Project 10 Pan - NARS, Laura Mercier, CHANEL, Boots, and more

So if you are part of the YouTube beauty community you know about project 10 pan! LOL. I've been inspired lately to really use and be grateful for everything that I have.  Like most of you out there I also have quite a bit of makeup laying around so I want to get through it before I buy anything else...cause really why am I buying something I'm not going to use?!
So here is my list!
1) Nars single shadow in Cyprus
2) Nars single cream shadow in Mykonos
3)Boots Sensitive Skin Moisturizer
4) MAC blush is Shy Beauty (although i kinda don't know if I want to since it's no longer available:(
5)Coco Mademoiselle Shimmering Touch Perfumed Elixir (I've had this for so long is barely shimmering anymore!)
6)Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation in Real Sand
7)Laura Mercier Mineral Primer (liquid version)
8) Great Lash Mascara
9)Sephora Bronzer in Riviera
10) Jergins Overnight Repair Body Lotion

Even though I'm already hitting pan on a few items this is still probably going to be a bit difficult because I recently received the UD Naked Pallette as well as a Sephora Color box for Christmas but we shall see!!!

I actually have a really hard time getting through products...I think I just have really small features.  Honestly, i bought these shadows in 2005 and the blush in 2007!!!!!
Does anyone else have this issue?
Have a wonderful week!
-The Travelling Femme

How to Get Over Disapointments

Sometimes...somethings happen, or don't happen, or people happen, and you're left crestfallen, sad, angry, desperate....and totally disappointed.
I'm not a shrink or a self-help guru but I thought I'd give my two cents anyway on how I cope with these situations.
Now, these moments really really suck but try if you can not to throw yourself a pity party.  I know it's tempting but this will only make matters worse and make you weaker.  Inversely, don't just bottle up your feelings and pretend that nothing is happening.  You have to accept that the events happened and then move on.  The most important thing is to learn from these experiences.  Sometimes they are wake up calls that we need to be more organized or proactive, and other times it's to let us know not to put to much trust in certain people.  Take that cue and move on.  Easier said than done...and it makes it even more important that you like yourself....cause if you don't and something crashes you won't have much to stand on.

So, to sum up this really short post: Be honest with yourself about what happened, learn from the situation, and remember that you are your own best friend.

Happy Trails,

The Travelling Femme

New Skin Care Regimen - Avene Cleanser and Cream for Intolerant Skin

Happy December Cold Weather Craziness!
With the change in weather, as well as this being my first proper change of seasons in the city, my skin has gone nuts.  I have relatively normal/combination skin that is oilier in the summer and drier in the winter/cold climates.  I break out every now and then but not really regularly, however I am prone to hyper pigmentation.

Well, my friends, this transition to winter single handedly managed to leave my skin bone dry, completely broken out, and so sensitive I can only wear mineral foundation.  I ran to my local Duane Reade and practically wept to the skincare specialist about how uncomfortable my skin had become that I was dreading even washing my face.  He gave me a deluxe sample pack of Avene's cleanser and moisturizer for Intolerant Skin.

This little miracle duo salvaged my skin in a matter of days, and I have now realized that when I was in NYC last fall my skin had gone through a similar phase and what I used then to clear it up was this exact pair!  So needless to say this is going to be my winter baseline skincare. Another bonus - people immediately began asking me why my skin was glowing!  So a little about the formulas:  The cleanser is a gel that doesn't foam, you massage it on and wipe away with cotton rounds - no water required at all; The moisturizer is a white cream that feels very comforting, and although has some slip to it, is not greasy in the least.  Both products are fragrance free, come in plastic bottles (which I love since it's great for travel), and are in the $20 range.

As for the rest of my skincare it goes as follows:

•  Garnier Moisture Rescue SPF15 Lotion (my summer moisturizer that I use to mix with Avene creme during the day since it has no SPF)
• Anti-Aging Products: YSL Temps Majeur Serum (only at night when I don't use the Glycolic Resurfacing Solution) and YSL Temps Majeur Eye Creme (Day and Night - Love this stuff!)
• Breakouts/Hyperpigmentation: Derma36 Glycolic Acid Skin Resurfacing Solution (3-4x wk at night)

I have just started this full program and will let you know what the results are with time, but as of now I'm loving the immediate gratification.

What are you using to take care of your skin this winter?

