Travel Tuesday: Deacon's Travel Essentials

Happy Travel Tuesday! As the holidays approach, we're often asked about our favorite travel finds that accompany us on our many jaunts. Sadly, our list of favorites changes all.the.time. and we're rarely using the same thing twice. It's been a long dream to have a go-to line of matching travel accessories, but the fact of the matter is ... we simply have a compilation of our favorite things. Whether you're looking for new travel makeup adds or simply wanting to get the traveler in your life something they'll love, here are a few of our favorite picks:

Travel Tuesday: GalTime Travel Essentials by deacondoesdc featuring quilted handbags

Marc by Marc Jacobs quilted handbag
$188 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Amazon.com: Sony VPCY216GX/P VAIO(R) Y Series 13.3" Notebook PC -...
$799 - amazon.com

White + Warren Cashmere Travel Wrap & Slipper Set
$222 - neimanmarcus.com

Leopard Iphone 4 Case
$40 - katespade.com

Tusk Orissa Metallic Passport Cover
$38 - lordandtaylor.com

Amazon.com: Kindle Lighted Cover (Fits Kindle Keyboard): Electronics
$50 - amazon.com

Amazon.com: LittleGifts Dachshund Luggage Tag: Home & Garden
$10 - amazon.com

1 - The Bag: 
We start all of our trips with a great bag - our current carry-on is this quilted Marc by Marc Jacobs number, which holds all of our essentials AND doubles as both a beach bag, a ski bag an overnight bag if we run off for a day trip in the middle of our adventure.

2- The Wrap: 
 A cashmere travel set is always a must on long flights. We love the White + Warren ones, which come with slippers to keep our feet warm, an eye mask so we can sleep, and a wrap/scarf combo that we'll wear the entire trip. Plus, it's way better than blankets on a plane!

3 - The Tech: 
 Our tech accessories are a must. We have been loving our 3.2 pound Sony Vaio, which has 6 hours of battery live, perfect for working while on-the-go. We'd love a great camera and have asked for a D-90 from Santa, but for now, our iPhone is our must-have accessory (with this great leopard case from Kate Spade). It takes great shots AND allows us to share our moments with the touch of a button through apps like Instagram (Follow us!). Our Kindle 3G is also on our must-bring list, and we are obsessed with this cover, which has a built-in book light.

4 - Handbag Organizer: 
Inouis' Core is our go-to travel holder. It has tons of pockets, perfect for storing our pills, makeup essentials and more. Plus, we can grab the mini and credit card holder right out of it and use them as a wristlet or smaller makeup case when we reach our destination.

5- The Travel Accessories: 
We've got to be stylish too, so we love our silver passport holder. Sure, we know Deacon is a German Shepherd, but we love this ode to our Dachshund, Marty, with the whimsical luggage tag that looks ... just like him. Oh, and it's VERY easy to spot our bag if we check it!

6- The Makeup: 

We hate to check a bag, which means we're always on the hunt for new travel-sized products. (See the Travalo perfume atomizer, that holds our favorite scents in travel size?) While we're normally loyal to Skin Authority at home, we sometimes use our road trips to sample new products, and use 3floz.com as our go-to site for testing. We've been loving this Ole Henricksen set, which has all the creams and potions we need. Le Metier's Peau Verge is our go-to for just about everything, and thankfully the full size is travel approved. We also don't ever travel without DC-based Skincado's Combat Balm, which soothes all ills from travel-chapped skin to sunburns and bug bites in an all-natural formula.


*We own and love all of the items listed above. We were given the Sony Vaio and Travalo for press reviews some time ago, but all of our opinions about the products are our own.*


What's in your travel bag? Do you have a new fave we have to add? Leave a comment, below! 

Luxe Life: Skincare Tips for Fall

The changing season and Washington's current yo-yo weather patterns can wreak havoc on our skin. As the seasons change, so should your skin care routine.

Last week, we enjoyed our own fall facial update as we tried Skin Authority's new "Touch Transforms" treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. The hour-long customized facial ($140) starts with a deep cleansing and light glycolic peel before moving on to necessary extractions, a calming mask, and a great hand and decolette massage.  We're shocked to say that post-treatment, our skin looked better than it did when we entered (not a normal occurrence for someone who usually has some serious extracting done!) - we were brighter, glow-ier and our skin totally clear.

But of course, not everyone is in the mood for a luxe facial (as hard as that may be to believe). If you're simply looking to get your skin fit for fall, try these great tips for use at home.

