BYOB With Me at Birchbox in Soho | Travel Vlog | Passport Beauty #2

Have you ever wanted to buy a monthly subscription with Birchbox, but fear getting things you might not like, or fear commitment, or don't have the funds? Have no fear, for Birchbox in Soho is here.

Birchbox is like an adult candy store. Wall to wall of great selection, from hair to skincare, it's all there for you to try and buy. My favorite part is all the way in the back, where you can build your own Birchbox (BYOB) for $15. Although it is $5 more than their monthly boxes, you're choosing the five items you want yourself. Sadly, you can't get a Beauty Blender, but you do get to choose one item from each category: hair, skincare, makeup, fragrance, and body. If you're allergic to fragrance, you can opt out and choose two items from one category.

If you head downstairs, there's a salon and a tiny men's department.  There's also a BYOB station and boy oh boy, is there a lot of beard stuff for the fellas! To BYOB for guys, I believe it's $25 (finally, something guys have to pay more for). Salon services aren't too expensive. Nails are just $10, however if you want to get your hair-braided you'll cost you $30!

I honestly had a blast while I was at Birchbox. It was a tad bit stressful to build six different boxes, for six different people. But I had a lot of fun with the two lovely ladies who helped my cousin and I. They were super sweet and informative. It's definitely a must visit beauty spot in New York!

Come With Me to Bite Beauty Lip Lab | Travel Vlog | Passport Beauty #1

When I was in New York, I visited a couple of beauty hot spots. Come along with me as I visit Bite Beauty Lip Lab in SoHo for the first time. 

While strolling around SoHo, trying to find Birchbox. I stumble upon Bite Beauty Lip Lab. Although walk-ins are welcome, I've heard that it gets crazy busy during the weekends! So make sure you give them a ring beforehand to avoid a long wait time. Luckily for me, I stumble upon this miraculous place on a Wednesday. They were able to take me in right away and I walked out of there with a customized lipstick within 20 minutes! 

Bite Beauty is known for their pigmented colors, but more importantly, what they put into their products. Like I mentioned before, it is important to be aware of what you put onto your skin because your skin will just eat it up. Bite gets this concept and have provided great products with healthy and natural ingredients! It's even in their name!

It was a lot of fun for me to see my lip scientist help me concoct a Kylie Jenner inspired nude lipstick. The prefect shade of nudes and reds are so hard to find and what may work for someone may not work for another. So, to have a prefect shade of nude that was made just for me was a huge relief and extremely satisfying! It was also fun to design my lipstick package and choose a scent or two for my lipstick.  Totally worth the splurge! 

You can also check out my visit at Bite Beauty Lip Lab down below!

Come Stay With Me | Airbnb | New York 2015

Last week, I was lucky enough to spend my birthday week in New York with my cousin. Although our roundtrip flight to New York was surprisingly on the low low. Hotels were $1,000+! That was definitely not something we could afford. So, to keep our travel on a friendly budget, we decided to search for a nice Airbnb to stay at.

Guess what...we actually found a lovely apartment in Upper Manhattan! That was more than half of what we would of spent if we stayed at a hotel. Besides the huge saving, our cute little apartment was conveniently close to everything. Just so you can get a visual on how close we were, we were about 15 minutes from Central Park, 34 minutes from Chelsea Market, and 37 minutes from SoHo. Our apartment was also just a few blocks from three different subways! Not bad, right?

This is my third time booking with Airbnb. I've met a lot of wonderful people, learned a lot about the cities I've visited, and how much I prefer Airbnb over hotels. I honestly love how homey it feels. You get to experience how the locals live, like grocery shopping, cooking your own meals,  plus you have someone who can guide you around the city and also places only the locals know about. Trust me, you'll save a lot of time and money avoiding the tourist-y spots and restaurants.

My Airbnb tips: 

1) Location, location, location!
This is so important. I've learned my lesson last year when I choose a cheaper Airbnb in London versus a good location that was only 10 pounds more. So we were in a sketchy neighborhood and took 50+ minutes to get to central London. Don't do it. The best thing to do is, do some research on which neighborhood you prefer to stay in and filter your search to that specific area. Then when you've found a few places, use Google Maps to see what is around. Like is public transportation in walking distant, is there a laundry mat near by, is there a convenient store for last minute emergency, etc, etc.

2) Check fees
You want to know what you're getting. Do you have to pay additional for each house guest, cleaning service, dry cleaning service, and etc.

3) Check availability
You want to know what the minimum stay is and filter your search with the nights you plan to stay. It'll save you a lot of heartache and time. Trust me, you don't want to find the perfect place only to find out that the minimum stay is 7+ nights (welp, unless you're staying that long)!

4) Check amenities
This is also important. If you want a place that has wi-fi, washer and dryer, 24 hour check-in, free parking, tv, shampoo, hair dryer, and simply the essentials...you should probably check the amenities.

