7 Foundations That Every Makeup Artist Loves

My favorite Sunday morning routine involves taking some quality time by my pool with a cup of coffee and catching up on what my favorite bloggers have been posting all week. I loved this post from Byrdie (www.byrdie.com) about the 7 Foundations That Every Makeup Artist Loves. Personally in my kit I use (and swear by) Makeup Forever HD Foundation and Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation. I wear both them myself, as well as Chanel Vitalumiere. Tell me in the comments section below which foundations you personally use and love.

The 7 Foundations Every Makeup Artist Loves

MAKEUP | 03.24.15 by Alina Gonzalez

495

When it comes to creating flawless complexions that look like they were blessed by a choir of heavenly angels, nobody knows more than celebrity makeup artists. They can get creative with a cat-eye, or craft a killer oxblood lip, but the foundation (pun intended) for it all is perfect, natural-looking skin.

With the help of their holy-grail foundation (and a few insider tricks), these seasoned makeup artists are able to mask redness, conceal blemishes, smooth uneven texture, and induce glow where there once was none—and all without skin looking overly “done.” Which is why we asked six top makeup artists to reveal their all-time favorite foundation. These are the foundations they cannot work without, that have changed their game, and flatter a variety of skin tones. Keep scrolling to see their picks!

• 1 of 6
  
  Makeup Artist: Carl Ray

  Clients: First Lady Michelle Obama, Natalie Portman, Claire Danes

  Follow: @carlraymakeupartist

  Favorite Foundation and Application Tip: “One of my favorite foundations that can always be found in my kit is Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($43). It's oil-free and has a medium to full coverage. The formula covers all your skins imperfections, while remaining invisible on screen and in real life. It comes in 26 shades that are easy to mix and match to make the perfect shade for any skin type. I use a blender sponge for a flawless finish, and always use a moisturizer and a face primer before applying foundation.”
• 2 of 6
  
  Makeup Artist: Kate Lee

  Clients: Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Rooney Mara

  Follow: @kateleemakeup

  Favorite Foundation and Application Tip: “Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen Makeup SPF 15 ($47) is my cannot-live-without product for life. The formulation is so light and luminous, and it’s easy to use. This foundation just looks like a more perfect version of your own skin. You can apply with your fingertips, but the most flawless way to apply is to place dabs of foundation in the larger areas of the face, starting with cheeks, then forehead and chin, and then take a Beauty Blender($20) dampened with Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist ($90) and gently blend till the product is invisible. You are left with a radiant complexion, and a little protection from harmful UV rays.”
• 3 of 6
  
  Makeup Artist: Beau Nelson

  Clients: Nicole Richie, Kristen Stewart, Nina Dobrev

  Follow: @Beau_Nelson

  Favorite Foundation and Application Tip: "A lot of people love Armani Luminous Silk foundation, which is amazing, but I love Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Smooth Firming Foundation ($67) even more. It provides even, adjustable coverage and a natural matte finish that looks flawless and natural to both the human eye and the eye of the camera. I apply with a synthetic brush like the It Cosmetics Foundation Brush ($48) or tap it on with a damp Beauty Blender from the center of the face outward—and if anywhere needs more coverage, I do a second layer.”
• 4 of 6
  
  Makeup Artist: Tamah

  Clients: Alexa Chung, Allison Williams, Elisabeth Moss

  Follow: @TamahK

  Favorite Foundation and Application Tip: "My holy grail foundations are the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation ($62), and the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation($62). When it comes to foundation Koh Gen Do can do no wrong! I have never met a foundation that enhances skin as perfectly as these gems. Not only do I use them on my clients, I use them on myself. Both are luminous without being shiny, and have enough pigment to conceal without blanketing the skin in makeup. I usually don't need to use any additional concealer when I use these—they do it all! They’re also great if you want to just spot conceal—they’re great alone under the eyes, around the nose, etc. The Moisture formula is a bit creamier in consistency, while the Aqua is more of a traditional liquid formula. I usually apply them with a soft brush, but they are easily applied with fingers or a sponge as well. A little goes a long way, so start small; a mini squeeze or one or two pumps usually do the trick."
• 5 of 6
  
  Makeup Artist: Nick Barose

  Clients: Lupita Nyong'o, Uzo Aduba, Lena Dunham

  Follow: @DilokritBarose

  Favorite Foundation and Application Tip: “The look of the new Lancôme Miracle Cushion Foundation is really natural and easy to apply; it gives good buildable coverage that can be really sheer, or you can layer for medium coverage. The cushion compact makes it easy to travel with, and you can use it to do spot coverage. It's perfect to carry around in your bag, easy to use, and not messy. It also comes in a range of shades from fair to deep dark. After applying moisturizer and letting it set, I apply the foundation with the sponge puff that comes with it, gently padding it starting from the center of the face and blending outwards."
• 6 of 6
  
  Makeup Artist: Quinn Murphy

  Clients: Lily Aldridge, Kate Upton, Nicola Peltz

  Follow: @QuinnMurphy1

  Favorite Foundation and Application Tip: "My go to favorite foundation is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($62). To date, I have not found a prettier, smoother, and more realistic foundation than this. Also it has the best shade range, and the shades cover a large range of skin tones, so most people can find an exact match. The foundation is sheer and dries down to a glowing, slightly matte skin-like texture. It is easily blendable on the skin. I like to play with the coverage. For women who only need a tiny bit of unification on the skin, I will add a drop of a dry face oil (Nuxe Multi-Usage Dry Oil, $29 or Tarte Maracuja Oil, $46) to sheet it out. For those needing a bit more coverage, the formula is buildable and mixes well with other fuller coverage foundations."

