel items have gotten much better than in the past. Most drugstores have travel sized items as well, but I usually find that Target has the best prices. Some Wal-marts have a pretty decent selection as well. An alternative to purchasing new items is, purchase a pack of assorted travel containers and pour your own products in the containers. There are many places you can purchase them from, I've even found a 4-pack of assorted containers at my local Dollar Tree.

TOILETRY CHECK LIST 

• Shampoo & Conditioner. To save space, you can opt for a shampoo + conditioner.  
• Heat Protector. Pour a little of your favorite heat protector in a travel container to keep heat damage and dullness away!
• Hair Spray. Depending on how the weather is, your hair may fall completely flat. So make sure to pack a travel sized bottle of your favorite firm-hold hair spray for any hair disasters!
• Hair Brush.
• Styling Tool. Flat Iron/Curling Iron? I usually just bring a flat iron because it can double as a curling iron. Most hotels have blow driers.
  
• Shower Gel. Again, pour a little of your favorite shower gel in a travel container. If you aren't very picky, you can always use what the hotel provides and skip this all together. Four star and up hotels usually have nice toiletries, so if you're staying somewhere luxurious, don't worry about it.
• Razor. Just bring one. You can get double uses from your conditioner and use it for a shave cream.
• Tweezer. Emergencies?
• Nail File. 
• One Nail Polish. Like I mentioned earlier, opt for a light shade that is wearable with any item of clothing in your wardrobe and isn't very noticeable when it chips.
• Toothbrush & Paste.
• Deodorant. My favorite is Secret Clinical Strength. 
• Q-tips and/or Cotton Balls. For multi-purposes.
• Loofah/Sponge.
• Feminine Items. For a quick refresher! Make sure to check the calender, you may be un-lucky and end up with your period on your trip. Pack a few pads if you're unsure - or if you're traveling with a bunch of friends.
• Perfume. I don't like bringing my full size bottle with me, so I usually take a body spray or if I have any perfume samples/decants on hand of my favorite fragrance.
• Sunblock. A must have if you're in the sun. Especially if you're going to be outdoors a lot and spending hours driving in a hot car.
• Body Lotion. *If you use it daily! But, still good to have.
• Facial Cleanser & Moisturizer. If you have a specific routine, try keeping it simple for the weekend. A good cleanser and moisturizer will do.
• Makeup Wipes. These always come in handy. You may want to do your makeup in the car, but you have on day old mascara that's crumbling under your eyes. Or, if you've been partying all night and you want to just crawl into your bed the second you open your hotel door, without changing your clothes or washing your face, these will be your best friend to avoid any morning breakouts.

MISC ITEMS

• Hand Sanitizer/Antibacterial Wipes. My (almost) sister in-law recently told me that she always brings Clorox wipes and wipes down the hotel.. such as the bathroom, phone, remote, etc. How smart! Sometimes I get grossed out and don't want to touch anything when I'm staying at a hotel. No matter how "nice" it is. I don't think any hotel cleans the rooms as thoroughly as they should.
• Band-aids. Especially if you are wearing high heels or new shoes. You don't want to be limping around all weekend with blisters and cuts on your heels. 
• Vitamins. Vacation is usually the time where you will excuse yourself from eating healthy - So if you're planning on pigging out, pack a multi vitamin so you won't miss out on any vital nutrients. 
• First Aid. On every trip, I'm always prepared with travel packets of headache medicine, antacids, allergy medicine, eye drops, Neosporin, etc. for emergencies.
• Contact Lens Solution/Extra Contacts. If you're a contact lens wearer always bring solution and extra contacts. You don't want to lose a contact and have no back ups!
• Beach Towel. If you're planning on going to the beach or if Hotel towels make you cringe. 
• Self Tanner. I like bringing my travel friendly 2.7 oz tubes of Sun Labs Lotion with me because they don't take up much space and have a less likely chance of leaking. Mousse and spray formulas are more likely to leak in handling.

MAKEUP

I know we all want to look good when we're on vacation and look our best, but don't try getting too creative and bringing all of your different colored eye shadows and glitters with you. Be practical with what you pack.

