Picture this…your dancer has rehearsed for hours. The routine is perfect. You’ve packed, traveled to your first competition this year, and she forgot her lashes!
All that work and confidence is unraveled in a few moments of PANIC backstage!
Competition season is right around the corner. Being organized and well prepared is key to a successful competition season and calm performer.
Here are our top 5 makeup travW4CC4el tips to ensure you show up prepared for whatever the competition season brings…
#1. Print off a beauty packing list (or download one from LOVER® Cosmetics).
Nothing replaces an old-fashioned checklist. We’re not talking on your phone or computer, but a printed checklist that you can actually check off and jot down what you need.
A great start is this beauty packing list from LOVER® Cosmetics. We’ve organized this checklist according to our five steps, skincare, tools and a space to add extras (think about adding hairnets, bun makers, glitter, hairpieces, and any routine-specific items you may need!)
A good exercise as you start packing is to jot down each dance/performance you are doing. Then, under each, list the specifics you need to achieve the onstage look you want.
#2. Start a note on your phone.
If you’re like me…my brain is constantly going. As I was packing for LOVER®’s NYC trip to this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I wanted to ensure I didn’t miss a makeup beat! (We are the makeup provider for Spirit of America’s 1,400+ dancers and cheerleaders in the parade each year.)
A few weeks before departure, I started a note on my iPhone to capture instantly as it appeared in my brain, what I needed to pack for the parade. While I was in the car, at my studio, in the pick-up line…I just added to that list as the thoughts popped in my head.
The result: I felt prepared and ready when it was time to board the plane. For all you dancers, break this checklist out by each performance and costume requirement.
Don’t stop there. When you are at competition, backstage and on the way home, add to your notes. Those moments of “I wish I would have packed extra hairnets” can be added instantly to that note for the next competition.
THEN…print this out so you can check it off for the next competition.
#3. Carry-on is key.
There are so many beautiful makeup bags out there, but are they functional?
What makes a makeup bag functional? My recent favorites are The Beauty Bag by Glossier and Parallelle. Both have the same feature – LOTS of inside pockets that tightly hold your serums, lotions, etc., upright. You don’t have to worry as much about spillage and breakage. And everything has its own spot in these organize-able bags!
Don’t forget that makeup is delicate and breakable. Pack it in bubble wrap sleeves for some extra protection in your makeup bag. And we go a step further when we ship our team makeup palettes and lay a slim foam insert inside, on top of the shadows and blush. This keeps your shadows tightly held during travel.
If you MUST check your makeup bag, make sure you have it well padded in a puffy hoodie or some padded clothing. And if you can – keep it with you in your carryon!
#4. Travel-friendly sizes
I’m sure you all know how many pumps of your SPF you use in the morning or evening lotion you apply before bed.
Me? I use exactly two pumps of my morning SPF – so when I travel for a week – I pump 14 pumps into a travel-sized, disposable container, label it and toss it before returning home.
Less IS more and a light bag = a happy traveler!
We love these disposable containers on amazon…or invest in a quality set like these Cadence travel containers – love!
#5. Keep it clean and put your feet up.
The beauty of a hotel room is that you don’t look around and see all the tasks around the house waiting for you.
This allows for some “clean-time” and “me-time”!
What do we mean by that – WASH THOSE MAKEUP BRUSHES! Our when-to-toss guide and brush-cleaning guide below is a great tool to keep your makeup bag clean. And for on-the-go cleaning, this Cinema Secrets brush cleaner is the perfect solution. It instantly cleans brushes, and they dry incredibly fast!
Then go put your feet up, put on a face mask or under eye mask, call room service and turn on your favorite movie.
Break a leg, dancers – you’re all set for a beautiful comp season!
By Ashley Maurin Rodden, CEO, LOVER® Cosmetics.
Ashley Maurin Rodden is the owner of LOVER® Cosmetics and is one of the nation’s leading performance makeup providers with clients nationwide, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Her line touts USA-made, clean beauty products, customized kits and education. She trained in Paris, France, at the renowned Christian Chauveau makeup school and loves teaching women how to apply makeup in five simple steps. ashley@lover-cosmetics.com
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