BellaSugar

5 Tips For Taking Your Flat Iron to Go

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:00:58 -0700

Summer vacay, are you ready? If you want sleek locks for your next trip - but cherish your ceramic plates - check out these five ways to take better care of the flat iron so it lasts 'til you get home again.

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Packing Tips For One-Bag Travelers

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:00:24 -0700

This is so dorky, but, um, I like Rick Steves. Yes, he comes off as a little earnest in his travel show, but his website is filled with great ideas. He's a big advocate of traveling with only one bag, and that's just what I'm doing next month. For two weeks, I'll live out of this carry-on bag. A couple of versatile black dresses and a few grooming essentials should keep me in biz-a-ness. I've assembled some of my favorite travel-friendly tips, just in case you're planning to get out of Dodge, too. Check them when you read more.

Don't pack everything. I know it's tempting to pack three lip glosses and acne cream and that restorative hair treatment and, and, and... but don't. You will probably use only the basics, so why pack anything else? (In my case, the only makeup I pack is tinted lip balm, tinted moisturizer and concealer.)

Downsize. Forget full-sized products for a short trip. Instead, use a few small travel containers to hold just enough product. When space is at a premium, every square inch counts.

Restrict your liquids. I'm not checking baggage, so any liquids have to be in containers that hold three ounces or less. Since I'm already downsizing my packaging that should be easy, but when possible, I like to use items that aren't liquid at all. RareMinerals Renew & Reveal Facial Cleanser is great for traveling; it's a powder cleanser that mixes with water, and if I add just a little bit of water, it doubles as a light facial scrub.

Shop at your destination. The next time I am lucky enough to go to France, I won't pack sunblock - because I know that my favorite, unavailable-in-the-States sunblock is cheap there. I always stock up, so I'll just use what I buy there. (And then I ship the rest home because I am a weird hoarder when it comes to this.)

Any other travel tips? Share them in the comments, and be sure to check out my buddy Dorothy's travel site, Jauntsetter. It is filled with travel ideas galore.

Go Liquid-Free Traveling, Bella Style

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:00:30 -0700

I may have recently discovered a great carry-on kit, but then I got to thinking about how I might just try traveling liquid- and gel-free for my next destination. The current 3-1-1 rule states that you can bring 3.4 ounce bottles of liquids or gels in a one quart bag as carry-on. That's of course, one per person - which I did, indeed, once learn the hard way.

While it might be a little difficult to go completely "dry," I've got some suggestions in my widget below. The good news? It's expected that the TSA will lift the 3-ounce ban sometime later this year, although you'd still have to remove your liquid items for separate scanning. Still, it's great to travel light, no?

Have I Finally Discovered the Ultimate Carry-On Kit?

BellaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:00:26 -0800

While I was packing to head home for the holidays, I got out my flimsy one-quart ziploc baggie and a slew of travel-sized items. Due to inclement weather, a layover, and fear of lost baggage, there was no way I was going to check my baggage. I was determined to go carry-on all the way. At the risk of sounding vain, trying to squeeze shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner, hair gel, hairspray...etc. into that teeny tiny bag is rough.

And as I decided between mouthwash and shaving cream (neither won), I could have kicked myself for not purchasing this 15-Piece Carry-On Bottle Kit I saw at Bed Bath & Beyond a few weeks prior. Packaged up in a reusable, TSA approved zip-top bag with the smallest of bottles and jars inside, I could have actually had room for fresher breath and smoother legs. Plus, I think there would even be a little extra room for other goodies like lip gloss and mascara.

Oh, and the kit comes with 36 pre-labeled stickers so you don't accidentally put conditioner on your face instead of your hair. Never done that. Nope. Never. My only complaint is that the bottles are all made of hard plastic, making me wonder how easily the products would dispense. How about you? Have you discovered a can't-live-without kit, or are you still on the pursuit?

When Stuck at an Airport, What Would You Do About Showers?

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:00:53 -0800

As I was at a check-in kiosk over the holidays, I noticed several signs for showering facilities right at SFO. Granted, it's my hometown, so I'd have no reason to use it even if my flight was delayed, but I wondered if all the people camping out past security knew about this offering.

With standard ($11 for 20 minutes plus soap and towel) and deluxe ($15 for 30 minutes with full sets of toiletries and towel) showers, this didn't seem like a bad idea if someone wasn't down to spring for a hotel room for the night. Have you ever showered or used spa/hair salon facilities while waiting for takeoff?

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Something Else to Take From the Hotel For Your Next Trip

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:00:51 -0800

There's a time when less is more and more . . . simply won't fit into those prepackaged, airline-approved travel sets. Take those occasions when you don't need a week's worth of three products, but want three days worth of closer to seven products.

