I am about to embark on a couple of trips in March so thought it would be a good idea to do a couple of posts in relation to the beauty products I take with me when I travel. I love seeing what others take with them as I find it really useful, in terms of recommendations and packing tips. I always try to pack as light as possible, keeping things really simple, so the fewer products the better.
Skincare
A god send when travelling, I find, are face wipes. Yes they aren't goo for your skin long term, blah blah, but they can save carting multiple cleansers and cotton pads around with you. I am currently using the No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes. For my second cleanse I have decanted Philosophy's Purity cleanser into a travel sized bottle. I have never tried this before but know it is a foaming cleanser, which I'm hoping will work well on my oily skin. I recently picked up a mini Benefit skincare set, which luckily included a sample pot of their Total Moisture Facial Cream and Refined Finish Facial Polish. I have used samples of these products before and really enjoyed them as they smell lovely and are really hydrating.
Haircare
I am never fussy when picking a shampoo for a trip as I look for size more than the brand. I picked up this mini Toni And Guy Cleanse Shampoo For Fine Hair recently, which should last for both of my trips. I usually find that by switching my shampoo up for a few days can really deep clean my hair. I also saved a free sample from a magazine of Ojon's Volume Advance Conditioner, which I am looking forward to trying.
Bodycare
Last Christmas I received a set of mini shower gels from The Body Shop, which I reserve for travelling. This time I am packing their Shea Shower Cream, which I know is super moisturising. I also have a 75ml size of Vera Wang's Princess Body Lotion which came in a set along with the matching fragrance. For perfume, I have a miniature bottle of Taylor Swifts Wonderstruck fragrance, which again came in the gift set along with the perfume. This is such a handy size, it's just a shame it doesn't have a pump. I like to travel with a body spray just to freshen up with, so I have an FCUK one in an oriental scent which is really nice.
Miscellaneous
Luckily now they are making deodorants in mini compressed cans, I managed to pick up a small sized Sure deodorant. This is a really handy size and would also be perfect for your handbag for any on the go touch ups. I favour Sure deodorant as it doesn't leave white marks on my clothes like others can. I also always travel with mouthwash, so I have packed a small bottle of Boots' Smile Antiseptic Mouthwash.
The only products I am now hunting down for my trip are dry shampoo, toothpaste and a mini heat protectant for my hair. I think another trip to Boots is in order!
Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming post on the makeup I pack when I travel.
The final part of my skincare routine are the weekly face masks I use. I will usually have a pamper evening on a Sunday night, so really like to do a face mask to really clear my skin for the week ahead. Here are a couple of my favourite products to use.
The first is the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask from The Body Shop. This is a mask that really draws the impurities from the skin, due to its clay base. I apply a grape sized amount all over the face and leave it to dry for 5-10 minutes. I then rinse it off to leave my skin clean and clear. I find this mask can also help reduce redness and is really good for oily skin like mine.
Another treat for my skin in No7's Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser. I have already done a full in depth review on this product, but in summary, you massage a grape size into on damp skin, before steaming your face under a hot muslin cloth. This will then open the pores to allow the cleanser to really clear out any dirt and grime. I then use the hot cloth to buff the product of the skin. This leaves behind super clean feeling skin which is very spa like. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a quick pampering.
What products do you like to treat your skin with?
As soon as I walk in the door after a long day, one of the first things I do is remove my makeup. My favourite product to use is the hugely hyped Bioderma. This french cult product is excellent at removing all makeup, including mascara, as it is very gentle and so leaves the skin clean and hydrated. Micellar waters have become very popular over the last couple of years and this is such a great one. The ingredients are kind to the skin, so your skin isn't left stripped and dry. I apply Bioderma to a cotton pad and use 3 to remove everything.
Next, as one cleanse doesn't break down everything, I always follow up with a second. I am currently using Soap And Glory's Peaches And Clean, which is a cream cleanser, that turns into a milky consistency once water is added to it. I massage this into my skin first, concentrating on areas such as my eyes and oily spots, such as my chin and forehead. I then rinse off with water and pat my face dry with a clean flannel. My skin is then really clean and very soft.
To close my pores up after the cleansing, I use Simple's Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner. I use a couple of squirts on a cotton pad and lightly wipe this over my face. This is the first toner I have ever used so I'm not too sure if it's really a necessary step.
I then moisturise my skin using Simple's Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. I have used this for a couple of years now as it is hydrating, whilst using gentle ingredients which don't clog the pores. I massage this into the skin and then leave it for a few minutes to sink in.
My final step is to apply eye cream. I am not trying to prevent wrinkles, but am looking to keep the eye area hydrated, as I find my makeup can sometimes settle into the fine lines when the skin is dry. Again, I use another Simple product, called the Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm. I use a seed size amount and pat it into the eye area, starting at the outer corner. This then ensures my face is really hydrated before I sleep.
My next post will focus on masks and treatments I use on my skin.
As I mainly focus on makeup on this blog, I thought I would do two posts relating to my morning and evening skincare routine. As I have suffered with severe acne over the past few years, my routine is very simple and I keep my products to a minimum. This is so that I do not overload my skin with chemicals and ingredients, to try and keep breakouts at bay. I have oily skin so I find these products suit my skin type well.
