Category Archives: Vacation

Travel Makeup Bag: Holiday 2015

December 25, 2015Miscellaneous, VacationBite Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, Clarins, H&M Beauty, House of Lashes, Illamasqua, Kat Von D, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Marc Jacobs, Smashbox, Too FacedChelle

Travel Makeup Bag: Holiday 2015

Yesterday, on Christmas Eve, we traveled from Toronto all the way over to Wisconsin for the holidays. We drove (well, I’m writing this in advance and yet I’m referring to myself in the future… so this is weird) the 11 hours or so it took to get to Wisconsin and brought the cats along with us. By the time you’re reading this on Christmas Day, we’ve hopefully made it safe and sound and I don’t want to strangle Kolme (she’s a howler when we travel). We’ll be staying with my husband’s family near Madison for Christmas and New Year’s, and I *pray* they get snow because Toronto sure doesn’t have any!

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow and Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons

Two of the palettes I’m bringing are the brand new Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons and my Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow.

The Too Faced Bon Bons is a bit of a risk because I’ve barely played with the palette yet so I don’t really know what kind of looks I can come up with. It’s quite neutral which at least makes it fairly easy to play with while on vacation. The Charlotte Tilbury duo is going to be my only highlighter and bronzer on this trip. I like bringing more expensive products to use around Christmas time because it makes me feel kind of fancy. 🙂

The only other eyeshadows I’m bringing are in my Charlotte Tilbury Vintage Vamp quad. If you saw my makeup tutorial on Wednesday, you’ll know that I love pairing these kind of darker cranberry shades on my lids throughout the holidays!

House of Lashes falsies in Noir Fairy and their lash glue

And of course, what’s the holidays without some dramatic lashes? I’m bringing along my Houses of Lashes lash glue and a pair of their lashes in Noir Fairy. They’re already cut down to size since I’ve worn them before so I needn’t worry about trimming them while on vacation.

Illamasqua Skin Base in 6.5 and the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

I say this every time I bring foundation on vacation, but I’ll say it again regardless… I haven’t a clue if I’ll even wear these. I’m not generally in love with foundation as I find I just want to tear it off my face after about 8 hours or so (it has nothing to do with the foundations thesmelves, just the general feeling of having paint on my face). I like the Smashbox primer because it’s tiny and works well, and the Illamasqua Skin Base is lovely to wear but doesn’t get enough use in my collection so I thought I’d bring it along as well.

The Body Shop - Shimmer Spray in Silver — The Body Shop – Shimmer Spray in Silver

And what’s the holidays without a little bit of shimmer spray?? Smells like vanilla and spews out silver shimmer… I loooove it!

Clarins Rosy Nude, MAC Russian Red, Too Faced Melted Berry and Bite Beauty's Maple Agave Lip Mask — Clarins Rosy Nude, MAC Russian Red, Too Faced Melted Berry and Bite Beauty’s Maple Agave Lip Mask

I never ever feel like I bring enough lip products when I travel because I swear I’ll get there and wish I brought different items! My Clarins Rosy Nude is a perfect neutral shade for every day wear, MAC Russian Red is a holiday staple for me, as is my Too Faced Melted Berry. The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Maple is along for the ride to keep my lips hydrated and because the scent is so stinking delicious!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, H&M Beauty lip primer, Make Up For Ever Glitter (25), MAC Brick lip liner, Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel crayon in Blacquer and Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch

Random assortment of items here… My Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper is a surefire liquid liner for all my travel purposes. I’ve got an H&M Beauty lip primer in there, a Make Up For Ever glitter (hello New Year’s!), MAC Brick lipliner, Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer and my favourite Make Up for Ever Smoky Stretch mascara.

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Another bit of a risk here… two medium to deep-toned blushes and no basic pink! Tarte Exposed has gotten a lot of love from me over the years (I’ve even hit pan on it!) and it a foolproof shade to match with the neutral eyeshadows I’ve packed. And of course, there’s my beloved Clinique Cola Pop. I can’t believe I haven’t worn the flower embossing down a bit more, I wear it constantly!

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And all of that is crammed into a medium sized Sephora makeup bag. Merry Christmas everyone!

My Vacation in Pictures – New York City 2015

September 23, 2015Miscellaneous, VacationChelle

I went to New York City for an extended weekend to visit some friends. Here’s a few shots from that trip!

