Travel Beauty Tips

Travelling is the most amazing thing, but beauty on-the-go for a long time is kind of tricky. You don't want to pack too much if you need to travel light, but you also want versatility and options when you're out and about!

Here are some tips and tricks you can use when travelling abroad or when taking a small trip nearby:

1. Makeup wipes + cream = yay! (aka: makeup wipes aren't your enemy)

Taking with you a makeup remover is too much of a hassle. If it's micellar water, there's a high possibility it will leak in your suitcase. Hence, my use of olive oil or body cream... and it WORKS!

During my trip to Turkey, I took a miniature bottle of body cream by accident... and it saved me. When you're doing touristy things, you aren't precisely looking for a drugstore (which in some countries, is NOT an easy feat even if you are) to buy makeup remover.

I applied the cream all over my face, I dabbed it on my lashes and on my eyelids. Be careful and buy a cream that isn't liquid, because you don't want it to get into your eyes! (I know this sounds kind of dangerous even, but I've been doing it for years and never had a single problem. AND mascara just comes right off!)

I let it do it's own thing for 10 seconds or more... and then, using my makeup wipes I remove it gently. This ensures your eyes won't suffer too much scrubbing and your lashes won't fall.

2. Don't take blush, take lipstick!

This is one trick you all probably know about but maybe you don't really use it as much in your daily life. I love using slightly creamy lipsticks as both blush (dabbing some on directly from the bullet and then blending it with your own fingers) and light lipstick. I especially love this when using a red lipstick that isn't extremely opaque but rather natural such as Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Red Island:

I love the natural flush effect... which I usually achieve with my Stila Convertible Color in Poppy. Plus, as it is slightly shiny this is another way of highlighting your cheeks! (Pats self on the back)

3. Don't forget your lip balm! 

Aside from using it on your lips, lip balm can be used for so many things. I like to use this in place of a heavy duty moisturizer when I'm on a plane as your skin can get extremely dry when enduring those conditions for long. Around the eyes, dabbing it or maybe on any dry skin patch you may have... works wonders! 

4. To mascara or not to mascara... 

I know this is kind of horrifying to some people, but 99% of the time I don't wear any mascara. It's not a feeling I cherish on my eyes, especially because I usually wear contact lenses and I tend to rub my eyes every once in a while. 

I do wear mascara when going out or when I'm meeting someone for dinner/lunch/coffee, but usually I stick to some smudged out brown eyeshadow [I use: KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in #39], lining my upper waterline or a thin line in black very close to the lashes (only on the upper lid) [I use: Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Black].

However, if you absolutely need mascara, take a look at tip número uno to remove it afterwards!

5. Clear nail polish FTW!

If you're on a short (1-3 day) trip, don't pay attention to this tip. However, if you're travelling for more than 5 days, I completely recommend you to go bare from the get go. This way, you won't have a half chipped nail polish during your whole trip and it won't bother you either. If you just can't part ways with nail polish, use a clear nail polish that won't be too noticeable if/once it chips!

What tricks and tips do you use when travelling?

<3

M.

Turkey Travel Diary - Part 3: Pamukkale, Bodrum and Ephesus

After visiting the Cappadocia, our next stop was Pamukkale. Pamukkale is a small town famous for its lime pools (nature made!) Bathing in these pools is a one-of-a-kind experience, and if you get the chance to visit, definitely do! The pools are jam-packed with people during the day so I advise you to go around 6pm or later.

Sadly, the natural pools have been closed off due to people damaging them so we weren't able to swim in those. However, the artificially created pools are quite nice too (not the same as the originals, but I'll take 'em!)

We also got to see the dervish dance! It felt a bit touristy and not that traditional as it might've been in Konya (our stop between Cappadocia and Pamukkale). In Konya it's traditionally performed every other day in caves, which makes the whole experience more authentic. 

However, it was great seeing what it was like!

After spending two nights in Pamukkale, we took off for Bodrum. Let me tell you something about Bodrum: it's awesome for partying (which I wasn't there to do) but too crowded for my taste. It's a beautiful touristy town but I definitely recommend to check out Göltürkbükü (difficult name to remember) if you want to spend a whole day under the sun.

The beaches are made of rock, which I prefer since the water is way more clear than if you go to sandy beaches.  We were able to rent a deck chair literally two steps from the sea for 30 turkish liras (=10€ approx.) which included food, drinks and the rent of the chair itself! (sweet deal, right?)

Our last destination (before going back to Istanbul for our return flight) was Ephesus! Ephesus is the ruins of an ancient Greek city which has so much history you will be fascinated. There's a site that was supposed to be Mary's last home (The House of Virgin Mary), as well as what I loved the most: The Library of Celsus (of which now only remains the façade).

We spent the night in Selçuk, in an adorable and charming hotel called Boomerang Guesthouse, which I strongly recommend if you're going to visit Ephesus. The family that owns the hotel also owns the restaurant beside it and they are extremely lovely!

And this is the end of our trip :)

Let me know what you think about Turkey, these 3-post series or what you had for lunch!

<3

M.

Turkey Travel Diary - Part 2: Cappadocia

After Istanbul, we spent one night in Ankara. We barely saw anything (which is a shame) and there are no pictures of us in the capital. The next morning, our destination was Göreme but we decided to visit Tuz Gölü along the way! :)

Tuz Gölü is a salt lake that you can walk on for miles and find no water whatsoever (at least not in the middle of Summer). It's absolutely beautiful but be prepared: wear sunglasses and SPF! (Your skin and retinas will thank you later)

We finally got to Göreme. That place is truly a beauty! It's a small town, very touristy in fact, but worth visiting. The food is delicious and there's this kebab dish that is prepared in a vase that they break before serving it to you (I've forgotten what it was called, damn)... it was the best! (Pictured below)

We stayed two nights and had thought about getting on a hot air balloon (it's the most important must when you visit Cappadocia), however the prices were way too high and we decided to make the most of our only full day in the area... 

road trip!

During our small road trip, we visited the Underground City of Derinkuyu and the Valley of Ihlara, as well as many other towns along the way. The Valley of Ihlara is full of small, extremely old orthodox churches carved into the stone of the steep valley and is one of the most wonderful things I've seen in Turkey!

<3 M.