I travel a fair amount, so I am well familiar with the ins and outs of beauty on the go. When I pack my makeup bag, I tend to go for flat eye shadow palettes, multi-use products, and anything that comes in pencil form. I’ve got an always packed makeup travel bag, so at the drop of a hat I’m more or less ready to jump on a plane – often what I do is just switch out the products I haven’t used in the last few trips with something new and exciting I plan to review for the blog soon. For my latest trip to Trinidad, I made the unusual decision to completely repack my travel makeup bag. My existing bag had become overloaded with products I wasn’t even actually using on my trips, and of course a trip to the Caribbean called for makeup that would last in sweltering temperatures and high humidity!

When I got to Coco Reef, Tobago (one of the finest resorts in the Caribbean, trust and believe!) I took this photo of the standout products that I used and loved the most on my trip. So, bellas – here’s the makeup I took with me to my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, all tried and tested and ideal for island hopping!

 

 

Top row, left to right:

Neutrogena UVA/UVB Sunblock SPF 45 (via my mom. Don’t think they make this anymore)

NARS lipgloss, Wonder and NARS Velvet Gloss lip pencil, Club Mix

Jordana Easyliner Eyeliners in Seagreen, Denim Blue, and Purple Fusion

Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Plush Plum and Cabernet

MAC Brow Set, MAC Haute and Naughty Lash

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Perversion and Woodstock, Urban Decay SuperSaturated Lip Color in Apocalypse

Proactiv Oil Blotter Sheets

Mally Evercolor Poreless Face Defender

Mario Badescu oil free moisturizer SPF 30

The Balm eyeshadow palettes, NudeTude and Shady Lady vol 1.

Bottom row, left to right

Fashion Fair Shine Eliminator

Fashion Fair lipsticks from the Siren Call holiday collection – Femme Fatale and Forbidden

Coach Poppy perfume

Secret Natural Mineral deodorant

Cover Girl Clean pressed powder in Soft Honey

Benefit They’re Real mascara

Cover FX Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation primer, Cover FX translucent mineral powder setting FX, Matte FX dark, Cover FX SPF 30 (I wear B35).

Estee Lauder Topaz Chameleon (will be available Jan 29 and it’s to DIE for!)

Yes, all of these items fit into one makeup bag. Yes, my husband made fun of me and asked me why I was bringing so much makeup. No, I don’t wear all of this makeup at once. What can I say, this is what happens when you’re a beauty blogger!

See anything you love, need, or gotta try? I love absolutely all of these items and would highly recommend them to you, if you’re looking to upgrade your makeup stash!

2009 brought new style challenges my way — moving to Chicago was a fashion revelation. I get annoyed when those who don’t know better say that Chicago isn’t a fashionable city. Sure there are those who dress down 24/7 (Uggs and sweatpants. Why?) but striding around these downtown streets, there are many women and men who have encouraged me to step my game up. Chicago style doesn’t try too hard, it doesn’t scream “look at me, look at me!” It’s less shrill and more effortless. Thanks to items that I was lucky enough to review in 2009, I felt like I fit right in. These are my favorites from the areas of jewelry, clothing, accessories, and shoes.

1. Peace Images — what more can I say about Peace Images that I haven’t already said? I have never met Camille, but she is totally a friend in my head. Her jewelry is AMAZING. The quality, the look, the creativity – hats off to her, for real. I own a few “peaces” and plan to get more, and thankfully there’s a neverending flow of new items debuting on her Etsy page. Seriously – she is always working on something new, unique, and show stopping. Every time I wear her Coffey earrings, someone stops me to ask about them. Her work with chains is stunning — her shoe chains, body chains, ear chains, joined rings… super fly. And now, for my ladies with locs or twists — hair chains. HOW FLY is this hair accessory?? And how fly is Camille? She’s got a blog now, too! Check her out!

2. Cut It Out apparel. A teeshirt line with a message and a vision that any afrobella would be proud to rock — can you dig it? I sure can! Cut It Out is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based bellas Tirinda & Noricia. Their teeshirts are high impact, inspiring, affordable, and of good quality. I’m proud to rock my Grace Jones homage tee in the summer, and now in the fall layered over a long sleeved tee. I’m excited to see what’s next in store for Cut It Out. Wearable homages to some afrobella inspirations, perhaps?

