Travel Essentials: Cocotique October Box

I love trying new beauty products but because I’m always on the go, it can be hard to keep up with the latest beauty trends.  Enter Cocotique.

I love Cocotique because they work with various brands to bring great products to their subscribers.  In each month’s box are samples of the latest skin care, hair care, fragrance, nail and lifestyle products. Cocotique sends 5-8 expertly curated beauty and lifestyle samples in the monthly box and instantly you’re trying new products that could be added to your daily or weekly beauty regimens.  Not to mention that most of the products are travel sized, so they can be easily packed in a carry-on for travel.  So what goodies are in October’s box?

• Badger Peppermint & Tea Tree Foot Balm
• Curls Defining Moments Curl Release Serum
• Kiroja Lavender Dream Shea Nilotica
• OPI Nail Laquers – I Knead Sour Dough
• SheaMoisture Tahitian Nani & Manoi Smooth & Repair & Scalp Weekly Therapy
• Specific Beauty Professional Moisture Complex
• Cover FX Anti-Age Smoothing Eye Primer
  

While the box contained all of these items, let me detail my favorites and how I used them during my latest trip:

Badger Peppermint & Tea Tree Foot Balm

When I opened this box, I saw this product and almost squealed in excitement.  When I travel, I usually do a ton of walking, which leaves my feet feeling achy and tired.  The case was no different during my most recent trip to Bahamas.  Bringing along the foot balm may have been the best decision I made all week.  I used it after I showered and it left my feet smelling great, feeling soft, and ready for the next day’s adventures. I highly recommend using this product, especially while traveling.

Kiroja Lavender Dream Shea Nilotica

Shea Nilotica is East African Shea Butter and it’s great for moisturizing skin.  It’s very light and gave my skin a great shine.  I applied it to my arms and legs after a long day at the beach, and it instantly brought my skin back to life.  And the lavender smell is divine!

Specific Beauty Professional Moisture Complex

With the change of the seasons and having a combination of dry and oily skin, finding a good moisturizer can be difficult.  I liked this moisturizer because it was light and didn’t make my face feel greasy in the hot Bahamian sun.  I’m looking forward to continuing using this product as the weather gets colder.

Cover FX Anti-Age Smoothing Eye Primer

Now that I’ve hit the big 3-0, I’m into anything anti-aging!  Again, I liked this product because it was light and airy.  I used it around my eyes before I applied my makeup.  I actually feel like it made my eyes appear brighter and rested.

I recommend any of the products in Cocotique’s October box and am looking forward to what’s in store for November.  I’m hoping to add more travel-ready beauty products for my upcoming trips to Haiti and Curacao!

P.S. Check out my Cocotique interview where I divulge my favorite beauty secrets here.

*While this post is sponsored by Cocotique, all opinions expressed are my own.

Recap: 2014 Taste Our Bahamas Festival

On Saturday, hundreds of people attended the first annual Taste Our Bahamas Festival in Nassau at Fort Charlotte.  People from most of the inhabited islands of the Bahamas were represented at the festival, including New Providence, Abaco, Andros, and Cat Island.

Festivities began around 8 am and lasted until about 10 pm. Performances by a local marching band, a mixology showdown, culinary demonstrations and musical artists were all apart of the rigorous festival schedule.  Festival goers were able to visit each vendor and ‘taste the Bahamas.’ There was also an area filled with games where parents could leave their children so they could roam around the festival freely.

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I sampled several types of traditional Bahamian foods.  Conch fritters, guava duff, jerk chicken and fresh sugar cane juice were all on menus from various vendors.  I was stuffed by the time I left!  By the way, this was my first time tasting guava duff (a pastry made with guava covered with a cream sauce…similar to a Cinnabon but better), and it was seriously delicious. Trust me on this.

I also had the opportunity to talk live on the air with radio station Hot 91.7’s The Natural Empress as well as a local Bahamian TV station.  So much fun chatting about my site, the festival and all the food Bahamas has to offer!

This was the first year for the festival, so I only expect it to be bigger and better next year.  To learn more about the festival and Bahamas Culinary Month, click here.

*This post is sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. All opinions expressed are my own.