Happy Trails,

The Travelling Femme

How to Stay Organized and Sane this Holiday Season

Hello Everyone!

If your reading this in the midst of this holiday craziness then you are probably experiencing some fatigue, right?!
Working, Parties, Shopping for Presents, getting the house ready for guests, or finalizing travel plans to visit loved ones, etc, etc...
So unless you are one of the impossibly together people shop and make travel arrangements far in advance I have a few tips to keep you organized, on-time, and hopefully a bit less stressed.

Tip #1 - Pair down everything.  Cut the fat out of your clothing, makeup bag, even refrigerator. Stick to classics you know look great on you with minimal effort and a few special pieces and Bam! By doing this you will be creating a capsule wardrobe that will make it easier to get ready for work or that impromptu party.

Tip#2 - Cook - a lot.  This idea piggy-backs on tip#1.  On a day off take 90mins to simplify the rest of your week.  Make soups, pastas, rice/couscous dishes, even sandwiches and put them into individual containers (putting half of them in the freezer so that they don't spoil).  This way you won't have to even think about what to eat or go hungry because literally all you need to do is grab a container out of the fridge and stuff it into your purse.  That's it! And in the event you can't make it home in time for dinner the family won't starve:) Worry #2 off your list

Tip#3 - Commit to keeping a calendar.  If for only this month, jot down your schedule as well as any parties or meetings and update as you go along.  If you can link this calendar to your smart phone all the better, if not carrying a planner or purse size calendar is fine.  The idea is that you have a visual representation of your days, weeks, month to keep you on track and not let things fall through the cracks!

Tip#4 - Online shop whenever possible.  I love walking around the mall during the holidays and taking in the decorations and general holiday cheer but I hate actually shopping during this time!  Also, by making your purchases online you're actually creating more time and space to spend with your loved ones or engaging in cool festive activities...and isn't that what the season is really about?!

That's it.  4 simple little tips to get you through December...or any crazy time;).

What are your tips for staying organized this season?

Happy Trails,

The Travelling Femme

Winter Essentials Series: Lush Buffy - The Winter Dry Skin Slayer!

As a beauty nerd I get asked constantly for product recommendations.  I'm a bit of a personal beauty shopper if you will.  Anywho, one of the products I recommend most is Lush's Body Butter in Buffy.

As you can tell from the photo it is a solid instead of your typical cream form but trust me this stuff is amazing.  It is quite abrasive so take a pass if that's not your cup of tea and use one of their other luxurious butters.  This little wonderbar does everything you need to take care of winter skin: it exfoliates all the nasty dry skin away and nourishes with incredible natural oils and butters to leave your skin feeling shiny and new.  The way you use it is to, while in the shower - after you have washed with soap/gel of your choice, massage the wet bar over your body in circular motions. Then rinse off the grainy bits, step out of the shower, and towel off.  That's it!  The best part is that it's all done while in the shower so no standing naked and cold whilst slathering on cold lotion!  No thank you.  Use this bar for a week and you will have new skin guaranteed.  One thing to take into consideration...do not keep this product in you bathroom as the steam and humidity might cause it to melt and therefore you'll get fewer uses out of it.  I keep it in on my dresser and it makes my room smell delicious:)

Let me know what y'all think.

Happy Travels This Holiday Season,

The Travelling Femme

Hello Again

Hello Ladies and Gents!

So I've been in NYC for about 9 months already and it has been a whirlwind!  I know I haven't blogged about it but I've been thinking about y'all...if you are even out there;).
So, as per my last posting I did get the job I was to interview with th next day. It was a crazy introduction to politics here in the city...and my boss was SATAN!  Holy crap it was one of the worst professional experiences of my life...if you guys are interested I'll write a post dedicated to all things her.  Needless to say things didn't work out.  As a matter of fact I actually did well at the job and my clients loved me (even though she was sabotaging me along the way) but she fired me suddenly mid June and I have been spinning my wheels ever since to make enough money to stay living here.  I took a job canvassing which was horrible but it allowed me the opportunity to meet really great people and now, with the help of a week break in DC with the fam, I got my butt in gear and found a job with a cosmetics company paying enough for me to live:).  I'm still looking for other jobs within my field but I am much more calm now that I know I have something steady.

On the love front....man o man I don't even know where to begin!  Honestly this is the most romantically active year of my life.  Granted they have all turned out to be crazy liars, LOL, but I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything.  I'll write separate posts about this as well.

