My Essential Makeup Tools: MAC 217 Blending Brush and Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Beauty tools are not my favorite things to buy, I just don’t find them as exciting as a new lip gloss. I also honestly believe you can find great affordable options from the drugstore like the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. Nonetheless, some things are worth investing in, so today I have rounded up my favorites tools that are worth the higher price tag: the MAC 217 Blending Brush and the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. 

The Mac 217 Blending Brush is a cult favorite and worth every penny. I tried several blending brushes before finally caving and purchasing this baby. Well I should have just gotten it the first time, it would have saved me a lot of frustration over poor quality brushes that don’t know what “blending” is. This brush helps define you crease like nothing else, blends away harsh lines without making your shadows disappear and you can also use it to apply a simple wash of color all over. You really can do everything with the 217 and it is one of the rare eyeshadow brushes that is hard to dupe with something of lesser quality. As for how it holds up, it is easy to clean (I use the Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap) and it does not shed. I believe it will last a very long time and for the quality, it is a well worth investing in. 

Next is the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, the Cadillac of eyelash curling and the most raved about curler. I honestly waited for years before buying this because I didn’t think it could be that amazing. It is just an eyelash curler after all. How wrong was I… Unlike cheaper offerings, the Shu Uemura one does pinch your lash or bend them at an odd angle, leaving a kink in them. It always gives me an eye opening curl that lasts all day, that longevity was a surprise to me because other curlers did not give me the same results. I also found I don’t need to press as hard to get a good curl which is better for your lashes and it does not pull them out either. I really think this is worth investing in, especially considering it comes with a backup silicone pad which doubles the lifetime of the curler. Also if you are interested in more Shu Uemura products, the eyelash curler is sometimes included as part of sets like this one, so you can try multiple products.

The MAC 217 Blending Brush is available from any MAC counter as well as on their website. As for the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler you can get it from the Shu Uemura website, any of their counters and at Sephora.

Innisfree Samples A.K.A. the Most Brilliant Samples Ever

I think everyone will agree that beauty samples are awesome. However all samples are not created equally. I mean some sample sachet barely have enough product for one application so you can’t really tell how your skin will react to it. Which is why I love Innisfree samples, in my opinion they are the best on the market and so today I wanted to the share with you the reason why I find them so great.

First they are super generous size-wise, I’m talking 10ml of product on average and 5ml for denser formulas like creams. That is enough for multiple applications, I was able to use my lotion and skin samples for about two weeks every morning. That amount of product it so useful because you can do a patch-test for allergies and are able to test it out long enough to know if it will break you out or cause any irritation.

The main reason I love these so much though is the packaging. They come in a little plastic pouch with a resealable cap that you can twist back on like you would a bottle cap. This means the products will not dry out and the usage is much more hygienic. I don’t understand why more companies don’t package their samples this way. Also that makes them perfect for travel because they won’t leak in your bag! And even with the cap they are still small and portable enough so you can bring many and they won’t take up too much space in your luggage.

On my last trip I only brought these samples with me to do my skincare routine and they were perfect. This brings me to the last reason I love Innisfree: you can buy samples from them. Sure if you spend a certain amount on an order you will get free samples, but you can also buy the ones you need for a really reasonable price (about 2$ each). That means you never have to travel with bulky bottles again and you can easily try out new products without having to commit to a full-size bottle. I just think this is so clever and I wanted to make sure you knew about these samples if you are interested in the brand. I’m not sponsored by the brand or anything, but ingenious designs like this get me really excited because they make a difference in my everyday life and simplify my travels greatly.

If you want to purchase your own Innisfree samples, you can find the full range on their website by simply typing "travel" in the search bar or looking up the different product range. 

What I Bring in My Carry-On Beauty Bag

Hello everyone today I have a little round-up of what I always keep in my carry-on bag beauty-wise when I’m flying somewhere. I try to keep it minimal but effective. The recycled air on a plane can really dry your skin out, so it is super important to take care of it whether you’re on a long-haul flight or a short one.

First of all I always have a mini bottle of Bioderma micellar water (reviewed here) to remove my makeup. My skin hates flying, so I cannot wear makeup on a plane or I always get spots, clogged pores and uneven texture. None of that makes for a pleasant landing. I simply pour the a little bit of the water on a cotton pad and gently wipe it around my face. Voilà you have clean skin in seconds.

Next I apply a moisturizer, this time I was using the Innisfree Canola Honey Serum (link) and the Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream. Honestly the products I use usually vary depending on the samples I have on hand, but I love Korean moisturizers because they are super hydrating.

Afterwards, I seal everything in with a nice facial mist. I often use simple rose water, but I also love the Innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist (link) for a more hydrating effect. Also it has a super fine mist so it doesn’t get everywhere and it doesn’t have a strong scent that might offend other passengers. Throughout the flight I will usually keep misting every hour to make sure my face stays moisturized and because I love how refreshing it feels.

Lastly if I’m flying at night or am on a long-haul flight, I will also apply a face mask. My absolute favorite is the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, an amazing mask that moisturizes your skin and nourishes it so you can wake up to softer, plumper skin. It also smells divine and the mask goes on clear so you won’t scare off the other passengers. I always try to have samples of this on hand or I will put some in a little travel jar. I also want to start using sheet masks like the Innisfree Green Tea It's Real Squeeze Mask (reviewed here) to further help soothe and nourish my skin during a long-haul flight.

I pack everything in a clear pouch, the one pictured above is an old one from Sephora that I love, and make sure nothing is over 100ml so I don’t have any troubles going through security. I also carry a lip balm and hand cream with me but those are usually in my purse. I hope this will give you some ideas of what to bring with you on your next flight.