Transatlantic Travel Kit

Louis Vuitton "Travel Spirit" Campaign

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

  We are very lucky to be in the age where traveling is easily available. Whether for work or for fun we move around our planet with the exiting adventures ahead. However quite a few, forget the important part of how to look after oneself whilst in process of traveling. There is common knowledge about not drinking alcohol on a plane and wearing something comfy. I will share my experience on how to face the new adventures with a fresh looking and happy face!

The contents of my travel bag

My trip was estimated at 24 hours, 3 planes and 4hour car drive, knowing this I've approached the allowed liquids on board to the max. As the general basics wet wipes are a must, try to get the ones which will suit your skin the best. For example Olay has great wipes if you have a few wrinkles. I prefer to use the ones which have cucumber or aloe extracts as my skin gets breakouts from the aircon in the plane and lack of sleep and too much stress. Great wipes which have both are Josie Maran Bear Naked wipes.

Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes, Olay Total Effects Facial Cloths  

My next step would be use a moisturizing face mask, for the practicality I chose cloth masks, they might be scaring the other passengers but the cloth creates warm and humid climate which will help your skin to suck up all those amazing vitamins and products. For this trip I've tried the most basic face mask which I've found in the local chemist. Surprisingly the results were amazing. Not only was my face properly hydrated, it also got a healthy color and reduced any imperfections which were coming my way. If you have someone scrumptious picking you up from the plane, or an event to go to, why not pamper yourself with La Mer facial mask! If you have sensitive skin I would recommend the Dr.Jart+ Brightening Infusion, which does what it says on the packet safely. Another tip is to read the directions and pick a mask which you are allowed to leave in and avoid trying to wash your face in the tiny sinks.

Aloe Essence Mask, Chrissy Teigen showing us how its done, la Mer Hydrating Facial Mask, Dr.Jart+ Brightening Infusion

I am a big fan of Allure Beauty Box as it provides an opportunity to try out great products and everything comes in a travel friendly size, quite a few items were found there! For the times when I need to have cover up I am using the Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream. It has silky texture (perhaps best to use a sponge to avoid lines) and a slight warm tint which looks beautiful due to the deep moisturizing. It is also SPF 25 which is great for the outdoors. On the note of tinted creams, I would have to take a side note and recommend MAC C Cream with SPF30 which has a radiance booster after which skin is illuminated, great way to forget foundation if your in a hot country.
In the samples category I will also mention those cute little tubes of perfume. As its summer I take with me Creed Love in White and Dior Addict. Those babies give you a chance to have your 100ml bottle in the suitcase and still have a lovely scent during travel.

Clarins BB Perfecting Cream, MAC C Cream with Radiance Booster, Creed Samples

Another great find in the Beauty Box was Matrix Exquisite Oil which not only smells yummy, but  has great protection for your hair, apply before landing to smooth out signs of uncomfortable napping. Do not threat it has a very light formula which means that your hair wont become greasy.
If you are prone to greasy hair, you really should take with you Percy & Reed Dry Shampoo in travel size. It's a great buy because unlike the majority shampoos in the market it doesn't make your roots white! Nevertheless be prepared that some airports won't allow you to take it with you. 
I have had am 11 hour flight, which meant that after the face mask, I was applying moisturizer at least a couple more times. I used a sample from Clinique- Even Better which really replenished and evened out my skin.
As for moisturizing hands Ive chosen Elemis Hand and Nail cream, obviously because hands are super long for a long time and above all because I am totally loving the Jasmine and Rose smell.

Matrix Exquisite Oil, Percy & Reed Dry Shampoo, Clinique- Even Better, Elemis Hand and Nail cream

 There won't be much help from all the above products if you land with dry, red and bloodshot eyes. After working in the office in front of computer and after heading out to an event, I have discovered that having sparkling eyes, completely changes how you look. The same theory is for your travel. I use Innoxa Gouttes Bleus (simply known as French Blue Eye Drops). They are based on cornflower and one of the very few 'safe' to use eye drops, especially as you can use them as often as every half an hour. Their funky blue liquid instantly brightens your eyes and disguises the signs of your tiering trip.
If I feel like my skin is drying up, but don't want to overdo with the moisturizer I use Organic Pharmacy Facial Spritz, it tones and refreshes your skin with a light rose scent, which in my eyes wins over standard aqua mist options.
Being totally fussy I double up on health and safety by using anti-bacterial hand gel. I am loving the Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar hand gel, it does the job without the eye watering smell of the Ethanol.

Innoxa Gouttes Bleus, Organic Pharmacy Facial Spritz and Tonic, Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar hand gel

For lip care I really like the yellow Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care balm, somehow I use these up quite often. They moisturize, and give a glossy shine and come in bright colors which make them easy to find in your bag.
For the actual gloss I use Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Prefector in shade 01 as its grate for softening the lips as well as giving them that plump look. Most of the women I know have this gloss, which is quite rare with the vast amount of choices out there. So go ahead and try out out! I'm sure that you will join our cult!
Finally to add a bit of color I have fell in love with my latest discovery the Dior Cheek & Lip Glow. For the lips you will have a deep shine for the first 10 minutes, after which its tingly formula blends into your lips and gives you a strawberry tint which last for a very long time. It will also work as a great base for your lipstick as it seals the lips. For the cheeks, get some practice and preferably apply it on a skin without foundation as it washes it out. If you must have some cover, it works best with BB creams as the moisture in them allows it to evenly blend. The result is very healthy and fresh looking cheeks!

Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care, Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Prefector, Dior Cheek & Lip Glow

Do not threat by the amount of products, they all fit in my 10 x15 makeup bag, they are all very compact and come under allowance of the in-flight liquids. They might make your handbag heavier but they give you something to do on the long trip and of course leave you looking fabulous.

As usual all the link are live and allow you to browse online to discover these products in further detail!

That Summer Shoe

We all have easily given in to the seduction of wearing comfy trainers and slip-ons this season. However I have been catching myself on pairing an outfit with bright colored sandals, before thinking of how much walking is ahead of me and changing my mind back to flats.

Therefore for those times when its a fun filled day, date or some summery rooftop cocktail party I have decided to tempt you with the irrepressible heals of the hottest season (There might not be much of summer left.... but why not go on a holiday)!

The Bright

Brian Atwood Sonya, Jimmy Choo Lance, Louboutin Hot Chick and Pensamoi

When you think of summer your probably imagining the above colors and just think how stunning those juicy shades will look with our mid summer tans! The Brian Atwood Sonya  with its contrasted pattern will be perfect for a gallery visit and easily matched with ripped boyfriend jeans or as a pop of color with the little black dress.
Jimmy Choo's Lance sandal has become a classic on the red carpet as it's thin straps do all the right things to make our legs look longer and thinner. This less aggressive raspberry color will be a super sweet number matched with a girly summery dress for a lunch with the girls or an ice cream in the park. The Christian Louboutin Hot Chick is more infamous in it's mint color which was overused in the spring season. Therefore this bright yellow shade will give you an ultimate lift above the crowd (literally, have you tried walking in those) in the club scene, whether your your rocking a casual baggy jean or an all out there look they will do their job! Finally the celebrity favorite Pensamoi Louboutins (also fabulous in black), those babies have a perfect balance between sweet and sexy, mature and youthful and my ultimate winner for the first date!


The Mules

Manolo Blahnik Breval, Sophia Webster Cherub Gold and Riko Orchid, Guiseppe Zanotti Brigitte

Mummy always taught me that the mules are the perfect summer shoes especially if you live in a hot city like Moscow (yes its hot in summer). I associate them as the flip flops of the high heeled shoes (partially as some actually make the same noise), and for the most important reason is that those are less likely to rub and give you blisters. Another moment to consider is that an open ankle, especially on a shoe with the right raise, looks especially sexy as your ankles and feet look smaller. I have chosen the super fun bright options to get away from the old fashioned stereotype of the mules. Unlike the above, those are trickier to match, try out cropped trousers in the style of Audrey Hepburn or A-line summer dress, perhaps think a bit of Samantha from Sex and the City and do some color blocking or all in one with a fitted dress. Skinny jeans will work only if they are short and come up way above the ankle, if they are long, then welcome to the cheap zone.  

The Super Steady

Sophia Webster Amanda Gem, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Fendi

Wedding, Golf Club, Regatta.... bring it on, grass and decking will not scare us! I have never been a massive fan of the fat heal, mainly due to the fear or my feet looking chunky. However, having grown up and done my research through a vast amount of shopping I have realised that these babies are life lifesavers! The Sopia Webster would look super cute with a girly girl outfit and if you don't have super long legs, opt for a super short skirt! How about going for a fabulous cruise look with the McQueens with a long beige dress out of natural materials and in a style of a wrap or a shirt (if the colors match then this Dolce dress will be super cute). I adore those Gucci sandals, they combine comfort and class, great with an office dress or something plain and cool. The Fendi's are super cute and full of detail, the contrast between chunky heal and thin straps is adorable. I would love to find a dress in that sky blue to match the heal! Overall I wouldn't recommend those types of shoes if you have big ankles or your legs aren't toned, in fact it could be a disaster, if you must stick to thin straps and platforms which aren't as chunky as Sophia Webster option. 

The Black

Guiesppe Zanotti Beverly and  Carine, Christian Louboutin Casanovella, Gucci Maxime

Yes... I know... I couldn't help it.... even in summer I cannot resist black, The ultimate 'matches everything, looks cool and sexy', beloved black. The Beverly Zannoti's will be the type of shoe that will be used a lot, its slick and simple and will go with day as well as nigh time options. I really like the way Chrissy Teigen casually wears those, consider her style to work your mules to the max. The Carine are for the ultimate bling lovers, did I mention that they are also available in satin red and grey? Wear them with plain colors and elegant lines, avoid shiny dresses and a heap of accessories, just let the shoes do the talking!  The Louboutin sandals move us closer to the upcoming trends with fringe, perfect to enharnce your strut and dance moves. Gucci mules are the most covered option, the crustal horsebit detail and open toe brings some fun to the classic model, therefore why not mix and match with some shorts, baggy black tshirt and a wide rim hat!?

There are so many beautiful options out there that it was very hard to pick the examples. I will let you, my fellow shoe lovers to browse through the collection as always all links on my blog are live and bring your to the right sources.... and did I mention that its SALE time on majority of the brands?!

P.S. Brian Artwood's web site annoyed me with its format, therefore I will share the imagine that brings the warm memories of Carrie and the fluffy shoes season! It's the 2013 collection, but there will be no age negatives when it comes to shoes on my blog! 

Brian Atwood FW 2013 Campaign