Travelling With The Bare Minimum

Going out of town in less than five days.  I have to pack good for a month for me and my daughter.  And in order not to bring so much more than I can handle, I have to pack only the things that I actually need.

The flight plus the stay in the airport would take about twenty hours (hopefully) tops.  It's going to be extra hard, but extra enjoyable since I'm travelling with my five year-old daughter who seems to equate playing with breathing.

It is a must that I travel light.

Let's start with the make-up and grooming kit.  I really had to do a double take with everything.  After thinking about it really hard, the final decision was made of these:

I'm not really sure about the nail clipper if it's going to be allowed once they see it in the conveyor.  But the rest is good to go.  

1. Light Cover

I chose my regular face moisturiser, Olay Total Effects.  It's not greasy.  So it's good for a quick touch up after a good facial wash.   

A few years more and I'm forty (goodness me).  And it shows in my skin already.   I have a lot of blemish (if you can be so nice to call it that).  And Make Up For Ever's Full Cover does the trick for me.  I've tried the other concealers but this is probably the best one that works for me.  

I placed the bottle of liquid foundation in my check-in bag and decided to carry the light powder foundation over that moisturiser and concealer.

2.  Brushes

I decided to bring the powder brush and liquid foundation brush.  I don't trust my fingertips to do the work.  Besides, I get to do it faster with these than using my hands. You might ask why I have the foundation brush when I don't really have a liquid foundation anywhere.  I actually use it for the liquid concealer which is easier to spread evenly with that foundation brush.  

3. Facial Cleanser and Hand Moisturiser

I keep reading everywhere that flights make the whole body dry.  They keep advising that we need to drink lots of fluids in order to keep up with the possible dehydration when you're up in the air.  And so, a hydrating facial wash plus a body lotion (besides bottled water) are some of the smart ideas I got.  My daughter is going to get the same treatment.  I'm going to replenish her hydrating needs to.  I would apply body lotion on her too.  PLUS  the anti-mosquito creams/lotions to give me some peace of mind.  

4.  Color

I'm downplaying my outfit as well as my lip and cheek colour.  The lip balm of Revlon (for me) and Burt's Bees (for my daughter) would do the trick.  Lip balms are the best way to go.  It addresses chapped lips and gives to them all at the same time.

I'm bringing my compact cheek tint.  Loved that colour.  However, it always needs some retouching but I don't mind.  I don't really prefer heavy make-up .  

5. Lozenges

Well, you don't know when you have to sing out loud.  Just kidding.  It's one of my personal needs.  I've learned my lesson from previous trips.  I get that throat problem during trips.  I don't know the reason why.  I thought water would do but it doesn't seem to help every time I have that throat problem.

6. Survival Kit

I'm not sure if I can get the nail clippers through inspection.  But I hope I could.  I don't know where I got the idea that dental floss break-resistant enough that you can utilise it anytime you need a good stringing.  Nail clippers is good to cut any extra skin, hair, thread and all that annoys you. 

All of these fits in a small that I can put in my carry-on bag.  

Benefit's Watt's Up!

The benefit's Watt's Up!

A couple of months ago, we stopped by Rustan's Benefit stall and got this highlighter after my sister coerced me to try it.

(All I wanted was a concealer and she gives me something to enhance parts of the face. )

Highlighters are used for face sculpting/contouring.  I'm not really into sculpting and I'd hate to put more make-up where there is make-up already.  However, this one is so easy and subtle that it does not get more of your precious time.

It even enhances blush you put on your cheeks (if you apply it over your cheek make up).

It is a cream stick on one end and a sponge on the other end.  It's the last thing we apply after all the things you have to apply over our face.  We smooth it above our eyebrows, temples and glide to our cheeks.  We dab the sponge over it to make the cream look powdery.  

I like to apply it over my nose, from the bridge to the tip of it.  Very lightly, of course.  I remember make up artist put heavy and dark make up on the sides of the nose to make it look sharper.  I think those were the days when contouring started. However, I end up looking drag. 

This one aims for the same effect without the dark make up on the sides.  Instead, it works on reverse.  Just make sure we apply it straight and thin.  

Below is a clip for easy application.  
For a couple of months now, I'm enjoying using this.  It's easy to apply and so subtle.  Always in my kit.

NYX Cream Blush

It was church day and the plan was to be subtle.  I had put on the cheek colours and skipped the lipstick today because I have to be real quick or else, family is going to complain why I'm taking so long.

