I've been back from Singapore three weeks already(!) but my travel makeup choices are still fresh in my mind so for once I'm sharing my travel makeup bag contents with you. I was aiming for the barest minimum I could get away with packing this time, because you know how it goes, you - well, me - might pack for every possibility then only end up using a small core number of items anyway...
I thought I did a pretty good job of pared down packing this time around yet I still didn't use everything and I also had some disappointments in my smallish selection. So as you've figured, this post is about what I packed, what I did/didn't like and what I didn't even use!
Face
I was never going to go overboard with my base products and I know the Singapore climate can get pretty steamy at times so I stuck to the basics so as not to have to worry about my face melting off.
I didn't want to bother with glass bottles so opted for a stick foundation this time and had a winning combination in Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Makeup (140 Nude)* set with a little Rimmel Lasting Finish Powder Foundation (002 Soft Beige)*. After initial struggles with it, I've finally found the best way to use the Rimmel powder is as a topper, and the foundation stick and powder combination stood up to the humidity while still looking natural.
Benefit's The Porefessional was my primer because of the small tube - well yes I was all about cramming in as little as possible this time - and because it works to blur the dreaded pores on and around my nose. I used the teeny Benefit Stay Don't Stray for the first time (ever!) as my eye shadow base and found it pretty darn good as an eyelid brightener as much as a effective base for holding my eye makeup in place so that was a daily staple. On the other hand - and I'm not sure why - Benefit's Ooh La Lift didn't really get much use and I only used it once to brighten the under eye area after I realized my rather expensive Tom Ford concealer wasn't cutting it. See below for my thoughts on that product - I forgot to include it with the base products so it's with eye makeup stuff.
For colour I used Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer for the occasional bit of after-dark contouring and a little sweep of the very soft Bourjois Rose Pompon blush for the daily dose of cheek colour. I've had that blush in my drawer forever so it had its inaugural outing on this trip. It's very soft and needs to be built up so it was good choice for avoiding the obviously made up look - I don't want to look like I've tried too hard on holiday!
Eyes
Again it was all about low-fuss low key items so I chose the very compact neutral Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics for my every day eye makeup - I personally prefer this slightly cooler, more muted palette over the original Naked Basics - and packed my favourite L'Oreal Infallible Hourglass Beige shadow which came in handy to add a touch of shimmer for evening eyes. I like a little bit of pencil liner for daily definition and Face of Australia's Brown Eye Definer was a no-brainer choice because I use it just about every day anyway.
Now for the disappointments. Tom Ford Concealing Pen (Light/Medium) was something I'd stashed away for a worthy special occasion and it just completely underwhelmed me. I didn't like the sponge applicator and the shade was too dark to do anything to brighten my under eye area - I don't know how the hell I got sold into making that mistake! The other disappointment was Kevyn Aucoin's The Volume mascara. I packed this because it's a tubing mascara, perfect for humidity, swimming and so on...but the brush...I think it's the brush...maybe it's the rather dry formula too?...did nothing to deposit enough mascara to volumize my lashes. They were tinted more than voluminous. Ugh.
Lips
I tried to cover all the possibilities, within reason, for a week's worth of lip choices (I only chose 6 items and most of them were minis, hah!) and you know what? This is where I actually over packed!
I was so sure I would need a red lip option that I packed two - Tom Ford Cherry Lush Lip Colour and the very vampy Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick (Icon) - and yet I wore neither! Nude or mauve pinks were the winners - rather than reaching for the obvious red I ended up wearing bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie Lipstick (Speak Your Mind) topped with another bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie Lip Gloss (Show Off) for my evening lips, while Chanel Glossimer (119) or The Body Shop Flavoured Gloss (Coconut) were easy daily choices.
********************************
So that was my vacay makeup bag: mostly good choices, some bad, a few unnecessary things, but I'm satisfied to have used most of what I'd packed!
Do you travel light when it comes to makeup or do you like to plan for all the possibilities?
(Products marked * were provided for my consideration. All comments and opinions are my own.)
I thought I did a pretty good job of pared down packing this time around yet I still didn't use everything and I also had some disappointments in my smallish selection. So as you've figured, this post is about what I packed, what I did/didn't like and what I didn't even use!
Face
I was never going to go overboard with my base products and I know the Singapore climate can get pretty steamy at times so I stuck to the basics so as not to have to worry about my face melting off.
I didn't want to bother with glass bottles so opted for a stick foundation this time and had a winning combination in Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Makeup (140 Nude)* set with a little Rimmel Lasting Finish Powder Foundation (002 Soft Beige)*. After initial struggles with it, I've finally found the best way to use the Rimmel powder is as a topper, and the foundation stick and powder combination stood up to the humidity while still looking natural.
Benefit's The Porefessional was my primer because of the small tube - well yes I was all about cramming in as little as possible this time - and because it works to blur the dreaded pores on and around my nose. I used the teeny Benefit Stay Don't Stray for the first time (ever!) as my eye shadow base and found it pretty darn good as an eyelid brightener as much as a effective base for holding my eye makeup in place so that was a daily staple. On the other hand - and I'm not sure why - Benefit's Ooh La Lift didn't really get much use and I only used it once to brighten the under eye area after I realized my rather expensive Tom Ford concealer wasn't cutting it. See below for my thoughts on that product - I forgot to include it with the base products so it's with eye makeup stuff.
