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Makeup Wars, Travel Makeup

This week’s Makeup Wars is pretty relevant to me since I am traveling to Texas as I write it. What do I pack for a weekend away? See below! Also, for information on air travel with makeup in your carry on bags, see my previous article: Flying With Makeup in Your Carryon.

Beauty Blogger Packing
 

Purely Pro Cosmetics, which I will be reviewing soon, sent me some samples in what turned out to be a great travel bag. So I am using that for this trip.

Purely Pro Cosmetics Travel Bag

The bag folds out to reveal a number of pockets and holders, and it has a hook for hanging.

Purely Pro Cosmetics Bag

For makeup, I almost always travel with this Laura Mercier palette. It is no longer available, but Laura Mercier tends to have something similar out at any given time. I love this one because it has neutral shadows for day or evening looks, eye liner, cheek color, bronzer, and highlighter.

Laura Mercier Makeup Palette

For the rest of my makeup, I have a Nars tinted moisturizer, Make Up For Ever Duo Mat Powder Foundation, a powder blush, and a variety of lip products. I usually grab one lip crayon one or two lipsticks and a gloss. Here I happen to have a Sonia Kashuk lipstick and gloss combo for that. I also always have a lip balm in there. Then, I add just a couple of brushes (here I have 2 Dara Z eye brushes and a MAC blush brush), a makeup sponge, and an eyelash curler. I have a sample size mascara here that I am trying to use up and a new Maybelline Lash Blast Length mascara that I am testing (and am not a big fan of so far, review coming soon) .

Travel Makeup

For makeup removal and skin care, I normally pack samples. On this trip, I remembered that MAC, way back, sent me some of their travel items. You can still get these as far as I know. They are nice basic items for travel, although the set includes Strobe Cream, which breaks me out something terrible, so I left that at home.

MAC to go Travel Set

I had done a glitter bomb manicure the day before I left and I knew that it wouldn’t last the whole trip without chipping, so I also packed these Cutex nail polish remover pads. Having once had polish remover leak in my luggage, I love these for travel. That won’t ever happen to me again!

Cutex nail polish remover pads

The box and my other toiletries fit nicely in the middle pocket of the bag.

Traveling with Makeup

And, I am ready to go!

Want to see what other beauty bloggers take when they travel? Click on through below to see!

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Best Beauty Products of 2012

2012 is almost at its close and it is time again for the annual best of the year awards. The list below are my favorite products that I covered in 2012. Click through the links to read the original reviews.

You can also see previous years here:

Best Beauty Products of 2012

 

Urban Decay Naked Skin, with the Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush: Naked skin wears incredibly well and, when applied and buffed with the optical blurring brush, it gives a flawless airbrushed look. It has become my all time favorite foundation.

Lorac Unzipped: This was the best of the nude/neutral palettes this year. A perfect selection of matte and shimmer shades.

Laura Mercier Artist Eyes Palette: A wonderful all around palette with shades perfect for just about any occasion.

Fyrinnae Eye Shadow: This indie company offers unique blends of high pigment micas and oxides for stunning shadow looks. Try their Pixie Epoxy for making super glittery shadows stay put!

Urban Decay Vice Palette: Who can resist a palette full of new UD shades? This one was a winner all around.

Nars Lahasa: Simply a beautiful purple dark taupe. Love it!

MAC Nail Lacquers: I love MAC nail polish and was glad to see them make a number of shades part of their regular collection.

Urban Decay Smoked Palette: Another winning palette from Urban Decay. This one offers all that you need for sultry smoky looks.

L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow: High pigment lightly pressed shadow at decent prices and readily available. Great for those who love pigments but want to save a few dollars.

Skin79 BB Cream: My favorite BB cream this year. It covers well and wears wonderfully.

Darling Girl Eye Shadow: Another indie brand with great pigment and a silky smooth formula. I like their base formulation quite a bit for a loose shadow. I also found a taupe that I am in love with among the samples that I ordered.

