More lazy holiday grooming

As if I can be bothered with makeup on a beach holiday. I'm not even going to take my foundation with me. It's going to be fresh face, bright lippie and bronzer. Namely MAC Skinsheen Bronzer Stick in Tan-Tint (from the upcoming Surf Baby collection - so friggin cool!) and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in bronze. As an aside, friends had been telling me for years about how great Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks were and it was always on my 'I'll get there eventually' list. I was given one when I went to a Bobbi Brown makeup workshop a few months ago and HOLY SHIT I regret not buying it five years ago. Amazing. Such a beautiful fine shimmer, and really flattering. You only need a tiny bit so the cost per use is ridonkulously low - maybe 0.02c per use*

The two lippies I am taking are MAC Venomous Villains Cruella DeVil Heartless (which I have romanticised about before - best red I own) and Estee Lauder Fuschia Fever which a - lasts for about 11.5 hours without having to reapply b - smells amazing (am I the only one who sniffs their lipstick?) and c - is the most incredible pop of colour. I'll team these with Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara because it makes my lashes F.A.T (but for night time only, as the mascara isn't sweatproof.) 

And just on lazy holiday grooming regimes - dry shampoo. End of story. I might not take both of these giants cans, but at least one of them is coming with me, plus a mini batiste for the beach bag. Have you used either Tresemme Freshstart or Evo Water Killer before? Which would you pick? Do you think I'm crazy? I kind of you, so I don't mind if you do too.


*totally made up estimation, which may or may not be right.

One suitcase for clothes, one suitcase for beauty prods...

I am definitely my Fathers daughter. My parents just took a month-long sojourn through Europe and I was in hysterics when my Mum was sending me text messages saying that everything coming out of my Dad’s suitcase was brand new with tags on. The man has an entire backup wardrobe in the spare bedroom, just in case his first one vapourises. He also has a penchant for the colour purple, but that’s a whole other post.

As I started to write my packing list for my trip this week (I’m off to Hawaii on Wednesday, don’t hate) I realised that I was doing exactly what my Dad just did but with beauty products. I have been stock-piling products, both that I have bought and been sent for review, to take with me. Of course I am going to raid Sephora like the rapture is upon us and it’s my last chance to shop there, but I figure if I’m only taking a pair of shorts, a singlet, a dress and a pair of thongs, then I have plenty of room in my suitcase to take stuff with me.

This is just a taste of what I’m packing. Yes, I seriously am taking 7 different types of sunscreen with me, and with good reason. I go through a lot of SPF on a Hawaiian holiday (a can of Banana Boat spray every two days), and each sunscreen I am taking has a different purpose. When I’m lying on the beach reading a book or a magazine, I’ll be covered in (4) Auscreen Coconut Spray because it’s 30+, 2 hours water resistant, sprays on and smells like coconut. All big ticks. When I’m hitting the outlet stores at Waikele, my limbs will be lathered in (7) Nivea Ultra Beach Protect. It has a hardcore 30+ that is capable of enduring many hours of shopping (hopefully my travelling companion is just as capable). Sunpouch (6) is the perfect handbag size sunscreen for reapplying to arms and legs in the late afternoon. It’s also a good one for the beach bag if we decide to hit up Hanauma Bay for some snorkelling.

Face is a different story. My skin doesn’t like sunscreen very much, and I find the best way to stop it going nuts on me is by constantly switching between brands. I’ll start the week alternating Olay Complete Defence 30+ (3) and Ella Bache Everyday Zinc 30+ (2). True Solutions All Day Moisture Tinted (5) will be my foundation substitute, because as if I can be bothered with slap on a beach/shopping holiday. I’ll round out the trip with Dermalogica Super Sensitive (1) because by the end of the trip my skin will need the sensitive-ness.

You will notice that everything is 30+. Did you know Aussies have different standards to the US when it comes to labelling sunscreens - I got into an argument once with an American about 100+ SPF and how it really wasn’t any more effective that 30+. True story. Google it.

I’ll show you the rest of the packing tomorrow. And maybe Wednesday. There is a lot to pack!
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