Posted by Angelica Chayes on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 @ 10:21 AM
I'm sorry for the delay in postings, but I have just been on vacation (YAY!). I thought it would be fun to see what we bring with us in our makeup bags when we travel.

I love traveling light. I'd rather go without than be weighed down. The few things I pack are soft knitted separates that can be mixed and matched endlessly, and don't need ironing: a jersey dress, a cardigan, leggings, skirt, tanks. This can last me two weeks! My makeup kit is similar:
- Powder-Me SPF.
- PurePressed Base (used as foundation, sun block, and concealer. Really, it is my new favorite concealer, applied with the Sculpting Brush to my under eye circles and the redness around the corners of my nose).
- Pommisst Hydration Spray - brilliant for dry planes, in a travel-friendly 2 oz. bottle.
- Double Dazzle for a touch of shimmer on the lids or full cocktail party eyes; as well as lip color when needed.
- Black Pencil for the water line and lash lines.
- Lip Drink.
While this may sound like vacation packing (and it is) I use this formula for business travel as well. I might add my favorite Uniqlo blazer and one eye shadow triple instead of the Glimmer Gold.
My dear friend and colleague Laura is always prepared for everything, and her travel makeup kit proves it. When travelling, she will be equally confident on a hike in the woods or at a red carpet event, because in her Quilted Makeup Bag she packs:
- Deluxe Travel Size Dream Tint
- Active Light
- PurePressed Base
- Moonglow
- So-Bronze 3
- 2 Hydration Sprays- Pommisst and D20 (WHY? Because she likes to have options)
- Lid Primer
- 2 Longest Lash Mascaras – Black Ice and Espresso
- PureLash Extender & Conditioner
- 2 Cream to Powder Eyeliners- Black Plus and Black/Brown
- Champagne Eye Gloss
- PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple – Brown Sugar (this is the one I would bring too. it is so versatile!)
- Perfectly Nude Eye Shadow Kit
- Double Dazzle
- Powder-Me SPF
- 4 PureGloss (depending on the season…) Apricot Fizz, Cotton Candy, Soft Peach, Pink Candy
- 2 Lip Definers- Nude and Spice
- Lip Drink
- Pencil Sharpener
- 10 Brushes: Blending, Camouflage, Handi, White Fan, Detail, Deluxe Shader, Crease, Smudge, Deluxe Spoolie, Eye Brush/Comb
I wrote to Jane while she was on vacation to see what she had packed. She wrote back:
- PurePressed Base
- D20
- brown XXX but you can't say that yet (sorry friends, this is a soon-to-be released product. I will fill this in later, after we release it!)
- Powder-Me, too, of course.
- Lash Conditioner and Lengthening Mascara,
- oh and Whisper Blush which I can also use on my eyes.
Now it's your turn. Please share your travel tips! What do you bring in your makeup kit when you travel?
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Thu, Apr 22, 2010 @ 09:02 AM

Spring is beautiful, but the watery eyes, runny noses and sore throats that often come with spring colds and allergies are not. With these few simple makeup tips, we can look fabulous even if we don't feel it. Believe me (I have been perfecting these techniques for the last ten days), when you look better, you feel better.
- Balance your complexion with Dream Tint. Recently I have tried squeezing out a bit on the back of my hand and then brushing it onto the Blending Brush and using that to apply it to my face. I like this. Try it and see what you think!
- Address any redness, dark circles and puffiness around the eyes with Active Light. Use a tiny amount under eyes and on lids and and in the inner corner of the eye. Blend well with the Camouflage Brush in a criss-cross motion.
- To achieve a healthy glow, apply In Touch Cream Blush to the apples of the cheeks with the Foundation Brush.
- Next, a normal application of PurePressed Base or Amazing Basewill cover any blotchiness.
- With a Camouflage Brush, pat a little extra mineral foundation around your nose. This conceals redness and stays put through many tissues!
- Hydration Spray will soothe and plump tired skin. Use it often throughout this application and the rest of your day.
- I have a lot of redness around the eyes so I actually line the lower lash line with White Pencil then blend it; then line the lower waterline (inner rim) as well.
- The eyes often look dark and sunken when we're battling colds and allergies. Use light eyeshadow and a light hand to counter this.
- Begin with a thin layer of Eye Gloss. It really helps eye shadow stay put when your eyes are watery. Use Grey Silkif you are using cool toned eye shadows or Champagne Silk if you are using warmer tones. Squeeze a tiny amount onto the back of your hand, pick it up with the Sculpting Brush and blend it into the lids and crease. Try using the Eye Gloss to line the inner third of the lash line with the Detail Brush to add more brightness to the eyes.
- Before eye shadow, apply eyeliner. By applying the liner first, the eye shadow on top will soften the line and increase its staying power. Swipe the Detail Brush or Smudge Brush back and forth across the Pencil tip then apply to your upper lash line only. Tilt your head back and look down into the mirror. This really helps to get a tight line. You will know you are right in the lash line if your eyelashes are wiggling.
- Next apply eye shadow. I like Silver Lining PurePressed Eyeshadow Triple, but work with whatever makes you comfortable. Press the lightest shade onto the whole lid blending into the crease and inner corner of the eye. Avoid dark shadow in the crease. Press the Eye Shader Brush into the medium shade. Then holding the handle of the brush parallel to your eye (across your face) lightly touch the color to the outer corner of your lid. You will barely need to blend (but make sure you do)!
- Finally, use the Detail or Smudge Brush to apply the darkest shade of powder over the eyeliner. This really sets it.
- Finish the look with Lip Fixation. That way, you will not wipe off your lip color each time you wipe your nose.
Feel better?
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 @ 04:28 PM
This tip comes from Jane, whose skin always looks flawless and completely natural:

The skin isn't smooth like a piece of plastic, so to get full coverage apply your concealer with the Camouflage Brush using criss-cross motions. This gets the concealer into the fine lines on the skin that aren't normally visible.
Then, to make your concealer completely disappear, feather the edges with your ring finger. The warmth from your finger will melt the concealer into your skin.