Travel Beauty Must-Haves by Lindsey Kelk

Travel Beauty Must-Haves

25 Films

So, for a shocking change, I’m procrastinating like a mofo and have decided to steal my friend’s idea to watch 25 films selected by 25 friends that I have never seen before. SO, since I’m classifying you as friends, I’d love to get your nominations below! And I’ll be posting the list and my reviews here over the course of the year. If you want to keep up with Paul’s list and tweet him your encouragement, you can do it here.

Suggestions, people?

My 2011 Favourites

I can’t believe it’s two weeks since I’ve blogged.
For shame.
Well, at least I’m back and ready to bother you with my favourite beauty finds of 2011…
I want to clarify, these aren’t necessarily 2011 launches because quite frankly, I’m not nearly as up on launches as I used to be and I don’t read all the press releases I should (more shame) but they are things I found and loved over the last twelve months. I’m posting the list now, before I forget but I’ll update each item on the list with a little bit about why I love them when a) I’ve got more than a minute to do it b) I’m not writing a book and c) I’m not watching Boxing Day Match of the Day.

Benfit Cha Cha Tint – gorgeous coral stain that lasts and lasts and lasts

Benefit They’re Real mascara – This year’s killer mascara. I like to layer over BadGal because I’m wasteful but still lovely on its own

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill shadows – Amazing foiled eyes. Everyone always asks what I’m wearing

Dr Dennis Grossman Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads – CHANGED MY LIFE. Seriously.

Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume – Most delicious perfume in forever and has tempted me away from Coco Mademoiselle…

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer – Cheap, cheerful and (whisper) better than Touche Eclat

EOS lip balms – Love the packaging, love the product

Fresh lip balms – Um, love the packaging, love the product – pricey though

Estee Lauder Idealist Illuminator – I’ve converted so many people to this. Love.

Dr Jart+ BB Cream – I will talk about this later but OH MY GOD. BUY.

Sally Hansen Nail Effects Strips – I like the patterned and glitter effects strips SO MUCH. Thanks Sally.

Shellac Gel Polishes – Long-lasting polishes that have changed my life – no chips = people think I’m a grown up, yeah!

Laura Mercier Baked Shadows – SO pretty, use them dry for a nice subtle effect, wet for drama

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack – Late to this party but totally converted

The millions of Nars lipsticks I have bought during the year – special mentions to Manhunt and Mayflower

Obviously these aren’t the only things I’ve tried and loved this year but they are the things that I’ve rebought or have found their way into my every day kit. Impressive. I’d love to hear what as found a home in your make-up bag in 2011 – email me at lindsey@lindseykelk.com or tweet @lindseykelk

All I want for Christmas is…

Now I’m not going to lie and say all I want for Christmas is you because let’s be honest, I probably don’t know you and that would be creepy so let’s go with all I want for Christmas is a selection of the following…

An extra hour in the day

I’m quite busy. If anyone knows where I could get a time machine so I could fit in writing, reading, listening to music, watching waaaaaaay too much TV as well as traveling, eating and pretending to start running.

The desire to run

I started running earlier this year. And then I stopped. Because it’s horrible.

The National

I want the entire band. There’s room in my bedroom for them to set up and play me to sleep every night and wake me up every morning. And I’d love a greatest hits set while I’m working. I’m thinking ‘About Today’ for bedtime and ‘Apartment Story’ for an alarm clock. And everything else ever in between.

A Mogwai

I asked for this last year. I didn’t get one. Someone did email me and say he would buy me one if it wasn’t creepy but he thought it would be so he didn’t. Just FYI, it wouldn’t be creepy unless it was a real Mogwai as in, one I couldn’t feed after midnight. That would be a bit weird. And impractical because I travel a lot and I don’t know if the Mogwai/Gremlins curse counts moves according to what timezone you’re in.

Unlimited airmiles

I have super itchy feet right now. This year I only made it to Vegas, Dallas, Austin, Toronto and the UK and I know that’s not a bad run but there are so many more places I want to go. Next year, travel plans made when drunk include Ecuador, Argentina, Iowa, New Orleans, a Florida-Alabama-Mississippi-Louisana-Texas road trip and I’ve got a really strong urge to go to Russia. Probably won’t make it to Russia. And I’m already scheduled to go back to Toronto and Vegas so, you know, if it ain’t broke…

Asshole detector

(there’s no picture for this because I googled ‘asshole’ and kept getting pictures of George Bush and James Cameron. Weird.)


This has to exist, right? Someone has to have one of these, yes?

CM Punk
While I’ve got The National as my in-house stereo system, I could really use WWE champion, CM Punk, to do a few odd jobs. I’ve got a curtain pole needs putting up and he could read me comic books while I’m working. Love that guy.

I feel like I should include some more achievable items in case my mum’s reading this but really, I don’t need anything. I am an incredibly lucky person and I have everything I could really want or need (except a toaster. I do need a toaster) and if I could just have a happy, healthy Christmas and New Year for my friends and family, I’d be pretty chuffed.
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.

