Tips for comfort on travel overseas

After my recent long-haul trip, I'd like to share my tips for comfort on overseas trips.

I carry my medications in my carry-on. In addition, I’ve created a “comfort kit” for airline travel. Everyone knows how dry airplane cabins can be. I carry moisturizer, eye drops, saline nasal spray (1½ oz.), hand sanitizer, and Colgate Wisps to clean my teeth. Don’t be seduced by overly priced moisturizers advertised as “flight creams” – any moisturizer with humectants to bind water and emollients will do. TSA regulations state that each liquid that you carry shall be no more than 3 oz. and the containers shall be packed in clear 1-quart plastic bags. I also wear compression stockings, such as those by Jobst or Futuro, to prevent my feet from swelling during an overseas trip.


My comfort kit - yet another of my crapola photos

For summer in India, I use two products purchased in India to provide for my comfort. Nycil is a prickly heat powder that I apply wherever I might chafe, notably under the breasts or along the bra line. I like the sandal-fragranced powder. As the seal of the container was not tight, I transferred some powder into a small sifter jar, such as those used for mineral makeup powder. To protect against mosquito bites, I use Odomos, a pleasant-scented, gentle cream. There is no ingredient list for Odomos. DEET is the preferred mosquito repellent, but I couldn’t detect DEET in Odomos: otherwise, I'd feel it in my mouth! Nonetheless, Odomos seems to be effective. I also carry cotton handkerchiefs, which I use to protect my nostrils from dust, block out unpleasant odors, and blot perspiration.

I hope that these tips might be helpful to readers planning overseas trips so that they can be comfortable and healthy while on travel.

My absence from blogging

I came back from a trip to India on September 1. The day my husband and I left, TSA screeners were passing carry-ons through the detectors twice, which significantly delayed the security process. The TSA official told me that I had to wait until my carry-ons had entered the detectors before I was allowed to cross the line to walk through the metal detector. The wait was a long time, given the double screening, and I was getting impatient. I regained my equanimity only when I held out the possibility that the Inspector-General (IG) for TSA might have cited laxity among TSA screeners, which meant that they had to re-double their efforts.

Given TSA screening, maybe it was just as well that I didn’t carry my own laptop. I was dependent on my husband for access to his laptop. While I had scheduled two articles (Robert Jones, Fall's Color Story) to go live in my absence, I was not able to provide timely stories on the pre-sale of Twilight Beauty or Sears getting back into the beauty business after discontinuing its Circle of Beauty concept several years ago.

Review of 3CC Robert Jones Signature Collection

Three Custom Color Specialists has launched yet another of its special collections. The Robert Jones Signature Collection consists of three shades of lip gloss and three shades of Crème to Powder blush. Robert Jones is a makeup artist who specializes in classic makeup looks and appropriate makeup for older women. He is the author of two books on makeup application Makeup Makeovers (the subject of a future article) and Looking Younger.


Robert Jones Signature Collection from 3CC
Lip glosses in Just Bitten, Life's A Beach, and Bare, But ...
Crème to Powder blush in Pinch My Cheeks, Morning After, and Kiss My Apricot

I eschewed lip gloss, but 3CC's lip gloss in the caramelicious Trae's Favorite was smooth, neither slick nor sticky. From the Robert Jones Signature Collection, I purchased lip gloss in Just Bitten, described as shiny, shimmering mahogany, and Life's A Beach, a sandy beige. Just Bitten looked a lot like Trae's Favorite, but with shimmer. It also has more berry, and less brown. As women get older, they need more color: as Trish McEvoy said, go lighter and brighter.

Through sampling of Bésame Voluptuous Lipstick and Pür Minerals' Nude Lips look, I was reminded of the benefits of filling in your lips with pencil to leave behind a stain after the lip gloss or lipstick has worn off. The good news is that lip pencils are products that you can save on: pencils from Wet'n'Wild or Jordana work perfectly well. I love pairing Just Bitten with Wet'n'Wild Crème Lip Liner Pencil in Brandy Wine and Life's a Beach with a nude pencil (maybe go a shade lighter than your natural lip color).

I have built a collection of sheer lipsticks and lip glosses from Three Custom Color Specialists, and the lip glosses from the Robert Jones Signature Collection are yet another beautiful addition to my collection.

You may purchase Three Custom Color Specialists products through its website: however, the website loads so slowly, I get timed out. A few 3CC products are available on QVC.com: 3CC debuted its Creme Concealer Foundation on QVC on August 18. A wider variety of 3CC products is found at dermstore.com.

