A WEEKEND AWAY // SMART(ER) PACKING

Okay, so we've established that I'm a bit of a 'YOLO' packer... In the past I was the most meticulous packer (and perhaps a little overboard), planning months in ahead and packing with precision. (In fact, my mother used to say that I enjoyed packing more than the trip itself!)
But lately that hasn't been the case. On my most recent trip overseas I ended up taking a whole heap of stuff that I'd hoped would come in handy...and didn't end up using a lot of it. I'll be going away this weekend for a camp, so this may just be my chance to redeem myself! This time I've stripped it down to the bare essentials - my reliable favourites that will do the job; no bells and whistles (though that's not to say that they aren't fab!).

Toiletries (plus face towel, toothbrush and toothpaste which aren't pictured):

Clockwise from top left:
- Neways Subdue deodorant
- Garnier makeup wipes
- Cetaphil cleanser
- La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
- Neways Barrier Cream
- Clinique Moisture Surge (15ml)
- Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion
- Avène Cold Cream Hand Cream
- Pantene shampoo and conditioner minis
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser
- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion +

Makeup:

Clockwise-ish from top left:
- Mecca Cosmetica In a Good Light
- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
- Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler
- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
- Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil in Black
- E.l.f Cosmetics Angled Eyeliner Brush
- Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm
- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose
- Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm in Anti-Oxidant Berry
- b Collection by Bloom Cream Blush in Barossa Valley
- Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina EDT mini

Other bits and pieces:

Clockwise from top left:
- Agnès B. makeup pouch
- Batiste Cherry dry shampoo mini
- Hairties and bobby pins
- Tweezerman tweezers


...So that's it - the 'bare essentials'. We'll see how I go! :)

THE STANDOUT // ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT HOUR CREAM INTENSIVE DAILY MOISTURIZER

As mentioned in my previous post, Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face SPF 15 PA++ (phew, what a name!) was the major standout for me, and a wonderful in-flight companion. It was included in a pack I'd bought from Priceline, along with the cult-favourite Eight Hour Cream and a lip balm, but I was less than keen to try it after excitedly testing out the Eight Hour Cream and being put off entirely by its strong scent and sticky texture. I figured that the Intensive Daily Moisturizer would be equally thick and difficult to spread, but with the added bonus of SPF. On a whim I thought I'd bring it with me overseas, as it was a travel-friendly size - just in case I needed an SPF during the flight. I put it to the test mid-flight when I noticed my skin becoming drier, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that despite having the same off-putting medicinal scent as the Eight Hour Cream, it was light - of an almost whipped consistency - quickly absorbed, and resulted in instantly smooth and hydrated skin. Plus, a little goes a long way - the blob shown below is enough to cover half my face (though I suppose my face is on the small side...) Indeed, it was love at first swipe. I'm still not sure if my adulation for it is simply due to my previous extraordinarily low expectations, but at any rate, this little prod has certainly earned its keep.

What are your can't-live-without products that you were previously wrong about?

DEPARTURE // THE RECAP

As I'm in the process of unpacking and tidying the mess I call my room, I thought it'd be interesting to review the numerous products I brought with me overseas (the majority of which I didn't really use enough to justify bringing). And I ought to apologise right about now, because the stuff pictured in my previous 'Departure' post isn't even half of what I actually brought... I know, I know. Um. A hoarder in every sense! In my defence, my frantic tossing of other bits and pieces into my suitcase was mainly induced by my mindset of 'just in case', rather than 'practical and necessary'... I'll be wiser for next time. Hopefully.

What I packed in carry-on luggage:

- Natio Spa with Organics Heavenly Hand Cream
- Neways Barrier Cream
- La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
- Nivea Daily Face Veil SPF 30
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15 PA++
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Nourishing Lip Balm with Sunscreen
- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose
- B Collection by Bloom Cream Blush for Lips and Cheeks in Barossa Valley
- Maybelline Baby Lips in Anti-Oxidant Berry
- MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NC30

What I actually used on the plane:

- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Nourishing Lip Balm with Sunscreen
- Natio Spa with Organics Heavenly Hand Cream
- Neways Barrier Cream
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15 PA++
- Maybelline Baby Lips in Anti-Oxidant Berry

Admittedly I was too distracted by the movies on the plane to be bothered about being meticulous with skincare during the nine-hour flight. My skin prep beforehand seemed sufficiently hydrating, though I did apply a layer of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15 PA++ about half way, and hand cream and lip balm frequently throughout. The Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15 PA++ absolutely exceeded my expectations and I credit it to my happy complexion upon landing. Full review coming soon.

