What products did I pack for my trip?

So here’s the situation. I just got back from a wonderful trip to Spain that was divided into three parts: a few days in Barcelona, a 60+ mile hike on the Camino de Santiago and then a few days along the Costa Brava. Those are three very different vacations. And I had to pack for all them in a bag I could carry on my back during the hike portion of the trip. (technically, I could’ve put the non-hike stuff in a locker at the airport, but that would really be too convenient, and probably too smart for me. And yea—clearly it was.)

As we have established, I’m a pro at packing light. So keeping the weigh down was not a problem for me. I was able to pack everything I needed in a bag that weighed less than 15 pounds.

This was seriously a source of pride for me. But did I pack right? Especially when it came to my skin care/makeup game. Let’s review!

Sunscreens: I brought a bunch of different options to keep my skin in good shape. Nothing throws a trip off track like a sunburn. (And blisters, it turns out…)

The rock star of the sunscreens was definitely the Glossier, Invisible Shield. This stuff is incredible. It’s so sheer and easy to wear. My husband in super particular about sunscreen and he loved this stuff, too and it was his go-to during the trip. It’s definitely gonna be a summer staple.

The Sun Bum products were a mixed bag. I really liked the stick as an easy option when hiking—to just pop it on my nose and ears and cheeks—the places most likely to get sun. And it’s very lightweight. It’s a very nice product.

I also liked the tube of face lotion, but I used it just on my body. It’s a nice consistency and I didn’t burn, so there you go! The chapstick though was garbage, which is exactly where it’s going.

Makeup: It’s kinda stupid, but I brought my Physicians Formula, Butter Bronzer and my big fluffy brush. Did I need to bring this? No. Did I use it? Yes. Did I use it because I brought it? Yes.

Similarly, I really didn’t need concealer. Not because I didn’t need concealer, I just  didn’t really NEED concealer. Luckily, it’s lightweight as its the smaller tube of the Urban Decay, Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer. But to blend it I brought my foundation brush. That was pretty dumb. It was like a impulse pack. Didn’t need it. And sticking with things I didn’t need, I really didn’t need my Glossier, Brow Boy—but it’s so small and easy to pack—it came along. And it was used.

My eyelash curler was a yes, definitely. And I’m trying to use up my Benefit, Roller Lash Mascara which is a nice daytime mascara, but not cruelty free. I definitely just feel more myself if I’m wearing mascara. It’s something I don’t like to leave the house without having it on. So mascara was a must.

It’s like I have some kind of sickness that I ALWAYS have multiple lipsticks with me at all times. It’s ridiculous and totally silly. But it’s real, so I had a bunch that I packed. I never wore the Kylie Cosmetic in Kristen because it felt a little too serious since it’s a matte finish and I also felt it was too drying and I wasn’t in the mood for it.

But I wore both of my Colourpop, Blotted Lips in Drip, a sort of coral color and Lolly, a plum. I love these so much. They are kinda weird. They apply like a balm, but aren’t slippery. They have a matte finish and kinda leave a stain. I brought my Tarte, Lipsurgence which is my favorite lip product of all-time in Lucky, which is a wonderful pink nude.  I can totally tell I’m going to be living in these this summer. I suggest picking these up for sure! And the Tarte is on sale for $9 and the Colourpop are $5! Super affordable.

I did not end up wearing the Colourpop, Ultra Blotted Lip in Doozy, most because like the Kylie, it just seemed fussy. I still love these though and highly recommend. I just didn’t need them for the hike.

I had to bring the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Gloss Bomb. It’s like a security blanket. But I didn’t wear it. And it’s actually kinda clunky to pack because it’s rather thick. It’s nice to have around though.

And I missed it in the picture, but I also brought my NARS, Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Cruella. Ugh. I so wish this was CF so I could tell you how it’s the perfect travel red. *sigh*

Similarly, I’m addicted to facial mists, but I didn’t really use this toner much from Dermalogica, Multi-active Toner in a travel size I got as a free sample. Not sure why I didn’t pull it out of my bag, but I didn’t.

Skin care: Speaking of Dermalogica, Pamela had given me a bunch of samples to try a while back and I have been waiting for an opportunity to pull them out. So moving into skin care, the majority of the products were from this line.

