It might be a little quiet here…I’m not taking my laptop with me (I know…I’m chartering unknown territory without my laptop which I’m usually glued in front of updating this thang). But I am taking my camera and I’ll try my best to update you all while I’m there. If you don’t hear from me, trust I’ll be eating lots and lots of steak. Otherwise, I’ll be catching up on my trip after I land. While we’re talking about it, anyone have amazing recommendations for Buenos Aires specifically? On another note, I’m starting to feel like a packing pro. I’m ONLY taking my little carry-on bag and started thinking of the few things that are starting to be my travel-musts.

1. My new Heys USA 26″ 4WD Metallica Hardside Spinner carry-on.

Heys USA luggage

I felt so grown-up buying my own luggage (don’t we all just borrow from the ‘rents? Well, I had been for the past few years). But with all the air miles I’m logging, I needed something more sturdy. When I was in Spain with my sister-in-law, I had to stop the urge from emptying her Heys bag and stuffing it with my own stuff. I was so jealous mainly of the 360-degree swivel wheels on this thing. Well, NOT ANYMORE! MUhahhaa.

OK, so these run about $150, and I was about to drop the green until my SIL suggested we check TJ Maxx first where she bought hers. We went there and found this (which honestly, was even better than the one we saw at the department store) for $50! It has made traveling and lugging my stuff around the city SO much easier. I don’t know if I could survive without it now. Get one. Trust me, it’s life-changing. Totally Random Sidenote: before I left, my roomies were literally crowded around my suitcase admiring at how cool it looked…I’m not even kidding. I think I might have killed them when I showed them the spinners. Needless to say, they want their own now too!

My coach wallet

Coach wallet

Funny enough, this was also a gift from my sister-in-law (man, I just realized how much of my travel has simplified because of her!). With the holidays coming up, I’m telling you these make the most amazing gifts for jetsetters.

Clear cases from MAC

3. Clear plastic cases from MAC. If you remember, I got these as a gift from MAC when I went to Toronto for the IIFA awards. But it was a sick trick to get me addicted to them and I am. They’re clear so I can see everything in them easily and sturdy so it won’t ruin the stuff inside. I use one for my liquids (and the largest one easily holds a good deal of them), and the other for non-liquid makeup. They come in a pack of 3 for $38.

My Ray-Bans

4. My Ray-Ban Aviators. I love sunglasses — cheap ones, expensive ones — I don’t discriminate. I’ll buy them all. They’re a must for my trip and these that I just bought recently from Nordstrom are feather light which I love.

My iPod Nano

Of course I got it in blue . And yes, I also have blue M&M headphones — they were the only ones I could find at the airport the last time I was there! Stop judging me.

What are your travel essentials? Hope you all have the best Thanksgiving!! Enjoy!

x
Shy

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My travel makeup bag

{What? I’m a beauty writer. Leave me alone} Anyway, since it’s a combo of some of my old and new faves, I thought I’d share.

Travel face products

I already told you all how much I love Mario Badescu and CeraVe face products. I think these little travel capsules are so clutch for a short trip. You can fit a lot of cream in it and it’ll last you longer than you think. I was sent Make Up For Ever’s Uplight to experiment with and what I found was the only illuminizer I ever liked using (that doesn’t look tacky, doesn’t crease, and since it’s water-based, won’t irritate my skin). More on this soon! I usually like to take one primer with me too, something I can wear under my makeup to help it last longer and look more even. I decided to go with Smashbox Photo Finish (good for pics!), and the small size was perfect for traveling. I also recently got introduced to MD SolarSciences when they sent me their Tinted Mineral Gel. It’s perfect for Miami because it’s not greasy AT ALL, water-resistant, goes on super smooth, and doesn’t make anything I put on top all gooky. I’m pretty particular about my sunblock, and I’m putting this up there with Neutrogena (another fave of mine).

Oh and Mehron! I was introduced to the brand by makeup artist James Vincent, who was raving about these cream foundations (only $9) at The Makeup Show’s blogger preview and how they’re the best thing ever. I bought a couple at The Makeup Show, two different shades (one lighter, one darker), and kind of mix the two depending on where I need coverage. It blends well and it’s buildable in case you need a little extra coverage in certain places (so it’s kind of a concealer/foundation in one). I wouldn’t recommend it if you have particularly dry skin, but it works for my combo skin. What’s also cool is that it’s not a liquid so you can stick it in your regular makeup bag instead of a baggy so they won’t be annoying about it at the airport.

