after talking about travel chic, i got to thinking about travel beauty.  airplane cabins are gross, germy places that also dry out your skin.  the number one thing you can do to stay beautiful is to keep hydrated. 

the day before you leave, drink lots of water - i absolutely love this new water from aquadeco.  i am freakishly picky about bottled water, and this one is my new favorite.  plus, the bottle is gorgeous - i’ve actually been using one as a bud vase at work!

another pre-travel beauty must is to keep away from salty foods and alcohol.  while it’s tempting to have that in-flight bloody mary, drinking water or tea will keep you looking fresh.  bring your own tea bags, too - mighty leaf tea is my favorite, i love the silk bags.  also, evian makes these adorable travel sized hydrating sprays, that will keep your makeup looking dewey and fresh - no one wants that cakey make-up face (just watch out for the people behind you when you spray!).

turn the cabin into your own mini spa by carrying luscious travel-sized hand creams. duwop’s hands 2 hair works as a styling creme for your locks as well as a hand cream, which is perfect for me because i get some serious fly-away hair while in flight! 

i like to keep my makeup to a minimum when i travel.  stila’s illuminating tinted moisturizer gives sheer coverage and a subtle shimmer to keep you looking fabulous, just in case you have a gorgeous seat mate!  for your lips, try to refrain from the usual lipstick, which can dry your lips out.  instead, try c.o. bigelow’s mentha lip tint in pink - it’s moisturizing and has a great minty sensation (also great for your breath!).  with a bare face, you can always duck into the ladies’ room when you land to freshen up - carry trish mcevoy’s ‘be prepared’ kit for sizes that will make it through security. 

finally the best beauty advice for any girl on the go:   relax, enjoy your trip and smile! 

what are your best travel beauty tips? 

editor’s note:  i am thrilled to introduce the lovely and talented jessie, of prior shoppingsmycardio fame, as our newest contributing writer!  let’s send her some welcoming warm fuzzies, shall we?

once upon a time, flying was glamorous. ladies would dress up in a suit with hosiery and a hat to fly. lately when i travel, i feel like the coach cabin is the equivalent of a greyhound bus. gone are the smart suits and chic hats - these days, you are more likely to see travelers in their pajamas.

i am not advocating that we all step out in pillbox hats to fly, but who doesn’t want to feel chic after a day of travel?  fortunately, it is possible to look great and be comfortable.

let’s start with a fabulous carry on.  it needs to be large enough to hold your essentials but not so big you are cursing the weight of it when your flight is delayed. keeping in mind that said bag is going to slip under the seat and the plane floor is not the cleanliest place, don’t carry a bag that you will be devastated when it gets gum or whatever else is lurking under your seat on it.  with that in mind, for $118 you can’t go wrong with this aer satchel (even if it is by jessica simpson).

i like to wear jeans when i travel: a wide legged pair in a dark wash looks put together yet effortless. the faye jeans from citizens of humanity ($194) are perfect for travel.  they have stretch in them so they will hold their shape, and they are really soft for your comfort. best part, the darts on the back do wonders for your posterior!

travel days can be long, so wearing a fabric that won’t wrinkle is key, you never know when you will be late and have to run straight to dinner.  a solid tee is perfect travel wear, you can always accessorize to dress it up. michael star’s tees wear beautifully; they have great lines and come in fun colors. i love the cotton scoop neck long sleeve in eggplant ($52), one of my favorite colors for fall. if you are more of a neutral girl, go with the java color. the longer length is perfect when bending down, so you aren’t showing anything you don’t want to. 

i heard someone say once that animal prints are either fifth avenue or call girl (and not the fabulous call girl, belle de jour, on showtime). this gorgeous leopard wrap by kashmere is definitely uptown chic, and you can pick it up at bluefly for the bargain price of $90 (marked down from $195). wearing a scarf when traveling is key, if you are cold you can use it as a blanket, or in a real crunch as a pillow.

airplanes can be chilly, so layer a chic blazer like this cotton blazer from banana republic ($125). in khaki, it will work with most anything you have packed for your trip, and is sure to become a classic in your wardrobe.

finally, footwear.  who are we kidding…it always come back to the shoe!  i am going to suggest wearing a classic heeled boot like the classic campus boot from frye ($398).  this boot will look amazing under your wide leg jeans or over your skinny jeans. i have been coveting frye boots, ever since i was in high school and i would wear my mom’s vintage pair. i recommend a boot over flats because when you are enduring the humiliation of security and you have to take your shoes off, don’t add insult to injury by having your bare feet touch the floor! boots = socks!  wearing your boots will also save room in your luggage for all your other shoes!

now that you are gorgeously dressed for your travel, enjoy your trip!  and don’t worry…all that staring is only because your fellow passengers wish they looked that chic!

