Or really, anything and everything is fun in Thailand. From the endless amount of incredible Thai food on every corner to the ability to volunteer with elephants and take a tuk-tuk anywhere you'd like to go, of all the places I called "home" over the past year, Chiang Mai was in my top three. A cultural experience I adored was seeing a Ladyboy performance... and then running into her in the bathroom on New Year's Eve. She helped me fix my makeup and applied her own lipstick as a touch-up. While I couldn't find the exact brand she used thanks to my champagne brain, I did manage to find another lip crayon, Baby Bright Fresh Aloe Cushion Lip in Charisma, $28.89, of which I ended up buying three. The small shape makes it super fast to apply without having to touch up and the cushion at the end helps to rub in excess.
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Because I'm still recovering from acne scars (yeah, eating random foods for a year didn't exactly do wonders for my skin), I'm pretty loyal to my face makeup. Or more to the point: I don't dare to dabble when it could cause a breakout. Of all the products I lugged along on 40+ flights (yep, you read that right), I made sure to bring my favorites from Dermablend and It Cosmetics. In fact, I even asked my bestie to bring more IT when he visited me in Kyoto (on a very, very long flight — thanks James!). It might seem a bit strange to use DermaBlend Leg & Body Makeup, $34, on my face, but I love it because I don't have to wear very much. I mix it with my moisturizer and only need a dab. In fact, I've only needed a single container for a whole year. When it comes to the dark circles that happen after a 40-hour travel day, nothing compares. And on the days when I was working by the beach in Croatia or a pool in Bali, I only used a bit of It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder Illumination with SPF 50+, $35, full-coverage compact, which always did a great job of hiding the fact I was #exhausted.
Buy DermaBlend Leg & Body Makeup
Buy It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder Illumination with SPF 50+
Buy DermaBlend Leg & Body Makeup
Buy It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder Illumination with SPF 50+
In January, At the six-month mark of the lap around the world, our travel group had an eight-hour layover in Auckland as we transitioned between Thailand and Argentina. This inspired a few of us to extend our stay for a week. After all, how often do you get the excuse to stop over in New Zealand? While we were here, a handful of my friends and I decided to explore the North Islands. It was here that I stumbled across Pure Source Rotorua Thermal Mud Face Mask, $22.10, a volcanic clay mask made from natural ingredients in the area. Since it had been a long time—ahem, like before I left NYC—that I used a mask, I instantly bought a sample pack. After trying it that night in our hostel, I loved it so much that I went back the next day and bought a travel-sized bottle. When I experienced breakouts the rest of the journey, I applied a bit to my face and my skin cleared up quickly, making for a smart purchase for my carry-on.
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Buy now