Make Up Prices: Like, what?

Since my arrival in France at the end of September, I have been using up many of the products that I brought over from the US. By this time, though, I am starting to run out of some of the essentials and looking to make some purchases in France. So off to the store I went to purchase some staples!

What I found, however, when I took a closer look at the make up wasn't so pleasing. Products that I know and love from the United States were severely marked up in France, even product lines that I knew are French! Despite the most obvious reasons for price differences - the 20% TVA included in all sticker prices in France, importation costs for foreign brands, etc. - the prices are still through the roof! Let's take an example: I have been eyeing the L'Oréal Voluminous Million Mascara in Carbon Black for a while now, wanting to try out a new defining and volumizing mascara. I've found it in the States ranging from $9.50 to $11.00 depending on the store, but when I went looking in the French company's home country I could find it for no cheaper than 18€ and even as high as 21,50€! For another: the Bourgeois Healthy Mix Serum foundation that I purchased online through an international retailer for $13.00 I found in the Galleries LaFayette for 19.99€!

Do French women really spend this much money on "drugstore" makeup? Or do they just opt out? When thinking about cosmetics, foundation and especially mascara are some of the things that are used and that you have to buy most frequently throughout the year. And while they do have discount makeup stores such as Saga in various cities, these stores do not stock the most popular brands and only carry products and colors they can get on the cheap.

Conclusion: Definitely stocking up on some essentials while I am home for the holidays!

Make Up in a School Setting: Faut-on ou Faux Pas?

So we've seen a little slice of what some French people like to keep on hand for their everyday beauty needs in my recent bathroom spy posts, but can we see any of these products in use out in the everyday world? Are there certain situations where makeup is more appropriate? Less appropriate?

I guess I'll start by talking about what I have seen in my work place - two different middle schools. From what I experienced as a student in the US, I expected teachers in France to be dressed more or less business casual, with maybe the rare exception to the rule in the gym teacher or the long-time prof. What I found, however, was much more casual. Teachers, basically, can wear whatever they want within the limits of reason. Jeans are an everyday kind of thing for teachers in my French middle schools, which I never saw any of my teachers wearing as a kid unless there was a fundraiser going on for Casual Friday.

Mirroring the more casual trend in dress, my female French colleagues don't seem to wear a lot of make-up to school on a daily basis. Whether or not the majority wear a tinted moisturizer or BB cream to even out imperfections I don't know, but I do note that the overall look is generally bare faced. (Most of the French people I've met have FABULOUS skin, so they can rock this look pretty well.) I will come across the occasional beauty regular, but their choice of colors and application always steers towards a more natural look rather than a bold one. I love a red lip or a dramatic cat eye at all times of the day, so my makeup choices really stand out and have actually been a topic of conversation with some of my students.

What do you guys think? Do you expect something different from what is rumored to be the most fashionable country in the world? Have you seen similar things in your experience in French schools? Let me know in the comments below!

Demographic No. 3: Seaside Family of Femmes

The last place that we stayed was a big beauty surprise! Because this family had two girls between the ages of 25 living in the house, they had a myriad of products stocked in the bathroom that the girls were more than happy to talk about. Hope you enjoy the peak into their routine as much as I did!

• Avène Eau Micellaire
• Nuxe Gelée Exfoliante - Rose Pétales
• Le Petit Marseillaise Lait Douche
• Carrefour Orange Hand Soap
• Signal Whitening Toothpaste
• DeMakeup Makeup Wipes
• SUN Ultimate Bronze Minute, Satin Self-Tanning Spray
• Klorane Leave-In Cream with Mango Butter
• Revlon Professional UNIQ One
• Cils Démask - Démaquillant yeux
• Ducray Diaseptyl Spray for Fatigued Skin
• Hema Hand - Crème Mains Superhydratante
• Mixa Soin Mains Réparatrice Intensive Peaux Sèches
• L'Oréal Professional Absolute Repair Lipidium, Instant Resurfacing Shampoo
• Clarins Intense Bronze Self-Tanning Tint
• Clarins Liquid Bronze Self-Tanner
• SOBIOetic Huile Universelle Plaisirs d'Argan
• Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Body Lotion
• La Roche Posay Physiane Emulsion Protective
• La Roche Posay Anthelios 20SPF Spray
• La Roche Posay Anthelios 50SPF Face
• Bébé Cadum Lait de Toilette Hydratante
• Biafine Emulsion pour les Cuticles
• Makeup Forever HD Primer
• Sephora Iridescent Cream Shadow
• Maria Galland Hydrating Makeup Remover
• Syoss Kératine Perfection, Shampooing Perfecteur
• Mixa Douche - Soin Antidéssèchement
• Sanex Zero% Gel Douche
• Garnier Beauté Gommage Beauté Absolue
• Hydralin Apaisa Protection Quotidien Soin d'Hygène Intime
• Steripan Crème Très Exfoliante Hema Nail Polish Remover
• Nuxellence Jeunesse 

