**women cosmetic help**
 

Here is some advice for us traveling women and cosmetics.

1. When entering a hotel take a moment to scour the area with your eyeballs and find out just what space is available to you be vigilant about noticing outlets.

2. Place products for use in shower in said shower. Place said blow dryer by outlet along with companion brushes and hair products. Place makeup kit where you have determined appropriate light situation.

3. When you enter the shower place products on outside of shower for later use along with appropriate towels.

HAPPY MAKE UPPING!!

muffin, exactly how do you mean that we should "scour the area with our eyeballs"? and what kind of outlets? Discount outlets?
It is sweet of you to think of putting this down for other ladies but it seems that most of these tips are pretty much common sense.
One would put ones shower products IN the shower etc...but if you have some cosmetic shopping advice that would be great! I am always interested in buying more makeup and perfume when I travel, I like to find things not sold in the US...

Muffin -- you must be a professional organizer.

Of course we would put shower items in or near the shower. As for putting everything out when I arrive, I like to keep everything in one tidy area and try to put most of it away so the people cleaning the rooms will be able to leave me a clean vanity area. Besides, if I keep putting things back in my fabulous, organized tote, it makes it easier to pack at the end of the trip. Just dry the items from the shower area, throw them in, zip it up, and pack it in my suitcase!

Happy traveling!

For anyone as puzzled by this post as I was, I suggest you click on muffin's name and read through a number of her posts, including the "robe" one. It will explain a lot.
Muffin, you must really enjoy life. Good for you. Have you petted your lizard yet?

Scarlett, personally I love www.sageskincare.com products all the time, and especially when I travel. I cannot use hotel soaps and shampoos without risk of breakingout, so I always have my Sage face shampoo and body shampoo for my neck and hair. Only amount needed for each use is the size of a pea. Because it is concentrated, it takes up very little room in my cosmetic bag. I bring the hotel items home and check out the ingrediencebefor trying. Also, I have just discovered Fallene Total Block Tinted 60SPF sunblock, and love it so much, it is now my daily foundation, so again, I only need one small bottle. I am very fair and it is just right for me, but comes with one light and one dark additive to custom tint. I'm playing with those for shadow and sculpting.
I love the microbial, alcohol and nail polish removers in the little packets for space savers and not being without. I have started taking Clorox Wipes to clean the doorknobs, handles, phones, remote controls, etc. Plastic wrap and extra ziplock bags for a million uses if needed.I also take a scented candle with me to feel at home. I LOVE to travel and find my cosmetic luxuries make me even happier!
I'd love to learn more tips from you!

Heartburn, I agree, lately I have been putting everything away after use and like that much better. I'm ready to leave on a moments notice and don't experence that dread/depression, "I have to pack and leave" anymore. I made my own organizer and another plus is I can't forget anything if each compartment is filled. Also, I don't care to have my personal items touched by housekeeping so I put them back in my suitecase. I bet that housekeeping appreciates it too!

Bodi, my sentiments exactly. I don't want anyone touching all my things. I don't go as far as putting them in my luggage, but put them out of the way so the housekeeping staff can do their job and not worry about cleaning around my stuff.

I do the same, I have my L'Occitaine bag I bought one year with the travel size goodies andit now goes with me with my selections.

I have no business even reading this post, especially considering the message title.

Shouldn't the hairdryer go inside the shower -- I know women like to conserve on the amount of time it takes to get ready. ((a)) ((b))

Years ago, I got this bag with compartments that hangs on the back of a door, that holds all my lotions and cleansers, etc. One Christmas my husband gave me a very nice travel cosmetics bag that I carry makeup and perfume in. Those are always zipped and closed when I am not using them.
I agree that if you keep your things tucked away , that is one less packing ordeal to go through .. sigh. I don't mind the packing to go away but hate the packing to go home~
I will look into the sage products bodi, thanks!
I love getting Roc and Clarins in Paris, the prices are so much better. I experiment with soaps and scented lotions mostly, since makeups can cause allergic reactions.
I also enjoy experimenting with shampoos, having found Darphin products one year..

