I haven’t done a travel makeup bag post in years (seriously, my last video post with this topic was in April  2016 and my last blog post was December 2015!), so I figured now was the time to revive them. Partially because I find them interesting, and partially because I didn’t actually have a review ready to go in time for today’s post! 😉

So I’m headed to Ottawa for a week starting today (I fly out after work) to visit my friends and family. This trip originally got planned because Rise Against and Three Days Grace are playing Bluesfest and I wanted to go with my friend Cory (we used to go to music shows weekly when I lived there and clearly residing in different cities is causing some strain on this set up!). So I turned going to Ottawa for a concert into a week-long trip so I could get some more quality time in with people while I’m in Ottawa. (By the way, I have filmed a vlog in Ottawa from about two years ago if you’d like to check that out.)

So anyway, what’s in my bag?

Well, I said in my Kat Von D 10th Anniversary Palette review video that it would make a good travel palette… so I’m going to take me at my own words and try it out! I really think it’s going to be phenomenal for travel – it’s got all the rainbow shades I need to make me happy, alongside a few neutrals to round out my looks. I also love how slim and compact the palette is… and best of all? It’s got an ENORMOUS mirror that fills the lid! I’m looking forward to using this palette exclusively for a week!

And of course, I don’t really travel anywhere without my Tarte Off The Cuff palette. The fact that it has four blushes of varying colours and tones, AND it has a bronzer. This bronzer can be a bit deep for me in the middle of winter, but it’s perfect for me in the summer! I’ve been bringing this palette with me on vacation for years now – it’s an absolute staple in my collection!

Lip products are the worst… I never know what to bring, because I never know how the mood is going to strike me.

Starting from the left:

• Maybelline Matte Ink in Ruler: I feel like this is a perfect “stand-in” red colour. It’s not a true red as it’s got a lot of pink-tones in it. I’ve raved on and on about the Maybelline Matte Ink formula just because it’s so freaking good and long lasting!
• INGLOT HD Lip Tint Matte in 11: I was wearing this shade in my most recent video and I was reminded of just how perfect this coral tone is for summer. Love!
• Tarte Quench Lip Rescue in Cherry: I wear these lip balms constantly on vacation because they are super hydrating while adding a little bit of colour. The red is perfect for summer because it gives you that juicy popsicle lip colour.
• Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Maple: Oh my god how I love this lip balm so much! It’s my nightly balm – although it does work well as a stand-in lip colour if needed – and I’m so close to finishing the tube. The smell is to DIE for.
• Bite Beauty Spice Lipstick in Saffron Fire: I fell in love with this shade really quickly (full swatch and review video on that gorgeous collection here) and I really didn’t want to be without it during this trip!
• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick: This is my stand-in colour whenever I have a cool toned eyeshadow look on my eyes. Whenever I wear cool tones I often don’t know what to wear on my lips, but this is the shade that seems to work with everything.

So out of this you can come to understand that I have super greasy eyelids (hence the need for two primers) alongside having granny lips that bleed out everywhere. For eye primers I can use whatever, so I’m bringing the Urban Decay Original Primer Potion in a sample packet, and the essence eyeshadow and primer in a pot. For lips, the one that works the best to keep my lipstick ON my lips is the MAC Prep + Prime for lips. I have found NOTHING better on the market and I’ve tried plenty!

More necessities!

• NYX Micro Brow in Taupe & IT Cosmetics Brow Power: I use the IT Cosmetics liner to define the lower line of my brow because it has a bit of a softer formula. I then follow it up with the NYX Micro Brow to fill everything else in. Great combo!
• Physicians Formula Eye Booster in Ultra Black: What a knockout drugstore liquid liner. I’ve had this for a few months now and it’s still kicking out plenty of ink for my daily winged liners!
• Maybelline Master Precise Skinny Eye Pencil: This is really only if I decide to do a super dramatic eye look and want to line my upper and lower water lines.
• Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect Mascara: One of my top mascara of life so far. I love this to pieces!

A few extras!

• Benefit Watt’s Up: This is the highlighter that lives forever, I swear. I bring this constantly with me on vacation because it’s such a small size. The sheen that comes off on this product is unreal though – it someone seems to go with everything and I’m always in awe of the colour!
• Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Smoldering Satin: I may need glitter so I grabbed one of my Glitter & Glows at random.
• Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 52 Vanilla: More often than not, I don’t bother with foundation when I’m on vacation. BUT, should the mood strike, I’ve got one that I love dearly.

And who would I be if I wasn’t somehow incorporating glitter freckles into my look? I’m bringing along Urban Decay’s Distortion and Spandex liners in case I want to pop on some extra sparkle.

And that’s it! I mean I’ve got brushes and a sponge, and skincare… but those are definitely not as interesting to me. Do you have any staples in your travel makeup bag?

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