Cinderella Palette: A surprisingly good eye shadow palette that is more grown up than you would expect. Nice shades in an attractive package.

Lorac Pro Palette: Another wonderful all around eye shadow palette with a great selection of useful shades.

Essie Luxe Effects Top Coat and Bikini So Teeny: Bikini So Teeny was my favorite polish shade of the year, and a Luxe Effects top coat looked great over it!

The Balm Shady Lady Vol. 2: The Balm is seriously underrated in my opinion. The Shady Lady Volume 2 was one of their palettes that I tried this year and I found it to be super pigmented, with little fallout and long wear.

Youngblood Creme Powder Foundation: A very nice cream foundation that very well might have become my new favorite if Naked skin hadn't come into the picture. I still wear this one a lot too, especially when I want something more portable.

Silk’n Flash and Go: The hot new product in permanent home hair removal. This one can be used on the face.  See our comparison to the Tria for decisions on which to buy (I love the Tria too).

Smashbox Masterclass: A super palette of shadows, blush, lip products, and highlighters. It is all that you need for any look with quality products.

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Six Top Fall and Winter Nail Polish Shades

As the seasons change, so should nail polish. The bright, bold colors of spring and summer may not work as well when the leaves start to turn. Consider switching to a new polish for fall and winter. There is an array of colors that are stylish and reflect the color palette of the season. Fall and winter colors are full of bronze, red, purple, gold and brown hues. Here is a list of six fall nail colors that are sure to make anyone’s nails sparkle.

Fall Nail Polish Collage

 

1. Gray

Gray may seem like a drab color, but this year’s selection of grays are far from boring. Gray is a good compromise for people who are tired of the black nail trend. Grays can range from stormy, darker colors to lighter variations. With matte, glossy and glittery options, there will be a lot of people wearing gray this fall. Pictured: Nars Polish in Storm Bird.

2. Gold

Who does not love gold? The color is beautiful when paired with autumn and fits right in through the winter holidays. These colors can make anyone feel like a millionaire. Some gold nail lacquer is made with actual gold flecks, giving nails the truly golden appearance. For those who want a less flashy style, gold nail polish can be found in more subtle tones. Pictured: Butter London in West End Wonderland.

3. Navy and Deep Blue

Navy is a beautiful shade that does not clash with colors commonly seen this time of year. Navy is the perfect shade for people that are seeking a vibrant color that does not have a lot of shock value. It is a color that is suitable for work and play due to its sophistication and elegance. This shade will work well all the way through the winter months. Pictured: Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in Blue Colbalt.

4. Chocolate

Many people enjoy chocolate daily. Why not extend the love of chocolate to nails? Chocolate is another color that compliments the season. The deep browns add a touch of warmth. Anyone that thinks that chocolate may be uninteresting, consider a glossy chocolate polish or one that has a bit of sparkle. Pictured: Julep Nail Vernis in Olivia.

5. Berry

Berries are a lot of fun. The different undertones produce a spectrum of shades. Berry colors are universal. There is something that works with every wardrobe. A berry polish with black or purple undertones will have an edgier look. A berry with red undertones may be more subtle. Pictured: Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Graphic Berry.

6. Green

Green is probably not considered a traditional nail color, but it is a popular color trend that has survived several seasons. It may be time to pack away the neon green, but more earthy-green hues for the fall and winter are a good replacement. Green is a hip style choice. This season there is a twist. Shades associated with military fatigues are being mixed with metallics to create a glamorous look. Pictured: Sephora by O.P.I Leaf Him At The Altar.

The color of nails has become just as important as a person’s outfit. Wearing the appropriate nail color for the season has become a priority for many. It may be a sad notion to put away everything that reflected the warmer months, but fall and winter colors are just as fun. Wearing anything of these nail colors will reflect a stylish change that reflects the season.

Buy the Shades Pictured at Sephora

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Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page