• Eyeshadow palette. A palette is usually your best option for travel, rather than bringing a bunch of loose shadows. A palette is easy and convenient and will give you many color options.
• Two-Three Lipsticks. No more than three! Pick two fool proof shades that you can wear with anything and one color that's a little more daring.
• One Lip Gloss. I know we all love options, but one lip gloss should do. One that's fairly sheer and can be worn over any of your lipsticks.. or alone!
• Two Eye Liners. One black and one brown. Brown for during the day looks and black for night.
• One Foundation. Your favorite one that will never let you down.
• One concealer. Your favorite for covering blemishes and dark circles.
• Two Blushes. Or one bronzer and one blush. Pick shades that are suitable for every day and can be worn with anything.
  
• Setting powder. To minimize shine and for quick touch ups. 
• Brow Filler. Keep those babies tamed! 
• One Mascara. Who really needs more than one?
• Your Every Day Brushes. I like a variety, so I bring a bunch of my favorite brushes.
• Eyelash Curler.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

 Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation - I have a lot of foundations I like, but this foundation never fails. It's never heavy, covers well and looks natural.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer - This covers me dark circles and blemishes better than any other concealer.
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder - I put a little in a small sifter jar to save space.

Benefit High Beam Highlighter - To add glow to my face when needed.

Chanel Orchid Rose Blush -  A very natural pale pink that works with any eye look.

MAC Golden Bronzer - A very subtle bronzer for all over color.

Napoleon Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette - Although this palette isn't available any longer, it has a very good selection of colors and I can create the perfect brown smokey eye with it. The Urban Decay Naked Palette is another option I may choose.

Bobbi Brown Black Ink Gel Liner - A jet black to line my eyes with or smudge into my lashline

MAC Coco Bar Liquidlast Liner - A long wearing, water resistant brown liner.

Maybelline Define-a-brow - One of my favorite brow fillers.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Benefit Badgal Lash (travel size) - I don't love this mascara, but it's travel friendly and gets the job done.

MAC Subculture Lipliner - A no-brainer lip liner. It goes with every color lipstick.

Wet n Wild Think Pink and Pink Suga - An every day bubble gum pink and peach.

Illamasqua Obey Lipstick - A bright pinked coral-peach.

NYX Perfect Lipgloss - A sheer pink that looks great over any lipstick or solo.

Left: MAC Golden Bronzing Powder, Right: Chanel Joues Contraste Orchid Rose Blush

Left to Right: MAC Subculture Lip Pencil, Wet n Wild Pink Suga' Mega Matte Lipstick, Wet n Wild Think Pink Mega Matte Lipstick, Illamasqua Obey Lipstick, NYX Perfect Mega Shine Lipgloss.

BRUSHES
So maybe it's not necessary to have to many brushes, but I like switching up my brushes now and then. All you really need is your favorite foundation brush, a blush brush, powder brush, an all-over lid shadow brush, crease brush and angled brush (forgot to picture one, whoops!) Store them in a brush roll or a large plastic bag so you can get to them easily.

Left to right: Sigma Tapered Blending Brush, Sigma Pencil Brush, Sigma Medium Angled Shading Brush, ELF Studio Blush Brush, Sigma Large Powder Brush, Sigma Large Angled Contour Brush, MAC 131 Duo Fiber Brush and Coastal Scents Flat Top Buffer Brush. (Not pictured that I would also bring would be my ELF Studio Angled Brow Brush)

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Since the morning is always hectic, make sure to double check your bags to make sure if you forgot anything. If you are miles away and you realize you did forget something, don't worry.. it gives you the excuse to go shopping! :)

A LAST REMINDER 
What I've learned when packing is, don't pack anything extra that you think you might want to use while on vacation. If it's not something you use daily, or even weekly, you won't need it. I use to pack a variety of shower gels and lotions and I would never use any of them. Stick to one of each.. pick your favorite! As far as makeup goes, again pick shades that are fool-proof. Neutral eye shadows, natural blushes, a good bronzer and every day lip colors. 

