In Singapore, where time and distance is very essential, my utilization of free hours was really put to a test--For sleepovers, I usually bring with me a set of fresh clothes and underwear, the smaller they are, the better. This enables me to head straight to work the next day without having to carry so many things with me. For flashpacking travels, I usually pack everything within 30 minutes before going to the office, along with my backpack, so I can go to the airport right after clocking out.
I live in the northern-central part of Singapore and going back and forth to Ang Mo Kio was not an efficient (nor cheap) option. As amazing as the public transportation system they have here, if you want to get somewhere at a fraction of the time it takes to commute, you really have to pay for it. Literally, too. (Read: Taking a taxi or an Uber will cost roughly 10 times more than if you commute via bus/train, but slashes more than half of your travel time.)
At age 28, I can finally say I have mastered a system when it comes to sleepovers and flashpacking trips. For this post, I'm sharing with you that one item that I never leave without: the mini pot. (No, not that kind of pot! *smirks*)
I consider myself to be really low maintenance, and with that, I don't put a lot of products on me. These are all I'll ever need to look presentable in the office the next day. Or so I think. And for travels, I use all of them, save for the foundation. I like it there though, just in case I might need it.
What's in My Mini Pots
1. Milcu deodorant powder - Yup, I bring along a pot of Milcu deodorant powder with me all the time. Not to be underestimated, this product can last in Singapore humidity!
2. Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation - (will get back to you with the exact shade, but I'm an NC42 in MAC) My foundation pot either has this or NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona, the former for when I just came from a beach trip, and the latter for when my skin is tad bit lighter or when it's too humid.
3. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream - Taking into account how the weather is here in Singapore, this is the best moisturizer that works for me so far. I love it.
4. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula lotion - Lotion is something that if I forego, all hell breaks loose AKA my long-time problems with eczema will start to resurface.
Aaand that's it. I have four pots that if I have with me, I will feel okay going to the next day straight from wherever.
Where I Buy 'Em
I used to buy my pots from Sephora where it costs SGD 2/pot. But I noticed whenever I'll take it on a flight, it would get cracks that must be from the pressure while up in the air. This caused me to buy another set. Then the same thing happened, to my dismay. It's just 2 dollars but multiply them by four, it totals to SGD 8 every time I need to replace them.
Then one day, I was walking from the neighborhood public market and saw one of those one-dollar stores that sell anything under the sun. I saw they had a packet of 20 mini pots, same as the pots pictured above, and it only costed SGD 1.50 for the whole pack. FOR THE WHOLE PACK--> caps for emphasis. "What a steal!", I thought! Two flights after, they still haven't cracked and that felt good.
Bonus
1. Etude House eyeliner - My current go-to liner because I ran out of my favorite liner. This is my first felt tip liquid liner and I like how I can apply the thinnest line and be happy with it because it looks natural.
2. Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil - Honestly, I just bought this because I wanted to try other brands and because the Ate from Sephora was overly eager when she was sampling it on me. The one I always use for special events is the Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow.
3. the Balm time Balm - Current undereye concealer I've been using. I don't know a lot about makeup but this seemed okay.