When I posted on my Instagram asking what I should cover next in my GGG to NYC series, an overwhelming majority of you wanted to take a peek inside my suitcase, and I was ecstatic. There’s nothing I love more than sharing some of my favorite cosmetic products and clothing pieces! In fact, I love it so much (and have clearly overpacked enough) that it won’t all fit in one post…phew!
So, I figured…why not?! Here’s a bonus post for you on this fabulous Friday!
In this post, I’ll be chatting about the cosmetic and skincare products I’m taking with me, as well as my favorite travel bags for staying organized. Yes, I know I’m only going to be gone for a week (four days and counting!) and I might have gone a bit overkill…
But I figured…if you can’t go into full-on glamour girl mode in NYC, then where can you?
I’ll be doing my best to link as many of the products mentioned as I can—and sharing similar options for one-of-a-kind or out-of-stock items. However, this post is not sponsored. If I link it, I love it!
Just in Case
Speaking of cases, my suitcase set is this one from 19V69, and I absolutely adore it. The bags are light but durable, and they’re incredibly easy to roll…even when filled to max capacity. To keep my cosmetics in place, I recently took the plunge and got this oversized skincare/makeup case, and it’s been an absolute lifesaver. Instead of having to fill multiple bags with face products and try to keep them corralled in one corner of my suitcase, I have everything packed away in one easy place. Its built-in organizers keep things tidy and even act as portable “drawers” to keep my things in place once I’ve reached my destination. I got it in pink, of course, but it also comes in black on Amazon.
Speaking of Skincare…
What all am I bringing to New York to warrant the purchase of such an outlandishly oversized skincare set? Good question! The short (and most accurate answer) would be: too much. But, as someone who has struggled with my complexion for a good half-dozen years, I’m a bit of a diva when it comes to taking care of my skin…which is why my makeup case is filled with enough skincare products to start a small spa.
My go-to brand is Farmhouse Fresh, an all-natural, cruelty-free celeb favorite brand made right in America. (They also rescue animals!) Their 0.5% salicylic acid face wash completely revolutionized my completion (and my life) and it’s the first step in my daily skincare routine. I always pair it with an exfoliating scrub—they’re all great, but I chose my favorite, the Timescape Micromazing face polish, for this trip.
After my face is clean, I always apply a toner—I packed the Illumination Juice facial tonic, the only type I haven’t tried before, and I can’t wait to use it! Because my face tends to get a tad bit tetchy on occasion (especially when I’m traveling and eating differently and dealing with different air quality levels) I chose to bring two serums to cover all of my bases—the Bakuchiol Booster for a richer, more complete dose of nourishment and Eternal Light, a more lightweight illuminating look and feel. Similarly, I packed several different face creams—Kale Water, a light and mattefying blend that offers maximum hydration; Three Milk, a slightly more luxurious and creamy option for smoothing fine lines; and Stunning Returns, an impossibly rich and buttery blend of Bakuchiol and peptides that is basically a round-the-clock miracle worker. For my evening routine, I’ve packed the Mighty Brighty gelée to keep my skin nourished and hydrated all night long, and I brought a mini pot of my favorite of their face masks—Sundae Best, which smells like chocolate and is infused with CoQ10—for an impromptu facial before a fancy dinner.
For eye care, I packed Crow Catcher, a fabulous moisturizing eye serum to erase the appearance of fine lines, and Stunning Dawn, an illuminating finishing cream that will make you wonder why you ever bothered applying concealer under your eyes. In case travel leaves me looking tired, I’m also bringing Clinique’s All About Eyes depuffing serum and massager, which I’ve never used before but looks heavenly! Before special dinners, I also plan on applying Starlit Kitten hydrogel under-eye patches for an extra boost (and because there’s kitten in the name, duh).
My lips are extremely sensitive to cosmetic products, but one mask that works fabulously for me is the Laneige sleeping mask, which comes in a bevy of delightful flavors and works like a dream overnight to restore hydration to your lips. I got the Sweet Candy flavor for this trip, and I’ll be using it every night to keep my lips hydrated.
Makeup Matters
Because I spend so much time on skincare, my makeup routine looks paltry by comparison…that’s because I’m a big believer that skincare is the best form of makeup and that no eyeshadow-and-lipstick combination can be as beautiful as your nourished, natural complexion. That being said, I love having fun with makeup and playing with new looks, and I’ve packed a few new-to-me palettes to play with during the trip.