Demographic No. 2: Young Twenty-Something Heterosexual Couple

My second Couchsurfing experience came with some awesome roommates in tow! Our Couchsurfing host had signed on four surfers, me and my friend Tatiana and a young couple moving from Paris and needing a place to stay while looking for something permanent to rent. Salina and Kenzo* were a really nice alternative pair, fond of hitchhiking (which apparently is still done in France?!) and taking life as it comes. Their toiletries weren't particularly abundant, probably because of the move, but they served as a great sample of young, normal French people on a budget. Find what they used down below!

• L'Oréal Absolute Douceur Lait Démaquillant Confort Suprème
• L'Oréal Absolute Douceur Tonique Caresse Confort Suprème
• Garnier Skin Naturals Crème Bienfaisante
• Rexona Women Maximum Protection Clean Scent
• Narta Homme Nord Extrème
• Denivit Anti-Taches Dentifrice
• Le Petit Marseillais Shampooing Douceur et Réparatrice aux Amandes Douces
• Monoprix Lait Douche Amande/Karité
• Le Petit Marseillais Après-Shampooing aux Extraits d'Argile Blanche et de Lait de Jasmin
• Crème Laitante Hydratante Parfum Douceur de Lait
• Aquafresh Toothpaste

Demographic No. 1: Twenty-Something Bachelor

Did anyone ever tell you that boys are kind of dirty, that they don't really care about hygiene, and that these two facts are reflected in their bathrooms? While the stereotype doesn't hold water across the board, I do have to report that the French male population isn't immune to its application. Guy* wholeheartedly welcomed me and a friend into his home via couchsurfing, questionably stocked bathroom and all. He did stock the absolute essentials: toothpaste, a toothbrush, shower gel/hand soap/shampoo and of course some French cologne. Other than that, though, he did not have much to offer my beauty discovery - although my stay with him felt totally safe and friendly! For more info about brands and specifics, read on to the inventory of what this bachelor kept in his pad.

• Sensodyne Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
• Le Petit Marseillais Lait Douche, Douche Extra Doux
• Chanel Pour Homme Eau de Toilette

*Name has been changed.

La Toussaint Vacation: A Trial in Beauty Espionnage

So, whenever I'm staying at somebody's house, I always find it really interesting to see what they've got in their bathroom. I'm not the only one right? I'm just curious! And I mean, I definitely wouldn't go completely through their stuff, but if you leave something out or within reasonable reach, you bet I'm gonna investigate. Which is exactly what I did during my recent vacation through in France, and I thought I'd report back just to let you know what I found in REAL FRENCH BATHROOMS. I stayed in three different towns with three different hosts, each of which showed a (kind of?) example of a different demographic of person and what they might use. Keep following for in depth reviews of what I saw!

**Disclaimer** I will not be revealing any information about the persons involved in this vacation or hosting experience, so as to protect their privacy. All names, if mentioned, have been changed.

La Rue de Minimes - Pedestrian Beauty Boulevard

In looking around the French town I am currently living in, its easy to see that beauty plays a big part in the everyday lives of its inhabitants. Despite the fact that many of the women I see choose to wear a natural day-to-day look, cosmetic and skincare advertisements and shops dominate a large section of the city center - specifically, the pedestrian zone on la rue des Minimes.

This street is one of the few walking zones close to la Place de la République, and shop after shop on this walkway features beauty and skincare products galore. Let's be clear: this street is only about a quarter of a mile long, probably not even. And in total, there are eleven shops advertising almost exclusively beauty-related products, with the exception of les Galeries Lafayette, a department with a large selection of beauty, skincare and fragrance, but also many other items.

So let's take a walk from the main square out to the next street. This is really only about two blocks and you pass all of these stores.

