My travel makeup kit

I am a huge believer in traveling as light as possible. If I can live without something for the next few days then it is highly unlikely that I will be bringing it! I actually just lugged my trusty gold NaRaYa bag  (this is such an awesome bag, it is incredibly light and tough! I've had it for years!) and a tote bag from Ferretti in my recent trip to Japan. I honestly felt I overpacked even with just two bags.

In the end, I had to buy another big bag just to store my purchases hehe. Shopping in Japan is quite inexpensive, more so when it's sale season (which is right about now). Most of the stores were at 50% to 70% off. And the drugstores! Oh my gosh! I just went batshit insane - but mostly for food lol. I wouldn't know what to do with more makeup or skincare, I seriously do not have any space left at home. In any case, do you think I should still post my haul?

Anyhoo, I just want to show you my makeup kit while I was over there. Again I packed too much, but it didn't feel like it while I was throwing everything inside. The actual pouch (from Bobbi Brown) is small but roomy. It fit pretty much everything I need, and a little bit more.

The pouch was part of a promo last year, I believe, so I don't think they sell this anymore. :( Well, I'm sure you can find something similar. Here's what I brought with me!

When packing beauty products, focus on the essentials. You can embellish once you have that covered! So prioritize your skincare, then base makeup, then eyebrows. At least. Everything else can be dictated by your preferences, but I'm sure y'all would need your favorites from the first three categories.

I brought a lot of color cosmetics because there was a semi-formal dinner scheduled on our first night there, and I'd be dining with magazine people and the Japanese principals. So I thought I'd come up with something chic. Read: full makeup. Otherwise I would skip the eyeshadow, brushes, and vampy lipsticks. 

Brushes: Real Techniques brushes, Retractable Powder Brush from Charm, Eyeshadow brush from Suesh, and the MAC 217. 

Bases: Clinique CC Cream, Clinique Even Better Powder Foundation (not in photo), Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Foundation, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow travel size, Amazing Cosmetics Concealer, Clinique Airbrush Concealer

Eyebrows: Shiseido Brow Pencil, MAC Girl Boy brow mascara

Cheeks: Estee Lauder Pure Color Cheek Rush Tint in XPose Rose, Laura Mercier powder blush (forgot the name)

Lashes: Shiseido lash curler, Fairydrops Platinum Mascara

Lips: Burt's Bees tinted lip balm, NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi, MAC Rebel, MAC Russian Red, Shiseido PK417 (not in photo)

Eyeshadow: Artdeco Eyeshadow Primer, L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows, Bobbi Brown travel eyeshadow palette

Notable items: check out this awesome tiny Bobbi Brown palette! So cute! And so handy. It's thin and super light and can fit anywhere. Pity that I wasn't able to use much eyeshadow during the trip. I simply didn't have the time. I did enjoy patting on the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows though, they last ALL day even without primer. It was very humid and hot in Tokyo last week but they still stayed put.

I also liked the new Estee Lauder Pure Color tint. It is so natural and rosy on the cheeks! It also feels comfortable in the uncomfortable weather. Review soon!

Oh and this is late but I finally got my dream brush: the MAC 217. I realized just now that it got squished in the bag. :( Huhu. I hope an overnight hug with a brush guard can fix it. 

Hope you enjoyed the peek! What kind of cosmetics do you bring while you're traveling?

Liz Lanuzo

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

I eat makeup for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

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