I'm always on the go. Sometimes busy is an understatement. Between my career, weight lifting, running, golf lessons, trapeze class, blogging, store views....yada yada yada.....I'm always moving. I try to be as prepared as I can since I've frequently had unexpected "surprises". There's been days where I go to work, lift at the gym, hop a metro to store for a fit review, on the metro for trapeze, then back home after a long day.
Not really much of a minimalist (I hate not being prepared for things), I've learned the art of packing efficiently. The biggest tip I can give you....and I will say it over and over......Travel Size/Deluxe Samples are your friend. Travel Size/Deluxe Samples are your friend. Trust me, you don't want to be hauling that large bottle of body wash. It's heavy and it might leak in your bag....covering your clean clothes and beauty items with liquid awesomeness. No thank you....
For the first part, I'll be covering my makeup. Since I'm CONSTANTLY on the run, I try to keep my makeup as natural and sweat free as possible. Sometimes I have to apply my makeup in a hurry and I don't want cake face or smeared eye makeup. Most of these products are in liquid/cream form. They go on really easily....most of them you can use your fingertips. They also look more natural than powders and can hold up in humid temperatures.
Starting with my "Prep N' Correct" These guys are my goof correctors, primers, and setters. I love the Q-Tips filled with makeup remover. You can find them at Sephora or your local drugstores. They are great for fixing up goofs and touch ups (ahem.....pesky mascara/eyeliner). I don't usually lug around the whole box...I'll just grab a couple for my purse and toiletry bag.
I also make sure I use a eye and face primer. This preps my skin and helps my makeup last...preventing the need for touch-ups. I really like BareMinerals Prime Time for the eyes and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer for the face. The BareMinerals completely locks your eyeshadow, while the Hourglass feels really velvety on the skin. After my makeup is done, I spritz Urban Decay's All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray on my face. This sets my makeup so it lasts up to 16 hours.
For the face, I use a BB cream instead of foundation. It helps correct skin while hiding uneven skintone. My favorite is Dr. Jart+ Black Label Dextox BB cream. I took a sample of this on my vacation and fell in love. I never wear foundation, but my skin was a hot mess of breakouts on my vacation. I put this over it to mask it and it actually helped clear up my skin...it was much better during vacation.
I got a sample of Stilla Bronzing BB cream. Honestly, I haven't used it enough to swear by it....but so far, I like it. The Dr. Jart+ looks a little light at first (you have to give it a minute to kick it), but this helps add a little bronze to your skin which is great.
I looove Nars Illuminator in Copacabana. (I really wish they had a smaller travel size!) I use this to highlight my cheekbones and above my brow bone. Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy is also a new favorite. I was going to replace my Makeup Forever Cream Blush, but they stopped making it and I needed a replacement. I tried the Tarte version and I like it so much better! It's really hard to goof up this blush. I just place a little on my apples and rub it in with my fingers if I'm in a hurry. It gives you a really natural flush without looking like you are wearing blush.
Since I have some under eye circles (thank you bone structure and blood vessels), I'm addicted to concealer. I've have tried almost every brand out there. Some of the really heavy waterproof ones do last, but I think most of them look fake and cakey. I prefer a creamier concealer that will blend more naturally with my skin. I've had Benefit's Erase Paste for years, but I'm currently obsessed with Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Coverage Concealer. It's really creamy and it blends really well.
For my eyes, I use Makeup Forever Aqua Creams. These pots of eyeshadow last FOREVER....literally forever. Not only does the shadow stay all day...its like the pot is bottomless. I've had these for over a year and I still haven't cracked a dent in them. I do like Urban Decay Naked Pallets (I have the first and second one), but I don't like bring them in my gym bag. The powder is messy....I have to bring several brushes...then if I break my pallet I've created a mess and ruined the actual shadow. So no powders for my toiletry bag.
I typically use my Stilla liquid eyeliner, but I also like having a normal pencil eyeliner too. Liquid stays really well but sometimes I want a more natural look so I'll tightline my eyes with a pencil. Makeup Forever has good pencil eyeliners but my favorite pencil eyeliners are Urban Decay's 24/7. They glide on really smooth and stay a long time. I recently got a Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Double Ended Eye Pencil so I can have two options in one.
A few months ago, I got a sample of Marc Jacobs Mascara and I freakin' loved it. Up until that point, I've had zero loyalty to any kind of mascara. I had yet to find a formula that worked for me. I've tried drugstore and premium. None went on natural enough for me and gave me long lasting wear. This brand goes on really naturally for me and last all day without running. It's not waterproof....I'm sure if I took a dip in the pool it would start to run....but I can be sweaty at the gym and it doesn't bleed. I ended up liking my mini so much, I immediately bought the full size. I still like toting my little mini in my gym bag to cut down on space.
For lips...I like to have options and shake things up. I rarely line my lips, but when I do....I fill them completely in with a natural color. I'm currently using Tarte Amazonian Clay Universal Lip Liner in Nude. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is one of my favorite lip balms. I currently carrying three mini lipglosses: Nars Lipgloss in Orgasm, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bare Naked, and Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian (my favorite).
Most of my brushes are duo fibre. I like the duo fibre because they blend really naturally and work well with power, cream, or liquid. I have a Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush for my face and body (it's just ok). For concealers, I have Sephora Pro Airbrush Concealer Brush and Marc Jacobs The Conceal - Full Cover Corrrecting Brush No. 17. I also have my MAC 187 Duo Fibre Face Brush, and Sigma Travel Size F15 and F50 Duo Fibre brushes.
