For the Love of Travel: "Traveling SistahDiva Style! Part 5: What a Girl Needs - All day fabulosity!"

O'Hare Airport, Chicago

"A woman should be two things: classy and fabulous." - Coco Chanel

*This post was extensively updated: 30 July 2012...

In my last post, I told you about what to put in your travel 'survival kit' and I ended with the admonition to wear as little makeup as possible - yes I said that and I mean it. Calm down. I said wear as little makeup as possible, not don't wear any makeup. You can have your cake and eat it too - and this post is going to tell you how...

I know going out in public, for an entire day and night no less, without makeup on is difficult for most of us -especially for we over 40 ladies. But the simple unavoidable truth is that, after a day and night of traveling, your makeup wears off, streaks, clumps or all three - leaving you looking and feeling haggard and blah and that is completely unacceptable. But You can have your cake and eat it too ;-) All you need is: luminizer, concealer, mascara, cream blush, lip gloss and scent.

*Luminizer

Soleil Tan de Chanel - Sheer Illuminating Fluid ($48)

I LOVE this stuff!

Use a Luminizer instead of foundation (always heavy, drying and you can't realistically re-apply or even touch-up) or powder (drying and hard to apply on the go). It's very light but stays on; let's your face 'breathe;' you can put a dab of Ponds over it, while in-flight; and easily smooth on a bit more right before landing. Luminizer is the best thing since sliced bread! But what exactly is a Luminizer?

"Luminizer is a loose term for...products with ground up mica and other shiny materials in them. The mineral dust refracts light, so when its applied to your skin, it helps soften problem spots and highlights the areas the light hits." (Source: Bellasugar)

Basically, a Luminizer effectively deals with under-eye circles and facial lines, and makes your skin look dewy, healthy, glowing. Sephora has a varied selection, reasonable price range and you can go into their stores, try it on and find the best brand and color for you. I'm gaga about Chanel's Soleil Tan de Chanel - Sheer Illuminating Fluid ($48) - see my review here. Remember, a very little goes a long way.

*Concealer

After you smooth on your Luminizer, use a great under eye concealer. It can also double for foundation if you use it sparingly and blend, blend, blend! My pick - Chanel's Correcteur Perfection ($40). Read my review here.

Chanel's Correcteur Perfection Concealer

*Mascara - several layers

Chanel Intimitable Intense Mascara #10 - Noir ($30)

The party line? "...delivering dramatic effects with a unique brush. Lashes appear longer, thicker, and more curled, precisely separated - without clumping, spiking or flaking." The reality? Every single word is true. I love this stuff. It gives me sooty black defined lashes and lasts all day and into the night. Yeah, it's pricy and worth every centime! Of course I have a drugstore cosmetic counter option too... 

 

L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale - Blackest Black

$10/Walgreens

L'Oreal Voluminizing Naturale - gives you long, thick lashes, makes your eyes look great without having to use eyeliner (even behind glasses) and won't dry out your eyes. I used this product for years and I still think it offers a wonderful bang for the buck - but Chanel is better.

*Cream blush

non-drying, long lasting, lots of great colors, easy to apply and re-apply, a very little goes a long way.

Revlon Colorstay Creme Blush ($7.50)

This is another hard to find Revlon item - what's up Revlon?! Luckily, it's easily available at Amazon or Ebay.

*Lip Gloss

Lip gloss makes even the most thin lips look yummy (with or without lipliner), it lasts forever, and Aquaphor easily goes underneath or atop it.

Lancome Juicy Tubes "Baole" $18

Hands down, Lancome's Juicy Tubes is the best lip gloss on the planet. It comes in dozens of sheer shades; it's shiny and super moisturizing, especially when used over a super tiny dab of Aquaphor); and lasts forevahhhh. Lancome has them at a reasonable price, for a splurge, $18. The downside: Lancome doesn't have lots of colors and the colors you want are always sold out. Thus, first go to a department store to find your perfect shade. Then go to Amazon Ebay [Ebay often has lots (multipules of your color) for sale at really good prices].

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in "Flash" (#856)

For evening, or on a day when you're feeling particularly naughty, try Dior's Addict Ultra Gloss line. The color is sparkly and brilliant! See my Dior Addict review here 

Luminizer, concealer, mascara, cream blush, and lip gloss. This combination of cosmetics is quick and easy to apply before you leave for the airport, and quick and easy to touchup while in-flight and right before you land. With these cosmetic tools, you'll be able to erase the visible stresses of travel (or at least artfuly camoflage them) without stressing about it! Just pop into the bathroom (just be sure to bring your Lanisoh wipes) - don't do it at your seat, a girl's gotta maintain her allure!

*Scent

8x10 Fine Art Print ($25) by Briberrie

A woman's scent is personal - like a fingerprint. But might I suggest that, for travel, you don't wear something heavy and/or musky. There's nothing worse than being in a small enclosed airplane cabin when someone (man or woman) is wearing some cloying heavy scent that suffocates everyone. Even if you're traveling in the fall/winter, wear something light, airy and reminiscent of Springtime.

For travel ease I suggest that you purchase a 'mini-rollerball' of your favorite scent. Perfume spays' scent fill a cabin uncomfortably, even if it's a pleasing scent. A mini rollerball is tiny and gently smooths your scent on you wrists and behind your ears. They're also great for travel - big bang in a tiny package. Mini rollerballs are also very hard to find. In fact, I've only found them at Ebay. Try Noblemart - nice selection, reasonable prices and free shipping.

*Skin-care

As I gracefully progress through my 40s, I find that a good skincare regimine is absolutely non-negotiably essential. It won't matter what kind of make-up you use if you don't take care of your face. During travel especially, your facial skin gets very stressed out. You've got to take extra special care.

I still keep Proactiv in my medicine cabinet (for when my skin acts up). But I have not had to use it in awhile because I've started using another simpler regimine that works so much better for my skin and my lifestyle...

Basis Sensitive Skin Bar (Walgreens/$3)

To read my review see here (there are a few other great finds as well). Of course you don't want to fumble with a bar of soap on an airplane! Lucky for us, Basis also makes a small box of individually wrapped facial cleansing cloths (20 for $5/Walgreens). Pack the bar, drop a few of these into your carry-on and you're all set ;-}

Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Anti-Aging Serum ($159)

Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide Premiere Activation Cream SPF 30 ($95)

Go to your local Elizabeth Arden cosmetic counter. They usually have travel sizes of these two products (along with travel sizes of the Prevage and Ceramide eye serum/cream). I recently used travel sizes of each on a 10 day long trip and didn't get halfway through them (though I used them twice a day) - more than enough for a trip and a great way to give these fabulous products a try without ripping a hole in your wallet!

And there you have it: luminizer, concealer, mascara, cream blush, lip gloss, scent, and a simple skincare regimine. Everything you'll need to look fabulous, while you travel and while you're experiencing your final destination. These items, and your 5 survival kit items will easily fit in your Travelon wheeled underseat carry-on; and the cosmetics will easily fit in your daily travel-purse.  

Explore! Dream! Discover!

Temple