When I’m packing for a trip, the most important thing is to have room for my shoes. Packing space is tight, so I’d much rather leave behind a moisturizer than cute sandals. Priorities, right? Anytime I get a great travel size product I throw it into a special basket, and I shop my stash before I leave on vacation.

There are a few things I make sure I have purchased before I go away, and the rest I use for the first time on my trip.

I didn’t bring a lot with me this time around in the cosmetics department since I needed even more room for trucks, diapers, beach pails and buckets than usual since our son was coming with us. What I did bring really ended up being all I needed. Here is my roundup of what my essentials included!

If you read the blog, you know I was just raving about Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day. I HAD to bring this on vacation, because I was heading to Turks and Caicos where the humidity was out if this world. Usually I can judge how humid things really are by the amount my hair is curling. Although some days I couldn’t help but have a little wave, overall I was pretty happy with my island hair in those soaring temperatures thanks to my Living Proof Perfect Hair Day.

Not only is my favourite Essie nail polish colour Ballet Slippers, but it was the perfect shade to use while I was away since I was bound to be chipping and cracking my nail polish throughout the week. It’s the worst to have a bright blue or orange polish on, and then have a chip that stands out (think Britney Spears photos – TMZ always seems to be pointing out her inability to have perfectly polished nails!). This polish got me through 7 days of minimal embarrassment before I made a spa appointment to have things fixed up! Plus it’s a colour that goes with everything, so you can’t lose.

I totally steal my kids sunscreen. This stuff is awesome! I use his Aveeno Baby Sunscreen (SPF 55) on my face, and anywhere else I can reach. Using it on my face doesn’t make me break out which is great, plus I didn’t get a sunburn all week. It’s got a great scent too!

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream was great for my vacation. It’s tinted so it evened out my skin tone slightly when I arrived with very pale and uneven skin, and it didn’t come off on my clothing at all because it dried quickly. I thought it had a great scent (sort of beachy) and had a bit of shimmer which was nice for my vacation. It definitely did it’s job when it came to moisturizing, but I don’t think it actually firmed or corrected my skin in any way as it claims to do. It really did bring moisture back to my skin after days in the ocean and on the beach, but I don’t think I would use it to solve any of my skin issues.

I don’t go anywhere without my Green Beaver Boreal Lip Balm. I usually carry two with me because I would literally wither away and die without my lip gloss. I have a lot of allergies so I can only use certain products on my lips, and this one is gluten free and has no scary ingredients. Unfortunately I have a reaction to any lip glosses or balms with SPF, so this may not be the best lip balm for you on the beach. SPF is obviously the way to go, but for me it’s not an option on my lips. This stuff is hard to find so I usually purchase it on Well.ca or at GreenBeaver.com. I didn’t get a burn on my lips all week, but I have to admit it may have had something to do the the copious amount I was applying to my lips!

I thought about writing a totally separate post about trying Makeup Forever’s Smoky Extravagant Mascara. I really loved this one, and I am still using it! The brush is hard to get used to because it starts skinny and ends very plump, but once you get the hang of it it lengthens your lashes like crazy! It doesn’t plump them too much, but it really defines them and the mascara doesn’t flake off at all. It’s very easy to remove, and I didn’t even need to use my lash curler because the wand did the work for me. Big fan! Right now it’s taking over for my favourite Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara, which if you know me means this stuff is pretty awesome.