I really like my Sephora and Marc Jacob concealer brushes. As for the MAC and Sigma Duo Fibre brushes....I'm not too much of a makeup junkie, but I honestly can't tell the difference between the two brands. I got a Sigma set thinking I would slowly buy all MAC brushes, but I wasn't blown away with my MAC brush. I though for sure that the quality would surpass the Sigma brushes, but I've had both brands for 3 years now and they shed and apply makeup equally the same. Unless you are a serious makeup junkie, I think Sigma is a great brand for brushes....especially at a much cheaper price point.
For my hair, body, and skin products...this is where it really pays off having smaller sized products. None of my skin or body care products are full size and that saves sooo much room. I would seriously need a duffel bag if I wanted to lug around full sizes of everything. These baby products save space, prevent large messes, and give me variety.
For hair accessories, I always carry a few Sweaty Bands and Twist Bands. I love these because I can use them for the gym or causal wear. I also have a detangling comb, teasing brush, and bobby pins.
I spend a lot more time on my skincare than makeup. I keep a Olay Wet Cleansing Cloth packet in my bag if I need to quickly wash my face off. I also have Dr. Brandt Xtend Your Youth Dual Fusion Water. I have this as a sample, but I haven't used it much yet. I keep it in my bag because its a makeup remove/cleanser that doesn't need water...always a plus when I'm in a hurry. I also have a sample size of Kate Somerville ExfoliKate....I love this. It really gets off all the dead skin and makes my skin glow. Looove love love Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid and Cream starter kit. I just bought my second one after I used up the first one. It smells like lemons and your skin just absorbs in it. It looks like a heavy cream, but it just disappears in your skin. I have dry patches on my face and this cleared it up completely. I haven't had a single dry patch since I started using these. I also use Benefit's It's Potent Eye Cream. It's another great product I received as a sample that I ended up buying the full size. I actually keep the mini container and just keep refilling it so I can have it on the go. It's really lightweight and moisturizing....doesn't feel greasy. I also have some skin treatments in my bag. I don't use those that much to and from the gym, but have them there for when I really need them. (I use the others at home). I have Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask and Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel (Extra Strength). The eye mask is really refreshing...don't recommend using it with a peel or its a waste of money (Retinol doesn't work as well). I keep an eye mask in my bag to perk up my tired eyes. Not many hangover days anymore, but there's been times I really needed an nap....or at least looked like I did. I also like the Alpha Beta peel because they are easy to apply on the go. I've had other brands, but they were hard to use since they needed water to wash off. These are great because I apply them in the car without needing a sink.
For my hair, I try to only pack sample packets of shampoo instead of bottles. Bottles take up so much space and cause messes...I'm all about prevention, so I try to get these when I can. Right now I have a few sampels of Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo and Conditioner. I also love Alterna Dry Oil Mist...it helps cut the frizz and keeps my hair soft. I also like Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo to cut back on oily hair.
For my chompers, I have a travel toothbrush (CVS brand) and toothpaste, some spare gum, and an ampule or two of GOSMILE teeth whiteners. Sometimes I have the Crest Whitening Strips. I recently had my teeth whitened on a Cruise, and I bought a GOSMILE set to take home with me.
For my body/miscellaneous products, I have Soap and Glory Naked Body Butter. This is where I really love my mini samples. I can leave my large body butters at home and not have to worry about a mess in my bag. I have a mini Dove deodorant, L'OCCITANE hand cream, Tweezerman travel tweezers, EOS Lip Sphere, tampons, mini Tide pen and some spare contacts. I keep some extra lip balm in my skincare bag in case I don't have my makeup zip pouch with me. For fragrance, I have Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black mini roller ball and Kai Fragrance Oil.
(I actually left body wash out because my gyms have them in their showers. I'm just trying to get clean and sanitary, so I don't mind using what they have....plus it saves space in my bag. I did realize that I forgot my razor in the bag...I temporarily moved it to my shower!)
I really love my Lululemon Mind and Body Toiletry Bag. I bought this bag in December for $58 and it has been 100% worth it. It's seems a little on the high side for a toiletry bag, but its the organization that makes it really special. The mouth of the bag has a metal frame, so it transforms into a basket. It has standard outside and inside zip pockets, but it also has a makeup pouch that has magnetic snaps to keep it to the side of the bag. It also has these really great elastic loops that keep things organized.
For packing, I keep all of my travel packets in the outside zip pocket. They are flat and wide so this pocket works perfectly for them. I keep my hair bands, bobby pins, and headbands in my inside zip pocket so they don't bounce around in my bag. I keep my toothbrush, toothpaste, tweezers, and tide pen in my elastic loops. I place my brushes at the bottom of the bag. All of my body/skin products go in a clear zip bag that I purchased at a drugstore. My makeup goes in the clear zip bag and my makeup brushes are stored in the smaller zip bag that came with the kit.
With this organization, I actually don't really have any "loose" objects floating around in my bag. Just my brushes at the bottom. It makes it nice because I can throw my makeup pouch or my skin care pouch into my purse if I don't need my toiletry bag.
So there you have it....a whole lotta product in a small toiletry bag. (Yes, I actually do haul all of this crap around with me). I don't use it all everyday, but I have everything I need for the gym, weekend trip, or emergency shower. Minis are my bestie. If I carried full size products, there's no way I would get as much versatility in my bag. I simply wouldn't have the room.
Are you like me...hauling everything in your toiletry bag?
Note - No affiliate links were used in this post....just links to great brands I happen to like and use!
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