Travel eye products

Ok, I don’t REALLY need help with filling in my brows or anything, but I like this because you can add a very very subtle shape (and learning how a little goes a long way from Elke von Frudenberg of The Model Brow, I figured everyone should have a brow kit in case). Also the brown shadows in this kit by Senna double as smokey shadows you can apply around your eyes (like I did last night). I also like Anastasia’s Brow Duality because you can add a little highlight right under your brow to give it a lift. I use the pink one because it looks more natural during the day, and switch to the gold at night when I could use a little sheen. Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes pencil is just a staple in my makeup bag because it’s the easiest way for me to apply and it stays put for most of the night. When I add it to my inner rim, it can smudge a bit at the end of the night, but you can’t expect it to stay like a gel liner. The original Voluminous mascara from L’Oreal Paris is just one of my all-time favorites — one swipe for a little definition, two for drama.

Travel cheek products

I decided one blush/one bronzer is fair. CoverGirl’s Simply Ageless Sculpting blush blends so well…sometimes I can just put a little of this blush and nothing else. My go-to bronzer has remained unchanged for years. I experiment with many but Cargo’s has a pretty orange glow that looks great on already tan skin. I save KohGenDo’s finishing powder as the last step because it doesn’t come off matte (looking like you’re 10 years older).

Travel lip products

I’m going to talk more specifically about this fabulous palette I made at Inglot in a future post. Mine has a customized a concealer, shadow, and three lip colors. It’s AWESOME because it has the basic essentials if you just need to carry around ONE palette. Napoleon Perdis‘ lip pencil is a basic flesh-toned nude to keep your gloss in place or to wear alone. And the Bare Escentuals Buxom lip gloss in Dani is something I carry with me everywhere because it’s the prettiest pink and kind of has a refreshing, minty feel to it. Love.

Travel hair and body products

I have a thing about hotel shampoos and conditioners. It’s just that…they suck. I received this mini Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner in a gift bag when I went to visit their hair clinic last week. It’s easily one of my favorites right now (I love a lot of his products, including the Maximizer I wrote about earlier). The mini size also fits easily in my baggie. I figured I’d pack a few dollops of TIGI’s smoothing cream in case the humidity gets the best of me. I just put a little after a shower and my wavy hair turned into smooth beachy waves…I didn’t have to even use a hair dryer (which I’d want to avoid anyway in this weather). I also told you about my obsession with Womanity’s body lotion and how fantastic it smells. In fact, a guy awkwardly stopped me today to ask me whattt I’m wearing because it smells so good. Totally serious. I found my tiny bottle of travel-friendly Memoire Liquide body oil (in my beloved vanilla fragrance), and surprisingly enough, Jessica Simpson’s Fancy Love perfume is the refreshing blend of peach blossom, jasmine, peony, and amber.

And yes, no trouble packing all the liquids in a little baggie for the plane. What do you like to pack when you travel?

x
Shy

1) Divide and conquer. If you’re traveling with friends, you all don’t need your own tube of toothpaste and bronzers. Plan ahead of time so you don’t have to bring your whole makeup drawer (except mascara…it transfers bacteria way too easily).

2) Condense the important stuff. I was so sad thinking of leaving my Koh Gen Do finishing powder behind since the jar is massive. But I was able to find these little travel jars so it was easier to condense and carry. They shouldn’t be more than $0.99 at mass retailers. I found some here too! They’re also good to condense you favorite moisturizers.

Find smaller travel jars to transfer your favorite powders and creams

3) Leave behind what you don’t need. You’re more likely going to be bringing back more than you came with, and I’m sure it won’t kill you to leave those half-empty bottles of shampoo or hairspray behind. Maybe somebody you’re visiting could make use of it!

x
Shy

Photo Credit: Scouts Base

I’ve tried to juice it down to my essentials, but it’s not easy! Thought maybe you guys can dispense a word or two of wisdom for me: When you travel, what bare essentials do you take with you? Your makeup essentials especially (though i totally wouldn’t advice on more than just that)!

x
Shy