5) Check host's profile and reviews
That's just common sense. You want to see if you and your host are compatible and that they're not some creepy person.

6) Check the space
After you've found your perfect place and checked out your host's profile. You want to look at "The Space".  It gives you information like when you can check in and check out, how many bedrooms/bathrooms, how many people can stay, and also what type of space you'll get. The space can be anything from just a private room or an entire home.

7) Check yo' self!
Seriously. You do not want to get denied, because your profile looks sketch. Your host also wants to know that you're real and not some creep too. After all, they are inviting you into their home! Post a picture of yourself. Tell them a little about yourself and if it's your first time, ask your friends if they could write a review for you! You don't have to, but it's nice for your host to know a little about you from a friend.

How to keep yourself safe:

1) Trust your gut. If something feels off, listen to your instinct and just back out. It's better to be safe than sorry.
2) Don't be afraid to ask your host questions about themselves, their home, and rules.
3) Tell your friends, family, and/or significant others where you're going and where you're staying. Check in with them when you're on your way and when you get there. It's also good to have a safe word, so that your person knows that it's really you.
4) Plan a safety exit. Whether for a potential fire or if your host is a creep.
5) Be cautious of your surroundings.

*All pictures are our very own pictures of our Airbnb. I want to thank my Instagram Husband aka photographer/graphic designer/cousin. I would also like to thank Amanda and Peter for inviting us into their lovely home (and for the beer and chips)!

I would love to hear your favorite Airbnb, safe travel tips, or/and your favorite trip! Comment down below!

XX

5 Beauty Places I Regret Not Visiting While in Europe

1. Florence, Italy 

First stop, Florence! I was only in Florence for 1 day and 2 nights and very much jet-lag. Needless to say, I should of stopped by Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella to stock up on some natural soaps and hand cremes. I'm a little bummed that I didn't, but then again I was throwing up almost everywhere (like outside of the Prada store and inside a Prada bag--not cute) so...maybe it was good I wasn't out in public too often. Although I was sick, I wished this was my first stop (before everything went down hill)! A little about OPFSMN and why it's a Florence beauty buy is that all of OPFSMN products are made with all natural ingredients and the flowers, herbs, and spices that are found in OPFSMN products are also found in the garden next to the store! How cool is that? Not only that, but their recipes date back to 400+ years!

2. Barcelona, Spain 

Tapas, Paella, churros...wait a minute, those are not beauty products, but they sure were tasty! But Taller Amapola is the place to get some Barcelona beauty buys that are natural. Taller Amapola is budget-friendly and have a variety of beauty products. However, one of my beauty weakness is essential oils, which Taller Amapola carries! I don't think I've every mentioned this, but I am obsessed with aromatherapy. Essential oils are extremely beneficial for your mental and physical health. I probably would of grabbed a few tea tree oil, since it's great for zapping away pimples and something I was running low on. I would of also loved to try Taller Amapola's Illuminating and Relaxing essential oil. One for my skin and the other for the panic attacks I randomly get at airports and on airplanes.

3. Paris, France

I can go on for days about the beauty products I regret not getting my hands on in Paris! Especially since I actually visited and spent about an hour in City-Pharma while I was in Paris! While there are many pharmacies around Paris, City-Pharma was by far the cheapest and most popular. I had a bunch of Parisian beauty products like Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, Nuxe, and etc. in my little red basket, but of course with my luck--my card wasn't accepted! Let's just say, when I walked out of City-Pharma empty-handed, I was close to tears (but that might always be because I was all alone and lost for about six hours too).  

4. London, England

Although I visited Boots while in London. I wish I had a chance to visit BeautyMart. It's like a Sephora with better packaging! Jo Malone would of been a wonderful place to visit too. Maybe not a wonderful look on my bank account, but wonderful nonetheless. (P.s Pearl Pharmacy is a great alternative if you can't go to City-Pharma in Paris. But the pricing might be a wee bit off...or by a lot).

5. Rome, Italy 

Rome was my final stop, before I flew back home. I wished I had a chance to shop for myself at KIKO, which I told myself while I brought my mom lipsticks at KIKO in Paris. Even though KIKO can pretty much be found anywhere in Europe, KIKO is an Italian cosmetics brand. KIKO is like MAC, minus being overpriced. It's a lovely place to visit without spending all your euros! I like that it's high quality, not tested on animals, and has a bajillon different products to choose from (without breaking the bank). The lipstick selection is just amazing and it's priced around 4-8 euro. So you can pick whichever price range you're comfortable with. A friend of mine actually stocked up on one of the eyeliner, before heading back home! 

