Vol. 27 - Toiletry Royale from Palm Springs
Top skincare + makeup MVPs from a three-day work trip to the desert.
Nothing like a change of plans to send you packing! Last week a work trip got moved from Sonoma to Palm Springs and just like that, the monstera prints came out. I was there with the gorgeous brand Perfumehead for meetings, but I prefer to think of it as a conclave. Important directions were taken! Instead of white smoke we had Bill Blass meatloaf!
We stayed at the Ford Estate, the home where Gerald and Betty Ford decamped after leaving the White House. Shag carpets, framed panels of Lichtenstein wallpaper, new marble bathrooms, and vintage vanity lights. What more could you ask for?
I am not a carry-on only person, but for a trip this short it makes sense; one side of the suitcase for clothes, the other for shoes and toiletries. This was the first time ever I didn’t pack any perfume, because I knew I’d be receiving one of the first bottles of 1272, Perfumehead’s newest scent and the first-ever coltrait, a cologne-extrait hybrid inspired by the Wexler House, founder Daniel Patrick Giles’ Palm Springs home.
I’m a bit of a beauty over-packer because I never want to be in a situation where I can’t properly remove my makeup or take care of irritation that so frequently arises after being on a plane or using different tap water to wash my face. So I’ll detail my travel toiletry MVPs in the skincare and makeup departments below:
TRAVEL SKINCARE MVPs:
Makeup remover is my numero uno. I’ll either use the Lancome Bi-Facil or a mini bottle of Bioderma Micellar Water. I travel with a stack of these gauze squares (Learned about them from ZIIP co-founder Melanie Simon. I have thoughts about cotton. You can read more about them on Yolo Journal’s Substack). I really hate bringing large bottles away with me so the smaller the better.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is a powder formula that weighs next to nothing. You shake it out in your palm and mix with a few drops of water. It’s a little exfoliating, a little foamy, and doesn’t leave your face tight at all.
Joanna Czech The Toner - A hydrating and gentle option I’ll use when my skin is feeling sensitive (the formula is focused on barrier repair). Also applied with the aforementioned gauze.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel - A classic for a reason, beloved for the single-serve packets and the powerful acids. Always have these in my bag, but only use them when my skin is feeling more balanced.
Sisley Velvet Nourishing Cream - It would make me anxious to only bring a moisturizer of this size, so I’ll normally throw in three or four. This one has a really gorgeous texture - rich but not heavy. I couldn’t find the travel size for sale on its own, but Sisley does make a ton of really great gift sets.
The Beauty Sandwich SS01 - I really love to use oils when traveling. This one was formulated by Ivan Pol and Annee d’Mamiel, a British facialist who has her own wonderful line, including oils for each season. The 15ml size of the SS01 Secret Sauce is the one I use for travel.
Chanel Le Lift Massage Tool - This is always, always in my bag. It’s only available on eBay, unfortunately, but Chanel now makes this one, which I would happily pack. I’ll do a “crude lymphatic drainage massage” with the Chanel tool or my knuckles, which you can see here:
TRAVEL MAKEUP MVPs:
Sarah Creal SPF 50 - Because I cannot get hyped enough about glowy, tinted SPF, I have another one for you. The original shade, Vacation, came out last year and I liked it, but it was a little too dark for me. This one, called Staycation, has a “neutral glow” SPF that was perfect for day makeup with concealer and a bit of color (I actually think it feels more like a highlighter than something tinted, so would probably work on all skin tones). Two women I was working with added it to their cart in between meetings.
Sarah Creal Concealer - This is one of those concealers that I’ve checked in with a few beauty editor friends about, and the consensus is: it’s a good one. Covers and blends and stays super well, which makes sense because it’s makeup developed for those over 40 (I’m wearing 3.0 Light Neutral, but also have 2.0 for the winter.).
Manasi(7) Tinted Beauty Potion - This dewy, all-over color is not for everyone, but it’s absolutely for me and I’ll tell you why. It’s a little sticky, and it’s not that easy to blend BUT if you have moisturized skin before putting it on, it leaves the most gorgeous, rich, glowy color anywhere you want it—cheeks, eyelids, lips, all of the above. I’m wearing the shade Hayata above, which gives a glamorous flush to cheeks and lips, and the brownish peach Callas below.
Happy weekend!
X
Jamie
Just gorgeous. Somehow zoom didn’t capture the framed Lichtenstein wallpaper!! Or the meatloaf! Or palm framed pool! But fun to be “with you” regardless. ❤️❤️❤️
You know I love this.