thanks to the lovely victoria of sfgirlbybay, i came across a stunning new site featuring loads of the best wares latin america has to offer.  my travels south of the border have been limited to the usual cabo/mazatlan cruise circuit, but i can tell you that even that limited exposure showed me that this is one occasion on which it’s better to buy your souvenirs from the comfort of your couch than from the roadside haciendas outside the cruise dock.  every piece is beautifully crafted, inspiringly colorful, and otherwise just plain wonderful.

sfgirlbybay’s finds are amazing, but i thought i’d show you a few of my favorites as well:

i just received the gorgeous new sofa i ordered back in may, which means i’ve been a little throw-pillow-obsessed of late.  all of the pillows at lama are making me happy, but i love the childish, fun vibe these animal pillows ($120) radiate.  my fave is the llama, but that little burro is running a very close second.

and i can’t think of anything more perfect for my next summer barbecue than to dress the table up with one of these gorgeous oilcloth tablecloths ($40) - i love the vibrant summer colors and the low-maintenance ease.  with this much style on the table, i’m pretty sure i could serve KFC, and no one would notice.  i’ve seen these before, but this version has a contrast-finished edge, which makes it much more stylish than others i’ve come across.

all of the ceramics on the site are divine, but i can’t get this lovely little vine bowl ($160) out of my mind.  the piece is definitely pricey, but amazingly intricate - i can hardly believe it’s only 6 inches across.  it would be the perfect place to store your most-used pieces of jewelry.  i’m also completely in love with this bright turquoise bird tray ($75) for the same purpose…and it could easily double as a drink tray or something else wonderful when you’re entertaining.

i could go on and on, but well…you’ll find it all on your own.  just make sure you don’t miss the eva peron storage boxes, the gorgeous mexican striped laundry basket, the…  well, you get the idea.

i recently received a question from a reader who’s about to go international - ooh la la! 

Dear Ms. SMC,

As I head out of the country it is unclear what sort of resourcing I will find in the brow waxing field once I arrive in Switzerland. Any product suggestions to help me keep the brows in check if I have to do it on my own?

~M

one of the worst parts about moving is having to find all new professionals to trust with your home, health and - most importantly - beauty.  it’s challenging enough stateside, but add a foreign element, and it’s downright frightening.

fortunately, this one’s an easy fix.  what you want is a brow kit from celebrated brow guru (yes, such a thing exists) anastasia beverly hills.  i’ve tried it, and i can tell you it’s as close to foolproof as DIY brow maintenance gets.  simply pick the right stencil for your brow shape, hold it over the brow, fill in the lines with brow powder, and tweeze anything outside the lines.  clean off the excess powder, use brow gel to put everything in its place, and add the highlighting pencil to make your arch look even more fabulous (my favorite part of the kit, by far - it’s fantastic!).  voila - perfect brows. 

all of the equipment you’ll need for the steps above is included in the sephora-exclusive brow kit from anastasia - it’ll feel like an investment at $75, but if you manage to skip 4-5 brow waxes, it pays for itself.  to be honest, i’d buy most of the products in the kit separately anyway, even if someone else was doing my waxing for me.  plus, i have to admit there’s some appeal to not leaving your brow shape completely to chance (or to the whim of your aesthetician).

i did find that i’m more partial to their stick-on stencils than i am to the sturdier, plastic stencils that come in the kit.  it can be a little tricky to hold the stencil still while you’re applying the powder, until you get the hang of things.

i hope that helps ease the transition, M - send us a postcard from switzerland (or better yet, a nice big piece of chocolate)!

it was bound to happen…a reader question that had me completely and totally stumped.

Is there such a thing as a “cool” fanny pack? Something that can be worn for a runner/jogger or traveling?  I was thinking about this the other day and of course, you came to mind.  A friend of mine has a cute LeSportsac one, but I don’t really know how “cool” it really is and who can really pull something like that off.  ~ A

hmm. 

well…i said i’d answer any and all reader questions, and i meant it, darn it.  

so, before we get into the fashion faux-pas issue, i don’t think a fanny pack when used for running has to be “cool” - i think it’s pretty much all about function at that point, and i’d hit up my local REI - you only want the necessities with you, and anything too heavy is going to cause chafing, which is definitely a fashion don’t.  though, for me, i think this arm band pocket by nike would be much less annoying than a waist pack if i was actually running…no jostling, and no risk of the aforementioned chafing.

for travel, that’s another matter entirely.  i’ve never been an advocate of “travel wear”, unless you’re wading through a jungle.  when i travel, one of my favorite pasttimes is pointing out the tourists - white tennis shoes, hawaiian shirt (regardless of climate), pockets stuffed with maps, cameras, and brochures from various museums…and a fanny pack (or one of those travel neck wallet things, possibly even worse than the fanny pack!).  so, i’d start by saying i think a fanny pack puts you at greater risk of being mugged, etc. than a regular purse, because it effectively plants a big “i’m a tourist” sign on your back.