I've picked up some three-ounce travel bottles for things that run out quickly, but what about a dab of shimmer lotion for a night out or some homemade toner? Well, the next time you're at a hotel that provides the essentials in these tiny, one-ounce sizes, empty (or use it), and bring them home in your carry-on.

Once home, pop them in the dishwasher and suddenly you've got tiny (free!) bottles perfect for those bitty essentials. That way your quart-sized bag will still fit those items that take up tons of space (like deodorant) and have room for the rainbow of lip glosses you need to bring too. You know, just in case.

The Latest in Travel Beauty

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:05 -0700

If you're required to travel light anytime soon, check out the travel toiletries from Travelon, which come as paper thin, single-use sheets packed into colored plastic containers (think Listerine Pocket Pals). The sheets of hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, body wash and laundry detergent-all biodegradable and, of course, TSA-compliant-come in packs of 50, and will never spill in your shoes.

My favorite discovery was the ultimate travel toothbrush: Travelon's has a built-in reserve for toothpaste that you twist a knob to release onto the brush, like YSL's famed Touche Eclat, but for teeth. Not only that, the brush also has a cover, so you don't have to buy one of those four-packs at the drugstore that invariably don't stay closed. Pick up the sheets for $4.95 a container on Irvs.com and the toothbrush for $39.95 on Amazon.com.

The Plane Truth: How To Look Great While Flying

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:00:17 -0700

It's hard to look as chic as a celebrity when you step off an airplane, especially when you land in Hawaii with a scarf and boots on (yeah, I've done it).

The recycled, dry cabin air can cause parched skin and hair. An article last year in Environmental Science & Technology suggests that "interactions between body oils and ozone found in airplane cabins could lead to the formation of chemical byproducts that might worsen nasal irritation, headaches, dry eyes and lips, and other common air traveler complaints." Yikes. Wide-body planes have ozone-neutralizing catalysts in their ventilation systems, but narrower aircrafts often don't. To find out how to stay beautiful when flying the friendly skies, just read more.

Use a leave-in conditioner and pull hair back in a simple low twist. Your hair will stay soft, hydrated and out of your way during the flight. Wear a headband (but not a tight one) or pin back bangs.
Wash your face and apply a lotion with SPF - you can still get a sunburn on an airplane. Wear as little makeup as possible.
Pack an anti-bacterial hand lotion, like the ones from Bath & Body Works. You'll keep germs away while moisturizing your hands and nails.
Relax. I swear by Origins Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief, an aromatherapy product you dab onto your temples to relieve stress. It also obliterates the smell of overcooked chicken, drunk passengers and airplane bathrooms.
Drink a lot of water and bring along a water spray, like Evian Travel Trio.
Bring an eye mask and earplugs. After all, you need your beauty sleep!

Bauer-Griffin Online

Pack Your Stuff Without Checking Your Bags

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:00:55 -0700

I'm visiting New York right now, and since I hate checking bags, I didn't pack my beloved Jan Marini glycolic wash because the container is too large for the carry-on. And wouldn't you know it? A tiny pimple is developing. Failure!

Next time I fly the friendly skies, I'm going to be ready with Flight 001's Carry-On Bottle Set ($16). The set includes seven three-ounces-or-less containers inside a quart-sized plastic pouch - so instead of worrying about size issues, I can just decant my cleanser and other must-haves, then be on my way. So easy.

Of course, you can assemble a similar kit on your own to save a few bucks; stores such as Target sell plastic bottles for less than a dollar each. But if convenience is what you crave, Flight 001's version does the work for you.

Do You B.Y.O. Hair Products When You Travel?

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:00:21 -0800

I love to check out the new and exciting product amenities that hotels have to offer, but using them is a whole different story. Chancing dry, brittle hair is a risk I don't often take. That's why I always bring along airline-approved bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and even a body lotion with me. I do, however, love to load up on the free nail files and shower caps (admit it, you know you do too). How about you? Do you pack your own hair products when you travel?

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Natural Products Ltd. Dissolving Paper Shampoo, Mint Fragrance - $4.90	Peppermint Tooth Fiber by Peelu - $9.98
Honeysuckle Perfumed Powder by Caswell-Massey - $12.00	Sephora Brand Nail Patch - $5.00
Cutex Nail Polish Remover Pads,Non-Acetone - $3.49	Lavender Soap 15 Leaves by Caswell-Massey - $3.00
Clinique 3 Little Soaps with Travel Dish, Mild - $15.50	The Original Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo by J.R. Liggett's - $6.99
Ted Gibson Treatment Hair Sheets 5-pk. - $24.95	Sunscreen Wipes SPF 30 by Shady Day Inc. - $9.99
Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar - $9.95	Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and DeMake Up Wipes - $12.00
Wink Beauty Shimmer and Smile Cheat Sheets, Refillable Powder Paper Compact - $25.00