Every time I am packing for a trip, be it a quick overnight or a week or two, I always overpack on beauty. I have definitely got better at it, but I am not quite there yet. So with that in mind, I forced myself to really look at the top 5 products I absolutely need for a getaway, that would also give me a little skincare if I am genuinely wanting to keep the packing to an all time low, and products that I ALWAYS use when traveling.
1. Jones Road Hippie Stick. You have probably heard me bang on about this quite a bit - I really love it and have relied on it for years. It is essentially an all round balm - Bobbi calls it an Everywhere Balm - and boy do I put it everywhere. This is how I use it:
- lips, constantly
- cheeks to give them a dewy shine
- eyebrows to glue them down
- hair parting to smooth flyaways
- ends of hair to smooth frayed ends
- elbows for dry skin
- heels for dry skin overnight
- nails to sooth cuticles
It has a fresh minty smell and if I ever find myself without it I really miss it.
2. Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Serum. I have used this serum for years, maybe 10, and it is another product that if I ever run out of I am genuinely at a bit of a loss. My skin likes nice calm products, excellent quality ingredients, and something quite light. I use all of Dr Sebagh's serums as I love what he does, but the Rose de Vie is the only oil based serum and I find that by using it I don't necessarily need a moisturiser, so this is why I am putting it at the top of My Desert Island 5 list. I just pop this on morning and evening and my skin feels fresh and happy.
3. Trish McEvoy Liquid Lip Colour in Power Red. I have had this lip colour for a few years now and have started leaning on it with increasing frequency. I like to just touch a dot on my top and bottom lips, then dab until the lips appear berry stained. Not too much, just the right amount of colour. And then I take what is left - and be careful here as the pigment is rich - I touch my cheek bones to add a hint of cheek colour. Et voila! I recently arrived at an event at 6am and I had been up all night with a bug, and I turned up wearing little on my face but this lip colour, and our host said to me, how do you look this good at 6am? I was surprised because a felt like 5 kinds of poop, and then a thought.....ahhh! it must be Trish's magic Liquid Lip Colour! And it was. One dab of this and you are instantly dressed.
4. L'Oreal Air Volume Mega Mascara. My friend Victoria who owns Black & White Communications introduced me to this mascara. It is a great price, never gets gluggy, I can repeat buy it on Amazon, it lasts for ages, and it never runs. Need I say more?
5. Nivea Double Effect Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. I don't know how long I have been using this - 20 years maybe? But it is so so good, it takes my eye makeup off effectively, no rubbing of my fragile peepers to try to get it off, and if I am traveling I take that cotton pad on a little trip around my face beyond the eyes and wipe any dirt from the day off. For me it can easily double up as a quick cleanser if you are really traveling light, well that's what I do anyway and so far so good.
So that is my list of my absolute top 5 cannot live without never leave home without products. Who wants the next 5, if I was taking 10 products say? Message me! @donnaida