I love to travel but it isn't often that I get to. The last time I left Vancouver, on an airplane, was when I went to Oahu in 2009. Since then, I have only taken a handful of overnight trips to Seattle. Suffice to say, I haven't found the need for a travel cosmetic bag to hold all of my makeup and skincare. However, this recently changed when Mr. Waffle and I went on a 4-day trip to Seattle in July.
Truthfully, this post is mainly to showcase my favourite travelling cosmetic bag that I recently purchased: the limited edition and now-discontinued tokidoki Passport Medium Hanging Travel Bag.
Not only is this travel bag extremely cute but it's very well made too; sturdy and holds a lot. In fact, the bag is so spacious that it could hold all of my basics AND 6 sheet masks. If there were ever to be another tokidoki travel bag like this one, I'd snatch it right up.
So what would actually go into this too cute of a travel cosmetic bag?
All of that ^ of course.
For skincare, the basic necessities would be: Naive Facial Cleansing Foam (any non-drying facial cleanser will do), Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes, 100% Pure Argan Oil Hydration, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer*, Creamy Eye Treatment*, and Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Cream Treatment*, Caudalíe Lip Conditioner, and a trusty tube of Lucas Papaw Ointment. Oh, and a tube of Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Mousse Sunscreen!
For makeup, I would bring: Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm*, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, Stila Set & Correct Baked Powder Trio in The Correctors*, Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover and Cream Blusher in Rude, MAC Fix+, dejavu Lash Knockout, and Sonia Kashuk Eyelash Curler.
When it comes to travelling, I believe in less makeup and more skincare. Travelling can wreak havoc on my skin and because of that, I always bring what I use on a daily basis and the "just in case of emergencies/fix it" products. Makeup won't fix a sudden rash or inflamed cheeks but skincare can. Plus, I can't be bothered with eyeshadows during my vacation or the brushes I'd need to bring to apply it all.
What does your travel makeup bag look like and/or what would you put in it?
Products marked with * were provided by PR/company for review consideration.
Long story short, I am no longer visiting the SO in April. Instead, he will visiting me again in July. He is coming to meet my parent's for the first time... It is going to be so much fun /sarcasm and [insert immense dread here]. And since I am no longer visiting the SO, he mailed out my birthday present instead. (He didn't think I could wait until July to receive my present. He was right.)
Kate Somerville Ultimate ExfoliKate Kit / MAC 130 & Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder / Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie / Paul & Joe Blusher Stick in 003 Minou / Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar & Hermosa Rose
I know, I know. Don't stone me! A luxury size Exfoli-Kate? Illamasqua blush? Paul & Joe kitty blush? The Milani rose powders? *Spoiled*
Note for my fellow Canadian beauty lovers - I tried tracking down the Milani powders for us but no luck. After visiting my local Sears and a few Superstores I have come to the fine conclusion that our stores are just slow. Think about it - we got a few of those much loved baked blushes didn't we? We'll have these illuminators in no time... I just know it!
From Liz, the Beauty Reductionista -
CLEAN Provence & Original & Simply Soap / ONE Shea Butter Lip Balm
She's also a fellow March baby! March babies are awesome, end of story! Oh, and we also smell the best ;P
To top it all off, some things from Sasa -
Hada Labo AHA + BHA Facial Cleanser / Rosette Hello Kitty Apple Gommage / Essential Rich Premier Ultra Honey Hair Mask / Mentholatum Hand Veil
I'm almost out of my favourite cleanser so when Sasa happened to have another free shipping, I had an order ASAP. I was really surprised with how fast this order shipped. It processed in 2 days and arrived 7 days later. Maybe it was a stroke of birthday month luck but shipping is normally never this quick.
Overall, my happiness rating for March is a solid 8 out of 10. It would be a full 10 out of 10 but I was drowning in presentations and papers this month. There was also the case of the cake-less birthday dinner.. but all in all, March was a good month. Wouldn't you agree?
This year, I was/am in no mood to celebrate my birthday. But of course I still took the time to enjoy a wonderful dinner with family and had a separate feast with my close friends. I had dinner Banana Leaf - a Malaysian restaurant - with my family which wasn't very eventful...Days before that, I went to Trafalgar's Bistro - a French bistro - with my friends for some fine dining. Trafalgar's is an absolute must-try. Our table of 5 loved everything. From the water, to the bread, to the butter, to the main course!
Do check their website: Trafalgars. If you like their menu, try reserving a table with them through OpenTable; it's quick and easy.