besides the goofy tourist factor, i don’t know about you, but i’m not looking to add bulk to my midsection…and nothing accomplishes that like strapping a bag full of your daily necessities around your waist.

soapbox aside, i did manage to find a few non-heinous options, if you’re willing to suffer through the aforementioned challenges.  first off is the now-famous gucci belt bag, whose resurgence in popularity a few years back is due to an appearance on sex and the city, being sported by the lovely sarah jessica parker.  at $495, you need to love it - but at least you’re on trend while wearing the fanny pack, which is tough to manage.  and that silver is actually sort of cool, i must admit.  then, there’s also this posh turnlock belt bag from marc by marc jacobs, but it’s also pricey at $228 - and i’d much rather see you spend $250 on a handbag you’ll love than a waist pack you’ll constantly question. 

in terms of bang for your proverbial buck, the lovely writers of bunnyshop reminded me that there was one option i found long ago that i think is the closest to “cool” i’ve ever seen for a waist pack.  etsy seller bonspiel creations is a longtime favorite of mine, and they make several cute-as-a-button options, in two different sizes ($64 and $32), that i think one could actually manage to pull off without slapping that “tourist” sign between your shoulderblades.

does anyone have any other ideas for our darling reader?

for the local san francisco readers, i’m thrilled that i can finally announce a sample sale in our ‘hood. they’re few and far between, but this one was definitely worth waiting for - and it’s tonight!

melissa joy manning’s jewelry (by far one of my faves) and give design’s flawless handbags and travel goods are teaming up to offer you one night of pure bliss. 80% off some of my favorite designers’ wares, and free champagne?? count me in! oh, and did i mention that 10% of all proceeds from the sale go to girls for a change? so, if you think about it, by shopping, you’re doing good things…really, you have to spend more!

check it out for mom’s day gift options galore, or just to find yourself a little something - either way, there are deals aplenty to be had.

WHAT: Sample Sale featuring Melissa Joy Manning jewelry and Give
travel accessories and handbags

WHEN: Thurs, May 1st, 5:00-9:00pm

WHERE: 300 Brannan St., Suite 504, San Francisco

WHY: - Enjoy fantastic deals - up to 80% off retail
- Shop for mom, stock up on gifts, splurge for yourself
- Support a great cause, 10% of proceeds will be donated to Girls for a Change

i love having friends that travel…i think that travel-friendly gifts are some of the easiest and best finds out there. here’s a list of a few that are sure to make the top of anyone’s ‘best gift’ list this year.

for that person you know who’s always jetting off to some new, exotic locale, i love picking up a box of luxe travel guides. these fabulously chic, pocket-size guides put fodor’s to shame - they’ll give her the very best tips for the top restaurants, spas, shopping, and oh so much more…without boring her with all of the mundane basics she undoubtedly already knows. for a real jetsetter, i love the world grand tour box, which comes with guides for 12 major cities (london, paris, rome…), along with free online updates. it arrives in a gorgeous, black and white box, and you can pick it up for $99. or, for a more personal touch, you can customize a bespoke box of five (for $50) or twelve (for $110) guides for spots you know she’ll be visiting in 2008. she’ll thank you every time her plane touches down in a new destination.

i absolutely adore all of red flower’s products, and this travel set is a perfect way to check out some of their best. it comes with travel sizes of their famous gingergrass bamboo scrub, wild lime silk oil, yuzu mimosa algae wash (are you salivating yet?), and tons more, and they all arrive in this gorgeous roll that will be perfect for her jewelry. best of all, it’s regularly $60, but coco’s shoppe is having an amazing 40% off sitewide sale until sunday only, so use code lastchance to knock the price on this perfect gift down to a very wallet-friendly $36.

tocca is another line i just can’t get enough of - their scents are just amazing. their laundry delicates travel set is a fantastic way to pamper her, while letting her try out all of the amazing fragrances at tocca. the set comes with four bottles of their amazing delicates wash (one in each of their four signature fragrances), and includes a gorgeous lace lingerie bag to keep everything safe and sound. wrap it up at bluemercury for $48.

last but not least, the truth is that as glamorous as a travel-filled life might sound to those of us who don’t do it, living out of a suitcase gets old…fast. give her a little extra comfort with a set of accessories that lets her feel like she’s in the lap of luxury, even if her boss stuck her in a horrible best western in suburban tampa. i love this set at acacia ($40), which is made of a bamboo/microfiber blend, so it’s sure to be silky soft. the blanket actually has a pocket for her feet, so she won’t have to worry about keeing her toes warm on an overseas flight.

and, at the other end of the spectrum is this gorgeous cashmere version by white + warren ($495), which makes some seriously decadent cashmere goods. the set includes a yummy cashmere throw, eye mask, and cashmere slippers that are sure to make her feel at home anywhere in the world.