Tag: Travel

100ml life
Beauty · Travel

100ml life

Patrycja1 Comment
Travelling non-stop can be challenging, especially when it comes to skin care and general beauty routine. Initially, when I started flying, I struggled a little, as I didn’t know what to pack. What I found most challenging was the liquids allowance that applies at most airports. I found myself not being able to take everything I would normally use at home, so had to resort to finding some alternatives. I’ve got to admit, I have discovered some awesome products along the way. So here’s a list of my liquids bag essentials and other favorite products I use on my travels: 
 
 
This little spray has been an absolute godsend for me, especially on those long flights! It is an instant skin reviver and it moisturises the skin too. It can be used as a primer before make-up, a setting spray or a refresher to hydrate tired skin. I’ve been using it religiously and I’ve got to say, the small 75ml bottle has lasted me for months. It definitely is a must have in any liquids bag. 
 
 
I have tried numerous brands of setting sprays over the years, from the high street brands to more premium brands, and this little setting mist is definitely one of my favourites. It doesn’t cost a bomb and it does what it says on the tin. What more can you ask for?
 
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This product is a very recent purchase of mine and it does not disappoint. I have had issues with dry hands on most of my flights and downroute, due to weather and climate changes and this little hand cream had been fantastic. It leaves my hands nourished, soft and smelling good, without that greasy feeling.
 
 
I have major issues with dark circles and puffy eyes, mostly due to jet-lag and this little roller has really helped with that. I use it before I apply my moisturiser and I find my under-eyes look a lot brighter. It is a tiny bottle and fits perfectly into my liquids bag.
 
 
After a long busy day flying, when I’m due to head to bed, I always use this serum. I cleanse my skin thoroughly and then apply it afterwards and it makes my skin feel amazing. I find that when I wake up after using the serum, my skin really does look more refreshed and glowing.
 
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This is one of the more expensive products that I own, but totally worth the bucks! It is unlike any other liquid highlighters I’ve used before and trust me, I’ve tried so many! This highlighter, gives me an amazing glow and I got complimented on my skin so many times by friends, fellow crew, as well as passengers! It also blends in really well without messing up your foundation which I’ve found was happening a lot with other liquid highlighters. I’ve also used this highlighter without any other make-up and it has really lit up my face and gave me that fresh-faced kind of look. This is definitely a winner.
 
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Another, higher end product I use, is this miracle of a concealer. Once again, I’ve used a lot of different ones over the years and only recently I’ve discovered this gem (by accident whilst I was out shopping for a different concealer). The consistency of this product is a bit on the thinner side in comparison to other concealers but I find that little goes a long way and it provides build-able coverage. It is also crease-less and makes my skin look flawless without that cakey look. I absolutely love it and I’m glad I came across it when I did.
 
 
I’ve been using this foundation for a couple of years now, and honestly, I cannot fault it. For the price of £15 you really cannot go wrong. It blends in well with my own skin, makes it look flawless and I’ve received countless compliments because of it. I’ve used a lot of different, higher end brands and some of those foundations don’t even compare to this No.7 gem. For those of you who would like to try a cheaper alternative, this foundation is a win.
 
 
This little spray has been with me for years. I bought a travel version from Superdrug and always take it with me on my travels. Whenever I am running low, I just fill it up the big bottle of the spray I have at home. I don’t normally take shampoo or conditioner with me in my liquids bag so this little spray definitely helps to keep my hair under control after washing it down-route, and it makes it feel silky and smelling good.
 
 
Yet another staple product which I always carry with me in my liquids bag! This moisturiser has been my best friend for a while – pretty much since I’ve started flying. It feels very lightweight and soft on skin. It also doesn’t leave the skin feeling or looking greasy. One of the reasons why I ended up trying this product in the first place was because it also acts as a primer. Due to my liquid restrictions whilst flying I was looking for a product that would be a combination of both, so voila! 
 
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So this is pretty much it! Seems like a lot of products and you might be wondering how on earth do I manage to fit all of those into my liquids bag. The answer is, I don’t – at least not the full sized products anyway. I found little travel jars that allow me to take smaller amounts of products with me instead. I got mine from Primark, for £1.5 (I am not even joking!), but they can be purchased from a lot of different places, such as Amazon, for a reasonable price.
 