Fall's color story

SoHo Accessories has a story on Pantone's Fall 2009 color story. It also links to Pantone's Fashion Color Report for 2009, which features how famous designers use the colors and provides advice on staying fashionable within budget from experts Simon Doonan (Barneys), Nina Garcia, Tim Gunn (Project Runway), India Hicks, and Clinton Kelly (WNTW).


Cover of Pantone Fashion Color Report fall 2009

Colors are:

American Beauty (balanced red)
Purple Heart
Honey Yellow
Burnt Sienna
Rapture Rose
Warm Olive
Majolica Blue, described as "a deep, mysterious teal blue with more vibrancy than the usual navy."

Indeed. Navy is one of the flattest shades around. I prefer marine or indigo to navy.

The neutrals are neither warm not cool and bridge the gap between gray and beige or brown. From lightest to deepest, the neutrals are:

Crème Brûlée, a grayed-down beige
Nomad, which bridges the gap between beige and light gray
Iron, which is described as "neither gray nor brown."

Come to think of it, these trio of neutrals would make a great eye shadow palette, with Crème Brûlée for the lid, Nomad for the crease, and iron for the outer corner or as an eyeliner.

Create your own eye shadow trio! Which existing eye shadows duplicate Crème Brûlée, Nomad, and Iron for a smoky eye?

Skin care advice from Rodan & Fields, Murad, and others

Anti-Aging Secrets of Top Dermatologists

We got the scoop on the supplements they take, the skin care products they slather on and more

Dermatologists have access to all of the latest and greatest lasers, skin care products, fillers, you name it. So when it comes to taking care of their own skin, we wondered what they do to prevent aging, or even better, reverse it. Here's what they had to say -- we recommend you make their habits your own. See secrets

Review of Perfekt Beauty Skin Perfection Gel

Perfekt Beauty Skin Perfection Gel

Perfekt Beauty describes its Skin Perfection Gel as:

A skin perfector that instantly per-fekts and enhances the appearance of the skin offering an easy alternative to traditional foundation, primer, color corrector and powder.

I was pleased to receive a sample of Skin Perfection Gel in Luminous. Perfekt Beauty describes Luminous as appropriate for fair complexions. However, Luminous suited my light complexion better than Radiant, which Perfekt Beauty describes as appropriate for light to medium tones.

When I applied Perfekt Beauty Skin Perfection Gel, it was evident that there was a lot of silicone, due to the slip of the product: in that way, Skin Perfection Gel is a 2-in-1 product that can serve as primer and foundation. I hesitate to say that it also functions as a color corrector, as it provides a light tint. It is best for women who don't have major flaws in their complexion. Women who have something to hide might want to layer more opaque coverage (mineral makeup powder, for example) over Perfekt Beauty Skin Perfektion Gel. Once the product dries down, it has a matte finish that makes powder unnecessary.

The downside of Perfekt Beauty Skin Perfection Gel is that it doesn't provide sunscreen. I still rely on smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl, but it has a petroleum smell that's unpleasant. It would be great if Perfekt Beauty could formulate a Skin Perfection Gel with sunscreen and without the unpleasant smell of smashbox's product.

Perfekt Beauty is a small line of cosmetics that consists of three products: Skin Perfection Gel, Eye Pefection Gel, and Body Perfection Gel. You may buy Perfekt Beauty at its website, Sephora stores, and Sephora.com.

Promotions offered by More Than a Pretty Face

This list is continually updated. Keep checking back!

* Spend $75 on Beauty.com and get a $15 Gift Card! While supplies last. Shop new products from bareMinerals, tarte, butter LONDON, and Origins. This promotion is good while supplies last or until August 31. The Gift Card must be redeemed by September 25.

Beauty.com offers more incentives. Enjoy $10 off $60 at Beauty.com! through the end of the year. Free shipping for orders over $25 for new customers and for orders over $49 for returning customers. Remember, you can combine orders for beauty.com with drugstore.com for your essentials and earn drugstore.com dollars redeemable for subsequent purchases.

* Boots skin care and cosmetics are now available at drugstore.com! Save on Boots skin care at drugstore.com. Offers end 08.28.2009.

NEW GWP Get a Prescriptives Five For Free Kit with your $32.50 Prescriptives foundation or moisturizer purchase. While supplies last. Get a 5 piece gift in warm or cool tones!

