Traveling Heavy

When I packed for my US trip, I didn't know whether I would be staying 2 weeks or 2 months. As I moved from state to state, my traincase fluctuated from light to jam-packed. In the next few entries you'll see the evolution of my travel kikay kit(s).
For this first part, I erred on the side of caution and packed pretty heavily in terms of makeup and skincare. TOO heavily, I think, even if I did end up state-hopping and staying for 3 months. Looking at these photos, it's like an inventory of nearly all the products I own. And after weighing my enormous luggage, I had to pare down my choices. The ones with strikethroughs didn't make the cut.

Clockwise from lower left: In2It Oil Control Two-Way Powder Foundation in Honey, Nyx Stick Blush in Tulip, VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30, Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream in Sand Beige W15, Snoe Poudre Extraordinaire in Perfect Beige, Zero Kuma Concealer Type 2, No7 Marble Blusher in Ballerina.

I used the In2It powder foundation everyday, until I moved to a climate dry enough to necessitate the use of a tinted moisturizer. This was actually the first powder I ever owned, given to me by my mother. Applied wet, it has amazing coverage that mimics real skin. Dry, it's great for touchups. Oil control is great. It's also one of the few I can use daily without breaking out.
I use the Nyx stick blush with a dewy-finish face base like BB cream or tinted moisturizer. Sometimes I top it off with the No7 marble blusher, which is versatile enough to be used on top of both liquid and powder face bases.
I actually didn't use the VMV Skintangible, because at the time I was on that side of pale that it was making me look orange. Now that I've tanned considerably, this is back in commission.
The Etude House Sun BB cream amazes me because in our humid tropics it gives good coverage without oiling up, and in the drier parts of the Western hemisphere it gives a similar healthy dewy finish.
Yes, I didn't bring any bronzer but I did bring 3 different mascaras. I'm Asian! I spend 90% of prep time on my eyes!

Left to right: Benefit BADgal waterproof liner, In2It pencil gel liner in Aztec Gold, K-Palette Real Lasting waterproof eyeliners in Black and Dark Brown, Marionnaud N°38 dual-ended eye brush, In2It clear mascara, In2It Waterproof Eyebrow Color, Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer.

For someone who has stopped using eyeliner, I sure do own a lot! Since I learned how to apply eyeshadow, I've found that it's an easier and quicker way to enlarge and brighten my eyes than applying eyeliner. I was usually out the entire day so a primer was a must, and the Etude House eye primer is a reliable staple.
Might be counterintuitive, but I use the In2It clear mascara to set my brows before applying the In2It waterproof eyebrow color with the Marionnaud brush.

Top to bottom: Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof mascara, K-Palette 1-Day Lash Perm, Majolica Majorca Lash King in Black, Garnier Instant Fairness BB Eye Roll-on in Natural.

Okay, I actually have a reason for having so many mascaras. I was using them up before they dried, I swear!

Unnamed Estée Lauder palette and Sleek i-Divine palette in Oh So Special.

I was quite torn between these two palettes. But the Sleek Oh So Special palette is just so much more versatile (read: less frosty).

VMV Hypoallergenics lip gloss in Goo, Snoe Rouge Deluxe lipstick in Precious Pout, Nyx Round Lipstick in Tea Rose, Dior Addict mini lipstick in #535 Tailleur Bar, Nyx Matte Lipstick in Indie Flick, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart, Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm, Nivea lip balm.

Too many lip products!! On the left are neutral colors for work; on the right are fun shades of red and pink for play, plus the essential lip balm. VMV's lip gloss is one that deserves its own review. Amazingly opaque and non-sticky! Need to get more shades. I layer this shade of Snoe Rouge Deluxe over the Maybelline Baby Lips to get a cute dolly-like sheer wash of pink on my puckers. Nyx round lipsticks fare better in cooler climates, they don't melt. ;p This Dior Addict shade is from Set, it's a nude almost sheer shade with microglitters that is great for that subtle made-up look. Nyx Matte in Indie Flick is bright corally-orange shade that looks best on fair skin with a cat-eye. This Revlon Stain gives a bright fuschia-pink pop of color and leaves a pleasant minty scent and feel.
Oh lord, skincare. This is where I really lost it. Seriously, who need ALL THIS for 3 months.

Top to bottom, left to right: Belo Essentials SunExpert Body Shield SPF 60, VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Face Cover SPF 30, VMV Hypoallergenics Re-everything Face-Hand-Body Lotion, No7 Beautiful Skin travel kit (with water-based makeup remover, day cream SPF 15, and night cream), Muji Mild Cleansing Oil, Muji Moisturizing Milk, Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal 7-Day Program (the toner and gel cream), Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Moisture Boost Concentrate, No7 Protect & Perfect Eye Cream, and various cleanser/eye cream/moisturizer samples.

Of these, I only used the VMV Re-everything Lotion, Muji cleansing oil, and the Yves Rocher stuff. And I totally used up the latter two!

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX, Snoe White Vitamin C-Rich Calamansi Whitening Detox Clay Mask, and Cure Nature Aqua Gel samples.

As I've mentioned before, the Laneige sleeping pack was a blessing in cold weather. The Snoe White mask I actually used as a facial cleanser when I ran out of my usual Celeteque cleanser!

Various Garnier masks, Tony Moly Tomatox Massage Pack sample, and a 1-month supply of Avon PRO Line Corrector Treatment with A-F33.

These...actually went home unopened.

Beauty Bar Cosmetic Brush Cleaner, Charm retractable flat kabuki brush, The Face Shop gold eyelash curler, Marionnaud N°38 dual-ended eye brush, The Face Shop Circle Face Brush, Shu Uemura portable brush set.

Nothing much here, just the basics! God bless travel sizes.

And of course, other odds and ends: contact lens solution, Johnson's Baby bath milk, VMV deodorant, Snoe Hair Heroes, sunflower oil, teeth whitening strips, feminine wipes, Jericho nail file and buffer.

The sunflower oil is such an all-around product, but everything I used it for was replaced with a body or hand lotion -- moisturizing, hair-taming, cuticle-caring.
Also I figured this was the perfect time to whiten my teeth, but I was so busy I forgot all about it. Ah well, I'll get around to it come interview season. The buffer is also a must, for presentable-looking nails and hands.
Stay tuned for the reduced size and US-purchased editions!