Day 1 - Arrived in New York and headed straight out to the bar where we discovered that FORGTMENOT's mascot is actually an otter! — Day 1 – Arrived in New York and headed straight out to the bar where we discovered that FORGTMENOT’s mascot is actually an otter!

Day 2 - Got a lipstick made at the BITE Beauty Lip Lab, had amazing Mexican food at Toloache, hung out with Thida for the first time, discovered amazing Halloween cat stuff at Crate + Barrel, Escaped the Apartment in NYC and fell in love with Thida's cat. — Day 2 – Got a lipstick made at the BITE Beauty Lip Lab, had amazing Mexican food at Toloache, hung out with Thida for the first time, discovered amazing Halloween cat stuff at Crate + Barrel, Escaped the Apartment in NYC and fell in love with Thida’s cat.

Day 3 - Early morning run followed by chicken and waffles, went out to Governor's Island to... have drinks, went to a New York City FC game at Yankee Stadium. — Day 3 – Early morning run followed by chicken and waffles, went out to Governor’s Island to… have drinks, went to a New York City FC game at Yankee Stadium.

Day 4 - Visited the new World Trade Center and monument, discovered the Ghostmobile in Chinatown, fell in love with a blonde cat and shot a lot of pictures of the sculptures at 14th Street Station. — Day 4 – Visited the new World Trade Center and monument, discovered the Ghostmobile in Chinatown, fell in love with a blonde cat and shot a lot of pictures of the sculptures at 14th Street Station.

Day 5 - Flight back to Toronto, eating pumpkin spice pretzels bites and FINALLY remembering to pick up a tourist magnet from New York City. — Day 5 – Flight back to Toronto, eating pumpkin spice pretzels bites and FINALLY remembering to pick up a tourist magnet from New York City.

Travel Makeup Bag – New York City 2015

September 16, 2015Makeup, Vacationessence, Labello, MAC, Marcelle, Maybelline, Milani, Tarte, Too Faced, Wet n WildChelle

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I’m heading to New York City tomorrow to visit some friends and while I’m not bringing too much makeup (in my book anyway), I love planning out what to pack and doing so in advance even lets me post about it! (Bonus that I then figure out what the heck I’m missing from makeup bag while writing up the post too…)

Tarte Rainforest After Dark, Wet n Wild California Roll, Wet n Wild Brulee

Alright, we’ve got some new travellers on the block here! The Tarte Rainforest After Dark palette does NOT get enough love in my collection so I’m packing it so I’ll be forced to use it. It also saves me on bringing a bronzer and a highlighter, plus it comes with a blush. Perfect every day essentials in that compact disk right there.

But… of course I need some colour in my life. Wet n Wild’s California Roll has colours that I would reach for most (red) so I’m chucking that one in my bag.

And since neither of two palettes actually comes with a matte cream brow bone shade (the one in the Tarte palette veers far too pink for my tastes), I’ve got my ever so perfect Wet n Wild single shadow in Brulee thrown in for good measure. I can’t tell you how handy it is having a single shadow that’s perfect for highlighting your brows. I don’t care what brand it is, so handy!

Milani Eyeshadow Primer, essence blush in Autumn Peach, Labello Lip Butter in Coconut

Various necessities here. My Milani eyeshadow primer is the only thing keeping my eyeshadows from overly creasing lately. (It does conk out around the 12 hour mark OR slightly before that if it’s hot as hell outside.)

A Labello lip butter in Coconut because I love me some lip balm.

And, of course, I couldn’t just travel with ONE blush, so I grabbed for essence‘s Autumn Peach because it’s more orange toned than the pink shade in the Tarte palette. Stunning, STUNNING shade too.

Too Faced Melted Strawberry, MAC Barbecue and MAC Relentlessly Red

Both of those MAC lipsticks are becoming frequent travellers. Relentlessly Red is what I consider “my shade” (that’s the pinkier one) and Barbecue is that perfect orangey-red (but more orange than red) that seems to suit a lot of occasions. I brought both of these lipsticks with me to Florida back in April too.

Too Faced Melted Strawberry is in there because not only do I love the formula, but it’s also a fun red to wear. I may need, I may not – but I sure do love having options.