1. Marrionnaud Parfumerie
2. Kiko
3. Parashop Diffusion
4. La Grande Pharmacie des Minimes
5. Yves Rocher
6. Les Galleries Lafayette
7. Sephora
8. Sandro Esprit Spa
9. Nocibé
10. Douglas Parfumerie
11. Saga

What does this exactly have to say about my town? To be honest, I don't really know yet, as I have only been here for a short while and it takes time to get to know new people in a foreign country. Whether these stores have taken such prominent spots as a response to popular demand or whether these shops have influenced the tastes of the public, I can't really tell. Most likely, its a little bit of both. Just an interesting reflection from a beauty perspective on what I am experiencing in this new town!

Finally installed in France - YAY INTERNET!

So I have finally gotten myself settled in France and am ready to start blogging on the reg! I apologize for my lack of regular posting over the last month - internet is not exactly the easiest thing to procure here - but I do have internet now! Get ready for more posts to come :)

Voyage au Mans: What Did I Bring?

This is a written version of the popular YouTube tag, "What's in my travel bag?" I just don't have the space or the courage yet to do a live video. It will come! But I thought I would share what I deem necessary for a trans-Atlantic flight to hopefully help those of you making the trip for the first time. Or who are just curious what other people tote around, because I know that I am :).

The Big Picture:

Obliging the TSA regulation, I bought this transparent bag for my liquids during my last international trip. It came with a bunch of small reusable containers that are under 3 oz so that you can transfer your favorite products into them without having to go out and buy travel sizes of everything, which I've found very useful. This particular bag is from CVS (I think it ran about $9.99 with all of the inside material included) and came with 1 spray bottle, 2 larger squeeze bottles, 2 smaller bottles with caps, and about 12 jars of varying sizes. The make-up bag was a gift from a dear friend, Deanna, and its definitely come in handy thus far! My go-to travel makeup bag at the moment!

A Closer Look: What's Inside

Part I - Liquids

When I'm carrying around items during my whole trip, I try to really my products down to the essentials. So this is what I packed:

• Dermalogica Lip Balm - I've had this forever and its the most hydrating chapstick I've come across. I got it in a trial package from Ulta in high school and have been using it ever since.
• Bare Escentuals Lash Domination Mascara - Got this when I repurchased my Bare Minerals Foundation and it couldn't have been more perfect for the trip! Super small, so it didn't take up that much space, but worked really well! I looked fresh - well, as fresh as I could after a 15 hour journey - when I arrived in Le Mans.
• CVS Antacids - This one's a little bit realer than the others, haha. I don't know about you, but when my meal schedule gets thrown off, whether its because of travel or lots of work or just plain forgetfulness, I get some pretty uncomfortable heartburn. Foreseeing this in the future, I stocked up on these rolls of antacids, basically Tums but in the generic brand.
• Colgate Optic White Miniature Toothpaste - Pretty self-explanatory, I didn't want to walk around France all day with stank breath. I'm also a pretty regular coffee drinker, so I usually reach for whitening toothpastes with proven results, hence the Optic White option. Any toothpaste would really do the job though!
• Acanya Gel - I have hormonal and stress induced acne, which I'm currently treating with Acanya Gel. This little sample size is perfect to fit in travel bags and come with me wherever I need it.
• Jao Hand Refresher - Hand sanitizer in an eco-friendly and disposable container, who could ask for more!
• Nivea Creme - Basically an all purpose moisturizer, I packed this specifically for my hands. Dry hands are a little bit of a pet peeve for me because I start to get itchy quickly, so I threw this in my liquids for as a quick fix for this problem.
• Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Day Creme SPF 15 - This day cream was an awesome recent purchase (I couldn't help it, it was on super sale by me and I'm addicted to moisturizer) that combined the brightening of my dull post-flight skin, moisturizing of my dehydrated skin from the stale plane air and SPF so I could walk around outside without worrying about turning into a complete tomato. And it all comes in this super cute tiny jar accepted by the TSA? Sounds good to me!
• Simple Brand Toner - This is one of the things that I transferred into a different container. The bottle for this toner typically has a spout at the top, allowing you to apply it with a cotton pad, but this seemed like the most unnecessary hassle to me as I was packing for the trek. Instead, the spray bottle allowed me to stray this hydrating and hypoallergenic toner on my face whenever I was feeling particularly dehydrated, which actually worked out really well. If you're into the idea of a facial refresher but not looking to spend the money on an entirely different product, you could definitely give this option a try!
• Major Deep Sea Premium Saline Nasal and Moisturizing Spray - This is a little TMI as well, but I get a really dry nasal cavity when its dry outside, which causes serious sinus headaches and general malaise. Knowing full well that the plane air was going to be stale and dry, and that my allergy medication for ragweed had an additional drying effect, I packed this super moisturizing saline spray in order to avoid a problem like that.
• Tresemme Dry Shampoo - A definite must when traveling for a long time, not only does this product give your hair a fresh and clean look after hours of sitting in your own and others' filth, it also pumps of the volume of limp hair you may or may not have been sleeping on during the flight. Yes and yes.

