As requested, here are the items I brought with me on my recent trip. All the items were carried in my well-loved Bobbi Brown Train Case (from 12+ years ago and no longer available for sale, Old Hollywood Version still available). I tend to overpack for makeup so the case limits what I bring. If it can’t fit, it doesn’t travel with me. I’ve split the items into three categories: Lips, Face/Cheeks and Eyes.
Tom Ford Spanish Pink is one of the few Tom Ford lipsticks I’ve used up, this is my second tube, it’s the perfect pink peach nude cream (review here when I used to be super tan)
Estee Lauder Crystal Baby Lip Gloss has been a lipgloss I’ve repeatedly applied, it’s a nice youthful baby pink shimmer with a hint of warmth
Nudestix Soul Lip & Cheek Pencil is something I brought with me as a multi-tasking product, I didn’t end up using it on my trip because I kept using the YSL
I brought two bronzers with me on accident with NARS Matte Multiple in Vientiane and MAC Refresh Mineralize Skinfinish Duo (I meant to grab a pink multiple) but they ended up being good layered together, sometimes I need a slight creamy/dewy base to put underneath powder blush
For eyes I tried to be a minimalist but kinda went a bit overboard, I brought one eyeshadow palette in Urban Decay Naked 3 which has all the colors I need for the rest of my life
For night time eyes, I used By Terry Ombre Blackstars in Bronze Moon and Frozen Quartz layered together and added a tiny bit of powder shadows on top to intensify the look for a bronze and pink smokey eye, I also brought along Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen, it’s the only black liquid liner that I have been able to get to work for me (it stays put, applies evenly and doesn’t bleed)
To those who asked to see what I brought with me, I hope this helps! I always have a makeup overpacking problem so my fellow beauty lovers – if you have any tips I’d love to hear what you bring with you on trips/travel whether it’s a weekend getaway, a week trip or extended vacation.
I was so excited to be invited to the rewardStyle conference this year in Dallas, Texas. They hosted an incredible event and I felt so lucky to meet so many talented individuals. Personal highlights (and fan-girl moments for me) included meeting the lovely ladies from Beauty Professor, Liana Beauty, Essie Button, Fleur de Force – all of whom I’ve followed and admired for years. I didn’t get as many pictures as I had hoped during all the excitement but if you search for #rsthecon on Instagram you can see snapshots of the past weekend’s events from those who attended.
Many have asked for me to share what I brought with me on my trip. For me packing is somewhat of an ordeal and I’m in awe of those who travel frequently. I usually bring what will fit into my Bobbi Brown travel case which helps me limit what I bring and keeps everything organized. This case was one of the first gifts my husband gave to me when were dating in our early 20’s. (Black version is not currently available, but there is a gold Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood Train case version available.) All liquids are usually stored in a clear quart sized bag. If you have any travel beauty tips I would love to hear what they are. It always pains me that I can’t bring what I love for hair and skincare. My skin often turns into a nightmare-ish wreck by the end of my trip (no matter how short).
For this 4 day trip I was totally unorganized with my beauty. I packed in a rush, didn’t plan in advance and ended up with duplicate brushes, tools, way too many eyeliners and highlighting products. How this fit in one case is a mystery to me, but it did. Be warned this is a lot. I’ll be sure to tell you which items I actually used.
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Giorgio Armani Regenessence Lotion – I keep a mini sized container from one of the many gift with purchase events, I use it to refill with the full-sized version of toner when I travel
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – part of The Works Set, I’ve been testing this for several months now and have added it to my daily skincare routine, I apply under moisturizer and found the serum helps extend the wear of my foundation and keeps moisture in better
By Terry Cellularose Blush Glace in Frozen Petal 3 – the perfect natural glowy peachy color in a gel blush formula with long wear (these sell out on a weekly basis both online and in store, it took me several months to track down all three shades)
Tom Ford Fire Lust in a mini Chanel sample container (another one I didn’t use, but review from last year’s version here)
NARS Narsissist Eye Palette – the only eyeshadow I brought with me, this palette did it all for me, I didn’t use all the colors, only 7 of the shades were used during this trip, but I found it served me well as a one palette to do-it-all kind of thing, many have asked if I found issues with pigment or application, I found them to be very good in quality, the matte shades were a bit difficult to get a large brush in but I swished it around (let me know if you want a full detailed review in the comments)
NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Via Appia – part of my eye essentials post here
A few more snapshots of my makeup mess scattered throughout the week, let me know if you want the breakdown of the tools I brought, I kinda just threw a bunch of random clean tools into my makeup box before I left.
