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Swimsuit Confidence

Beauty

Beauty Essentials For A Romantic Getaway

Lily Charles - 20th September 2015

I know all too well the struggle of trying to fit my beauty products into a suitcase along with at least half of my closet, so I will give you tips on what I take that I find works a treat.

Hi Katy,
You lucky girl!
I know all too well the struggle of trying to fit my beauty products into a suitcase along with at least half of my closet, so I will give you this advice to start:

ONE | Edit, edit, edit!
Be realistic about how much space you have, where you are going and what activities you have planned and then only take the things you are absolutely going to use. Editing is a skill I'm yet to completely master, but I'm getting better. These days I only take one bag for my toiletries and a small pouch for my makeup.

TWO | Pack multi-purpose products
Products that can be used for more than one purpose are great investments. They save on space and moolah, making packing a cinch and allowing you more cash for romantic adventures and/or wine. Think a face mist that can also be used as a toner or a lip crayon that doubles as a cream blush.

THREE | Only take products you have used before
Using products that you know and love will help ensure your beauty routines run smoothly when you're away. It can be pretty frustrating to reach your destination, be in the middle of getting ready for a romantic rendezvous when you realise that the eye pencil you brought is kohl, not liquid, and there's no way you can rock a winged eye without it looking like the mayor of Smudge-ville before you've even reached dessert.

SKINCARE
Pack whatever is included in your daily routine and leave the rest behind. For me, my cleanser, toner/face mist and moisturiser are must haves, but I can do without the face masks, serums and eye creams for the weekend (a few smile lines never hurt anyone.) Use a mask the night before you go and you'll be all set for the weekend.

I am currently using the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser with the Baji Sandalwood Southern Cross Mist. Grown Alchemist also have a pretty amazing face mist and it's all natural. For hydration, I use Clinique's Moisture Surge Overnight Mask in the evenings with Juice Beauty's Tinted Moisturiser + SPF for daywear.

I will always recommend wearing a good tinted moisturiser or BB Cream that has SPF coverage (find one where the SPF is as high as possible - the Juice Beauty cream is SPF 30+.) Not only will it even out your skin tone and cancel out the need to wear foundation, it will help protect your skin from sun damage - a definite must.

MAKEUP
Foundation:
Start with a build able foundation, that way if you're not comfortable leaving your room wearing only tinted moisturiser, you can add a light layer for daywear and when it's time to dance the night away you can add extra coverage to last the evening. I love Mac's Match Master Foundation, which has a semi-matte finish and medium coverage (I wear 1.5 ). However, when my skin is extra oily (generally in hot, humid climates) I lean towards Arbonne's Got You Covered Mineral Powder for extra mattifying power.

Mascara:
I never leave home without mascara so I definitely wouldn't go on holiday without it. Mascara adds a little somethin' somethin' to even a bare face and I think really opens your eyes and adds definition. My all time favourite is Clinique's High Impact Mascara. At $38 it's a little expensive, but for me it is worth it. A great budget-friendly mascara is Covergirl's Clump Crush Mascara which you can buy from the supermarket.

Lip Crayon or lipstick:
It is much easier applying your lip colour to your cheeks than it is the other way around, so for me, lips come first. I find crayons easier to use as I have more control without the need for a lip brush. Just make sure you choose your colours wisely. Fuchsia tones work best for me. I like Face of Australia's Glossy Lip Crayon in Macaron or NP Set Lipstick in Deep Fuchsia.

Double Ended Eye Pencil:
I've got a serious crush on the Maybelline Big Eyes Liner. It is white on one end (for your bottom waterline) and black on the other (for everything else!) I use the white end every day to help brighten my eyes and make them look bigger. The black is perfect for creating a smokey eye, adding definition or tight lining your top lash line (but if you have watery eyes a waterproof liner is best.)

A Versatile Eye Shadow Palette:
I have a collection of neutral/brown eye shadow palettes. Why? Because I love them and because they can be used to create a whole bunch of different looks. My Antonym Cosmetics Noisette Eye Shadow Quattro is organic and has two brown shades, copper and pale gold and it gets used daily. I use the pale gold in the inner corners of my eye to add a little sparkle and brightness, the copper for a subtle smokey eye (perfect for daytime outings) and when I want something bolder, the browns have it.

Enjoy your romantic weekend away Katy! I hope I've helped you decide what to pack.

Lily x

P.S If you have a hair or beauty related question you'd like answered, please email me at or get in touch with the Sequins and Sand team!

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Lily is a mama, lip gloss lover and the voice behind Beholder - a blog about living your best life. She believes there is beauty in everything and everyone and strives to live as happily as possible.