Image from Emirates airlines

Bianca’s Beautiful LA- “Arrive B-eautiful!”

When you find yourself so lucky as to be able to fly across the air to some exotic locale…such as Hawaii, Tahiti, the Caribbean or Toledo…you should always remember to fly with a properly packed carry on…i’m talking about the perfect beauty kit-  Here’s my go to list of the fail safe goods that i don’t go anywhere without if im flying the friendly skies:

1, lip balm- lately i’ve been a huge fan of Bath and Body Works lip gloss- any flavor-any color- as long as it has mentha in it- mentha, when your tongue touches it oh so slightly can act as a breath freshener- and word to the wise- you can never have too fresh of breath.

2. moisturizer (face and body)- while in new york on my last trip, i purchased my favorite traveling companion- Goe Oil-

its made by this great company called Jao that has already been made popular because of their amazing smelling hand sanitizer that comes in a beautiful little cobalt blue bottle and smells of heavenly bergamot, rosemary, mint and eucalyptus and is moisturizing AND sanitizing. Jao is great to clean your hands, but their Goe Oil is not just a two in one- its a THREE in one- one upping their own product! its a very emollient concoction of every nutritious oil known to man( and WOMAN)- shea, avocado, almond, jojoba, etc- you name the oil- its got it- and it smells even more divine than the hand sanitizer. You can even put a little bit in your hair to de-frizz- and after a long flight of your head bobbling around on those super clean headrests- your hair will thank you for some anti-static attention. I smear this stuff- everywhere! its great as a hand moisturizer, and also so perfect to put on your face right as you board and then right as you are about to de-board- its very emollient and therefore  combats all of the drieness your face might be enduring thru the air and then replenishes your face to that perfect glow you’ll be needing to greet your new (or old) destination. A fresh face is always a happy face.

3. gum- right now im chewing cool colada by Trident White but usually i stick to peppermint or wintergreen.

4. neck pillow- any cheapo one will be fine- its really nice for preventing a stiff neck.

5. eye pillow (for that less than pleasant neighbor that wont turn off their reading light)

6. ear plugs (just in case) or noise cancelling headphones (for the screaming babies or barking dogs) ive heard really good stuff about these

“Beats by Dr.DRE”

7. warm jacket/wrap/poncho/scarf- to be used as a blanket/pillow when necessary- it gets so cold on airplanes, and the blankets they give you are so thin they feel like being wrapped in lint.

Combine the beauty kit, with some interior design, fashion and trashy magazines…and youre set- ready set- FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After ive come out of my shower routine all scrubbed and clean- i like to spend a sufficient amount of effort on the equally important portion of my “getting pretty time” slathering on my selected concoctions that promise to keep me looking eternally young, cancer free and smelling great! After the towel dry- i start with my face products. The first thing i apply is my pigment gel- (PCA skin).

Pigment gel is a good base under my moisturizer- helps make absorption better- so it makes me look more dewy- and fresh! It also prevents me from turning too red- i have very fair skin and i tend to react more sensitively to things- nerves, chemicals, food allergies, blemishes, waxing etc- and because my skin goes red- really red- right away when exposed to these factors- i hate seeing this happen- so i use the pigment gel and i tend to see less redness more often- and it also helps to reduce the amount of pigment discoloration that happens to some people- think big freckles- i have a fair amount of freckles- too many to love…so i relish in the opportunity to reduce the over-pigmentation. After the pigment gel- i apply my moisturizer of the day. I try to switch between different moisturizers every so often because i love to see and feel the difference from one lotion to another during different seasons- times of day etc. Different seasons will always have a great impact on how much of what kind of moisturizer you are going to be needing to use- Again with the whole water debate- but seriously- so many people will argue its because you should be drinking more water in drier seasons- but i don’t care how much water you are consuming- your face is your most prized possession- its what greets the world- it holds the window to your soul and the machine that runs it all- the face is very important- and taking care of it will always be reflected in the mirror and in those immortal images i post on Facebook…A heavy moisturizer is always more necessary during the drier times of the year.Sometimes i even use my nighttime moisturizer- which tends to be a little heavier- for daytime moisturizer. But be forewarned- too heavy of a moisturizer can cause you to break out and get zitty- so know your skin- if its dry and you are using heavier moisturizer then use it sparingly or only use it a few days of the week. Im always on the hunt for a really great cream/moisturizer- i like them to smell amazing, look amazing on my countertop, be affordable, last all day, and make me feel well moisturized. In my travels i have found- Kinara spa has a really great line of facial creams, as well as Benefit’s Dear John daily moisturizer (which i am currently using).

The other day while doing my weekly shopping at the beloved Trader Joe‘s- i stumbled across something new they were carrying- regenerating antioxidant moisturizing face lotion. I’ve been using it now for a few days and i have to admit i’m pleasantly surprised by how good it’s been feeling on my skin- its light enough that i can wear it during the summer and not feel like my face is dripping off- and so i’m coming to the conclusion this might be my summer must have- a lightweight summer face lotion, there you have it- i told you first.

OK so after the face lotion is applied…its mandatory sunscreen application minute (MSAM)…do it…or in ten years you’ll look like a wrinkled grape- ya- a raisin…don’t do that..you can help it- i promise…i swear by certain sunscreens- because i have done my homework- i love “sun-solar defense oil-free gel spf 15 daily environmental moisturizer by image skincare“…

try it- you wont be disappointed…its light and is practically odorless.

Now its time for eye cream. I apply eye cream after i’ve done all the other lotions and creams because i like for all the other stuff to sit there for a minute and really absorb- that way i can tell how much or how little of the eye cream i really need. too much eye cream and your eye area will glisten like the top of the Chrystler building ..too little and you’ll feel like every time you smile another wrinkle is forming. Benefit‘s Eye Con (eye cream) is my fave. Moving on from the precious face …

On to the money maker…the bod. The bod is deserving of the best lotions in the world- but i like to buy lotions that make me feel luxurious and soft without breaking the bank…i’ve bought pricey lotions before and i always feel like they are not creamy, or buttery enough- for some strange reason- Bath and Body Works has finally nailed it- i was on set the other day when a friend came by for a visit- she smelled heavenly- i asked her what is was..and what she said next nearly knocked my socks right off…she said “bath and body works- midnight pomegranate” i said “no-way!!!” “she said “no-really!”…i was stunned…i always thought their stuff was not groovy at all- turns out- after going in there- they have reformulated their body lotions- its new and improved- so it said- and so right they were- i too tried it out- they had a promotion- buy two get one free- so i thought that would be a good way to get to sample a variety of scents…i got sweet pea, midnight pomegranate, twilight woods. I love them all- and i’m not sure how to pick a favorite, so right now i’m alternating between them- of course.

When i’m feeling in the mood…for a special rendezvous…i go for something a little lighter and more romantic Bathina touch me then try to leave…cream’ by Benefit”. Its incredibly soft and smells dreamy

After all the lotions have been applied- its time for deodorant. Im a big fan of Secret- invisible solid- cucumber aloe….

OMG…its superb! i never sweat anymore- which i’m not sure is all that healthy- but i can save water…that’s a bonus right?less stink=less showers…i cant believe i just admitted that on the interwebs…
that’s it for the bod…next up- MAKE-UP and HAIR!!!!!!