Soft Luxe Travels: Why I’ll Only Bring 2 Palettes to Vigan This Weekend

I’m so excited because I’ll be heading to Vigan this weekend! 🎉 Aside from deciding on outfits and accessories, one of the hardest parts of packing for me is always makeup—especially eyeshadow palettes. A few years ago, I usually wanted to bring more than I actually needed whenever I traveled, but this time I decided to simplify. I’m only bringing two palettes: my Simply Nude palette and a mini Bobbi Brown palette.

It feels a little risky to limit myself like this, but honestly, both palettes are versatile enough that I won’t miss the rest of my collection. Here’s why they made the cut.

The Simply Nude Palette

This is one is becoming one of my most reliable palettes because every single shade is wearable. It has:

Soft mattes for base and transition shades

Shimmers that add a beautiful glow for night looks, but I did try them for a day look and they were lovely!

Deeper tones for definition

And even a bronzer that doubles as an extra matte shadow when needed

That highlighter is also perfect for daywear

What I love about Simply Nude is that it has no “filler” shades—those random brights or chalky mattes that look good in the pan but you never actually use. Every shade here fits into a look, whether it’s something light and simple for daytime exploring or a slightly smokier eye for photos in the evening. I can honestly say that I've used all the shades in this palette, and how often does that happen, right?

It’s the perfect palette for Vigan because I can create effortless looks without overthinking. The shimmers will catch the light beautifully during golden hour (hello Calle Crisologo photos!), and the mattes are neutral enough to go with any of my outfits.

The Bobbi Brown Mini Palette

The second palette I’m packing is my Bobbi Brown mini. It’s small, compact, and gives me exactly what Simply Nude doesn’t—darker, more dramatic shades. It has a blush in a shade that won't emphasize my skin's redness when it gets hot.

If I want to add depth for a bolder look, or if I do end up going out at night, this palette is my go-to. The quality is always dependable, and since it’s so tiny, it barely takes up any space in my bag.

Together with Simply Nude, I’ll have the best of both worlds: wearable neutrals plus smoky definition.

Why Just Two?

1. Travel light. My bag already has skincare, base makeup, and accessories—palettes can be bulky, so two is the sweet spot. Plus the Bobbi Brown palette already has a blush, I save on more space!

2. Zero waste. I don’t want to pack palettes with shades I won’t use. Simply Nude and Bobbi Brown give me 100% usable options. I can see myself using all the shades in both palettes for different looks.

3. Time-saving. Vacations aren’t the time to experiment with a dozen palettes. Two is enough to cover all looks without decision fatigue. Before I got my makeup A-Game again, I was satisfied with one Bobbi Brown palette. (It's another palette, not this one). I had one look throughout my vacation! But now that I'm inspired again, I'm bringing choices, but they still allow me to decide on a look quickly as the shades complement each other. When I'm in a rush to go out, I need a reliable palette that tells me exactly what eye look I should wear that day, and these two answer that call.

4. Outfit-friendly. I planned my clothes already, and these palettes match everything—from neutrals to my flowy blue-and-white dress.

Final Thoughts

So that’s my little packing rule for Vigan: just two carefully chosen palettes. Simply Nude will handle my daytime and shimmery golden hour looks, while Bobbi Brown gives me smoky drama in case I want to step it up. Between these two, I know I’ll have every look I need without carrying extra weight.

Can’t wait to show you the actual looks once I’m there! 🌸

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