The Photo Diary: Copenhagen

The Photo Diary: Paris

The Holiday Series: Shoes and Bags

What is it about shoes and bags that makes them so different to photograph? Or it could just be me and seriously lacking photography skills. The last part in the holiday series has arrived, and it's accessories. I decided not to show you all the fashion items that I am taking with me on holiday. Because I intend to take full advantage of having Mr. Mike around for a week, which means... outfit photographs! Sorry dude, I know you read these posts, so you should be prepared.

I think the only area I am slightly over packing in is this area. Admittedly, four pair of heels and four bags aren't exactly necessary. But since I've been such a good girl with my outfit packing, I felt like I could exaggerate. If only just a little.

The Zara Office City bag is the perfect hand luggage size. Big and roomy and with plenty of compartments for me to lose my passport in. Plus it has padded cases for laptops and iPads. I've decided to only take my iPad with me, and I have scheduled a few posts so there won't be too much silence from me while I am gone.

Clutches are a girl's best friend when it comes to outfit accessorizing. One in black, one in a neutral shade of pink. A small cross body bag in a nice color for just the necessities, and I just love the stud detailing going on right here.

Black heeled sandals have been the it shoes of the last three fashion seasons. I own the iconic Zara ones and it pains me to say that the above pictured dupes from Primark are just a lot more comfortable.

I saw the white heeled sandals in the Zara sale and I caved. I just had to have them. I have only worn them around the house and I will give them their real debut on the gorgeous scenery in Port El Kantaoui.

Nude pumps. No further explanation needed. Okay, well maybe I need to explain the slightly grunge looking sticker inside my shoe. My parents did something interesting when creating me, they made one foot shorter than the other. Without the little sticker this shoe doesn't fit my foot right, and it just flops around.

I saw these blue low heel sandals in the Primark store in Essen about two weeks ago. They're so gorgeous, and cheap. The perfect everyday heel. The cobalt blue color looks great with both white and black and the metal details on the straps add a certain little extra. Long story short, I'm in love.

But what about flats, you might say? Well of course I have packed them. But let's be honest, flats just don't count.

The Holiday Series: Beauty Packing

For a self proclaimed beauty junkie it is quite difficult to pack a streamlined collection for you to take on holiday. But I feel like I have really done a proper job with the following bits of beauty products. In today's post I am focussing on everything beauty related. From skin to hair to makeup.

First up is skin care. My biggest obsession as of late. I am a faithful believer in the gospel of Caroline Hirons and pretty much take all her advice to heart. Mineral oil has been banned from my face, I double cleanse whenever I have worn makeup or sunscreen and I make sure to get as much moisture into my skin. This makes it really difficult when trying to downsize your skin care selection.

I decided to not stray too far from my usual routine. I'm only leaving my morning toner and cleanser at home, I will just use my nighttime cleansing oil as a substitute. My biggest struggle was whether to pack my favorite cleansing cream or not. The tub it comes in is massive and completely ridiculous to take with me on an eight day trip. In the end I decided to take the tiny remaining amount of moisturizer I have left and decant that into a small travel size pot. I cleaned that out completely and filled the pot up with the Clarins cleanser.

Clarins Extra Comfort Cream cleanser (decanted in old Hans Schreuder moisturizer pot) | L'Oreal Skin perfection advanced correcting serum | Origins ginzing moisturizer (morning cream) | Origins Clean Energy gentle cleansing oil (nighttime makeup remover/morning cleanser) | Clarins Gentle exfoliator (1st tone) | The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating toner (2nd tone) | Douglas travel size luminous eye gel | La Roche Posay Hydreane Extra Rich (nighttime moisturizer) | La Roche Posay effaclar duo

And of course a selection of cotton pads and swabs for proper toning and removing. I also just realized that I left out my favorite eye makeup remover which is the Clarins waterproof eye makeup remover. You might miss a facial sun screen in this picture, but just to remind you. My La Roche Posay Anthelios 50+ tinted sun screen was already packed in my hand luggage, which you can read here. 

Second is makeup. I think makeup is really easy to streamline. I haven't been wearing a lot of makeup on an everyday basis here in the Netherlands, so I know for sure that I won't be wearing tons on holiday. During nights I'd might want to put in a little more effort. Because you know, it's my first getaway with Mr. Mike and I want to look at least a little desirable.

Shu Uemura lash curlers | Collistar Sun effect bronzer 08 Champagne | Zoeva Cream cheek brush | Zoeve Silk Finish brush | MAC cream color base in Hush | YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat |  Catrice Long Lasting eyeliner waterproof (pencil) | L'Oreal Superliner extra thin (felt tip) | L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic mascara | Bourjois Color Boost in Peach on the beach | Clarins Instant Light natural lip perfector in 02 Apricot Shimmer | Bobbi Brown creamy corrector | Bourjois Cream bush in 01 and 02 | Maybelline Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze | Catrice Made to Stay in Mauvie Star

The keyword for my capsule makeup collection is 'handy application'. Products that require little or no brushes at all for perfect application are important. I do not want to pack an entire brush belt with all my different type of blushes when I can also use brilliant cream based products that work great in warmer climates. Cream blushes, highlighters and shadows are key in my holiday makeup bag. 