A Closer Look: What's Inside

Part II, Non-Liquids

And finally, my essential makeup and non-liquid products for the plane were...

• Headband - To keep my hair out of my eyes when I wanted to sleep, watch TV, or take care of my skin.
• Sephora Miniature Hair Brush and Mirror - A two-in-one travel must have, because walking around with a huge rat's nest in the back of your head is NOT cute.
• Hair Clip - I like to put my hair up with clips when its bothering my neck, but this one I liked especially for the flight because it lies flat on the head. Using this, I didn't have any of the uncomfortable bulges that result from bulkier clips or buns made with ponytail holders (my hair isn't quite long enough to go all the way on top of my head).
• Toothbrush - See toothpaste, Part I.
• Secret Deodorant - Deodorant is a serious societal courtesy, for my seat partners on the flight, on the train, and just the general public. No one wants to sit next to the smelly girl for 8 hours.
• Assured 100% Pure Cotton Swabs - For taking off makeup, cleaning out ears, and just general makeup slip-ups, these cotton swabs in their nice travel container were actually really useful.
• Olay Daily Cleansing Cloths - A no-fuss alternative to washing your face in the airplane bathroom (tough and cramped!), cleansing cloths are a great way to wipe all of the flight grime off of your face before you go off into the real world. I picked this brand because they came individually wrapped and I could just put one in my bag, but any brand would really do the same thing!
• Makeup Brushes - I chose travel-sized version both from the Ulta brand and Bare Minerals to make my makeup bag a little less bulky in my back pack.
• Bare Minerals Original Powder Foundation, Mineral Weil, and Mineral Concealer - This was actually the way that I first tried out the Bare Minerals system. I didn't want to shell out the money for the full-size products in case they didn't quite work the way that I wanted, but this was really a good buy. I used them for about a month before deciding and still had plenty of product left, which I now take on trips! Hooray for travel sized things!
• Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner in Nude - This eyeliner has been talked about by beauty bloggers for a while, and I wanted to give it the ultimate test. People like Tati have been raving about how this nude liner can make your eyes look bigger and brighter, eliminating some of the redness in your eyes when you haven't really had a good night's sleep. So barely sleeping on an overnight trans-Atlantic flight would definitely see if it worked, right? The result: I don't think I looked like a sleeping beauty, but I definitely think that this made me look much more acceptable traveling the streets of Paris with all of my bags. I went from looking exhausted to looking like I was just a little tired, and am seriously happy I've got this product for a quick fix in the future!
• Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner in Dark Brown and Eyeliner Sharpener- For tight-lining the upper lashes, just to give some definition. I didn't actually end up using this, but I though it would be a good idea? A look that I like, but not something I wanted to bother with in transit.
• Covergirl Cheekers Blush in Peach - I've used this blush for ages, its the perfect flush for my skin color. This particular package has seen better days, but one of the benefits of this is that the brush included in it is packed with product, making a simple sweep across the cheekbones really effective.
• Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad in 01-Sand - An ancient free gift from another makeup purchase, this palette has all of the making for a nice neutral eye, perfect for a fresh look as you exit the terminal to go on with the rest of your day :).

Side Note: Korean Beauty Ideals

I know, I know, I'm focusing on products that I can get while I'm in Europe on this blog, but I don't think that my interests in beauty can be simply confined to that cadre. Makeup, skincare and beauty products are really just tools to help consumers look more beautiful, and these products are geared towards what the society views as desirable. Some Asian beauty trends are starkly different from those that I've personally experienced in America, and I find it interesting to read up on them.

I stumbled upon an article when reading something else written for the Atlantic and am really intrigued. I've included a link below. Hope you guys find it an interesting read!

