travel favorites

I have an obsession with any product that is travel-sized. Not only are the miniature-sized products cute, they are ideal for any trip!

Whether you're celebrating Memorial day with a "staycation" or flying somewhere with a carry-on, these TSA-approved products are my go-to's for traveling:

Herbal Essences Shampoo- I'm lucky and can get away without conditioner, but this shampoo leaves your hair feeling soft and is so much better than hotel shampoos!

Tarte BB Primer- Even though it's a primer, I always wear this BB cream by itself. It feels absolutely amazing on my skin (like silk), and provides the perfect amount of coverage! It also contains SPF 30 Sunscreen and lasts for 12-hours (no, really) so it's ideal for day-long Memorial weekend festivities. Can you say cookout?

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel- I like to switch up my moisturizer in Summer because my skin is oily and doesn't need as thick of a moisturizer. This one is perfect because it mattifies shine AND works as a primer.

The Body Shop Body Butter- I currently have this travel-sized body butter in 6 different scents - this one is Mango. I love it because it's more moisturizing than a lotion (perfect for after-sun) and won't melt in your bag. And it smells delicious!

Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray- I don't like to travel with a blowdryer or straightener to warm destinations because they take up extra space in my bag, and not to mention fry your hair! I use this spray after the shower without brushing my hair, then scrunch and let it air dry. It gives a natural, beachy look and will make your boyfriend happy when it cuts your getting ready time down in half ;)

These are my favorite travel-sized products! Blush, bronzer, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara tend to be small anyway so I always bring my regular ones but limit the amount. I stick to neutral shades - a black or brown eyeliner, plus gold and bronze eyeshadows and one lip color. Whether you're staying at home or going somewhere fun for Memorial Day Weekend, these are great products to have!

sunless prep for spring break

The last spring break I'll ever have (brb while I go cry) starts in three days. So while everyone else is stressing about midterms and papers due before break, I'm stressed about when I'm going to get everything done beauty-wise. First world problems, I know.

This I am going to JAMAICA! I'll take a tropical vacation over a cold one any day, but constantly being in a bikini means I have more beauty preparation. Since my skin never fails to turn ghostly pale during the Winter, I really need to have a little tan the first time in a bathing suit in months. Self-tanner can be extremely tricky - you have to strike a balance between "orange and streaky" and "still pale." 

I have had a few too many bad experiences applying self-tanner over the course of multiple days even though thats what tanning lotions typically suggest, so this year I am just going to apply one layer of tanner the day before I leave in order to avoid streaks and orange spots. Even though applying only one layer won't necessarily create a tan, it evens out skin tone and minimizes the look of cellulite.

It is so important to always exfoliate your skin before applying tanner in order to avoid streaks!

I am trying out Jergen's Foaming Daily Moisturizer  because the "quick dry" and "ordorless" features really sold me! Cheers to (maybe) not making my clothes and sheets reek of self-tanner. I am also trying Sonia Kashuk's face tanning towelettes (no longer available). Towelettes are great for sunless tanning because they deliver a consistent amount of color - check out L'Oreal's here.

Tip: if you do get streaks/too orange from self tanner, don't panic - scrub with a lot of body wash and it will fade.

Fingers crossed for a successful sunless tanning experience!