Check-In Beauty Essentials

Ciao! Hola! Bonjour! Hello! It's been forever since I've blogged (21 says to be exact)! As many of you have seen on my Instagram, I've been traveling around Europe for the past few weeks. It's been exciting and a tad bit tiring. That's what a total of eight flights in less than three weeks does and perhaps the pain of carrying a 50 pounds luggage, carry-on luggage, and a Mary Poppins' purse around the busy streets of Florence, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, and London. My god--The London Underground! Why does The Underground have so many stairs, yet lack lifts?! My only regret was taking a check-in luggage with me, but I do not regret being rescued by the men in London! Swooon! Especially, when they ask, "are you alright, love" and causally picked up my luggage and carried it down three flights of stairs. Let's just say that I feel very fortunate to have traveled to so many countries and met so many beautiful people! 

Now to the good-goods! Here are some of the beauty products I took with me to Europe! 

1) Bandages for the boo-boos and blisters. 

2) DoTerra Deep Blue Rub for my aches and pain from a long day of adventures and walking (or PMS cramps). 

3) A mini nail polish remover, just in case I need to fix my nails during a long layover. 

4) It's A 10 shampoo, conditioner, and leave in-conditioner. Not only does It's A 10 smell great, but it leaves me hair smooth, shiny, and healthy! Plus it's sulfate-free. 

5) For my body, I brought two travel sized body wash. Why? Because I was worried that I wouldn't have enough and because I like to use Aveda Rosemary Mint Body Wash to de-stress especially after a long day of exploring in Paris. While Caress Evenly Gorgeous Burnt Brown Sugar and Karite Butter Body Wash on a daily for ultra smooth skin and when I need a little scrub-ba-dub! 

6) Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Butter--my go-to lotion when my skin is freaking out and just in general. It's inexpensive and does the job! 

7) Two contact solutions, because without my contacts I would be blind as a bat! 

8) Yes to Cucumbers Facial Wipes to remove my make up and to freshen up. 

9) Of course I always have to have my Image Skincare products! (Yes, I did bring a bunch of mini-travel sized...but my skin needs as much loving as it can get from the harsh winter weather of Europe! #californiagirl) 

10) Chanel Vitalumière Hydra Moist Radiance Emulsion Compact SPF 15 for my blemishes. Although this is intended for dry skin, my skin may be too dry for this product, leaving my skin looking flakey and cracked! However I love to use this as a concealer since it's gives great coverage.

11) Finally, the beauty roll-up bag! It's a lifesaver when traveling! Especially during my stay in hostels! When there's nowhere to place my beauty bag, I just hooked this bad boy up and everything is within reach--there's no mess and no hassle! 

Carry-On Beauty Essentials

Today, I am up up up in the air heading to Italy. Probably munching on snacks and watching a bunch of free movies! While, I'm stuffing my face and wifi-less. I've decided to do a quick photoshoot and write a lil' some some before I head to the airport (I'm probably going to be late...). Here are some of the beauty products I'm putting into my carry-on or stuffing into my purse (my huge Mary Poppins like purse). I'm also bringing a portable charger just in case my phone or iPad needs a recharge, a journal to jot things down, magazines for boredom, a book by John Green, a converter, and my Bose headphones since my ears gets extremely painful when I wear Apple's headphones for too long.

Something New and Something Old

Somethings are new and somethings are a little old. The new-new is of course NARS Vitual Domination Cheek Palette and Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade! I'm sure everyone has heard of these products or own them, I mean who hasn't?! It seems like every beauty bloggers and make-up collectors has gotten their hands on this palette! So, although this may be a bandwagon effect or an impulse purchase--I'm okay with it. More than okay with it, because I reasoned that I need a compact cheek palette for my trip to Europe next week! Yes, I may have gotten it for the sole propose of not having to carry three products: blush, highlighter, and bronzer. Ain't nobody got time or room for that! Especially if I'm planning on making a stop at City Pharma when I'm in Paris. Now, for my brows, I knew I wanted Anastasia's Dipbrow! With Europe's unpredictable weather, my worst fear is my eyebrows going missing. That just ain't cute, boo. Not only that, but for some reason my left eyebrow is always on point and then my right one is always either faded, smudged, or half gone. Humm...does this just happen to me?

The oldies are seriously oldies! I think I've had these products since I was in high school. I know, that's cray cray. But it's the truth! However I think I've brought about four Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo since high school. Seriously, it's magic and I don't go anywhere without my brows! Nowhere, no how, no way! For my cheeks I use MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty. I like to lightly apply this during the day for a nice subtle and glowy look. However if I going out at night, I do add a few layers for more color. It's not too pigmented so I've never had a problem with looking like a Elsa Mars. It's also shimmery, which I don't mind because it gives me a luminous glow! While MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle helps give me a dewy and glowy skin. I like to add it to my cheek bones, bridge of my nose, cupid's bow, and brow bones. I do this in exactly this order so that it doesn't look like I applied too much shimmer! Also...blend, blend, blend! It doesn't have to be prefect, just make sure you don't have a distinctive shimmer line. For my brows and blush, I use Laura Mercier's travel collection brushes, I received as a gift about four years ago. But you can purchase the new Laura Mercier's travel brushes at Nordstorm! I love love love Laura Mercier's brushes and the double-end brushes are so convenient for daily to travel uses.