Ok peoples this was just a short hello to let y'all know that I was still around.

You'll be hearing from me again soon!!!!

Peace:)

My First 24 hrs in NYC!!!

Boy o' boy! Miscommunications, bodily injuries, missed meetings....the list goes on....

1st snafu- As much as you love your friends, crashing on their couch (ie, being dependent on them in any way shape or form) can cause complications. Will say no more

2nd- Leaving my apartment for my interview I fall down a flight of steps. Yes I am serious. Stone ones! It was curious actually because I know I fell backwards however I hit the steps on my side but when I landed I was on my face with one of my legs behind me still on the stairs! Surprisingly, it was not as painful as I anticipated bracing myself for the wave of agony to hit me. Actually, I was thinking 'My tights! My new Patent Leather Shoes!'. Even more surprisingly....those too were unscathed:) I stood up shaken and dusted myself off and headed for the subway.

3rd- Subway never came. Waited....and waited....finally lept out of the steamy-even-in-winter underbelly of the city, grabbed a cab and hightailed it to my interview down town. Did I mention it was a $30 cab ride?

4th- I call the secretary to let her know i may be 5mins late. She tells me she will call me in 2mins. She does. As I'm pulling up to her office she tells me I sound far too sick and think it would be best to reschedule.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All that for nothing right?!
I wander around for a bit. I'm a wanderer....it helps me relax. Then I come back to the apt where i find the friend from Snafu #1 and will say no more.

On the bright side I have a breakfast meeting with a potential employer tomorow morning so wish me luck y'all !!!!!

Going to NYC!!!!

So hey! Look at me!!!! I finally have some job interviews with quality organizations set up for the next week and I am attending to all the final details before leaving. I have to say these meetings are not with orgs in my field necessarily, but hey, it's great experience and I don't think my ego could handle 2 yrs of unemployment. I'm running off to the stores today to pick up clothes for my interviews. The older I get, the more important it is for me to really look like myself during interviews and not just wear the cookie cutter uniform. I swear I actually do better in the interviews....probably b/c I feel confortable. That said my style is kinda feminine bohemian with a lot of menswear influences, which at times can be difficult to pull off in a professional setting, but when I do it's magic....ahhhhhhhh.
Lol, ok I'm gonna make a run down of what I'm taking and suggestions of things to take when going on a trip like this so look out for it:)
Toodles!

Update

Well my friends it's getting into the latter part of January and I still don't have employment. I know many of you are in the same boat. I'm frustrated and confused and a little bit scared but I'm pushing on because there is no other alternative to living my passion. It is who I am and vice versa. I normally don't write such personal blogs but hey, no one even knows I'm writing these blogs and it's cathartic!

So for now, I believe I'm dedicating my blog to my job search. Hopefully it will be funny....but mostly it will be true and I'm sure y'all will be able to relate.

And of course there will be lots of travelling! I'm in the rainy south for the time being but am heading back to NYC, DC, and possibly SanFran amongst others, very soon to pound the pavement:) So possibly, these could be the best travellingfemme blogs yet!

Please email me with any questions or comments.
Happy Trails!

Loreal Paris Go 360 Clean Facial Cleanser Sensitive

With the crazy cold weather that has been gripping the USofA my skin was really suffering. I knew I needed to switch to a milder cleanser, maybe even milk/lotion version but I couldn't think of any that were really appealing. Then one day walking through my local CVS I saw a display for the new brand of facial cleanser by Loreal. It comes with a pop out rubbery 'scrublet' that kinda seemed like little more than a gimmick but being that i could get a really gentle sensitive skin formula that would also deep clean, thanks to the afore mentioned scrublet, I was intrigued. I bought it today and practically ran to the sink to wash my face.
I have to say I'm liking it.
Oddly, even though it's a lotion it still foams, so I was afraid it was going to leave me dry, but it didn't at all!
Besides that, the scrublet actually does work. I have pretty good skin but I almost always have congestion on my chin. After just one use my chin actually looked.....cleaner. Does that make sense?
Either way, as of now I can totally recommended this product, but I'll keep you posted on if it delivers in the long run!
So if you are looking for an inexpensive deep clean for normal/dry or any skin type in the midst of winter, really, stop by your store and pick up some this mild goodness.
And then tell me what you think!!

Keep Warm and Happy 2010!