Travelling light is not my strong point. Even my daily trek to work means lugging a large beach bag filled with smoothies, supplements, skin care and bits and bobs of cosmetics I may need. It’s not so much that I am vain – often the things hardly get used -but more that I like to be prepared… So if someone says, ‘Meet me after work for a drink in the sun,’ I can slop on some sunblock and top up my makeup and go out, without wearing the ravages of a hard day’s work on my face. But hey, maybe that is a little vain after all.

Anyway, with a trip in Bali looming I have already begun thinking about what to pack for the two weeks there. Four days in Queenstown recently was challenging enough. I mean, I have serums for day and night and every other manner of skin condition that may arise. Lord help me, this ‘desert island beauty’ shenanigans ain’t easy.

But thanks to the wonders of my lovely little Beauty Editor community on Facebook, I have some marvellous ideas for the ultimate beauty/health pack for my trip.

Cleansing wipes.
Essentially a handy tool for cleansing my hands, face
or other body parts(!) while on the go because apparently, I may have to buy a single piece of toilet paper at some point on my travels. Yikes. I rarely use these to cleanse my face at home as I absolutely love a good thorough cleansing, but I will certainly invest in a mini pack of wipes. I really like the Simple Facial Wipes, $9.50 as they don’t irritate or sting my skin like some can. They are alcohol free, which is great because alcohol belongs in my cocktail glass, not on my face. Dermalogica PreCleanse Wipes, $27.50 are also goodies to use before cleansing – and they’re biodegradable.

Skin care.
Well. This is where sh*t gets real. I love all my precious products and the thought of leaving my skin to its own devices for two weeks without them is a little scary, but needs must, so I will cut back. By day I will have to use Osmosis Catalyst AC-11 Serum, $230. This stuff is pricy, but so worth it as I think has made the biggest positive change in my skin. It’s also seriously sun protective and that is the key by day my friends. By night I could also continue to use the same serum, but I do like to mix things up, so I will likely opt for a thick, nourishing cream to put back in what the day takes out.  Cosmedix Rescue Balm & Mask would be a perfect pick-me-up. I used it when I had my incredible Renewed Radiance Facial at The Face Place (it’s recommended post-procedure) and I loved the results. You only need a tiny bit and it is wonderfully nourishing and is great as an eye cream too. I’ll pack my Jane Iredale Magic Mitt to remove makeup. It should come off a treat after I have massaged it with some coconut oil
(see below).

Oil.
So face oil is my major addiction and chances are I will be taking one with me, but I also can’t go wrong with coconut oil which is absolutely gorgeous on the body, to cleanse makeup off the face and also to nourish the hair as a pre-wash treatment. I also chuck it in my smoothies as a ‘good fat’ and because it supposedly slows down the absorption of sucrose in the body. Needless to say, coconut oil is a go-to product for me and I will probably pick some up while there. As for my face, I really do love Nutrimetics Nutri-Rich Oil, $64 which is in a balm form so it won’t leak. It’s greasy gorgeousness that’s as good on the soles of your feet as it is your face. The price is great, so I never feel I have to be stingy with it and it lasts forever.

Water ‘resistant’ mascara.
I can’t do waterproof mascara. I absolutely hate the stuff tearing my lashes out when I try to remove it, and I don’t seem to have many lashes left these days anyway, (cheers for that hypothyroidism!) So one of my readers reminded me about Blinc mascara… It’s a cult product that was first made 25 years ago in Japan and suffice it to say, it’s no wonder it has stood the test of time. It forms rubber ‘tubes’ around the lashes, which stay put and perfect all day without smearing, smudging or flaking. BUT the tubes slide off the lashes easily with water. Genius. You can find it in New Zealand at glamorpuss.co.nz 

Shampoo & Conditioner.
I will be packing Sorbet Sensational Solids shampoo and conditioner bars, which are so much more convenient than trying to tackle liquids in my suitcase. I can just throw these beauties into a soap dish and I will be sorted. Not to mention, they make my hair feel and look great – as good, if not better than any other shampoo. I use Clementine for greasy hair and Wonderbar for conditioning, which can also be used as a shaving balm if I need to.

Hydrating Mist.
This is probably not essential, but how cool would it be – literally – to just mist your face in sweet scented floral water with hydrating benefits when you’re in tropical climes? I’m such a fan of the sensation of these mists that I even have a miniature bottle of Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water mist in my desk drawer and I can see this coming with me. I have also heard amazing things about Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater $22.

Sunblock, sunblock and more sunblock.
I think I may have a disorder when it comes to sun protection. I never know which is the best for my skin and tend to pile a range of products on. However, for my body (non water resistant) I swear by Oasis – it’s nourishing and so pleasant to wear. For face I will probably pack something I can trust to do a good job. Again, I love Oasis, but something nice and compact like the Murad Essential-C Sun Balm Broad Spectrum SPF30, $54 is a handy little size for the handbag and great for the nose and ears. And I absolutely love Colorescience SPF50 Sunforgettable. Speaking of…

Fake Tan.
Little Miss Lily White has tried them all. For a green option I absolutely adore Kiri Organics Gradual Tan, but for a slightly quicker option my new favourite is Bondi Sands mousse. Once I have tanned up I like to use a tanning moisturiser just to keep things smooth and even-toned and avoid too much build-up. I recently discovered Nature’s Gate Glow Lotion and I am seriously impressed with this deliciously creamy product. I find the colour takes up to 24 hours to develop completely, but when it does it is one of the loveliest light tans I have seen. It’s super cheap on www.iherb.com

Lipsticks.
It’s really important to use sun protection on your lips as they have no melanin in them for natural protection. Unfortunately not many lipticks come with sunblock (and it tastes awful) so you will probably want to ear an SPF balm over your choice of colour, just as I do. As for colour, a bright pop is going to look pretty and colourful and can be fingertip smudged with some all-purpose balm by day and then applied carefully for a defined, glam look by night. I cannot go past Karen Murrell Fuschia Shock, $30. It’s seriously hot, plus it’s made from all natural ingredients.

Eyeshadow and Liner.
I do feel nude (and not in a sexy way) without a little eyemakeup. But yeah, it’s gonna be hot and sweaty so I understand it is best to keep things simple. For this I will pick M.A.C Cosmetics Paint Pot in Groundwork – it’s a gorgeous light brown that is the perfect all natural look on its own, or a great base for layering a stronger look. I struggle to find a liner that stays put, so I will probably turn to a gel eyeliner to do the trick. I love M.A.C black for the top lashline. If I am greedy and I kind of am… I will also probably pack a pot of gold shimmer shadow, which I can use in the inner corner of the eye, across the whole lid, or even mixed in with a little paw paw ointment and used as a cheek highlighter. If it’s multi-purpose it’s not high maintenance right?

And not to forget…
* Insect Repellent. For one that really works sadly you have to use 40% Deet. Ugh. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here folks, this stuff is strong enough to melt plastic, so it’s not nice.
* Ethical Nutrients Travel Bug. This has rave reviews from tonnes of people who say they never get sick when they travel with it and always get sick without it. It’s a no brainer for me and my seriously sensitive tummy – which is already scared I am going to forget I can’t drink the tap water.
* Imodium. Just in case the Bali belly strikes.
* Immunisations. Check you are up to date. If you are keen for monkey island, you might want to look into a rabies shot. You’ll need one a week over three weeks, so prepare in advance.