"The K-Pop Plastic Surgery Obsession" by Zara Stone, The Atlantic

US Drug Store Update: Online Edition

So since I've been posting about what European products you can find at stores in the States, I figured it was only fair to see what's available online. Online shopping is totally legitimate! And kind of addicting, to be honest :/. But, if you're looking for more a selection of foreign beauty products, you can definitely find much more than is commonly stocked in many local stores or branches from retailers that you already use regularly. Alors, allons-y!

Bourjois Products:

This is a brand that I've become pretty interested since I've been watching beauty bloggers, specifically sparked by essiebutton's brand focus video from last year. I haven't personal experience with the brand, probably because I haven't seen it in stores and I like being able to test makeup shades in person, but I'm definitely looking forward to trying some of their stuff soon! If you're awesome at shade matching on screen or if you're more daring than I am in that respect, these products are sold to US consumers through Walgreens.com, asos.com and UrbanOutfitters.com. From what I've seen, Asos has the best prices on products and the largest selection, although shipping from a UK company might be more expensive than the other options. Urban Outfitters was sold out of the things I was interested :(. Walgreens, however, does allow you to use your Walgreens card to get points with purchases of Bourjois products, which could really add up if you are a regular customer there!

La Roche Posay:

This very popular French pharmacy brand is now being sold online at popular US drug stores! Although I haven't ever seen any of these products in the drug stores by my house, they are apparently available on the web if you take the time to look. Rite Aid just started carrying the Anthelios sunscreens and other chains like Walgreens and CVS have a pretty good selection of skin care as well.

Vichy:

Also a super well-advertised and popular French pharmacy skincare brand, Vichy is available in the U.S. via many of the drugstore websites listed already above. I actually went into a different CVS than the one near my own house and found a really large selection of Vichy products in stock. Awesome!

Pre-Departure Investigation: European Brands in the States, Part IV

And we finally come to the close of our quest for foreign beauty products at Bloomingdale's. Presumably, we could have chosen any department store, but we were walking in the direction of this one at the mall on our way back to the car. Many of the high end products available at Sephora were also featured here, but I didn't feel it productive to repeat products we've already talked about. Instead, I've only added the brands I found that were exclusively available at department stores in my area.

Le Métier de Beauté

"The Work of Beauty"

I've literally never heard of this brand, but the name really caught my eye. I've translated the word métier to "work", but it literally means something more like career or job. 

This what the website has to say about the brand:

Curated and crafted just for you. Experts in luxury and beauty, Le Métier de Beauté invites you to SHOP THE VAULT. The BEAUTY VAULT features limited-edition, hand-selected pairings. Click to unlock the secrets from our experts. But don't delay. Quantities are always limited.

I swatched some 3 in 1 cream color pots (color for the eyes, lips and cheeks), which seemed super pigmented and an awesome product to throw in your bag. Looking forward to seeing how this brand is represented and sold "dans l'Hexagon".

Chanel Beauty

I feel like this is available at some Sephoras? My Sephora doesn't carry it, but from a quick Google search I learned that some of the bigger branches do carry the Chanel makeup still. If you're looking for Chanel, however, department stores like Bloomingdale's will always be happy to help you.

 Estée Lauder

Clarins

Pure plant oils? Sounds good to me. This is a pricy choice but one I've heard beauty bloggers rave about. Will it be more affordable for me in its home country? We'll have to see!

Pre-Departure Investigation: European Brands in the States, Part III

The logical next step in moving up the beauty totem pole: Sephora! I am by no means a Sephora regular, as recent college grad budget usually confines me to drugstore prices, but it is awesome to walk around and see what they've got. I've decided then, to only offer commentary on those products or brands that I have had personal knowledge about, and simply list the others. Here the French brands Deanna and I lusted after on our trip there!

Givenchy Paris

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty

 Lancome Paris

 Caudalie Paris

Clinique

 Dior Fragrance and Beauty

 L'Occitane

This is the only brand of the ones I've mentioned in this post that I've tried before. In fact, whenever I see a branch in a mall or on a street, I can't resist popping in to rub the tester for the Lavender Organic Relaxing Roll-On all over myself. If I could afford it, I would no longer bathe in water but only in this stuff. If you're a habitually anxious person like me, or just love pure relaxation in a sniff, you should invest in this stuff. I love it.

