I love to travel often and I go pretty far on the regular.

These things, sans the foundation samples (wedding day prep!), Are always with me in some capacity. What you can't see is the deep conditioner sample on the backside.

Most of my skincare is able to be carried on and where it isn't, I buy the travel size or use deluxe samples if I'm in a pinch.

Let's go over it.

FACE:

MOISTURIZER + FACE OIL (GO-TO SKINCARE), SETTING SPRAY (CAUDALIE), MARINE HYALURONICS (THE ORDINARY)

BODY:

CHARITY POT (LUSH COSMETICS), VANILLE INSENSÉE (ATELIER COLOGNE)

HAIR:

ROSARCO OIL (BRIOGEO), SOULFOOD NOURISHING MASK (AMIKA) [JUST REALIZED I LEFT IT :(]

MAKEUP:

RADIENT CREAMY CONCEALER [DARK 1 + MED/DARK 4], MISTER BROW GROOM (GIVENCHCY) // SAMPLES: LES BEIGES WATER TINT [DARK] (CHANEL) + SKIN FETISH: SUBLIME PERFECTION FOUNDATION [DEEP 29] (PAT MCGRATH LABS)

So now you know pretty much everything in my beauty regiment. The only thing missing is my toner which I didn't stop to grab AND I think I grabbed the wrong size Stashr because this is barely staying closed and it's normally not a problem.

Heading to LA to visit my sister, get some sun, and play around on Melrose and in Beverly Hills trying on dresses + playing in bougie makeup since she, likely, won't be with us for dress shopping at home in Chicago.

What are your 'liquid' non-negotiables?

SEE ALSO: A BOOK. I got this recommendation from The Anna Edit on YouTube. Last year I started a fiction reading journey for my mental health and it served me so well. This year, in the same spirit + to keep me occupied during freetime I am continuing on with the effort. // My aim is to read mostly books by black, women, authors and Anna made the story sound so interesting plus the author is a woman of color so I ordered it quickly before I left for my trip.

Do you have any favorite reads from 2019 or stories you're looking forward to in 2020?

Melissa