The travellers make up bag

If you ask anyone that knows me they will tell you I'm a make up hoarder. I love make up - wearing it, buying it, everything about it. But, when you're travelling around the last thing you want is to be weighed down with loads of make up both in terms of luggage and on your face. However, I like to know I've got something should the occasion arise when I want to dress up a little bit more - going for dinner, going for drinks, these are instances when I'd want a little bit of make up. So I've compiled a list of the things I think you should take travelling for those occasions without the feeling of being weighed down by make up.

Base wise I'd opt for a light foundation such as Rimmel's Wake Me Up or a BB cream. Both of these will give nice coverage without being cakey. The Wake Me Up foundation and BB creams also have the effect of making the skin look light and dewy for that alive, awake look even if you're really not. In Australia you can by a foundation stick with zinc that acts as a UV shield. Its a heavier coverage than a BB cream of the Rimmel foundation but I find it really great just as a concealer. A must for bases in Australia is that they contain SPF so make sure they do before purchasing. 

I also have a concealer for under my eyes as I'm prone to dark circles. When I was working on the farms and doing 10-12 hour days they were particularly bad and that's when I really found this to be an essential. I really like the Rimmel Match Perfection concealer for under eyes. 

A great idea for make up when travelling is make up that can multi task. I use a Revlon quad of eye shadows both for eyeshadows but also for my eyebrow colour. Obviously for this to work you'll have to find a quad with a colour that works for your brows but something that will work for a neutral eye as well. Also a bronzer. You may think how is that a multi tasking product. I've found if I want just a bit of gold on my eye lids as a something but not too much look my Body Shop bronzer is great. 

However, when it comes to eyes all you really need is a decent eyeliner and mascara. I have a waterproof and non-waterproof mascara as non-waterproof is so much easier to remove but out here you never know when you're going to end up at the beach. I've found a kohl eyeliner is better than liquid as you can smudge it out for a more smokey look. 

Something else to note is the price of make up. When you're travelling things might get broken in your bag or lost or left somewhere so cheaper, drugstore brands are the way forward here, I think. Also most days you probably won't wear any make up so you don't want expensive stuff just sitting around possibly going off. 

So that's my travel make up bag, what are your essentials for travelling?

Until next time, 

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Christmas Down Under

I'm going to be spending Christmas in Australia, as you may have guessed, and, mainly due to the weather, it's been a little tricky to get into the festive mood. It doesn't feel like Christmas when I can go and lay on the beach on a Sunday in 30 degree heat rather than curl up in a blanket after a wintry walk waiting for a good old fashioned beef stew. However, over the past few weeks I've done a few things that have helped get me into the Christmas spirit and I'm going to share them with you to help any of you who are away from home at the festive season and need some extra help getting into the swing of things. 

I love wrapping presents. In fact, it's one of my favourite parts of Christmas. I normally jump at the oppurtunity to help my mum wrap up presents she's bought. Luckily I'm going to be spending Christmas with family so I don't need an excuse to buy presents, also a few for Jack as it's our first Christmas actually together. If you're not spending Christmas with friends or family why not buy something cheap to give to one of the charity, christmas present boxes you can find in most of the big supermarkets. Or you might be living in a hostel or flat share, try a secret santa it's a good way to bond and it means you can do a bit of Christmas shopping and a bit of wrapping. 

Family is key to Christmas. Obviously not everyone is going to be able to stay with family if they're travelling, but if you can why not treat yourself to a flight to their neck of the woods. If they're living abroad it's unlikely you get to spend many Christmases with them so they'd love it too and you get to spend Christmas with family. 

If there's no family near you, have a quiet Christmas with who you're travelling with whether it be a friend from home, someone you've met or someone you're living with. A BBQ and a few beers on the beach will be something you won't forget - it's definitely not something you'll do every year. 

Just because it doesn't get frosty cold in Australia doesn't mean they don't adorn their houses in Christmas lights. Go for a drive and see what you can see. Some of them are spectacular and they make me just as smiley and giddy as they do at home. A great way to start feeling festive. 

Of course there's Christmas fairs, festivals, markets and every other kind of festivity you can think of going on. Have a look online and you're bound to find some sort of Christmas themed event going on near you. Have a wander down and enjoy the atmosphere, you don't have to spend any money just enjoy what's going on. 

A Christmas tree is also a Christmas essential I think everyone will agree, and they don't cost a bomb. You can buy little fake ones from most supermarkets and they look really pretty, give you something to put presents under and they're quintessentially Christmas. 

One thing I love to do around Christmas is bake. Gingerbread, yule log, mince pies the lot. A few simple and cheap ingredients, or even a ready made kit/mix and you're away. The smells of the food and of course the eating couldn't be more Christmas.

So, a few tips to get into that Christmas mood when you're away from home and it might seem that little bit harder. How do you get into the Christmas mood? Let me know in the comments. 

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Top 5 things I want to do in Aus | Tuesday Travels

I have, with Jack, been looking at all the things we want to do in Australia that isn't working or driving. He probably has a bit of a different top five but this is mine. And yes today's post is just a list because this wasn't the post I had planned but someone who's hiding in New Zealand at the moment hasn't been able to send me the pictures for the blog post I had written and planned for today. Sorry. Blame Jack.

1) Ayers Rock, Perth

2) Sydney Bridge Climb, Sydney

3) Great Barrier Reef Diving

4) Skydive, Mission Beach

5) Penguin Island, Perth

I am fully aware that we probably won't get to do all these things as money is going to be an issue. 

But 3/5 ain't bad! Right?

The Weather Variabe.2 the packing conundrum | Tuesday Travels

A few weeks ago I wrote a post called 'the weather variable'. That was back in February, remember that month that had passed whilst we blinked. In that post I discussed the Australian weather system, because it's different to ours, in case the time difference, willingness to live with scary beasts and price of a banana wasn't enough for me to deal with. I shared with you how the differing weather systems in Australia meant we could avoid relatively cold weather, though still warm for us Brits, by travelling across the northern parts of the country to Perth and then the southern half back to Brisbane. If you're confused I suggest referring back to said post.

Since then, it's come to my attention that it is not only the travelling itself that will be effected by the weird weather goings on, it will be my backpack contents.

Despite the fact it will hopefully be warmer when we travel norther, it may not be as dry as we'd liked and when you get storms in Aus, you know about it. As Jack keeps reminding me. As such my packing list looks a little less like someone going for a warm working holiday but rather someone who doesn't quite know what to expect. At present it goes, sunglasses, rain coat, after sun, thick socks. My packing list is schizophrenic. Or maybe the Australian weather is.

Either way, it is something I'm having to consider when I decided what I'm taking as I am limited due to the limitations of hiking backpack. I'm not even worrying about weight restrictions as I'm certain I won't be able to get enough in my bag to even get close to it.

When it gets closer to the time, i.e. when my mum stops me wearing certain clothes because she doesn't want to wash them again, then I will give you a better idea of what will be in my backpack. But until then I'm sure you're just as unsure as I am.