my travel skincare and makeup

I've been getting a little more into skincare and makeup recently. Ever since I started wearing makeup I've been a Simple Cleanser and an Avene Moisturiser girl. I've never toned and I don't use makeup remover as my cleanser has always done the trick. Now I'm in my 30s I've decided to try to take better care of my skin and enjoy pampering myself in the process. I like to alternate having either a facial or massage each month so the experts are involved (I go to Mirela Health and Beauty in Islington and Pauline is my therapist), but here I wanted to share with you what I've added to my daily skincare and makeup routine and also how to pack this larger collection of concoctions for a weekend away. T H E D E C A N T E D L I Q U I D S A N D O I L S :Many of the skincare items and holiday necessities I use come in bottles over the 100ml mark. But do not fear, I had a great time in Muji buying these little bottles and tubs to house my favourite liquids and oils. Shampoo - John Freida Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Moisturising ShampooConditioner - Faith in Nature Coconut ConditionerMakeup Remover/Moisteriser/Lip Balm - Biona Organic Raw Virgin Coconut OilCleanser - Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing OilOil - Aesop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment Normally I'm someone who likes sets and pairs or collections so it's perhaps out of character to have a shampoo and conditioner not designed to go together. However I find the Sheer Blonde Shampoo looks after my ombre highlights but still gets my locks feeling really clean and the Coconut Conditioner, which is completely natural, moisturises the ends much better than anything else and doesn't leave my hair feeling heavy. I'm really enjoying coconut products for skin and haircare, particularly raw organic Coconut Oil. Amazing stuff. So very good for your hair, skin and great in cooking too. Healthy glow-inducing stuff. T H E U N D E R 1 0 0 m l B O T T L E S A N D S P R A Y S :Here are the other bits that I squeeze into my allotted square transparent 'liquids bag' provided by the airport. Eye Cream - Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Dark Circles Eye CreamDry Shampoo - Colab Dry Shampoo in the fragrance RioTined Moisturiser/SPF - NARS Pure Radiant Tined Moisturiser SPF 30 in AlaskaDeodorant - Sanex Dermo Sensitive Lactoserum 24H Anti-perspirantPrimer - Rimmel London Lasting Finish PrimerConcealer - NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in VanillaSerum - Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Glow Boost Skin SerumMoisteriser - Avene Skin Recovery Cream I'm trying Una Brennan's Super Facialist range for the first time. Never before did I realise I should be using an eye cream and a serum along with my moisturiser, so these are very new to my routine, but my skin seems to be really liking them. Or at least my nose is - I love the orangey smell of the vitamin C in all the products. That extra vitamin C must be doing me good no? Colab Dry Shampoo is also new on the menu and I would go so far as to say it is, for me, life changing. It's such a relief to find a lighter, softer, cleaner dry shampoo (I used to use Baptise) which doesn't leave a residue of white powder all over your hair. Another great find is Nars Creamly Concealer. It well deserves all the hype it gets on the beauty circuit. The perfect concealer. I'll be keeping it in my makeup bag forevermore. T H E N O N - L I Q U I D M A K E U P :These are the bits that are safe in your case or handbag that don't face airport restrictions but that you do probably want to restrict up to a point for a holiday break. Concealer - Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in SandPowder with puff - Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder in Soft SandBrow shaper - Maybelline Browdrama Sculpting Brow Mascara in Medium BrownBronzer - Soap and Glory Solar PowderLipsticks - NARS Lipsticks in Barbarella and Roman HolidayBlusher - MAC Sheertone Blush in PeachesPressed powder - Bourjois Healthy Balance 10 Hr Unifying PowderMascara - Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest BlackEye liner - Revlon Colourstay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black I throw these products on for a bit of colour and definition. I have slightly sparse eyebrows in some areas and as well as filling in they need a bit of holding in place. Maybelline's Browdrama does the trick perfectly. An all in one brow product that's very easy on the wallet. The NARS lippys are my absolute fave. Creamy and sheer enough that you can whack them on without a mirror. I have two powders on the go at the mo. Bourjois Healthy Balance for dusting over to set the make up leaving a 'glow' and Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish for dabbing on as the day wears on and the 'glow' gets too glowy! T H E S E N S I B L E B I T S : Toothbrush - Muji Travel ToothbrushFace cloth/muslin - The Body Shop Muslin Cleansing ClothHairbands - Boots Thin HairbandsRazor - Gillette Venus Snap Womens Portable RazorCotton wool pads - Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Pads Round Cotton buds - Johnson's Baby Cotton Buds A lot of Boots love here but let's face it they do this stuff so well. The standout product for me here though is the Body Shop Muslin Cloth. I have sensitive and sometimes dry skin which needs exfoliating but gets very red if I go to hard on that front. The simple addition of this cloth to my daily routine gently exfoliates my skin while washing off my cleanser. I love a multi tasker! T H E B R U S H E S :Powder brush - NARS #20 Blush BrushContour/Bronzer brush - Real Techniques Contour BrushBuffing brush - Real Techniques Buffing BrushSetting/Concealer brush - Real Techniques Setting BrushBlusher brush - NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush These little bad boys have been the biggest change in the beauty stakes on my dressing table. Some are a bit of an investment but I can honestly say they have made makeup so much more satisfying and easy to apply and have opened up a whole new world of blushers, contouring and concealing that I didn't think could work on my skin/face. The NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush deposits exactly the right amount of blush to the check and blends it to perfection. No skill needed. And it's bloody gorgeous which doesn't hurt. My wash/makeup bag of choice is by Rosie Moss. Check out her designs, some of which are exclusive to SMUG here. If there's anything you think I'm missing do let me know. Comments box coming very soon.