Sephora will soon discontinue Laura Geller and Decléor, but you can find them through beauty.com:

* Buy Decléor aromatherapeutic skincare products at Beauty.com

* Buy Laura Geller Makeup at Beauty.com

* Help yourself to an extra 5% off Beauty Strokes brushes for a 35% discount off retail prices at yourbeautystrokes.com. Use coupon code STYLEPAGES. Good through the end of 2009.

* Shop top-rated products on our blog through our e-store!

* Buy gift cards from Amazon.com for your student going back to school!

* Get an airbrushed finish with TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System

* Shop By Lauren Luke My Smokey Classics Palette and other By Lauren Luke palettes.

* Illamasqua is now stateside! Create sultry eyes with Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow Moan.

* NEW A first for NARS: Free Shipping on All Orders. Limited Time Only! Buy hot products like NARS's new sheer lipstick Fast Ride. Free shipping ends August 28.

Also check out the feature on François Nars in T, the New York Times lifestyle magazine.

Yours for the asking!

Patricia Wexler MD Daily Defense Anti-Oxidant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Tint 3 - Deep

* Patricia Wexler MD Daily Defense Anti-Oxidant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Tint 3 - Deep is available for the asking. If you're interested in receiving it, send me an email at thestylepage [at] yahoo.com and put "Patricia Wexler MD" in the subject line.

* Two Cover FX products are available for the asking. The products are: Clearprep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment and Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer. If you're interested in receiving these products, send me an email at thestylepage [at] yahoo.com and put "CoverFX" in the subject line.

NOTE Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer in Light/Medium has been slightly used. However, the risk for contamination is minimal, as it comes in a squeeze tube.

Product reviews are appreciated! Just let me know when you publish them and I'll link to it.

* Want to discover more promotions? Follow me on Twitter!

Sparkled Beauty reviews Giorgio Armani Beauty face fabric foundation spf 12

Sparkled Beauty posted a review of the Giorgio Armani Beauty face fabric foundation spf 12 I sent her. Read her review.


Photo credit: Sparkled Beauty

I also provided a few goodies for her: 2 Eye Majic Instant eye shadows and a Sukicolor Pure Creme Stain sample (read my review of Sukicolor Pure Creme Stain).

Sparkled Beauty claimed the Giorgio Armani Beauty face fabric foundation spf 12 through our continually updated Promotions article. Visit Promotions for the latest contests, giveaways, specials, and other other promotions.

Paula Dorf #Cosmetics files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Given the current depressed economic environment, I am amazed by the number of new cosmetics launches. Not all brands have been so lucky: recently Paula Dorf Cosmetics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Paula Dorf

Paula Dorf Cosmetics has been a victim of the downturn in sales of prestige cosmetics, but there's more. Crain's provides some key points for Paula Dorf Cosmetics' bankruptcy filing:

• The company has assets of $1.5 million, but its liabilities are more than $3.9 million.
• The company is in debt to 50 creditors, including Macy’s, HSN, and a cosmetics manufacturer. Another article, which I can't place, cites delays by suppliers since 2003.
• In addition, the company has "too many" colors and shades, which take up valuable "real estate" in cosmetics departments.

Paula Dorf fans should know that filing for Chapter 11 doesn't mean that Paula Dorf Cosmetics is going out of business. During a visit last month to Dillard's at the St. Louis Galleria, I saw that Paula Dorf took up the real estate formerly taken up by Shalini Vadhera's Global Goddess Beauty, which Dillard's has discontinued throughout its stores (as verified by Shalini herself).

Canadian beauty brands HT Sparkled Beauty

Some four years ago, I posted an article Canadian Beauty, about Canadian beauty brands. That was before I found Henna's Canadian Beauty blog.

I discovered Sparkled Beauty when she claimed the Giorgio Armani Beauty Face Fabric foundation that I offered through the continually updated Promotions post.

Sparkled Beauty has an extensive article on Canadian cosmetics brands, which I had a small role in expanding.

I'm particularly impressed by the concept behind FACE Atelier's Zero Plus and Zero Minus Foundations. When mixed with your regular foundation, Zero Plus darkens your shade, while Zero Minus lightens your shade - a great idea as your complexion changes with the seasons.

FACE Atelier

I also have to give a shoutout to Sweet LeiLani. It's been some years since I had contact with LeiLani, a Vancouver-based makeup artist whose TV credits include 21 Jump Street, which launched Johnny Depp's career. Her passion, however, is paramedical makeup, in which she teaches burn victims and cancer survivors how to camouflage bruises, scars, and burns.