Skin Art Temporary Tattoos

Now, I’m the first to admit that I’m a glitter fiend. At least sixty percent of my wardrobe is glittered or sequinned and all my favourite eyeshadows are at the very least, shimmertastic. I actually had to be physically removed from the glitter spray counter in Sephora on Wednesday…

So you can imagine how excited I was to receive the press release from Skin Art about their Glitter Tattoo Kit. How perfect for Christmas? The kit comes with stencils, glue and glitters so you can use the kit as is or come up with your own design and the tattoos last for up to five days! I would hope you shower enough not to make it to five days… If you’re not glitter-inclined, you could go for the regular Tattoo Kit that has 99 easy to apply tats.

Since I’ve already got my own ink, I’m definitely erring towards the glitter but that will surprise no one…

The Temproary Tattoo Kit retails at £8.00 and Glitter Tattoo Kit £14.00, both from Boots and Boots.com

I Heart Vegas

Vegas is out! Vegas is out! Vegas is out!

That is all.
You can buy it here if that helps.

A Few of My Favourite Things…

OK, I promise to pull up my blogging socks from now on. I’ve been terrible. But the good news is, I’m procrastinating on the new book like a mofo so prepare thyselves for a lot of new posts…
Starting right now with the things I can’t get enough of right now.

First things first, I’ve got a couple of new obsessions that you can get in on and I think they’ve made a huge difference to my make up. At least, they’ve had a lot of compliments and I think that’s always a telling thing, right?

I’ve been pretty ill of late and quite frankly, suffering a lot of self-inflicted rough mornings so my eyes have been a big focus for me. Happily, I’ve also been on a bunch of photoshoots for my Marie Claire column (have you read it? Have you?) and learned lots of new tricks from my make up artist, Steph. Having been a dedicated Touche Eclat fan for so long, I was amazed to find I could get more or less the exact same result from Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer. I like the ‘Brightener’ shade for under my eyes and really, I’m totally smitten. Can’t get enough of this one.

Then, on my lower inner rims, I’ve been using a bright, slight silver pencil. This was a tip straight from Steph and it makes a huge difference. It has to be a light silver though, too dark and you’re closing the area up. After going through my epic silver pencil collection (I’m a metallic freak) the best option for me was a 17 chunk pencil. I have no idea if it’s still available, I hope so. The consistency is so soft and the shade is perfect. Lots of shimmer but no glitter. after lining the lower inner rim, I take a black pencil (I’ve been using my Estee Lauder Double Wear in Black) and line the inner upper rims, just flicking out at the very edges to create some shape and definition but mostly leaving the upper lid clear. Then I’ve been using Benefit’s RSVP on the upper lid and tons of Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara in black. Super, super cute look. Very low maintenance and very effective as a day to night look – just add black liner to the top lash line before you head out and you’re done!

OK, I have to go and write another book. Back tomorrow (hopefully!).
Oh, and did I mention I Heart Vegas is out now? You could totally buy that. I’m just saying.

And this is why my mother thinks my life is silly…

I think I might have had the most ridiculous couple of weeks of my entire life. Seriously, I’m sat here writing my next column for Marie Claire and everything I put on the page just seems ridiculous, like, did this happen?
My diary for the last couple weeks basically looked like this:
Wednesday: Breaking Dawn preview and Katy Perry concert at MSG
Thursday:  Work
Friday: Dinner and drunk texting
Saturday: Marie Claire photoshoot
Sunday: Marie Claire photoshoot and Survivor Series at MSG
Monday: Sleep
Tuesday: Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall and dinner at The Modern
Wednesday: Thanksgiving prep
Thursday: Most amazing Thanksgiving Ever
Friday: Muppet movie and worst hangover ever
Saturday: Tree trimming party
Sunday: Second worst hangover ever
Monday: Volunteer at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

And I’m writing you a book as well.

I think I’ve gone mad.

Just wanted you to know…

Oh, also, have you downloaded the HarperCollins Bookd podcast yet? I can’t bear to listen to myself but I do remember laughing A LOT. Thanks Cass and Tanya!

It’s Time to Play the Music…

As you probably know, I used to write a lot of books for other people before you so kindly allowed me to write them just for you. The Olsen Twins, Transformers, Noddy, Dr Seuss, Batman, Girls Aloud – I’ve worked with the best. But these days, I just don’t have the time for a lot of those projects which means I pick wisely.

And the wisest choice of all was the THIS.
It’s a novelisation of Jason Segel’s awesome script and you know, when Kermit comes calling, you don’t say no.
CHECK IT.

Maaaan, I’m lazy

Sorry to have vanished, it’s been a busy old month.
1. I had a birthday (not relevant really but it could be)
2. I’ve moved into my own apartment
3. I’ve been building a lot of flatpack furniture
4. I’ve been unpacking a lot of boxes
5. I’ve been dressing up as a Pan Am stewardess and a Care Bear

It was Halloween. It happened. Get over it.
I have to say, my Pan Am costume was made by my L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour in Beyonce’s Red. No, really, me and Bey. We’re practically one being.

Now I’m settled(ish) into the new place, I expect life to return to something vaguely normal so there will be lots of lovely posting and lots of nonsense. You can expect to hear a lot about the Temptu foundation system and Juliette has a Gun perfume because I’m in love with them both right now. And Shellac manicures because they’re awesome. And probably Twilight because it’s on FX ALL THE TIME and I can’t seem to turn it off.