The holidays coming! The holidays are coming!

I can hardly believe it’s mid-September already, and that means the holiday travel season isn’t far away.

One of my biggest travel challenges is packing light. I think I’m naturally predisposed to overpack, as if I biologically need 10 different shades of pink lipgloss; maybe it’s a primitive urge to gather?

But after a traumatic airport incident a few years back (a TSA agent almost confiscated a baggie filled with Chanel and MAC, NOOOO!), I’ve gotten better at streamlining what goes into my makeup bag.

Nowadays, I’m all about bringing products that multitask. When space is limited, the more steps and products I can eliminate, the better.

NARS Powder Foundation ($45), my latest foundation love, totally fits the multitasking bill.

Portable and flexible, with a natural finish

Forget hauling a separate liquid foundation, tinted moisturizer and powder. Housed in a sleek, portable case, this flexible pressed powder foundation does it all, evening out tone and wicking away shine from morning ’till night. It does it, too, without looking too thick or too much like a mask. Added bonus: It contains SPF 12.

I apply it in layers until I reach a level of opacity I’m happy with. If I know I’ll just be chillin’ with the fam, I’ll go with one to two layers applied with a kabuki brush, one like the MAC 182 Buffer ($45). It delivers natural, light-to-medium coverage. For a more opaque look, I’ll smooth it on with the included sponge.

Wearing two layers of NARS Powder Foundation applied with a Kabuki brush

Whatever the coverage, NARS Foundation Powder always feels lightweight on my skin. It’s so comfy that I sometimes forget I’m wearing it at all!

Tips on choosing a foundation color

With 18 shades to choose from, there should be something for almost everyone. I use Sahara, which the NARS website lists for “medium red-based complexions.”

When choosing a foundation color, I usually enlist the help of a sales associate or makeup artist — someone to serve as a second opinion. If you’re on your own, though, here are two tips to try:

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CHEAP THRILL ALERT!

Hey, now, dirty birdies. Get that mind out of the gutter. I’m not talking ’bout that kind of nasty…

Or this kind for that matter…

I’m talking about the affordably awesome Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Glosses ($6.50 each and available in six shades).

If it weren’t for their faint mint flavor and fragrance (which dissipates quickly), they’d almost be knockoffs of the MAC Lipgelles, which cost twice as much ($14). They have a similar smooth and shiny, non-stick texture and also broadcast seriously intense color.

And with six shades to choose from — Playful Nude, Rose Bliss, Flirty Pink, Carrot Kiss, Red Hot and Cocoa Loco — there’s a decent degree of variety within the line.

I’ve tried three of the colors:

Red Hot

Cocoa Loco

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A mini pony = awesomeness.

A mini pony brush = even more awesomeness!

Say howdy to Shu Uemura’s Portable Natural Brush 14 ($30) — a friend to dark circles everywhere.

I spend a lot of time not sleeping. It’s one of my hobbies… not sleeping. Consequently, I rely on under-eye concealer to hide my dark circles, and to set it I’ll use a little bit of powder and Shu’s Natural Brush 14.

The smallish, fluffy brush head (made with pony hair) fits perfectly into the nook under my eyes. It’s one of the softest brushes in my arsenal and feels like a kiss from Tabs on my delicate skin. Just one swipe applies a sheer veil of powder — natural, not heavy or cakey at all.

At $30 it’s not a cheap tool, but ladies who take makeup seriously could consider it an investment.

Why? Because this pony multitasks!

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Yes, my Fangtasia Barrinos, even though I lurves me a super bright blush (hello, NARS Mounia), there are times when I need prefer a more natural cheek look.

That’s why I’m fawning over Philosophy Lit From Within cream blush in Bare Your Soul ($23).

With just the faintest touch of shimmer, it’s like a smile on my cheeks.

Not only does it apply and blend like a dream (I use my fingers), it stays put for hours, too, on either bare skin or atop foundation.

And the color? Perfect! Like pinched cheeks, and probably one of the most natural-looking blush colors I’ve seen in a really long time.

Bare Your Soul joins two other creatively named shades in the Lit From Within line of cream blushes — Feel Warm All Over (a shimmery coral) and Look on the Bright Side (a sheer pink).

They’re part of Philosophy’s new Supernatural line of natural makeup in sheer colors for face, cheeks, eyes and lips. All are free of parabens, phthalates (plasticizers used in everything from children’s toys to eyeshadows and nail polish), mineral oil, talc, sulfates, propylene glycol and fragrance.

I’ll use it for low-maintenance looks or whenever I don’t want my cheeks to compete with any bright pops o’ color on my lips or eyes. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Home sweet home

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Where my 30-something girls at?? This month, our allies at Clarins are introducing a gang of new face creams and lotions for the over-30 set.

The line’s called Multi-Active Day, and Clarins designed the four products for busy women looking for a little help in the wrinkles and fine lines department. Stressed out and a touch wrinkly? Helloooo, that’s totally me.

The key phrase here is “active plant ingredients.” They’re what the line is all about. Among other plant-based ingredients, they contain ambiaty extract (a Madagascar plant related to sunflowers) and hesperidin (from citrus plants, it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties), to moisturize, to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and to restore elasticity to skin.

I started using both the Day Cream for All Skin Types ($54) and SPF 15 Lotion ($54) about a month ago.

First, le good stuff:

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