3. MBT Goti boots. My first encounter with MBT shoes came this fall, as my husband and I were strolling down Michigan Avenue. We passed some kind of orthopedic medical supply store, and I saw a sign for shoes that promised to solve knee and back problems, relieve neck tension, and do all kinds of other marvelous things. I tried them on and walked around the store. These round-bottomed shoes feel crazy at first, but I was immediately intrigued and knew I had to wear them for a longer time to try them out. I got that opportunity this December, and I gotta say — the Goti boots are the coolest-looking MBT’s out there, in my opinion. My only complaint with these boots — they’re a little tight for bellas with large calves. And the zipper looks cool, but I totally got it stuck and couldn’t get my boot off for an hour recently. A bigger, more finger-friendly zipper would be awesome. But despite those minor flaws, I LOVE these boots. They’re funky and attractive in a unique way, and SO comfortable to walk in. When I wear them I feel aware of my posture becoming straighter, and my super-flat feet which sometimes get achy, feel amazing in these. I wear them all the time. It’s enough to make me almost overlook the hideousness of the other pairs, just to have a pair to wear in warmer weather. Almost.

19. Um, Coach. That is all. The biggest giveaway I’ve ever hosted. Coach included me in their Holiday Blog-a-Day, and gifted me with a purse. The prettiest purse ever. I just want to pet it and hug it and call it George. Instead I only take it out for the most special of occasions when I want to feel uberglam.

20. Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. These were my fashion staples all year long. I initially bought my usual size, but I noticed they stretched out. Then when I went to Chicago’s fabulous plus size boutique Viva La Femme, and they clued me in — get one size down. I got me a pair of fly bootcut gray jeans that streamline and enhance my curves in the best possible way. I wear them everywhere. And my next pair of jeans will probably be a pair of NYDJ’s. But I’ve got my eye on those Cookie Johnson’s!

So that’s the best in style. One more category and I can finally move into 2010! Did you make any amazing fashion discoveries this year?

Santa, Baby remains one of my all time favorite holiday songs.

Eartha Kitt is so elegant. So fabulous. So unabashedly materialistic! Eartha is cooing about the kind of Christmas most of us dream about. So maybe this year Santa won’t be bringing you a yacht or the deed to a platinum mine. But thanks to the Coach Holiday Blog-a-Day, you might just win something special from an esteemed accessories brand.

Coach specially selected thirty bloggers (including moi!) to share their favorites from the Holiday Collection. And one lucky reader will get to win a special prize! I’m super stoked — this is my biggest giveaway yet!!

Coach has a gift to suit your every need, but my absolute favorites from the 2009 holiday collection are as follows.

The gloves. Coach has ‘em in every color, but I’m especially loving the motorcycle gloves. Paired with a simple black sweater and jeans, they’re subtle but effective statement makers.

The Sabrina Bag. Does it get more classic than this? This is the perfect size purse for work, play, and the wee hours in between. Love the shape and the capacity — this is the kind of purse any bella would be proud to take a-traveling, am I right?

The Textured Metallic Audrey. It gets no flyer! This purse turns heads. Trust me! The Textured Metallic Audrey was my companion on the Oasis of the Seas cruise, and I got nothing but questions about it. The wonderful thing about being on that particular ship was, I could just point the curious onlookers in the direction of the Coach store right there on board!

So 30 days, 30 blogs. Click here for the complete list. And to win a Sabrina purse of your very own right here on Afrobella — leave me a comment and let me know — have you been a good bella this year? Tell me the best deed you did in 2009!

Comments will be closed by Thursday night — or when I get to 100 comments. Whichever comes first, then I’ll choose a random winner! Please note — contest winners must have an address within the continental United States. Good luck, bellas!!

*** edited the next morning — WOW. Over 100 comments overnight?? That’s an Afrobella record, y’all! I’ll honor my first promise and keep this open till Thursday! Good luck everyone…

*** edited Thursday at 8:45 am Central Time — OMG. 450 comments. And SO many of them are inspiring and beautiful…I’m verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves! Will post a winner by tonight! Could it be you?? Hang in there and keep your fingers crossed!