First thing in the morning I use two pumps of the No7 Soft And Soothed Gentle Cleanser on a cotton pad. I then apply this all over my face, targeting oilier areas such as my forehead, nose and chin. This then removes any oil or dirt that has built up over night. No7 do make a cleanser specifically for oily skin, but I had a reaction to it, so find this product still works well and is quite hydrating, it is also fragrance free and restores the natural ph balance of the skin. The formula of the product is also really light and easily absorbed.
The next step is exfoliator, which I use whilst in the shower. I currently use the Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Daily Scrub. This is a nice scrub which isn't too abraisive so can be used every day. It also really opens up the pores and leaves a tingly sensation on the skin as it works. This is also really easy to rinse away, leaving behind smooth skin.
My final step skin care step in the morning is moisturiser. I am a huge fan of the Simple skincare line as it isn't full of harsh chemicals. In the morning I use the Simple Kind To Skin Light Hydrating Moisturiser. This has a nice texture and sinks into the skin quickly, especially after using an exfoliator. I then find my skin is clean and hydrated, making a perfect foundation for makeup.
What skincare products do you use in the morning?
As much as I love a nice lipstick, tinted lip balms are a savior. Not only are they less drying on the lips, they are glossy and keep your lips in better condition for longer. I am a huge fan of Revlon's Lip Butters, but as some shades are more pigmented than others, it can be hard to predict what the colour and pigmentation will be like until you buy it.
No7 have recently launched their version of the Clinique Chubby Stick, as every cosmetics brand have, calling them the High Shine Lip Crayons. The packaging is very similar also, with a twist up bullet, encased in a plastic tube. I'm not a huge fan of No7 makeup, but I was interested to try these. I swatched all of the colours and was really surprised to see just how pigmented and glossy they are. Also, all 5 shades in the line are just as pigmented, with none being less so than the others. A quick swipe across the lips gives a sheer finish, but a couple more result in full opacity, so both looks can be created with this product. As with most tinted lip balms, wear time isn't great, but you can easily touch up without a mirror. I would say you can get a good couple of hours of wear before needing to reapply. I also find that I don't need a lip balm under this product, as it really conditions the lips.
These are great products for anyone who likes a quick and easy pop of colour on their lips. I have the shades Berry, Delicate Pink and Tickle which are all really nice and vibrant. You can get your hands on them for £9 each at Boots. They are also currently on a 3 for 2 offer, plus the £3 No7 vouchers are on quite regularly.
I recently was lucky enough to pop into the #ISpyRimmel bus and have a bit of pampering. The lovely ladies were offering free makeovers and nail painting. Of course, being a nail addict, I couldn't resist. I chose a bright pinky coral colour, which has silver shimmer shot through it. It looks lovely and really adds a nice pop of colour to my hands. The polish was on of Rimmel's Salon Pro nail polishes and has a really nice finish to it. I usually don't get on too well with Rimmel polishes as I have found they start to chip pretty quickly, but so far I am impressed. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask the name of the colour.
On my way out, I was given a goody bag! This was filled with some of Rimmels best products and luckily I haven't tried any of them before, so I am very excited to give them a whirl and report back. The first items in my goody bag were nail polishes. Included were 503 Mind The Gap, Victoria in the 60 Seconds line, which is a cute pastel blue. There was also 006 Moon Walking, from the Space Dust line, which is a purple glitter polish. I cannot wait to get my nails looking lovely with these colours. The bag also contained the Scandal Eyes Rockin' Curves mascara in black which has a wavey brush, which will be interesting to try. Hopefully I won't end up with mascara everywhere! I used to love the Lash Accelerator mascara a good few years back, so I have high hopes for this product. For lips, a Moisture Renew lipstick was included, in the shade 130 Oxford Street Fuschia. This is a really vibrant blue toned pink. I have found some Rimmel lipsticks to be quite drying, but I have already applied this colour and it feels lovely. The texture is smooth and creamy, leaving a really nice look to the lips. The colour is also perfect for spring/summer.I will definately be checking out the rest of the shades in this line, I just hope the wear time is good. The other lip related item was a lipliner, again from the Moisture Renew line. This is a Universal Transparent Liner, which I guess helps to prep your lips for lipstick without adding any colour, which means it can be used with any lip product. It sounds like a brilliant product in theory, so I am eager to give this a go. The final product in my goody bag was the Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint in 001 Pop Of Pink. This could be a great product for carrying in your handbag for touch ups as it doesn't require a brush. I cannot thank Rimmel enough for this treat and am very excited to try lots of new makeup looks out, with my new products!
What are your favourites from Rimmel?
Today on my nails I have a recent purchase from OPI. This hot pink shade is called Hey Baby and is vibrant and bold. I know this will become a staple over the summer as it is really eye catching. I have used my usual Revlon base coat to prevent staining, as well as my Seche Vite top coat to give the nails a glossy finish. Wear time has been around 4 days so far, with minimal chipping. The OPI lady told me to enhance the wear time of their lacquer, to just reapply top coat every other day, which will result in your nails looking great for 5-10 days! OPI polishes are pricey for £11.95 each, but the longevity of them really makes them worth the money.