What I used the most while overseas:

- Neways Barrier Cream
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Sunscreen
- La Roche-Posay Uvidea XL Melt-In BB Cream
- Nivea Daily Face Veil SPF 30
- Maybelline Baby Lips in Anti-Oxidant Berry

What I didn't really use:

- Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry
- Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder
- Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple
- Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel
- Real Techniques Buffing Brush and Stippling Brush
- ModelsPrefer Airbrush
- EcoTools Deluxe Concealer Brush
- Natio Spa with Organics Heavenly Hand Cream
- La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15 PA++
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Nourishing Lip Balm with Sunscreen
- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose
- B Collection by Bloom Cream Blush for Lips and Cheeks in Barossa Valley
- MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NC30
- Garnier Clean Detox Makeup Wipes

I know. Yikes.
Granted, while overseas, I couldn't care in the slightest how I looked. SPF was my priority, along with lip balm, and I didn't bother too much with eye makeup as I was wearing sunglasses most of the time. However, I did use these products less than a handful of times, when we went out for lunch or dinner at places that required patrons to look at least socially acceptable.

What I wish I'd brought:

- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+
- Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Cream

Thankfully there aren't too many products in this category! I found myself wishing for Clinique's DDML+ when my face was randomly dry and irritated, and there seemed to be no cure (which is largely the reason why I ended up bringing the Clinique Moisture Surge home...), and lip butter when my lips wanted something richer after spending a little too long in the sun and wind.

What I learnt:
Pantene conditioner makes an excellent shaving cream in a pinch.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15 PA++ is fabulous and I should feel ashamed for overlooking it previously.
Make do with fingers instead of brushes where possible.

What I know for next time:
Bringing excessive amounts of stuff that won't be used makes for a painful trip and limits the haulage that can be brought back (lose-lose situation).
Generally speaking, there's no need to bring so much carry-on as I'm more likely to be watching movies or sleeping on the plane than making use of the liquids/gels/aerosols that I brought with me.


What are your travel essentials?
Are you a hoarder like me?

REVIEW // CULT BEAUTY PRODUCT - ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT HOUR CREAM

I picked this up from Priceline, along with a few other items, during their Boxing Day (Day-After-Boxing-Day?) sale which featured a 40% off promotion on skincare and sun-care, spurred on by my own curiosity, and the encouragements of beauty bloggers such as Lisa Eldridge. I was quite excited to try it as I'd heard so much about it - so much so that I didn't really bother to research or Google reviews on it. Is it really worth the hype, though? That remains to be seen...

Product claims, according to website: "The skincare classic that soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked, dry skin. Soothes roughness, redness and minor skin irritations."

My first trial of this product was a spur-of-the-moment decision, with exhaustion to blame, one late January night when I was too tired to care what I slapped on before heading to bed. So I quickly grabbed this as it was laying around - for some unknown reason confusing it with Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm in my fatigued mind - and hastily squeezed a dollop into the palm of my hand. My first impressions of the product were the scent - an oddly medicinal kind of smell - and the consistency - like that of an ointment. I would describe it as more of an ointment than a cream, as it is rather emollient and heavy, rather than of a 'creamy' consistency. Despite my initial hesitation, I slathered it on anyway - and instantly regretted it. It was so thick and heavy that my immediate reaction was to get it off, so I actually grabbed a tissue and tried to remove it, unsuccessfully. There was something about the almost-'stickiness' of the product that made it uncomfortable to wear. It was certainly not the light moisturiser I'd been accustomed to using in the Summer (Neways' Firm Up, in case you're wondering). I had decided to shelve it for the cooler months, or perhaps a plane trip, if it indeed came up in the near future.

On a whim, I was inspired to give it another chance last night, upon noticing that my skin was drier than normal - though, with the weather being like it has been as of late, it's really no wonder. Anyhow, I squirted a blob onto my palm again, caught a whiff of it, and was instantly reminded of my first lacklustre experience with this famous apricot-tinted 'cream'. Yes, it is very heavy and spreads with some difficulty, requiring a good deal of massaging in before it starts to feel like it's no longer sitting on top of the skin. It's also quite long-lasting, as I discovered that first time...

When I woke up this morning the scent had disappeared (no doubt transferred to my pillow), and I noticed that my skin overall was smoother and more hydrated, though the dry patches from the night before had stuck around, although diminished in size. After washing my face and moisturising with Neways Barrier Cream, however, I found my face to be feeling much better - smooth and moisturised, minus the greasy, sticky sensation. As a side note, it also worked as a hydrating lip treatment, though it didn't taste overly pleasant.

I can also vouch for its prowess as both an eyebrow tamer and highlighter, though I wouldn't say that those accreditations are sufficient to consider it a cult product. I will be taking a trip overseas in a month's time, so perhaps it may have another chance to prove its worth, though presently I'm not entirely convinced. I concede that the hype surrounding this product may have lead to unrealistic expectations on my part - or I could be using it entirely wrong. That said, its lip balm little sister is one that I'm thoroughly impressed with and have absolutely no qualms about.

Have you tried Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream? Love it, or loathe it?

WEEK IN REVIEW //

My week overall was quite busy (well, busier than usual), with a couple of days of work, a few dance classes, and some long-overdue catch-ups with friends. The highlight of my week was probably catching up with friends, and listening to Disney songs as I cleaned my room (also long-overdue, and a hoarder's worst nightmare!) As most of my week consisted of casual gatherings, I found myself reaching for Mecca Cosmetica's In A Good Light (light coverage with added SPF 30) over MAC's Face and Body (usually reserved for work and 'going out').