I agree this post is nuts, so here's my input to chomp on :0

I also have one of those organizers that hangs on the door, and it is one that folds into three and it has compartments with elastic bands for slipping small bottles of items in it, as well as clear see-through pockets with zippers where I store all of my cosmetics, and a section where one of the pockets is a fold over flap with pockets for even more items. It zips up and has velcro to secure the carrying handles. I don't take anything out of it once I arrive, which is even better and more time-saving, because it is hung on the door and when I get into the shower or am applying make-up, everything is in the bag in plain view and it's easy enough to grab. Then, as others said, the maid doesn't have to move or touch anything when cleaning. This organizer can fill up to the size of literally a small carry-on bag, but even I, the mega-packer, never fill it up more than half way. And to think this little gem only cost me $7.99 at Big Lots--the best small amount of money I've ever spent!

Patrick, I should have heeded your advice and read some of those other responses you mentioned above before I answered here....

In one post, muffin states she (or he?) wants to go somewhere with robes because money isn't an object, then in another she (or he?) states, "It was also great in the morning before leaving for the park to fill my pack packs with "free" water and sodas." Day spas in Newport, petting lizards in Aruba, giving posters a smooch.....this muffin has to be of the fruit variety.

LOL, I have also not read the other posts, but now I will. I need something light after being reprimanded for talking about my pup on Fodors :(

OK, so now the question I have is...did muffin pet some really nice lizzards?
and where exactly do you get to wander down to breakfast in your pjs?
This is more fun than cosmetics!

LOL..Sorry, but after taking Patricks advice and reading some of her other posts, the imagine of Jack Black in Shallow Hal popped in my head. The scene in which he looks at Gweneth and says.."COO COO"...

Personally, I too appreciate stepping out of a nice bath into a robe, especially the terry inside/silky outside, but would never take up suitcase space for one, so I think it is a very nice hotel ammenity.

Thank you, muffin, for posting these invaluable tips. Please allow me to offer a few more, in the same vein.

1. When entering your hotel room, look around very carefully until you find a small separate space with a bar across it. This is the closet. You will find it keeps your clothes wrinkle-free if you hang them in this area.

2. If traveling with an alarm clock or a book to read at night, place them on the nightstand so they will be handy.

3. Be sure to turn down the bedspread and blankets and turn out the light before you get into bed. You will get a much better night's sleep that way.

HAPPY TRAVELING!

Well, you guys aren't the only ones with good ideas. I've done some travelling myself, and here are some handy tips I've learned:
When entering a hotel room, note the location of the door. You will find this useful when you are ready to leave the room again.
The large, rectangular object usually placed centrally in the room is the bed. This makes a great place to lie down, especially during the night if you want to sleep. Sometimes there is more than one of these, in which case decisions will have to be made about which one to choose.
Under no circumstances should you scour any area in the hotel, or anywhere else for that matter, with your eyeballs.

Funny, funny, funny :-D

above all, have a key to the room.

I guess I won't be the one to allow this post to die...

I loove my hanging toiletry bag and all it's compartments too! I keep all my small shower stuff, mini alarm clock and other necessities packed and stored in my 22" bag so at a moment's notice, I can go off on some adventure...ok, so I usually don't but...

I also found the most awesome makeup bag at the Saks Fifth Ave outlet awhile back. It's different than most b/c it has lots of great compartments too. It's best feature is that it has individual holders for eye pencils and brushes so no more digging! I wish I knew who made it and had bought more. When this one bites the dust, I will be very sad! It helps keep me totally organized.

I still haven't found a solution for the bad hair days on vacation though. Different water and humidity makes doing my hair a challenge!! Does anyone else have that problem when they go away, or most of you blessed with cooperative hair folicles?

Thanks to all of you for the belly aching laughs!!

Meesthare, do you have any tips for how to decide which bed to sleep in?

Oooh, oooh, I'll answer that one! In order to decide which bed to sleep in, one must toss a coin. The bed on the right will be deemed heads, the bed on the left, tails. You must use a shiny quarter - a nickel, dime or penny will not do. The coin must be tossed at least 5 feet in the air and a clear announcement of "heads" or "tails" must be called before the coin lands on the opposite hand of the tosser. That is how I ALWAYS decide which of the two beds I will sleep it :D Matter of fact, I go through life using the coin toss to make all of life's major decision!

What about the travelin man?

I also don't like the thoughts of strangers touching my stuff.
I personally will not invest a minute of time shopping for the perfect cosmetic bag or some such stuff. I would rather shoot my eye out!!!
I use the free ones you get when you buy a certain dollar amount of cosmetics.
HI Marilyn. Are you bringing the "perfect" bag on your upcoming trip?
:-)

I am indeed bringing the perfect bag, Anne, and will show it to you if you are nice to me. It has taken me many years to find it, and if I ever see another I will buy it immediately, just for back up.