For the first time, I tried using a cream blush.  I chose NYX Cream Blush "Tickled" (CB13).  After applying my routine primer and liquid foundation all over my face, I put on this cream blush using this foundation blush.   (I used my Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush for my foundation)  I have been given a stippling brush along with the cream blush but I have yet to learn how to use it.  This one was perfectly fine.

The colour suits my skin tone.  Thank goodness or else I will just have to give it away.  I'm finding my love for the NYX series.  So far, they're all good for everyday use.  And it seems like you don't have to spend a lot of time perfecting it.

Photo taken with fluorescent lighting.  The cheek colour is readily seen with natural sunlight but you don't really need to go directly under the sun to appreciate it.

Maybelline Primer: Baby Skin Pore Eraser

 


I bought a couple of these after my first tube.  It's less expensive than my other primer (Make-Up For Ever) but it's good enough.  I am likely to run out of primer because its a staple whenever I have to go out of the house.  Even if it's just loose baby powder, I have to wear a primer first (as per my sister's, the make-up addict, advice).

Pros: Easy to spread on the face.

Cons: It's a bit greasy.  It doesn't dry up quickly but when it does, it gives the smooth effect that you're vying for once you put on your liquid or powder foundation.

Bottomline:  Great gift item if you ask me.  I recommend it for everyone who is still looking for a primer to settle into.  This could be the best one for you.

Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain Rendezvous

 

I'm not a fan of lipsticks.  There's a feeling of too much make-up when I'm wearing one.

But, I'm not complaining when I'm wearing Revlon's Balm Stain.  It's so light on the lips without the thick-paste feeling.

Because of it's blunt point, it is most probable that you won't extend beyond your target.

I got the 040 Rendezvous Orange tint.  For my skin, tone, it looks better than the pink shade.

I highly recommend it for everyday use.  I highly recommend it for people who are just beginning to wear make-up.  And I highly recommend it for people who had to make a quick touch up.  Why? Because when I have to look better (yes, better than good), I just need to pop up the cover and quickly smear it on my lips - one round is all I need.

It is probably one of the best "drugstore" finds I have that I'm planning to keep in my purse.

Getting My Hair Done At Home

A week ago, I was in the supermarket and lingered a little bit more in the hair products.  I was looking for a better hair conditioner which might save me from going to Davids.

My wavy hair is almost always out of control that I end up tying it in a ponytail or worse of all, a bun.

Well, I found the Pantene Light (leave-on) conditioning hair spray.  There were a few types on display but I chose the one for curly hair (since my hair is near curly already).

I'm testing if it really detangles.  Well, it does.  It's not oily or greasy.  My wavy hair goes limp after I spray on it not because it's damp (I didn't spray that much).  I don't really know how it works but it does.

I was happy with the effects.   All of the photos were all after I sprayed it on my hair.  I didn't brush my hair before spraying.  And I just combed my hair with my fingers after I sprayed on it.

The second set of photos is after 10 minutes still without brushing my hair (but got dressed and ready to get out of the house).  I noticed that it does looks softer as it dries up.

The last photo above was taken in a different condition.  I sprayed Pantene leave-on conditioner on my freshly washed hair while it was damped.  Tied my hair for a couple of hours (like around four hours).  It already dried up and my hair was looking better.  I can get away without even brushing it.

It cost about PHP400++ in the SM Hypermarket (along C5).  And I think I'd take it anywhere with me from now on.

Clinique BB Cream

 This week, I ceased using my powder foundation (which I haven't blogged about yet).  My sister gave me her extra BB cream and wanted me to see for myself how easy it was to use.

We were window shopping for new make-up finds on the ground floor of SM Department store.  She went off to the NYX section and I went to Maybelline.

I saw the BB cream tubes (along with a CC cream) on their display.  I know BB creams have been out for a long time now but I haven't tried any of them.  I even tried ordering from Lazada.




So upon check out, she saw that I was holding a tube.  She stopped me from purchasing it.  She said that she's going to give me that extra tube she had in her place.

Yay!  I like nothing better than getting freebies.

And so since the other day, I've been using my moisturiser with this BB cream.  I was afraid that it was going to be so greasy because of all that liquid goop on my face.

It's really humid in Manila these days (like all other days) and so I'm not really a fan of semi-liquid stuff.  But then it didn't turned out like that.  It settled on my face quicker than I expected.  I'm always rushing when I go out of the house.  Waiting time before I put on my blush was almost non-existent.  And of course, I love the cover ability of this BB cream.

I highly recommend it.  I'm just wondering if BB creams work as a moisturiser too.  If yes, can I do without the actual moisturiser?  If I do shortcuts, would I be doing myself a favour?  



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