As the CEO of the rapidly-growing company Skin Authority, Celeste Hilling works with cast members of TV shows including “Glee” and “Extra”, fashion icons and celebrity broadcasters alike to streamline and simplify their skincare routines and achieve brighter, more even-toned skin.

“You don’t have to be a celeb to achieve amazing skin this fall. Just as you swap out your shorts for sweaters in anticipation of cooler temps, do the same with your skin care products. Use the change of season to inventory your skin care stash, toss old items and figure out what you truly need," Hilling said.

Speaking of the number of products you need - forget hoarding 20 - in reality, you need two or three. Become a skin care superstar with these eight tips:

   1. Simplify your Skin Care Stash – Save time and money by simplifying to no more than three to four steps in the morning and at night.
   2. Kick Dryness to the Curb – Fall brings dry air, allergies and reduced exposure to sunlight, all of which affect your skin. “Take quick, lukewarm showers because hot water can be damaging to skin when indoor air tends to be dryer. Also, exfoliate from head to toe to slough off dead skin cells and apply lotion as soon as you step out of the shower to seal in moisture,” suggests Hilling.
   3. Exfoliate to Hydrate – It’s a myth that exfoliation can dry or thin the skin. The truth – regular exfoliation speeds up the cell turnover process allowing the body to produce moisture-bearing properties like hyaluronic acid. Exfoliation also helps to plump the skin by churning up elastin and collagen production. Hilling recommends using a natural resurfacing agent such as glycolic acid to gently dissolve dead surface skin cells to be replaced with new, plump ones.
   4. Beach days are over. Sunscreen is not! – Sunscreen is your BFF year-round. To determine the quality, Hilling suggests that you check the SPF number on the label (those with SPF 15 or greater yield the best results). Also, scan the active ingredient label to make sure it has UVA-blocking elements such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or anything in the avobenzone family. To recreate that summer glow, take a moisturizing sunscreen, add two drops of foundation, and mix together for a natural look.
   5. Cost Per Ounce – Shop for skin care the way that you shop for food, by looking at the cost per ounce. When you see a product that is $20 for .2 of an ounce, multiply and see that it’s actually $100 for one ounce… not a great deal. Instead, visit spas and salons. What you’ll find is that spa- and salon-quality products are a bargain as they include complimentary consultations with licensed experts.
   6. Concentrate on Concentrations – After evaluating the ounces, concentrate on the concentrations. Take a look at the active ingredients and ensure that any treatment product has a pH below four. The human skin ranges from 4.5-5.5 pH. Hilling adds, “A product should be below the pH level of the skin for maximum penetration. Otherwise, you might as well be using water!”
   7. Bye, Bye Dry. Hello Happiness – With about 10 percent* of the population suffering from seasonal depression, a little lift is a great thing when the seasons change. Hilling loves Skin Authority’s new Ultra Rich Moisturizer, which she says is perfect for fall's dryer weather.
   8. Brighten Up – Daylight hours are growing shorter, so supply your own light! Naturally, Hilling loves Skin Authority's Brightening Serum.

It's that simple! Want to try out the products for yourself? We are hosting a great giveaway and there are still a few days left to enter a sample skincare kit benefiting Touch Transforms!

Friday's Fancies: Fall Festive

Whoa, this week flew! Happy Friday, everyone. It's a big week in Deacon land - not only are we participating in our weekly Friday's Fancies Linkup with Long Distance Loving, but we have a great giveaway going on - don't forget to enter to win the Skin Authority Touch Transforms Kit below!

For this week's outfit, we were inspired by this deep red kimono-style jacket we saw last week at Bloomies and loved. We paired it with a pair of open toe booties we have been coveting and decided to make the outfit a bit more work appropriate with these chic high-waisted trousers. If you haven't tried trousers like this before, we love them as they're flattering on all figure sizes.

Even better? We jazzed it up with a splash of gold and leopard, one of fall's biggest trends. We have a similar bangle at home and love it.

We'd love to hear your comments and can't wait to see all of the other great outfits posted this week!

Friday's Fancies: Fall Festive by deacondoesdc featuring leather tote handbags

Diane von Furstenberg kimono blouse
$298 - nordstrom.com

McQ by Alexander McQueen tuxedo pants
£289 - harrods.com

Pour La Victoire high heel boots
$300 - neimanmarcus.com

Chloé leather tote handbag
$1,995 - net-a-porter.com

Mango oversized ring
£23 - mango.com

River Island yellow gold jewelry
$17 - asos.com

Giveaway: Great Skin Is In! Win a Skin Authority Touch Transforms Kit

If there's one thing Deacon loves, it's a great beauty product. Perhaps only next to a great spa treatment. But we get to try so many awesome things, it's hard to stick with just one - until we tried Skin Authority, one of Deacon's Favorite Things.

