Hello from Denver! I’m still here drinking tea and having fun. I’m staying at the St. Julien and coming to you live from my hotel room.
This place is really fancy! I kinda want to live here and hang out by the lobby fire every night. They have live music and happy hour fireside – love that.
I hit the gym for a super quick workout this morning. I just walked on the treadmill again and did some strength. I need to run double this weekend to make up for it!
I didn’t really mention much about this trip beforehand because I travel so much now it’s not a big deal unless I’m going to China or something. The bonus of all this travel is I’ve become a pretty good packer! I try to keep it to a carry on bag and only bring what I need.
This doesn’t just go for clothes – I’ve learned to keep my make up and hair products to the essentials too. (Unfortunately sometimes I consider my Top Styler an essential but it’s HUGE and hard to travel with.)
If there was some airline rule that said only 10 items in your make-up case, these are the things I would bring: my favorite foundation, mascara, lipstick oem, concealer, blush, eyeshadow palette, eyeliner, brow pencil, setting spray, and a travel-sized moisturizer.
10 Make-Up Must Haves for Travel
- BB Cream with SPF (keep it 3oz or less!) I use Hydroxatone BB Cream right now because it has spf 40. I might switch it up in the winter as I’m outside less.
- Eye brow gel – I use Anastasia Brow Gel in Caramel
- Light eyeliner or eye shadow – My OG pick is MAC Vanilla
- Black eyeliner – I’m obsessed with Stila Liquid liner right now
- Eyelash curler – always. I just use this simple metal eyelash curler by Revlon.
- Mascara – I use Maybelline Colossal Volume
- Blush – I use a powder blush because I don’t ‘get’ how to use liquid blush yet.
- Lip Gloss – whatever is on the bottom of my purse.
- Setting Powder – I like BareMinerals Veil
- Brushes (for powder and blush) – I feel like brushes are expensive, but it’s time for me to get new ones.
Question: Do you pack light or bring everything you own?
I am great with packing my basics. It’s when I start adding all the emergency items, that’s when I run out of space. I was a scout . I still think I should be prepared for anything. Kudos on fitting everything in a carry on,
I hate packing but I am good at packing only what I need. I make sure I have things that I really need and anything else is replaceable pretty well anywhere I travel to. I don’t stress too much about the packing anymore!
i definitely pack light in terms of makeup/hair stuff, but i tend to overpack when it comes to snacks/food. i obviously have my priorities 😉
I’m a pretty light packer most of the time
Love Bouler, lived there years ago. Did you tour the peppermint room at Celestial tea? We loved pearl street, great place to people watch:)
I’m a horrible packer so I always end up packing everything I own to the point that my bag is always overweight at the airport. It’s kind of a problem but I always want to be prepared for everything! Can you do a post on how to use the top styler? I’m considering getting them but want to see how to use them first. Thanks!
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even when i try to pack light, i almost need a whole suitcase for bath and beauty stuff.. shampoo/conditioner, hairspray, hair ties, makeup, brushes, medicine, vitamins, bandaids… basically i feel the need to pack anything i might ever need.
a MUST is BB cream for sure.. I love that its ALL in one! most days its all I wear!
I try and pack as light as possible. My husband and I also try and avoid checking bags at all costs. Our 5 day trip to CA last week was packed into one carry on for the both of us. I have learned that I always overestimate the amount of clothes that I need, so I purposefully pack less and it usually works out 🙂
If you’re looking for brushes, check out Sonia Kashuk core brushes! Especially their eye shadow blender 109, buffing 130, and duo fiber “skunk” 115 brush. The only brushes I don’t like are their eye liner brushes. The travel blusher 125 is great too; if you only push it up halfway, it doubles as a powder foundation buffer. I like buying individually so I have the brushes I actually use.
I love BB cream, so perfect for every day!
I am a TERRIBLE packer. I freak out and bring everything I own. Perhaps that’s because I don’t travel much… if I did, maybe I’d get better at it? haha
I tend to over pack on clothes! I always think that I want options on the day, but I end up wearing the same couple of things! I’m traveling next week, so lets hope I do better!
I always pack way too much and now that i travel with a baby it is getting ridiculous! Maybe I need to limit myself to a carry on. Thanks for the tips. I need new liquid eyeliner, I will look for Stila!
I like the sephora brushes. The generic sephora generic brand is just as good as some of the designer products. I would highly recommend them and they’re easy to travel with.
Enjoy Denver!
My cardinal rule: never leave the house without your eyeliner. That thing works miracles, can serve as a pen, and also a weapon (hey, ya never know!)
Love your rule 🙂
Stila liquid liner is the jam! I have always been pretty awful at liquid eyeliner but that one makes it so easy, so now I’m super fly when it’s going out time.
I used to travel every other week, and I actually had a complete 2nd set of everything I needed. I even had mini makeup travel brushes and travel-sized containers of everything liquid. Now I don’t invest that much in tiny makeups and shampoos because I travel less. When I do travel, though, I pack as much as I physically can without getting charged an extra fee. A girl’s gotta have tools and products!
Also, liquid blush is awesome! I love it for days when I know I’m going to get sweaty/rub my face/whatever. It is pretty user friendly, too. I like beneFit liquid blush because it blends well and looks very natural.
I use E.L.F. (eyes, lips, face) brushes because they are cheaper but good quality if you ask me!
I try to limit the amount of stuff I bring but find that I ended with more than I wanted. Guess it’s always good to have options. Going to try your eyeliner. Been looking for a good one lately.
Let me know if you like it! It’s my fave 🙂
I’m definitely in the ‘bring everything you own’ camp! But better safe than sorry I guess!
I second the Real Techniques recommendation. If you don’t really use eye brushes, then the “Core Collection Set” probably has everything you need. It’s less than $15 for 4 convenient brushes.
Good tip! Thanks 🙂
I am absolutely a light packer. I like to make sure all of my jewelry basics go with all of my clothing basics. And I only bring the essential toiletries — oftentimes I rely on the lotion, soap and whatever else I can use in a hotel. 🙂 Have fun!
Try real techniques brushes. They are inexpensive and awesome quality!
Thanks! I’ll look for those.
I cannot pack light for the life of me! it’s getting frustrating. I keep trying but then I end up bringing everything but the kitchen sink.
Great post. I really need a good travel toiletries bag. Do you like yours??? Also I wrote a post on how to stay in shape while traveling (I also travel a lot for work). Thought you’d like: http://cuckoolemon.com/2014/10/02/13-ways-to-keep-your-fitness-mojo-while-traveling/
I really like my bag (but can’t remember where I got it)!