Guest Post: It’s all in the lipstick and sunglasses honey...

Bonjour!

When Jules asked me to impart some of my best travel advice for her blog, the topic of lookin’ good on the fly instantly came to mind. This skill was borne out of necessity in the summer of 2015, when I had the pleasure of traveling around Europe with my very energetic and frugal (aka, cheap) French husband. French hubby just happens to be a semi-professional runner and a tad bit younger than me – so when I say energetic, I mean like toddler on cotton candy energetic.

The frugal part, two words: Ryan Air. If you’re not familiar, it is a super-budget European airline where it’s not uncommon to find that your flight is only $12 – but you must fit EVERYTHING into, essentially, a make-up bag. For me, everything includes clothes, shoes, and of course, the random outfits I will never use but take just in case I get invited to a themed gala, electro dance party, yacht party or mountain climbing expedition (I digress). Ryan Air always presents a bit of a problem.

We also “rented the cheapest mini-car in Poland” – I’m not joking… see below.

So what did this mean? I had very little space for the arsenal of products I normally use – nor the 2 hours it takes to get my “I woke up like dis” glow. Seriously, on this trip we were out the door within 20 minutes of waking because jack-rabbit hubby wanted to see ALL THE THINGS… No time for primping – coffee and croissants in the car, my love!

So here I was, on the trip of a lifetime with the potential for Instagram gold, but stuck with minimal products and practically no time. How on earth was I going to appear rested and glowing from my long vacation when I was actually exhausted and slightly hungover for a large part of the trip (thank you, wine and jet lag)?

In fact, when I returned from this trip Julie asked me this very question, “How did you look so fabulous in all of your pictures!? You must have been exhausted, but you always looked amazing!!” To which I replied,

“Honey, it was the SUNGLASSES AND LIPSTICK.”

Hence, this no-brainer guest blog post 🙂

Case in point…

Big difference. No?

So here’s what we do:

Sunglasses

Let’s face it, no part of your body gives you away when you’ve slept only 3 hours the night before (or drank two bottles of wine) like your eyes. Not to say that all of us are raging like college kids while on vacation. Travel, in general can make you look tired. From the recycled air on the plane, to not drinking enough water – I always end up with puffy eyes and dark circles at some point. The key is to cover that shit up! And bonus, this one works for you fellas too…

To look extra Insta-fabulous, go for interesting frames – but make sure they suit your face (you ain’t Elton John, honey… all shapes don’t work on everyone). Also, make sure you get a pair with full UVA/UVB coverage (shades labeled UV 400 cover both!). Wearing sunglasses and STILL having to squint is the worst… AND it causes wrinkles.

Rockin’ these Warby Parkers…

Finally, don’t spend too much on your travel sunglasses. If you’re like me you’re bound to lose a pair (or two) during the journey with all the moving around. However, if you just LOVE high-end sunglasses, you can always head to places like Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off Fifth to find them for a fraction of the price.

Here are a few options I’m loving right now (hint, a classic aviator looks good on almost everyone)…

Side note: Make sure to take a few pictures without sunglasses too, just for the memories, but otherwise – no one needs to know that the perfectly rested smoky eye doesn’t lie beneath your shades.

Lipstick

Now that your fabulous shades are covering your puffy eyes, beautify the next most noticeable thing on your face… your lips! According to the Wikipedia (because they know everything), Cleopatra crushed bugs to color her lips – it’s that important!

As far as which lipstick to choose, I know… there are too many options. For years I found myself buying stick after stick, never loving anything enough to stay loyal. But that all changed 7 years ago when I finally stumbled upon the holy grail of lip color. It’s matte, but hydrating, and the color stays on well. But, the best thing? It’s cheap! Like $6 cheap!

Here it is: Revlon ColorBurst Matte Lip Balm in Sultry

Buy this stuff, you can thank me later! This lipstick is wedding day good, and I’ve made loyalists out of several friends because it looks great on everyone. It can be worn bold or softened (just apply clear lip gloss on top and blot), so it’s great for both day and night.

Finally, if you’re looking for something with a little more pop try ”Unapologetic” from the same line. It’s a great neutral red that’s guaranteed to please.

Other stuff

Since you can’t wear sunglasses at night (technically), here are my tried and true essentials that bring my face back to life in less than 20 minutes for a fun night out…

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – This Vitamin C Serum brightens and hydrates my skin quicker than any product I’ve used. I never let myself run out!
Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil – The name says it all really! If you have really dry skin like me, add a few drops of this to the Truth Serum for maximum glow.
Amore Pacific CC Cream – I use this as my foundation on the daily. It’s lightweight but buildable and, most importantly, doesn’t crease in the new found wrinkles of my mid-30’s. Too pricey? Try Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance instead.
Cle de Peu Concealer – Since the eyes tell everything, I’m a little extravagant with my under eye concealer. This one doesn’t crease and stays on for hours… also super hydrating for travel skin! For a cheaper alternative try: Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer
NARS Bronzer and Blush Duo – You can’t look vacation rested without a tan (a little of this stuff goes a long way… less is more! No need to carry on for hours like the makeup video girls… what on earth?!)

Then of course, a little mascara (and the lipsticks I mentioned earlier) and you are ready for a night out.

Here I am wearing JUST the above products…

Finally, please remember that you are absolutely fabulous just the way you are and that no one is as cute as they look on Instagram. Not saying that I’m super cute on Instagram, but here I am on the regular, just to keep it real…