My makeup routine always begins with the e.l.f. Cosmetics Acne Fighting Putty Primer with 1,8% salicylic acid. Even if my skin is completely clear, this primer helps smooth my complexion, mask any redness from sensitive skin, and protect against future breakouts. I follow this with a mattefying primer—on this trip, I’ll be trying out TULA’s Filter Primer for the first time! In place of traditional foundation, I use Estēe Lauder’s Double Wear Matte Powder. If I’m going for a more “glowy” look, I layer it on top of FHF’s Golden Moon Dip, which works great as a moisturizing highlighter. Should I need to mask any blemishes, I also packed a stick of my favorite concealer, the PhotoReady Stick from Revlon. Along with my Double Wear powder, I’ve packed Estēe Lauder blush, too—their Pure Color Envy, which I’ll also be using for the first time. When I ordered from Estēe Lauder, I also got some free samples of other makeup and skincare items, which I’ll look forward to experimenting with in my routines while I’m on vacation!
I keep my eye makeup pretty neutral, with the occasional dash of sparkle depending on my outfit/the occasion, so I packed a single palette—Too Faced’s “Natural Nudes”, which can take me from day to night with a single brush. Speaking of brushes, it was time for a new set—one that I can dedicate exclusively to travel—so I got this fun pack with a sparkly carrying case from Amazon. I have wild, untamable brows, so they rarely need more than a light brushing, but I’ve enjoyed using Neutrogena’s tinted serum to keep things in place and looking full. My eyelashes also have a mind of their own; my go-to method is a dash of clear Diamond Mascara from Physician’s Formula to keep everything in place…though I couldn’t help splurging on a trial size of Diorshow mascara for special dinners.
However, I’m most excited about my lip products—I’ve always been a lip gloss girl, and I’ve been saving several tubes from Chanel and Dior since my birthday! (Again, these cosmetic products came with several complementary samples, so I’ll also have some luxury minis, including my favorite—the Nº1 de Chanel Rich Revitalizing Cream—to incorporate, albeit sparingly, into my usual routine.) From Dior, I got the Rouge Dior in Beige Couture with a velvet finish, Dior Addict in Nude Look for hydration and gloss, and Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in Beige for a plumping gloss with subtle sparkle. I regrettably can’t remember the two tubes I got from Chanel for my birthday, but I can assure you that they’re both fabulous. (I also snuck in a tube of Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Amber Sparkle for when I’m feeling extra-twinkly.)
Fragrance Finds
I’m a big believer in scent memories—the inextricable link between the things we smell and those we remember—which is why I’ve been curating my “scent” for the trip for several months. Of course, it starts with Farmhouse Fresh. Their Whoopie! Cream aroma is simply delectable, hitting all of the right gourmand and powdery notes without being overpowering. Nearly everything the company makes comes in this scent, and I’m taking their bar soap, shea butter, hand cream, and perfume to keep me smelling fresh and feminine all day long. (To provide an extra scent layer with skin-softening benefits, I’ll also be moisturizing with their Agave Nectar body oil.)
For evening aromas, I’ll be bouncing back and forth between a trio of scents—my favorite, Honey & the Moon from TokyoMilk, the Plaza Hotel’s signature gardenia scent, and this vanilla-almond blend from Tom Ford that I got for my birthday. I’ve also collected samples of Killian Angel’s Share and Dior’s Vanilla Diorama to play with throughout my trip.
Hairy Situations
When I travel, I typically play shampoo roulette and try whatever the hotel provides (it’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite products!) so I’m not packing any shampoo or conditioner. However, I absolutely can’t survive without my DryBar trifecta—the Southern Belle Volume-Boosting Mousse to add some height to my silky roots, the Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist
to protect against my hot tools, and the Sparkling Soda Shine Mist for finishing. (Of course, right before I left I also got a nourishing treatment from my amazing hairstylist…if you’re in the PNW, Shayla is the girl)
I hope you enjoyed perusing the first part of my packing list (and maybe even found a new product or two to try for yourself). I’ll be back at my regularly scheduled time on Tuesday—posting from the sky, in fact, as I take off on my trip—and sharing all of the clothes I’m bringing…plus a few accessories, too. Until then, bon voyage, my glamour girls!