Let me breakdown the Dermalogica products I used. There was a really nice PowerBright TRx C-12 Pure Bright Serum that was billed as a morning and night step and I probably used it for both more times than I didn’t. It felt really nice on and was easy to layer other products over. I’m not sure I loved it, but it was good. It’s just a little on the pricey side. After that step, I used the PowerBright TRx Pure Light SPF moisturizer in the mornings. I generally used this as my sunscreen to start the day and reapplied with the Glossier, Invisible Shield. For being in the sun so much, I did not get noticeably tanned and never burned. It’s a really great daily moisturizer and definitely a quality product. The stars for me though were the night time products. I loved the Age Smart MultiVitamin Power Firm which is a super rich eye cream that I would definitely use in place of my holy grail Philosophy Miracle Worker Eye Cream, for sure. And I think it’s a little cheaper. My eyes loved this cream, especially after the hike. And for the night cream, the Pure Night is wonderful. So creamy and luxurious feeling. I loved this one, too.

I was not as crazy for the Nightly Lip Treatment and at $50 for full size, that’s a hard pass. Especially since I’m very particular about my lip treatments. I already have the Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque but I did like having a sample size with me, although I only used it once. And another toner that I didn’t use and I’m not sure why I didn’t notice I had packed two.

On to the none Dermalogica products, I brought a sample of the Meaningful Beauty, Skin Softening Cleanser, which I really love and seems to be back at Ulta. I brought this ridiculously tiny sample of the Kora Organics, Noni Radiant Eye Oil but it didn’t really work–I rolled it over my skin–and nothing came out. And I’m super crazy for the Too Faced, Hangover Replenishing Face Primer so I brought that but honestly, didn’t need it with the Pure Light moisturizer. That would’ve been sufficient. I did use it though, since I had it so I had four layers of cream on my face each day, which is pretty silly. Because on top of all that, I also wore the Bare Minerals, Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30. 

So honestly, I really only needed to wear the tinted moisturizer. In retrospect, I could’ve just brought that along and been fine. Luckily, the samples were all small (some ridiculously so!) so they didn’t take up much room or have weight.

I also used up a whole supply of Q-tips because just like my lipstick issue, I also use Q-tips like it’s going out of style. *eye roll*

Hair care: For hair products, I only brought a Deva Curl kit I had picked up somewhere which has the No-Poo Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser, One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner, and the Styling Cream. I liked this set. My only complaint is after two weeks of using it, my hair felt a little waxy. And sometimes I just really wanted to suds my hair up, but that’s more psychological than anything else. The Styling Cream was really a winner. I definitely liked how lightweight it was and it held my hair in place without being sticky or greasy. If it something you’d like to try, Ulta has this kit that’s similar and you’d get a free sample of the Styling Cream.

Did I miss anything in my packing? Yup.

I REALLY had an urge to exfoliate–both my face and body–so I picked up this Avene, Gentle Body Scrub on day two in Barcelona for $15. Things in Spain were very cheap, but beauty and skin care generally was not, although this is $24 in the US. I never settled on a face scrub so I picked up a face sponge in a grocery store for $1 and it helped a bit. I also forgot deodorant, so I found one at a pharmacy day one that was all natural. I’ve noticed that when I need to purchase deodorant in Europe it’s always a roll-on, which I’m not a huge fan of but will use in a pinch. I really needed a lip balm, so I got one at the grocery store for $2 that was PERFECT!!! Also nabbed some cheap lotion and toothpaste later in the trip when my skin just started feeling dehydrated and I was tired of sharing toothpaste and just wanted my own. Both were under $3.

Overall, I thought I packed well. My bag was light and I basically had what I needed. I definitely over packed on the products more than I did my clothes. But I’m glad I did because it wasn’t as easy to access products there like I thought, especially for a metropolitan city.

How do you think I did? Any must have products that I missed that you can’t live without on vacation? Anything you definitely would’ve scrapped? Do you also clean your ears too much? How about shampoo–do you like the suds? I’m always looking for ways to lighten the load, so let me know what you think below!