Pre-Departure Investigation: European Brands in the States, Part II

So our next stop after Target was Ulta! Let see what French brands they had to offer the American customer:

Kinerase: Award Winning Anti-Aging Skin Products

Haven't tried any of these before, but the sales associate I was talking to in the store had good things to say and thought it was available in France. In doing some research after the fact, I haven't found any sites related to French sales or production, but have found a French Canadian branch of the company that distributes throughout Quebec.

Lumene Finland

This Scandinavian brand combines Arctic ingredients and scientific principles for supposed anti-aging greatness. Ulta featured a small but mighty stock of CC and BB creams along with a few serums. Definitely intriguing!

Evian Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray

Saw this in a few different sizes displayed with the skin care items. Is this a toner? Is this a cleansing water? Whatever it is, its certainly French and available at Ulta. I also saw a similar product by the brand Vichy at the brow bar, but didn't find it available for purchase. Possible that they were out of stock. Or that I'm bad at looking. Probably the latter.

Pre-Departure Investigating: European Brands in the States, Part I

If I'm going to try out brands that aren't available in the U.S. during my travels, I should probably figure out what foreign stuff they sell in America, right? My thoughts exactly. So I took a trip around town with my good friend Deanna to investigate and report back. Here's what we found:

AT THE DRUGSTORE:

Well, really this was at Target. We decided to do start here because, even though its not a technical "drugstore", it is a widely accessible store across the U.S., with drugstore items, drugstore prices and a few extras. The products we found available at the Target near us were:

Garnier Skin Care and Anti-Age Products

With products ranging from moisturizers to cleansers to serums, Garnier skin care has items targeted towards loads of different skin issues. Hydration, oil-control, acne reduction and wrinkle repair are just a few of the problems they seek to eliminate for their faithful users. Find more information and specific prices on these items at http://www.garnierusa.com/products/skincare.aspx.

Garnier Fructis Hair Care and Styling Products

Garnier Fructis produces shampoos, conditioners, treatments and stylers at a reasonable price for the average consumer. Their lines include Damage Eraser, Color Shield Complete Defense, Pure Clean, Sleek & Shine, Triple Nutrition and more. What's the most amazing about these products is the smell; their fruity aroma is distinguishable from feet away and stays in your hair all day. One of my best friends swear by the Pure Clean line, not even needing to use perfume because of the long lasting effect of the scent.

http://www.garnierusa.com/products/haircare.aspx

L'Oréal Paris Cosmetics

A tried and true love of a lot of U.S. beauty aficionados, L'Oréal produces solid products in every line facet of makeup - foundation, eye shadow, lipsticks, you name it. I've heard fabulous things about the L'Oréal Infallible 25 HR Eye Shadows and the L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara from beauty blogger after beauty blogger on YouTube. Definitely looking to see if these items are just as popular overseas!

L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hair Care and Styling Products

L'Oréal produces two different lines of hair care and styling products, a sulfate-full and sulfate-free version. The Advanced Hair Care Line (shown above) includes sulfates among its shampoo ingredients, although the other products seem to be sulfate-free. I love the L'Oréal Paris EverStrong Line; its sulfate-free, which is great for my seriously sensitive scalp, and the rosemary-mint scent makes me feel invigorated in the shower. If you're looking for a good sulfate-free shampoo, this line and the OleoTherapy line are good and reasonably priced drugstore options.

Rimmel London Cosmetics

I don't have an in-store pic of this London line, but its available at most drugstores. Their recent collaboration with supermodel Kate Moss for the Lasting Finish by Kate Moss has produced one of my go-to red lips, shade 01, and their Stay Matte Powder is super affordable and super effective at $3.97.

Boots No. 7 and Boots Botanicals Skin Care

This is the line I was talking about as awesome extras at Target. It's possible that this line is sold elsewhere, but by me this is the only place I can find it. This brand from the UK is a go-to for the English, with skincare, makeup and other lines available. Target is currently carrying some of the skincare faves, so we'll see what they keep in stock for the future!

Take It or Leave It

Every time I'm getting ready for a trip abroad, I always have the same questions: What on earth do I bring with me? My collection of makeup, skincare and beauty tools all seem absolutely essential, I couldn't bear to part with them. This time, paring down my collection for a whole year weighs even heavier on me.

From my experience traveling to Europe in the past, though, some items are more important to leave behind from others. Trial and error have given me a list of a few things to bring in full size, things to transfer to travel size and things that you should cross off your packing list, so I thought I'd share the info with all of you!