Marcelle Nano in Fair Ash Blonde and Maybelline Define + Fill Duo (BROWsatin) in Blonde

My NYX Micro Brow Pencil is far too close to being finished so I didn’t trust it to last the length of my five day trip. Instead, I opted for the Marcelle Nano and the Maybelline Define + Fill Duo pencils. Not super exciting I suppose, but I didn’t want to be fussing around with my potted eyebrow products while on vacation so pencils were a definite must have for me.

Clarins Aquatic Green eyeliner, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, MAC Prep + Prime for lips, NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk, Urban Decay Perversion mascara and Pacifica Lilac Blossom perfume

More necessities here.

The Clarins Aquatic Green waterproof eyeliner is if I want to play around with some colour amongst that neutral Tarte palette. This liner is no joke either – it stays put like nobody’s business.
The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner is there because I’m pretty sure I can’t go five days straight without doing winged liner (plus this is the absolute BEST pen for doing quick lines without fussing around).
I also can’t wear lipstick without MAC‘s Prep + Prime for lips (I get bleed out no matter what I do, but this stuff saves me!).
NYX‘s Milk because those Wet n Wild shadows need a solid base to make them pop.
Urban Decay‘s Perversion mascara because not only is it amazing, but I also have an itty bitty sample size perfect for travel!
And lastly, my rollerball perfume – Pacifica‘s Lilac Blossom. We’re at the tail end of summer so I doubt I’ll be wearing this perfume much longer, but it’s my only rollerball and fit perfectly in my makeup bag.

And that’s it! I leave Thursday and I come back midday Monday. I don’t tend to do the touristy things in New York anymore because I’ve been visiting one friend there for… well probably a decade now, but I’m excited to just hang out, eat, drink and be merry. Plus you know… visit the Bite Beauty Lip Lab! 😉

Travel Makeup Bag: 2015 Ottawa Race Weekend

May 20, 2015Miscellaneous, VacationBenefit, Boots No7, essence, Hard Candy, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Milani, NARS, NYX, Soap & Glory, Too Faced, Urban DecayChelle

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I’m taking a(nother) long weekend this coming one to head to Ottawa for Race Weekend.Last year I did the 5k, and this year I’m going back for the half marathon which my father will also be running! And what’s a weekend away if not to bring along some makeup products I want to get better acquainted with?

Soap & Glory Lid Stuff in What’s Nude and NARS dup in Mediteranee

I’m only bringing along two small eyeshadow palettes because I find I never reach for these on a day to day basis, often opting for my larger palettes. The more neutral toned palette is Soap & Glory‘s Lid Stuff in What’s Nude and the NARS duo is Mediteranee (and the orange in that duo is everything). It won’t make for especially enthralling makeup looks while on vacation, but it’ll be fun for me to play with these shadows a bit more.

Too Faced Melted Coral and Boots No7 Sweet Copper

Two options for lips here, and I’m sure this is probably overkill for four days, but anyway…Too Faced Melted Coral (more orange than coral really) and Boots No7 Sweet Copper. They’re both on the orangey-side of things, but I’m okay with that.

essence blush up! in Heat Wave and Hard Candy Hula Hula

I love that ombre blushes give me the option between two colours in one compact (and a third if you swirl them together), so I’m bringing along essence‘s Heat Wave. My bronzer of choice lately has been Hard Candy‘s Hula Hula. I just can’t get enough of how golden and bronzey this makes my face.

And all the bits and bobs that finish my looks off:

I’m giving my Milani eyeshadow primer time to fully prove itself to me.
MAC‘s Prep + Prime for lips because I can’t live without it.
Urban Decay‘s Black Velvet liner predominantly for tightlining (if it even comes to that).
Benefit Watts Up because it’s tiny, compact and packs a punch for highlighting my cheekbones.
NYX Micro brow pencil in Taupe
Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch mascara (the love affair continues!).
essence‘s 2-in-1 liner because I’ve got a review coming up and I want to make sure I put this to the test.

And in looking at this stuff… jeez is it ever boring. I think next time I go somewhere I need to bring stuff that’s wayyyy more interesting to post about! Anyyyyyway, wish me luck on my half! My fingers are crossed that it’ll be cool, even slightly rainy on Sunday!