ENJOY YOUR VACATION OR WEEKEND AWAY!

Review: Coastal Scents African Black Soap!

Description on Coastal Scents website: Coastal Scents black soap is the original thing! It is imported from Ghana where it is hand pressed and processed by women in a small village in Ghana. It contains no scents, preservatives OR chemicals.

For centuries, Ghanaians have used Black Soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues. It is known to help with skin irritations and conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis as well. African Black soap has also been used to achieve beautiful skin. Africans have also used this natural soap for bathing and washing their hair. It's excellent for removing make-up too! Black Soap will leave your skin soft and clear.
 

Suggested Uses:
Traditionally, African Black Soap has been used to treat rashes, acne, eczema, dandruff, body odor and much more. The African black soap helps keep the skin clean and helps against premature facial lines. It is great for showering, bathing, washing of the hair, face and the feet. Black Soap is recommended for the young and the old. Black soap leaves the skin smooth and soft & as a facial soap it is excellent for clearing acne.

African black soap has been used in Africa for the treatment of rashes, ring worm, eczema and also as a natural hair shampoo to avoid itchy and dry scalps. 

Storage:

African black soap should not be exposed to excess water and stored in a cool dry place. African black soap is soft and has a very high content of natural glycerin.

Because of its natural glycerin rich content it absorbs moisture from the air and becomes softer if not stored in a cool dry place or in a sealed polythene bags.

Ingredients:

Cocos nucifera(Coconut Oil),butyrospermum parkii,(Raw Shea butter), Cocoa Pod ash, Aqua(Water)
Elaeis guineensis (Palm Kernel Oil)

To read more about African Black Soap on the Coastal Scents website, click here.

The price is this soap is $12.95 for 17 oz. A standard Dove bar of soap weighs in at 4.25 oz. So you can think of it like 4 standard bars of soap combined into one. But, it appears a little larger because it's not as dense as a standard bar of soap. I think the price is very reasonable.

How I use it: I typically use it on my face by rinsing my face with water, then lathering a small piece of soap in my hand and working the lather all over my face, avoiding the eye area. Then, rinse & pat my face dry. Sometimes I use it the same way, but while I'm in the shower.

I also like using it on my body while I'm in the shower by lathering it through my loofah - just as I would with any soap.

Review: I'm not even sure what really possessed me to purchase this product several months ago. I think while placing an order on Coastal Scents, I stumbled upon African Black Soap on accident and saw the rave reviews so I took the chance in purchasing it. It's a little difficult to describe the texture. It feels like soap, but it's not dense like a bar of soap. It's soft and a little crumbly. I like cutting the soap in slices and then in 1/4" pieces. It's a good size and it will last me about two weeks with daily use, sometimes less. The soap itself, because it isn't dense, is pliable. Once I've cut the soap in squares, I can mold it into a ball.

I like storing the soap in a large zip lock bag inside a Rubbermaid container to keep it away from any moisture or air. The smell is described as "earthy", I think it just smells like your traditional bar of (non fragrance) soap. It lathers well - it doesn't "over" lather or "under" lather, if you know what I mean. I don't care for soaps that don't lather, and although I could use a little more lather, I'm satisfied with it. What I really love about this soap is the amazing job it does at removing my makeup. Once I lather it on my face and rinse, everything is gone. No trace of makeup in sight and no residue left behind - and I'm not sure I can really say that about any of my cleansers, although Cetaphil for Normal/Oily does a pretty good job. Once my face is dry, it feels slightly taught and very clean. A moisturizer is very necessary! When I first started using this soap, I used it every day with an exfoliation brush, and I loved it. Until a few days later I had a bunch of dry spots pop up around my mouth. I realized since then, it's a bit harsh for my skin and using it in conjunction with a harsh brush was too much for my skin. I think this is a fantastic soap for those who would like a cleanser that provides good oil control as well as those who suffer from acne and breakouts. This does such a great job cleaning my skin that pimples don't last very long on my face while using this. I also like using this soap on my body, but avoiding my legs, because my legs are quite dry. It works great for the rest of my body, and wonderful on my upper back (which I tend to breakout here and there). I love that it leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean, yet soft & doesn't leave any residue on my skin or an oil slick in my bath tub. Overall, a really great product and I will be purchasing more when I run out!