Hair and body are also really import during summer. With the heat and bright sun blazing down on me for the most part of the day my skin and hair need plenty of moisture and protection.

Hair bands | travel friendly tangle teezer | Primark teasing brush | teasing comb | John Frieda brilliant brunette shampoo and conditioner | Gold of Morocco Argan oil 

Lounging in the sea breeze takes its toll on your ends. I am deciding not to have my hair cut and colored before I leave but to save that treatment until after I get back. So any damage that might be done to my hair will be cured when I get back. Obviously I will try to limit the damage by using hydrating products that restore moisture to my locks. 

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Cream Body Scrub | The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter | Rituals Sunrise Sweet Orange & Cedar shower foam | Vision All Day Sun Protection SPF30  | Gilette Venus razor

Smooth, soft skin is essential for a beach vacation. And the products pictured above will help me maintain just that. And let's not forget that the Body Shop's vineyard peach smells like heaven! The all day sun protection is a brilliant invention. Holidays are supposed to be relaxing and remembering to put your sunscreen on every hour just isn't. With the special formula in Vision's sun protection I only have to apply once every five to seven hours. Perfect!

And that concludes the second part of my holiday packing series. Later this week the third and final part will be uploaded. I am so ridiculously excited for my holiday. I cannot wait to do nothing for eight days. 

The Holiday Series: Hand Luggage

  

Going on holiday takes tons of planning, stress and in my experience... sitting on suitcases. I'm a pathological over-packer. An eight day getaway to some beach paradise means I'll take a fully packed suitcase with thirty outfit changes, half my shoe collection and a clutch in every color of the rainbow. I often even pack a large chunky sweater. What? It might be cold. 

Let's face it, it isn't going to be cold. You don't require five different kinds of black shorts, or seven pairs of sandals, or god forbid eightteen shades of pink lipstick. My packing habits need to be controlled, and this seems like the perfect way to do it and get some content up on her as well. Double whammy. I'll be jetting off to sunny Tunisia by next Tuesday, August 20th, for a well deserved and much needed break away from all the stress and worries of the last year. Eight days of doing nothing, lounging at the beach with a cocktail in my hand. Perfection. 

But what do I pack? In a series of three posts that will be published over the course of the week I'll discuss three themes of holiday packing. First in this series, the carry-on/hand luggage. 

Hand luggage tends to be a difficult subject when it comes to packing. With specific restrictions with each airline telling you what you can and cannot carry on board with you. General hand luggage weight limits are set at 10kg/22lbs, but it depends which airline you're taking and what class you're travelling in. 

There are quite a bit of beauty related items I want to pack in my hand luggage. Airplane climates are terrible for my already dry skin, so hydration is a must. But what can be packed, and more importantly, how should it be packed? Because I can't imagine anything worse than seeing your precious creams chucked into a large bin at the security check. 

Any liquid or gel can be taken onto a plane provided it is packed in a clear re-seal-able bag (like a Ziploc) and the packaging doesn't hold more than 100ml. For example your 30ml bottle of BB cream is allowed and a 300ml bottle of water filled a quarter of the way up isn't. You also can't take more than 1000ml. Anything that you can smear is considered a gel. That includes lipstick, moisturizer, masks, hand cream, etc.. Fun but slightly confusing fact, lip balm is not considered a gel by most airlines and can be thrown into your luggage without having to be put in the plastic bag.

So what am I actually packing onto my trip? You got a little preview at the top of the post but there is a more detailed shot below.

Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm | Shu Uemora lash curler | La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Tinted SPF50+ | The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist | Dove Minimising deodorant | Bourjois cream blush in 02 | Origins Drink Up Intensive mask (decanted) | Anastasia clear brow gel | Anti bac hand gel | cotton pads | L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic mascara | L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3-in-1 micellar solution (decanted) | OPI Avoplex cuticle oil | L'Occitane Honey hand cream | cotton swabs | hair bands & some pins

Besides those beauty related items I'm also packing my camera, my iPad and the magazine I used to display the products above. My Ray Ban folding wayfarers are also in my bag, great when you come off the plane and are thrust into the searing hot climate. A small notebook is an everyday essential no matter where I go. And you can't really go travelling without your passport and travel documents. I have a great cobalt blue case for my passport, tickets, some change and my credit card. Quite handy when your running around an airport. Tax free shopping, anyone?

And if you're wondering if the mass of stuff pictured above will easily fit into a 1000ml Ziploc bag? Then feast your eyes on the picture below. It took some twisting and turning but I have my in-flight essentials ready for my trip.