Recap of what I used: Aside from the staples (mascara, foundation, powder, skincare) I found I got plenty of use of the NARS Eye Palette, Chanel Illusion d’Ombres, MAC Fairly Precious, Edward Bess Daydream and Tom Ford Flush blush.
What I could have skipped: I could have skipped all but one eyeliner, most of my tools were redundant, I probably only needed 5 brushes at most. I had highlighter overload as well and grabbed a bunch of minis that I had made over the past few weeks.
What I wish I brought: More skincare, more hair care products. Next time I need to do better planning with finding or collecting small sample containers that I can use for travel. Also I rarely use mattifying products – the warm humid weather wasn’t something I was used to in Dallas and definitely needed something to help keep the face more matte.
Do you travel a lot for work or fun? What are your beauty travel packing tips? Do you have a checklist to help plan or a travel pouch that helps organize and limit what you bring with you? Or are you the kind of person that checks bags so contents/limits don’t matter?
I’m all ears for your tips, tricks and experiences. I haven’t had to travel frequently in the past but it’s on my list to do this year (for fun of course). If you want to see what I brought on past trips, click on the TRAVEL tag below the post.
Quick update for those who asked about my Bobbi Brown train case, there is a luxury Gold Old Hollywood version available now (quite pricey), the one I have is from over 10 years ago, keep an eye out for similar versions around holiday or seasonal releases. For now a few other suggestions below.
I’ve been traveling for several days to San Francisco for a mini vacation. If you follow me via Instagram @beautylookbook you will see some snapshots of my travels around the city. More on some trip highlights to come soon here and on Styled Notes. Several of you have emailed me asking for a post on what I brought with me on my trip. I left for four days so I didn’t need much. However as usual I overpacked. The items I picked were fairly basic and versatile for a day to night look. Our trip was fairly laid back so I didn’t need to bring things different from what I normally wear for everyday.
This is what I brought with me in a Tom Ford Brush Holder and Bobbi Brown Train Case (both not available now, but previously released with sets or for holidays):
Skincare: mini sized items of Chanel makeup remover, Le Jour, Le Nuit, Sublimage cream and Le Blanc toner, a mini size of SK-II cleanser
Tools: a variety of MAC, Tom Ford and Chanel brushes, Chanel eyelash curler, Chanel Le Coton, Q-tips
Eyes: Le Metier de Beaute Carnaby Street Kaleidoscope, RMS Beauty Solar Cream Shadow, Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara Excess, Chanel Santal Eyeliner
Lips: Tom Ford Love Bruise Lipgloss, Armani Lipglosses, Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Caprice, YSL Rouge Volupte Candy, Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, Tom Ford Spanish Pink Lipstick, Chanel Nude Lipliner (I know it makes no sense to bring this many lip products on a trip, but it always happens)
Face: Tom Ford Foundation Stick #5, NARS Groenland Tinted Moisturizer, Cle de Peau Concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (more on this soon, but I love this!), Edward Bess Bronzer, Chanel Soho Powder, two MAC blushes in Poised and Barefaced, Chanel Les Beiges Powder, Edward Bess Sunlight Cream Highlighter
Hair: Mason Pearson Comb and Moroccan Oil
Did I use everything? Almost, but not quite. Items I found myself using the most included the basics. For color I used Chanel Rouge Coco Shines and Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss a lot. Edward Bess Daydream Bronzer was used everyday along with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. I used the one eyeshadow palette as well for Le Metier de Beaute Carnaby Street. The MAC blushes were the perfect shade of nude to go with virtually everything (I layered a lot).
What I could have skipped: the Tom Ford lipstick and Armani lipglosses What I missed: my flat iron, hair dryer and normal shampoo, conditioner and shower gels (but mainly relied on hotel amenities), also shimmery fluid highlighters I couldn’t bring because of travel size restrictions
What beauty items do you usually bring with you when you travel?