I don't care if the maid touches my shampoo or hand lotion. Do you think she has cooties? What about the security guys who open your luggage? How do you like them touching your stuff?

When did we get to be such a germphobic, finicky society?

I always pick the bed farthest from the blowing A/C, closest to the bathroom....

I have always been a germaphobic! Even as a little girl.
I forgot about those pesky baggage handlers. Now, I have another thing to worry about!!!!!
Marilyn, I look forwArd to seeing the perfect bag.
I think the A/C blower is great, it lulls me to sleep. White noise.

anne honey, I can make you feel much better Fast!
The baggage handlers that sift through your bags, wear gloves ! I guess they are aware that cooties like to travel too :D

Seetheworld, I love the coin toss decision maker, I will start using it right away- Sometimes the Yankee does the choosing thing with paper scissor rock and you know I always lose :(

OneWanderingJew, the water in Portland Oregon is very soft. It felt like I used too much conditioner on my hair every day...I had limp hair :( so if you go there on a holiday, you will like your hair probably :)
But if you don't go there, buy some (too $ but it works) Lazartique Shea Butter conditioner..makes everyones hair like silk!

1- Before entering your room, be sure you know where the EXIT is. Do not scour it with your eyeballs, you won't be able to find it later.
2- Upon entering the room, keep your eyeballs in their proper place.
3- That little paper hanging on the doorknob means that you can sleep past 7 am without the maids coming in while knocking to change the bed. Leave it outside the door at night, like the Yankee who put that outside the door and the breakfast room service order inside the room so we sat there the next morning, alone, unmade and hungry.

This has turned into quite a funny post! And we've all learned a lot about selecting the right bag for your toiletries, make-up, etc. I, too, finally found the perfect bag, but it was by mere luck. I bid on it at a fundraiser, and wasn't sure what it was like because it was still in the original bag. Ended up getting it and love it. Once I figured it out!! Zips up in a strange way, but is fantastic and hangs, or I can set it on a counter if I don't open it all the way. Very handy.

On a serious note, though....
One thing I have learned to check in a hotel room is the window or sliding door to the outside. On numerous occassions, I've found they are not locked, or, worse yet, DON'T lock properly. Instead of waiting until maintenance is gone for the evening, this should be checked FIRST. I'll never forget the morning I woke up and went over to open the sliding glass door to the balcony and found it had not been locked all night long... and here I was alone in the room. Horrors!

Oh, another thing to check... make sure you have a bag for the ice bucket...LOL!! Oh, this reminds me to send a message to Budman -- I don't like putting the hairdryer in the shower because I already have curly hair :-)

LOL heartburn, no hairblowers in the shower or tub :)

bed - I simply sleep on the same side as at home, so I don't get lost.
security - pack in see through bags so they can quickly inspect and re pack. I use both mesh and ziplock. I fear where those gloves have already been.....
don't touch money either and clorox wipe my credit cards after each use.
drinking glasses, can't be sure what was cleaned just before - If no microwave, alcohol wipe and rinse in hottest water, or just drink vodka, the vanilla is my favorite.
housekeeping has already handled the soap and shampoo, but never let them use your toothbrush.
always use a blacklite to inspect the walls, furniture, blankets and spreads, and the sheets, just to be sure.
OH, and bring a zip lock for the ice bucket, and run the coffee maker and they poor the hot water in the tank to set. Then make coffee.
Oh never mind, I think I'll stay home.....

...vanilla vodka...really?

bodi, I like the part about drinking the vodka. :-D

I'm just going to let bodi pack for me next time :D

Oh Wanderingjew I am so so just like you! I simply adore your suggestion as far as an organizer and the problem with different water affecting your hair..wow! I think we must be twins..smooch..smooch and air kisses to you. I do appreciate the wonderful additions you have all provided regarding traveling and hotel rooms!

Absolut Vanilla Vodka
the men, I forgot to mention, pack cherrios for the 'bowl' so they know where they are supose to aim, and have fun trying
Any time Scarlett!
packing, do you roll, bag or layer?

Wanderingjew as far as my hair behaving badly on vacation well...it is always stressful. I swear I need a sedative not knowing what my naughty hair might do..sometimes stunning sometimes well not so stunning.

LOL bodi, I layer/roll :D

perpetual bad hair - I have given up 'do s' for clean hair in fabulous hats! and always armed with lethal hatpins.....ya never know.....