Travel Beauty Month :: Skoah Giveaway

August is Travel Beauty Month at Trip Styler. Since we already know you're beautiful on the inside, we're featuring posts devoted to helping you maintain and enhance your outer allure---which can *sometimes* show hints of travel's time-zone hopping and lack of H2O. All month we'll be doing travel beauty-themed giveaways for products that take the edge off of jet-setting.

Our first post focused how to add mileage to your coif while away, and our second post will feature mini products perfect for travel!

Thursday August 12th Contest Details 1) One lucky winner will score a Skoah Holiday Travel Kit containing kleanser, tonik, face skrub, face kream and face mask! 2) How to win: make a comment on your favourite Trip Styler post. The winner will be chosen at random from the master comment list, so if you comment more than once on different posts, you have a better chance of winning! 3) Contest is open to residents of Canada and the US and closes Wednesday, August 18th. 4) The winner will be announced and contacted the following day.

Good luck! Don't forget to tell your friends.

High Rolling

Some people swear by rolling their garments to maximize space in their suitcase, whereas others fold items flat. I've tried both, and have never noticed a sizable difference, so I decided to find out once and for all.

{Don't forget to sign-up for our email or RSS feed; doing so enters you into our Travel Beauty Month give-away. Contest ends Wednesday, Aug 11. at 4pm.}

The Mission Using the same garments, I packed my suitcase twice. The first time by rolling my garments, and the second, by laying them flat.

The Background This weekend I'm headed to Newport and Laguna with a one-day stint at Disneyland. Since I'm only bringing a carry-on, finding out which packing method uses the least space is an important consideration---hence this A/B test.

This trip is a good reminder that insane travel deals still exist: I booked my $9.99 (each way) flight during Allegiant Air's 3-hour sale when they announced service from Bellingham, WA to Long Beach, CA. Fifty-six dollars later, my entire flight including taxes was booked. I can't even drive from Vancouver to Seattle for that little!

The Prep Garthering garments with the help of my Summer Weekend Packing List, and making sure I've packed everything I'll need thanks to my Going Away To Do List, I'm ready to select what I'll bring on my extended weekend trip to Cali. The goal: bring a little, and mix and match so it looks like a lot!

Rolling VS Folding Result I ended up having much more space in my suitcase when I......drumroll please.....ROLLED garments. I'm not sure why, but I hate to admit this. Deep down, I think I was on team fold. Based on the pics below, you'll hopefully be able to see almost 25% more space in the rolling versus folded example. I'm now a converted roller. {Suitcase with garments folded flat - not much space to spare}

{Suitcase with garments rolled - notice the extra space. Now there's the flexibility to shop or pack more.}

Travel Apps :: Ultraviolet Rays

Even though this is old news---like 20 years ago old news---it's still worth saying: as the ozone layer thins, sunscreen becomes soooooo much more important. When I was young I used to purposefully bake in the sun until I burned, but now I know better and have become a little sunscreen obsessed. If only I were that smart in my teens, I wouldn't have used the sun as my personal oven---on broil.

Knowing the sun's rays can be hurtful with prolonged exposure, weather networks have began highlighting the UV index. This international, standard measurement of how strong the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is at a particular place, on a particular day, ranges from 0 (no danger to the average person) to 11+ (extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure).

UV Apps Here are some apps that will tell you about the sun's fluctuating UV strength. Whether you use these apps at home or abroad, hopefully you'll use the indices to protect your skin versus bake sans sunscreen!

UV Detector This useful app lets you monitor the UV index in your city, as well as view weekly forecasts, receive customized alerts when you should wear sunscreen, and share these alerts with your friends through email, facebook, twitter and more. Works for most major cities worldwide.

The Weather Channel This app has all the bells and whistles of a regular weather app, as well as includes the UV index in its current forecast feature.

MyUVAlert™ Coppertone has developed an app aptly named MyUVAlert™ to help predict the level of sun protection needed. The only drawback?  It's only available for US destinations, and Canadians can't download it.

Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

• Wine Touring in BC
• Air Canada
• BC Ferries Tracker
• 6 Free Camping Apps
• Epicurious
• BorderWait
• OpenWays
• TripIt
• Trip Advisor
• StayHIP
• Trip Journal
• Bug Spray
• CameraBag
• Convert Everything
• GateGuru
• Kindle for iPhone
• Packing Pro
• Skype
• World Fact Book
• AAA/CAA Savings
• Royal Caribbean
• Medical Concierge
• Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat’l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

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Pool Party

[trip style = staycation]

{Don't forget to sign-up for our email or RSS feed; doing so enters you into our Travel Beauty Month give-away. Contest ends Wednesday, Aug 11.}

You know those weekends when you can't seem to peel yourself away from in-town responsibilities, but you still want an escape-like experience? If you've only got a half day, but want some extreme, vacation-like relaxation, check out your favourite local hotel's pool---it may just offer day-rates for use!

The Staycation Pool Experience Taking a cue from destinations like LA and Palm Springs,  there's a growing 'staycation' trend where hotels are offering use of their pools to non-guests for a fee. Understanding that it's easier for people to spare a few hours than an entire weekend, hotels are embracing the 'poolcation'.

Vancouver Hotel Poolcations Last May I heard the Fairmont Pacific Rim might allow day use of their pool to paying non-guests, but alas, it never happened. Shame--it's a gorgeous location with cabanas, views, a bar and more. (Just suggest your out-of-town friends stay there and get pool access through them!)

Fairmont Waterfront Located right across from the cruise ship terminal, the Fairmont Waterfront offers a $15 daily rate for non-hotel guests looking for an outdoor poolcation.

The Westin Grand Vancouver Each Sunday afternoon, the Westin Grand hosts free pool parties for non-hotel guests.  The price is right... The hotel just emailed me and has updated the price to $10/person due to high demand. Pan Pacific & Westin Bayshore (spa required) Although pool-entry for non-hotel guests requires a treatment in each hotel's spa, a massage + day lounging in the sun may be just what the doctor ordered.

ps - If the hotel poolcation isn't up your alley, try one of Vancouver's 5 outdoor pools for a cheaper price.  My hands-down fave is the Second Beach Pool in Stanley Park. Located on the outer western edge of the park, this beachside, gradual entry pool overlooks Burrard Inlet and UBC. Open until Sept 6th, 10am-8.30pm daily. Trip Styler Tip: for a more relaxed pool-time experience, go from 10-noon or 6.30-8.30pm, when there are fewer people and the weather is still warm!

[photo credit: westin bayshore]

Travel Beauty :: Dry Shampoo

[You could win an Alterna Dry Shampoo + extra travel-size goodies by entering our first contest during Travel Beauty Month. Enter now, you and your hair won't regret it!]

Between running through terminals to enduring long-haul flights, travel can do a number on your hair. And who wants to wash and do their tresses everyday? Not me; I'd rather relax on the beach or see the sights rather than spend time coiffing my doo---or lack thereof sometimes.

Enter my best travel friend; dry shampoo, it's the most incredible and indispensable tool that hangs out in my travel toiletries case. I never leave home without it. Just a quick dusting or spray and your hair looks as good as new---and lasts another day!

My Fave Dry Shampoos HIGH Alterna Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo Why I like it: it smells like lemons, the powder-like consistency blends well into second-day hair, it doesn't leave any residue at the roots and the precision tip is genius. It's also perfect for carry-on travel. Find it in Canada and the US for $20. *It also happens to be the fab product for this week's beauty give-away.

Cake Beauty Satin Sugar Hair & Body Refreshing Powder Why I like it: it's Canadian, small enough to bring in a carry-on and tinted in two shades for different hair types. Also, anything that doubles in the program (ie - hair and body powder) when you travel is a bonus. Find it in Canada and the US for $16.

Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser To Go Why I like it: it has a travel-friendly size, gets the oiliness out, adds texture and has a fresh not-too-overwhelming scent! Find it in Canada and the US for $24.

LOW Batiste Dry Shampoo Why I like it: The spray formula smells like coconut, provides an extra burst of volume and leaves hair with a natural-looking finish. Find it in Canada and the US for $9.

Klorane Oil-Controlling Dry Shampoo with Nettle Extract Why I like it: this spray is light and doesn't leave a powdery finish. Bonus, it comes in a travel size! Find it in Canada and the US for $13.

Baby powder (yep, plain old baby powder) Why i like it: talc-free baby powder is THE wonder product when away from home. In a pinch it can be used to quickly freshen hair, deodorize shoes and refresh the bod. Works best for people with blond or light brown hair. Buy at the drugstore for under $4.