UPDATE: Although, I mentioned it's too harsh for my skin in conjunction with a brush, I actually started using it daily with my Olay Pro-X, and I haven't had any dryness. A good moisturizer is key! I load up on the moisturizer at night and my skin is looking great!

NOTD: Orange Nails with NYC Times Square Tangerine Creme!

Three (3) coats of NYC Long Wearing Enamel #112 Times Square Tangerine Creme & One (1) coat of Seche Vite Top Coat.

NYC Long Wearing Enamel #112 Times Square Tangerine Creme

NYC Long Wearing Enamel #112 Times Square Tangerine Creme

Orange is possibly my least favorite color, so I wasn't all that thrilled with the Summer 2011 orange nail trend. But, I wanted to give it a try and ended up picking up NYC Long Wearing Enamel in Times Square Tangerine Creme. It's not pumpkin orange, but it's a really pretty coral-orange.

The formula is really nice. It's a cream formula that applies very evenly. With two coats, my nail line was dark and visible, so I applied three for a more opaque look. I really like the color, and depending if the lasting power is good, I'll be wearing this color more often.

I also wore my favorite orange lipstick today, MAC Morange. They both went together very nice!

MAC Morange Lipstick

By the way, thank you all for the birthday wishes on Twitter yesterday!! I had a wonderful time!

Designer Perfect Brushes at Big Lots for $1!

Periodically (maybe a couple times a month) I like to check out my local Big Lots and Dollar Tree stores for great deals. It's always a hit or miss. Half of the time I walk out with nothing and the other half of the time I find something good. If one of your favorite drugstore items became discontinued, Big Lots or your local dollar store are good places to check periodically for those items. 

They seemed to have a lot of ELF items, which was most likely an overstock. They were all still a dollar each, so no real deal on them. If you're a fan of Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in the shade Pink Please, there were several tubes for $1.50. (View my past review here) I actually gave my tube to a friend because I didn't wear it much. Of course every store will have a different selection, so what I find at my Big Lots.. you may not be able to find at yours - and vise versa.

Cosmetic Aisle at Big Lots

Cosmetic Aisle at Big Lots

Something that did catch my eye though were some brushes, more specifically, a whole brush set for $1. None of the bristles felt stiff and scratchy, so for $1, who could go wrong? I also picked up a few single brushes. (I apologize in advance if the photos aren't the greatest quality. They are taken indoors with flash)

From left to right: Powder Brush, Duo Eyeshadow Brush, Wiper Blending Eyeshadow Brush, Five Brush Mini Kit with Zip Purse.

Five Brush Mini Kit with Zip Purse

The Five Brush Mini Kit contains a blush/powder brush, foundation brush and three double sided brushes for the eyes, brows and concealer. I've already used each of the brushes and they are surprisingly good quality for $1. The only brush I find useless is the brush on the opposite side of the angled brush. It's an angled sponge for smudging.. and I find the sponge too dense (and rubbery?) to work well. Also, the angled brush is a little stiff so can't really be used to line the eyes... but it works great for the brows.

Brushes included in the Five Brush Mini Kit (excluding the powder & foundation brushes)

What's cool is that the kit comes with a little zip around carrying case which is perfect for travel. It's great to pop in your bag, use for traveling or even to keep in your glove compartment in your car for emergencies!

Carrying case for the Five Brush Mini Kit

Left to Right: Powder Brush, Wiper Blending Eyeshadow Brush and Duo Eyeshadow Brush.

The three brushes I purchased separately are also great quality. The Wiper Blending brush is like a dupe for the MAC 224 or Sigma Tapered Blending Brush. 

The only thing I dislike about these brushes is the appearance of them (*cough* ugly). I prefer black brushes to match all of my other brushes. Nevertheless, these brushes are great for travel, or like I mentioned good to keep in your car, etc. 

Have you found any "too good to pass by" deals lately? Do share!