TAKE IT

1. Full Size and Travel Size Moisturizer - Whether you are traveling for a few days or a few months, it's important to keep your skin hydrated as you travel. With the change in environment - due to climate change, change in the water, or different environmental pollutants - my skin habitually freaks out at me for a small period of time. That, and the typically drying effect of air and train travel make my skin super thirsty for hydration. I like to keep a travel sized jar of Pond's Dry Skin Cream in my carry on for on flight dryness and throw the larger container in my checked bag for the duration of my stay.
2. Reusable Water Bottle - Adding on to the vein of staying hydrated, its important to drink water as you're walking around a new city. Not every country requires that tap water be free of charge and water fountains are few and far between, so buying a bottle every time you need a drink can get expensive. Packing a reusable water bottle in your carry-on for the flight will serve you during your air time and come in handy as you explore.
3. Full Size Facial Cleanser - Whatever works best for your skin, its important to keep your cleansing routine consistent when you travel in order to avoid exacerbating the effects of the new environment on your skin. My skin particularly doesn't transition well. I'm always tempted to purchase something high-end in a travel size for when I'm traveling; I think, "maybe this will be better at helping my skin stay clear!" It usually doesn't though. When I change locations my skin breaks out no matter what I do, but washing my face morning and night with my regular cleanser shortens this "freak out" period significantly.
4. Travel Size Package of Face Wipes - These are awesome for on the plane, when you don't have a real bathroom to freshen up. Olay makes individually packed face wipes that you can throw into your purse to wipe all of the grime of the bottled plane air and other passengers off your face, but any smaller package would do the job. Best thing is, they're not liquid - leaving you space for other liquid essentials in your carry-on.
5. Travel Size Shampoo and Conditioner - Obviously we want to keep our hair clean when we travel, but bringing along those large containers can take up space and weight in your checked bag. I usually opt to transfer my favorites from the large containers into reusable travel containers, which you can buy at most drugstores for one or two dollars. I got a whole kit from CVS including various sized bottles and jars and a reusable TSA liquids bag for $9.99. Definitely worth the investment if you're going to travel a lot. These travel sized bottles should last you about a week, or if you're like me and try not to wash your hair every day, probably two. If you're traveling for longer, then you can try out some of the hottest hair products at your destination - something I plan on!
6. Bar Soap - Bar soap is a way to keep your liquids to a minimum and reduce space in your bag. A bar of soap will usually last me the same amount of time as a large body wash, but take up a fraction of the packing room. Many of your favorite body washes have corresponding body bars, so take a look next time you're in the drug store. My favorite is the Dove Body Bar, which has no harsh sulfates and leaves the skin feeling moist after every use. Don't forget to carry a reusable travel soap dish though! Or else you'll get everything in your bag covered in a soapy film.

LEAVE IT

1. Hair Styling Tools - Of all of my electronics, my beauty tools are the most likely not to have an attached converter. That means I have to lug around a whole other heavy electronic box to make my hair stylers work in addition to the plug adaptor. Even when I did do decide to bite the bullet and bring them, though, my beauty tools never seemed to make it through the trip without some damage. I don't know if its the switch to higher voltage outlets or my own inability to keep manuals/read instructions about taking my hair dryer abroad, nine times out of ten these kinds of things are burned out on my European adventures. My advice: avoid heat styling your hair and go for something a little easier. You can use that time you would have spent styling your hair to see more sights.
2. Fancy Shoes - This one isn't necessarily a beauty item, but I had to put it in here because they take up so much weight and space! I always think I'm going to want to wear all of these fancy shoes when I go out abroad, and then end up wearing the same pair of orthopedic boots the entire time. I'm walking so much that all I want is comfort, and heels can get stuck in the cracks between the cobblestones on European streets. Instead of those stilettos, bring shoes with serious arch support and rubber soles, because those quaint cobblestone pathways can get super slippery when it rains.

Welcome to International Beauty Discovery!

Ever wondered what kind of beauty products and beauty regimens people all over the world use? I certainly have. Every culture around the world has different ways of taking care of your skin, different styles of applying makeup, different cosmetic brands and different standards of beauty.

As a recent college graduate participating in the Teaching Assistant Program in France, I plan on doing a lot of traveling throughout the next year, and looking into the beauty regimens of all the different places that I go. I'm a newbie to most of the brands and products outside of the United States, so there's a lot to learn! Follow my experiences and discoveries through this blog over the next year!

Ciao!
Alli