For colour I used Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer for the occasional bit of after-dark contouring and a little sweep of the very soft Bourjois Rose Pompon blush for the daily dose of cheek colour. I've had that blush in my drawer forever so it had its inaugural outing on this trip. It's very soft and needs to be built up so it was good choice for avoiding the obviously made up look - I don't want to look like I've tried too hard on holiday!
Eyes
Again it was all about low-fuss low key items so I chose the very compact neutral Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics for my every day eye makeup - I personally prefer this slightly cooler, more muted palette over the original Naked Basics - and packed my favourite L'Oreal Infallible Hourglass Beige shadow which came in handy to add a touch of shimmer for evening eyes. I like a little bit of pencil liner for daily definition and Face of Australia's Brown Eye Definer was a no-brainer choice because I use it just about every day anyway.
Now for the disappointments. Tom Ford Concealing Pen (Light/Medium) was something I'd stashed away for a worthy special occasion and it just completely underwhelmed me. I didn't like the sponge applicator and the shade was too dark to do anything to brighten my under eye area - I don't know how the hell I got sold into making that mistake! The other disappointment was Kevyn Aucoin's The Volume mascara. I packed this because it's a tubing mascara, perfect for humidity, swimming and so on...but the brush...I think it's the brush...maybe it's the rather dry formula too?...did nothing to deposit enough mascara to volumize my lashes. They were tinted more than voluminous. Ugh.
Lips
I tried to cover all the possibilities, within reason, for a week's worth of lip choices (I only chose 6 items and most of them were minis, hah!) and you know what? This is where I actually over packed!
I was so sure I would need a red lip option that I packed two - Tom Ford Cherry Lush Lip Colour and the very vampy Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick (Icon) - and yet I wore neither! Nude or mauve pinks were the winners - rather than reaching for the obvious red I ended up wearing bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie Lipstick (Speak Your Mind) topped with another bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie Lip Gloss (Show Off) for my evening lips, while Chanel Glossimer (119) or The Body Shop Flavoured Gloss (Coconut) were easy daily choices.
********************************
So that was my vacay makeup bag: mostly good choices, some bad, a few unnecessary things, but I'm satisfied to have used most of what I'd packed!
Do you travel light when it comes to makeup or do you like to plan for all the possibilities?
(Products marked * were provided for my consideration. All comments and opinions are my own.)
Great post. I used to pack way too much makeup when travelling but these days I only take what I know I will need.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about the Tom Ford concealer. The applicator is horrible and the lightest shade is too dark to do any brightening for my under eye area. It has actually been put into pile with a couple of other products for a 'disappointing products' post.
It's amazing how much makeup can weigh you down during travel so I decided to downsize this time and it was so much better. You and I are not the only ones disappointed by that TF concealer - I'll be interested to see what other products underwhelmed you!
DeleteNice job! I used to pack way too much makeup when traveling, but now I barely pack any. I just don't wear most of it! I bring sunscreen, a foundation, a mascara, a blush, and an eyeliner and a lipstick and lip balm that's pretty much it these days. Too bad about the TF concealer!
ReplyDeleteLow key is the way to go! I did pack sunscreen too plus skincare samples rather than full sizes to keep the load light :)
DeleteOnly six lippies for a holiday- you're my hero! Lol :-) I love the look of that Naked Basics palette...although I can't justify the buy since I've just bought Naked Smoky, which is drool-worthy! Lol :-) Love all your picks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina! I can imagine you packing an enviable selection of lip colours when you travel. It would be interesting to delve into your makeup bag actually!
DeleteI don't always go 'low key' with makeup on holidays, but I have to think carefully about beach holidays as obviously I don't need a full face for that! Our trip to Bali will be a tricky one to pack for, we are going for a wedding so I need my 'nice' makeup but even our lazy days will be spent with the bride and groom so I want to feel done up and nice...think I need to choose what I'll actually wear before I go and edit that way.
ReplyDeleteLove the Chanel gloss for daytime, never tried that formula!
Great idea to do an edit especially if you have the rest of your wardrobe planned! I had to consider the climate but also that it was an urban holiday so I wanted to feel put together but effortless at the same time. Beach holidays are all about sunscreen and waterproof mascara for me!
DeleteI guess it depends where you go. You had some swanky moments in Singapore so I can imagine the excitement of packing some TFs. I'm going away for the weekend but it'll be low key, so I'm not even sure that I want to take a lipstick!
ReplyDeleteOh, who am I kidding. I'll take at least ONE. :)
Even a weekend away requires a 'just in case' lippy! I hope you enjoy your trip :)
DeleteIt really does depend on the reasons for travel! If we have to attend an event, I have to bring some glam stuff as well as some everyday stuff, and that always complicates matters. I think you did a great job, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks Larie! I tend to overpack usually so I made a more conscious effort this time - and I downsized my skincare and haircare packing too - samples and minis were the order of the day!
Delete