Girls in the Beauty Department

The Pre-Vacation Beauty Thing You Have to Try

I've just settled back into normal life after taking a belated honeymoon, and the 10-day trip might have seen my wisest beauty move, ever. Before leaving, I shelled out for eyelash extensions, and I'm so very glad I did for a few specific reasons. It cut my getting-ready time way down. Like the majority of couples, my guy's always ready to go at least 10 minutes before I am. It's especially apparent on vacation, when he can roll out of bed and toward the breakfast buffet in, oh, two minutes. I wasn't quite that speedy, but since the majority of my makeup game is eye-focused, I really only found myself moisturizing, concealing, and dotting on a bit of blush. (Kudos to those of you who are much less labor-intensive about your beauty routines.) Washing my face wasn't as big of a pain. I always wash my face (swear!), but sometimes when there's a time-zone issue and an extra glass of hurrah-we're-married wine at dinner, it's so tempting to skip it. The thought of crusty, mascara-covered lashes is usually what gets me to the sink, but without, I was able to do a quick rinse and be done. I packed less.

I've just settled back into normal life after taking a belated honeymoon, and the 10-day trip might have seen my wisest beauty move, ever. Before leaving, I shelled out for eyelash extensions, and I'm so very glad I did for a few specific reasons.

It cut my getting-ready time way down.

Like the majority of couples, my guy's always ready to go at least 10 minutes before I am. It's especially apparent on vacation, when he can roll out of bed and toward the breakfast buffet in, oh, two minutes. I wasn't quite that speedy, but since the majority of my makeup game is eye-focused, I really only found myself moisturizing, concealing, and dotting on a bit of blush. (Kudos to those of you who are much less labor-intensive about your beauty routines.)

Washing my face wasn't as big of a pain.

I always wash my face (swear!), but sometimes when there's a time-zone issue and an extra glass of hurrah-we're-married wine at dinner, it's so tempting to skip it. The thought of crusty, mascara-covered lashes is usually what gets me to the sink, but without, I was able to do a quick rinse and be done.

I packed less.

When you have lash extensions, you're totally allowed to use mascara, eyeshadow, and liner, but I was too nervous I'd ruin the falsies to fool with it. As such, my toiletry bag was 50 percent lighter than regular (especially sans my travel-size eye makeup remover and cotton swabs).

For me, mascara has always been the one beauty product that's vital—without it, I feel tired-looking, while I'm instantly more glamorous after swiping on a couple of coats. As such, always feeling "done" on the trip was really nice. I'm tempted to keep the lashes going, but the time and money commitment that comes with upkeep might make me say goodbye soon. Either way, I don't regret spending the cash for my trip. It was worth every single penny.

Before you try, though, make sure to read our Dos and Don'ts of Eyelash Extensions. There are some very specific notes about getting them wet that you need to know—especially before you take them to the beach!