Summer Travel Essentials

Woo hoo! Summer is here! Here are some essentials you'll find in my carry on this summer.

1. Jawbone UP. This bad boy tracks how far you walk, flights of stairs climbed, calories burned, and reminds you to stay active. It's fun knowing how many miles you tackled over the weekend! We logged thousands of steps while we were in New Zealand, and it was fun checking our stats at the end of the day. Purchase here.

2. Nerdwax. Even if you don't wear regular glasses (I don't), this is a lifesaver for summer activities with sunglasses! Hikes, strolling around the city, or even just running a 5k this summer, then you need this tube of miracle wax. Note: it's not sticky, it more so creates "grip" on the bridge of your glasses. I highly recommend it for anyone who wears glasses or sunglasses on a regular basis! Purchase here.

3. J.R. Watkins Body Oil. I can't stand the feeling of lotion on my legs when I'm hot... it's so gross! This body oil keeps my skin hydrated but actually absorbs without leaving a layer of lotion film. I like this kind because it's sprayable (I decanted it into a sample size spray bottle), but you could easily use a normal oil like olive oil or coconut. Never wearing lotion again! Purchase here.

4. Nivea A Touch of Smoothness Lip Balm. Like the body oil, this goes on very smooth without being greasy or thick. PLUS it has SPF 15 and kept my lips unscathed on my recent trip to the beach. I'm kind of picky when it comes to chap stick type things, but this one is an A+ in my book. (Purchase at Target)

5. Cute Slides. These ones are from the J.Crew outlet, and I love them! They are cute enough for dinner and drinks, but comfortable enough to tackle NYC. I can't personally get into to Birkenstock trend, so these are my close compromise! Purchase here.

6. Essie Carousel Coral. This color is so cute on! It's got much more of a light coral hue than it appears in the photo. Still beautiful and summery while still remaining understated. I love it! Purchase here.

7. Cross Body Bag (with room to spare). I got a new cross body bag from H&M, it's big enough to hold my little Fuji x30, plus wallet, keys, phone, lip gloss and has room to spare! Most cross body bags are just a little too small, and this one is the perfect size (other colors available for purchase here.)

What's in your bag this summer?

xo

WINNING WEDNESDAY: In flight kit (a giveaway!)

Today is the last giveaway I'll host for a while - but it's so cute I want to keep it for myself. I promise I won't :)

It's an in flight beauty sleep kit from Sephora. SO CUTE! With a 30 hour journey to New Zealand rapidly approaching, I'm thankful for my sleep mask and self-made carry on pouch. But this one will go to one lucky winner! 

This kit contains: 

- Contoured sleep mask 

- Ear buds 

- Footies 

- 3 x Hair ties 

- Luggage tag 

- Travel pouch

You can buy one here or you can win one by entering below! This contest is open until Friday at 6pm EST. GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*please note this giveaway is not affiliated with Sephora. I purchased this set for the purpose of giving it away. Any questions please email me at avecamourblog@gmail.com - Thanks!*

Travel Makeup

I don't wear a ton of makeup, but I definitely need something to even out my complexion and make my eyes look OPEN, so strangers don't ask if I'm tired or have recently been crying ;)

My makeup bag isn't large, but it was bigger than I was willing to carry around in my 45L backpack on our trip to Italy. So I started making some swaps on my toiletries & worked my way through my makeup bag. Here are some hacks cut my makeup bag by almost 75% in volume.

1 - Travel Brushes
I use this set at home and away, but I know that brushes can take up a lot of space. I used a large brush for bronzer, and finally swapped for this mini one. It works just the same & takes up so little space.

2 - Ditch Your Bulky Eyelash Curler
I couldn't bear to leave my eyelash curler at home, so I was thrilled when I found this compact, flat eyelash curler! And to be honest, I like it more than the traditional style! I was lucky to snag it on sale for $7 at Sephora, so keep your eye out for discounts & promotions.

3- Double Duty Products
I found this concealer/brightener combo this weekend and was so thrilled! It lays super flat and packs a serious punch. I also have this duo that could be used as bronzer & highlighter, but I use it for 2 shades of eyeshadow and it works like a charm. 

4 - Sample Size 
Samples from Sephora, Ulta, travel size bonus packs, Birchbox & the like can change everything. My 1.5oz Stila CC Creme is pretty bulky compared to the 0.17oz (about 1/10th of the size), and my Benefit "They're Real!" mascara at 0.1oz is way smaller than the full size 0.3oz. This might seem silly, but it makes a huge difference! If you can't get a sample size of an essential, like foundation, make your own using small travel tubs (the little circle pods that come in your toiletries bag).
Note: The sample size of BB/CC creme lasted me over 3 weeks, some days applying twice. Same with the mascara. It would last for at least a month, I'm sure of it!

5 - Leave the Perfume at Home
Not completely! Just swap a body spray or bottle of perfume for a rollerball! This is the size of a pen, and a tiny amount goes a long way! I keep mine in my purse at all times, and it's lasted me over two years. Find your favorite fragrance here.

If you find yourself going away for longer than a few days, this will be even more helpful, as you'll need other essentials the longer you're gone. A miniaturized make up set will make your bag lighter & your trip easier!

Do you have any travel make up hacks?
xo