 
I also have non-liquid alternatives for some of the products that I use at home that I am unable to use whilst travelling, so check those out below: 
 
 
Non-liquid cleanser alternative for fresh, glowing skin. I use it all day, everyday, whenever I am down-route. It is such a handy little cleanser and it is so easy to use as well. For those of you seeking a solid alternative and a good facial cleanser, this product is amazing and last for ages too!
 
 
Amazing little soap bar which I’ve been taking with me everywhere. I am not a fan of hotel shower gels nor do I have room in my liquids bag for a bottle from home, so I use this instead. It is an amazing soap and always leaves my skin feeling smooth and fresh. 
 
 
I was a bit skeptical about using a shampoo bar, but after receiving some great reviews about it from fellow crew I decided to go for it and try it out. Honestly, this product has been amazing for my hair and leaves it smelling amazing. And it does not take up any room in my liquids bad – bonus! 
 
Have you tried any of the products above or got any great travel beauty product recommendations? If so let me know your thoughts and suggestions by commenting below. 
Flying Solo… The good, the bad and the unexpected (part 1)
Travel

Flying Solo… The good, the bad and the unexpected (part 1)

PatrycjaLeave a comment

Solo travel, especially for women, can seem a bit daunting. Hearing all kinds of stories makes us feel uneasy, unsafe and the question that we often ask ourselves is – what if something happens to me on my trip? You can trust me in saying that I was asking myself the exact same question before my first ever solo trip. I was very excited, yet nervous at the same time. I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

The idea for me to take a solo trip, stemmed from not really being able to rely on people. I don’t mean it in a bad way necessarily. It was my 26th birthday coming up, so I thought it would be amazing to celebrate in another country, especially one that I’ve never visited before. I pitched the idea to some of my friends and although the initial response was positive, as the time came to booking the trip, most of them couldn’t make it. I didn’t take it personally at all, but saw it as a perfect opportunity to take that plunge and finally travel solo. I felt like I had no excuse this time and if I didn’t do it now, I probably won’t do it for a long time, if ever.

Four weeks before my birthday I went ahead and booked my flights to Barcelona – there was no going back now. The flights weren’t particularly expensive but having spent that money I knew I wouldn’t let it go waste. All that was left was securing my accommodation and planning what I was going to do out there. I’ve never been to mainland Spain and I’ve heard amazing things about Barcelona, so my research about things to do was very exciting. All the pre-planning and booking in advance, really has made my trip a lot easier. I booked tickets to Park Güell and Sagrada Família, which saved me from having to wait in a line and I kid you not, the lines to buy tickets for the attractions were ridiculous!(I went mid-November, so I can only imagine what it would be like in the summer) I also purchased a four day Hola BCN! travel card in advance and that was a great idea as I was able to pick it up from the airport’s information centre and use it on all my journeys in Barcelona and the journey from and to the airport. So that was a few things sorted which I hoped would make my trip a little bit more organised. In terms of accommodation, I was very keen to do Couchsurfing. I’ve done it once before a few years ago (a story for another time so stay tuned in) and I found it the most amazing experience. For those who have no idea what it is, Couchsurfing is a platform for members to ‘surf’ on couches by staying as a guest at a host’s home, host travellers, meet other members, or join an event. It really is a great website and it’s free! That was one of the reasons I chose to do it. As a Masters student I’m not that well off, so I always look for ways to save my pennies. One thing I would say, if you decide to Couchsurf, is to make sure that you carefully select your host. For instance, make sure they’re verified members on the site that they have positive reviews from previous couchsurfers and their accommodation arrangement really does suit you. You can never be too careful and this is the place where you’d be staying, so be vigilant and ask as many questions as possible until you feel comfortable. Also it’s very important that once the arrangements have been made, you let someone back home know where you will be staying and all of your host’s details. From experience, I would also say, have a back up plan in case your host cancels. Sadly only a few days before my trip, the member who offered to host me has cancelled so I had to frantically search for another accommodation for my stay. That was so unexpected!!! Only two days before my trip, I booked my stay through Airbnb. Luckily I came across a very good deal so I booked right away.

Now that most of the logistics were sorted out, all I had to do was make sure I had printed off all the bits and pieces that I needed, which included attraction tickets, travel documents and maps. In terms of packing – I packed the night before.

That was me set on my journey. I had my passport, travel documents, suitcase and I was ready to finally take that plunge.

To be continued…