This luxe line was founded by Celeste Hilling, board member of the International Spa Association, with a focus on medical-quality products and Ph-balanced formulations. We're not ones to buy into a lot of product mumbo-jumbo, but we tried the line last year and have been hooked ever since.

Our favorite part of the line, other than the amazing products? A licensed esthetician calls or emails you after every product purchase to make sure you're happy and using the line correctly. Can you say amazing?

And what better way to share the love than with Deacon's dear readers? That's why we're giving away the line's brand new Touch Transforms Kit, a $59 value. It's a great way to get introduced to the line or travel with your favorite products in TSA-approved sizes (also saving money on bag check fees!)

This special edition includes four of the brand's most popular and Deacon-recommended products, including: 

• Daily Cleanser: Fragrance free wash gently removes dirt and oil from the face and body, leaving the skin refreshed, soft, and primed for daily regimen.
• Tri-Power Peptide Hydrator: Formulation combines intense hydration with the anti-aging benefits of peptides, neuropeptides, and vitamins A, B, C, and E to help promote healthy cell growth and reduce the appearance of fine lines and deeper wrinkles.
• Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30: Lightweight moisturizer for all skin types. Provides full-spectrum and SPF 30 sun protection.
• Olive, Fig, Shea Butter Body Cream: Drenches the body in moisture and heals the negative effects of toxins and the environment while stimulating the senses.

Want to snag your own? For each kit you purchase, Skin Authority will contribute $5 to Look Good...Feel Better® program, a free support program that helps individuals with cancer improve their appearance and self-esteem.

Entering the giveaway is super easy too, thanks to Rafflecopter. Simply follow the instructions below! We look forward to sharing the love with you.

Favorite Things: Skin Authority

Skin Authority

We'll admit to being product junkies - it's a hazard of the business. On any given day, we're sampling a new mascara, testing a fab mask and then jetting off to an evening event with brand new falsies. But one thing we've always been very picky about? Our cleansing products. After suffering in high school and college, we swore "never again" after finding an organic regimen that worked.

So when Skin Authority rep Debra Locker approached us before the International Spa Association show late last year and asked if we wanted to get a facial with her products, we said sure. But when she asked us to commit to trying Skin Authority as our main regimen for weeks at a time ... we'll admit to being skeptical.

But we were assured by Locker that we'd be in good hands - the brand's founder, Celeste Hilling, is a former head of the International Spa Association and considered a worldwide expert, and spas like the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner use the line in their facials. It wasn't as if we were trying a drugstore generic. And speaking of generics, one of the things that originally sold us on Skin Authority was its near medical-grade quality.

The products are all designed to work with your skin's Ph levels and are the highest concentration of ingredient potency that one can get without a prescription. After a facial analysis, our esthetician assigned us a daily "regimen" that looked more like a prescription than anything else - it even came on a yellow pad! We were to start with a gel cleanser on dry skin, followed by a toner, cell renewal cream or Vitamin C serum (depending on the time of day) and a sunscreen-enhanced moisturizer. To help with our frequent travels, we picked up the kit in mini form as well.

After the first few days, we weren't entirely convinced ... it was a lot of steps to remember. But we loved how the cleanser, which was applied to dry skin, only took a tiny amount AND removed our makeup in one quick step. The daily serum also made a difference in our skin's tone and redness in less than week. After a month, we noticed that we were getting comments almost daily on our skin - something that had never happened before. And since we hadn't switched anything else major ... it had to be Skin Authority.

One of the things we LOVED was the regular e-mails from the brand talking about the chances we should be seeing in our skin, and the "hotline" we could call at any time to discuss questions or skin concerns. We knew that our skin would now be "regenerating" on a faster basis, and knew at what points we should start seeing results. It was like having our own personal skin coach on speed dial - we'd never seen this level of high-touch service from a brand before. 

Rarely does Deacon find such a high ranking for a skin product as he does for the Skin Authority line. We've since ceased using their moisturizer in lieu of our tried-and-true organic Skincando Miracle Cream (at least for the winter), but the rest of the products are 100% in our rotation. And three months later, we're not even out of our initial supply - a huge plus, given that products can get expensive.

If you're searching for a pump up to your own routine, trying to get "in shape" for a big day, or simply looking to make a change ... we'd highly recommend the products!  You can find it at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, FYI.

Deacon was gifted the Skin Authority set, but the opinions of this puppy are solely his and writer McLean Robbins' own.