Dessert time was especially pleasing yet heartbreaking. The dessert menu is extensive and I honestly wanted to try EVERYTHING. I recommend going with at least 5 people so you get to try 1/5th of the menu. If I'm correct (and I think I am), the desserts come straight from Sweet Obsession. Sweet Obsession Cake & Pastries is located two doors down from the restaurant and serves delicious fine desserts. Drool worthy food pictures, click to enlarge: Salt Spring Island Mussels, Fraser Valley Farms Duck Confit, Black and White Mousse.
And all of our desserts together...
The Pear Sorbet was the table favorite but I absolutely love my Black & White Mousse! It's rich in chocolaty goodness but it never gets boring. My biggest fear was that it would be sickly sweet but it's actually quite light. Seriously, it's absolutely divine I tell you!
My favorite part of the "celebration" as always is the birthday gifts. This year was more extravagant than previous years. Here is why:
Technically the Clarisonic is a Christmas gift and Birthday gift all in one. I purchased it with a Sephora gift card from my brother & sister-in-law which I received as a Christmas present and then paid the rest on my own.
My parent's bought me a digital camera. My dad has gone through five digital cameras in 10 years but I've never had my own. I adore the camera on my iPhone but I'm looking for a camera that takes top quality photos. And from my lovely friend Ena, I got a MAC gift card. I don't know how she did it but I swear she read my mind. I'm in the market for a new duo fiber make-up brush and MAC has a few great ones or so I've read. Last but not least, I got money from my brother & sister-in-law and from my sister's boyfriend.
Overall, this birthday isn't the most exciting birthday I've celebrated but there's always next year. One last note: happy birthday to all March babies. May all your wishes come true ♥
Love,
Ashley.
I've got mail and it's not bills or spam mail, lucky me! It took two weeks but in the past two days, I've received two of my most prized packages. Before yesterday, I had a parcel arrive in late November from my boyfriend aswell! I'm still expecting two more packages in which one should've arrived yesterday but maybe it's just late. I hate imagining lost packages... In the mean time, I'll satisfy my cravings with what I have which is... a lot!
Yesterday, I received the second of two very special parcels from the S.O. & of course I have the magnificant parcel from November. When combined, the two parcels are ah-mazing! The S.O. also surprised me with a small package containing one McDonalds x Sanrio 50th Anniversary watch!! The S.O. bought me the KEROPPI (my favorite Sanrio character!) watch which arrived a day before the second parcel. The day the Keroppi watch arrived, I also received something equally special from Tracy of Beauty Reflections! Tracy held a Christmas Contest back in December which conviently, I won!! The prize is the highly coveted, limited edition.... MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose! I could not believe my luck when she emailed me... I still can't believe it but the MSF is in my hands so I musn't be dreaming! I want to thank Tracy so much for hosting the contest! I need to host one of my own sometime aswell. Maybe when I reach 50 followers?? Anyhow, here are the photos!
Keroppi watch & Christmas card from the S.O :)
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose from Tracy :)
The whole loot!
Benefit Some Beauty To Love & Too Faced Echanted Glamourland Palette - gifts from the boyfriend. I got those in November.
Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose Collection, Domo Sticker Box, Domo Photo Frame, Domo Media Holder, and Keroppi watch - Christmas gifts from the boyfriend.
Swatches.
(From Left-to-Right: Too Faced Glamour Gloss Volumizing Lip Gloss in Pillow Talk (soft pink-nude with red and gold sparkles), Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose (rose-red), Too Faced Shadow Insurance (translucent), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose, Benefit Coralista Blush (peach-pink with gold shimmers, Benefit Eye Bright (pale pink, almost cool).)
Also included in the Christmas gift is..... *drum roll*
Rock and Republic Contrived Pressed Blush in X-Rated and Immoral.
These were gifts from myself but I had my boyfriend ship them to me when he shipped the Christmas gifts. I have yet to use them, hence, no swatches! I swear Immoral looks less frightening in person. My camera didn't pick up the colors perfectly but I also used indoor lighting.. I'm not the world's best photographer but I'm working towards a new camera!
Now you see why I'm the happiest and luckiest girl in the world. I'm having surprisingly good luck with blog contests and giveways, got a great boyfriend and, loads of beauty products to play with!
See you soon,
Ashley!
Disclosure
Make-Up Kismet is a personal blog written and edited by myself. This blog was created to share my experiences with whom ever reads it.
All reviews posted are written by me and are my honest opinions. All products reviewed are purchased by me for personal and/or review purposes unless stated otherwise. Each person is different, as are our experiences. With that said, I cannot be held responsible for any unsatisfying reaction to a product I review or recommend.
Photos on this blog are either from Google, other Bloggers or, my own. I try to depict all products as accurately as possible. I may edit photos for this purpose.