  Have you tried any of these foundations? What’s YOUR holy grail foundation? Tell us in the comments!

10 Tips To Help You Make Those Tight Airport Connections

Short airport layovers can be fantastic.

If everything goes just right. 

As in if your first flight arrives on time, and if your connecting flight departs from a nearby gate.

A quick connection can also be a total nightmare. After having to run through airports in high heels, (more often than I care to admit to), just trying to make my next flight, I have come up with
 some strategies to help you make those tight airport connections, and make sure you don't miss your next flight.

10 Tips To Make Tight Airport Connections

1. The Gate Guru App
As soon as we land I fire up my Gate Guru app and see which gate my connecting flight is departing from, and where in the terminal it is in relation to my arrival gate. Gate Guru updates faster than anything else, and has never steered me wrong.

2. Get an Aisle Seat Up Front
When you know ahead of time that your connection will be tight its well worth the extra few dollars to book an aisle seat at the front of the plane, or as close to the front as you can get. The time it takes for everyone else to disembark when you are at the back of the plane can cost you the minutes you need to make that connection. It can also cost you your sanity...

3. Check In At The Gate
If you can't reserve a seat up front, take the time to check in at the kiosk. If you are polite and friendly and can explain your situation calmly you will often find that the gate crew will move things around for you and get your seat swapped for a forward seat.

4. Talk To Your Flight Attendant
If you can't get your seat changed, try talking to your flight attendant. Sometimes they can either get another passenger to swap with you towards the end of the flight, or if you are lucky they may even keep everyone seated until you deplane.
The key is to always be really pleasant and not get irritated if you are not getting what you want.

5. Observe The 45 Rule
When booking your flights give yourself a minimum of 45 minutes between the connection. I try to have at least an hour. If your first flight arrives late or if there is a delay waiting for a gate to open that 45 minutes can get eaten up quickly.

6. Avoid O'Hare.
I try to never fly through Chicago O'Hare. Basically because I have never, ever had an unfettered connection out of O'Hare. Last year I missed my son's concert at Interlochen, in the middle of summer, due to O'Hare's nonsense. This year I am flying to Detroit and then driving 5 hours rather than having to go anywhere near the dreaded O'Hare. Some airports are just notorious for delays and missed connections, so the best plan is to avoid them.

7. Travel Light.
Ideally you will check your bags through to your final destination, and not have to go to baggage claim and recheck your bags. That just leaves you with you cabin bag (s). The fewer items you have to coordinate and run through the terminal with, the better. The entire exercise gets really stressful when you have extra hats and scarves and coats and bags and water bottles etc to drag around. Think your game out ahead of time, have a cabin bag on wheels and have all the extra pieces packed into it so that you can move quickly and efficiently.
 8. Map The Airport Ahead Of Time
Sometimes your connecting flight is just a few gates away from the flight you are arriving on, othertimes you have to get to an entirely different terminal, maybe on foot or maybe by train. It's helpful to know what you are dealing with when you first book your flight, or at least before you land. The Gate Guru app on your phone has airport maps, so if you have a gate change you can quickly see where you have to go.

9. Pack Food, Use Restroom Before You Land.
The two biggest time vampires on the ground are the lines waiting for the restrooms and the lines waiting for food. Most domestic terminals here in the US have completely craptastic food anyway - high dollar, high fat, high sodium, so you're not missing out on anything if you pack food to bring with you. I try to have fresh fruit and healthy snacks in my bag every time I fly.
If you know you only have a short time to make your connecting flight use the restroom on the plane before you land.

10. Don't Waste Time On The Ground.
Disembark the plane as quickly as possible and then hightail it to your connecting flight's gate. Don't make phone-calls, check email, or update social media etc until you have reached your next gate. In other words don't lollygag. Missing your connection can be really expensive, so get to your gate quickly, then figure the rest out.

Happy travels!

Midweek Wisdom #10 ~ It's The Little Things...

photogrpher Franco Rubartelli takes a selfie with Veruschka, January 1968

"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class."

-- J. Willard Marriot

Bridal Beauty # 10 Wedding Makeup Tips For Green Eyes

Did you know that only 2% of the world's population have green eyes? I love being part of that tiny percentage! 

Angelina Jolie gorgeous green eyes

I also love it when I get to do wedding makeup for a bride with green eyes - it is so easy to make a green eyed girl's makeup look simply stunning, and with very little makeup.

If you look at this picture of Angelina Jolie (who has green eyes) you will see that her eyes captivate you, not her eye makeup. In fact she doesn't look overly made up at all. She just looks beautiful.


When you are approaching makeup, and especially approaching bridal makeup, the key is to create the illusion that there is very little makeup going on. You want to bring out the best features, make the eyes spark, and see gorgeous girl rather than piles of makeup.
When he sees you we want your groom to get lost in your eyes instead of trying to find you under layers of makeup.


With green eyes they key is to play up the eye color so that they become the focus on the face. The way to do this is by using basic color theory. Choose eye shadow colors that are opposite green on the color wheel.

You can see here that the shades opposite to green are made up of reds, purples and pinks, edging their way into oranges. I translate the orange end into beautiful copper bronzes and melon tones.
Although I am crazy about red eye shadow, it's not a shade we normally associate with wedding makeup looks. Instead of red eye shadow, think about red based brown.  
The best eye shadow shades for brides with green eyes are pinks and plums, reddish browns and copper bronzes.

Here are 7 Celebrities With Green Eyes
Each of these are beautiful wedding makeup looks.
  

Angelina Joile

Kate Winslet

Kristen Stewart

Kate Hudson

Amanda Seyfried

Adele

Emma Stone

Beauty Tip of The Week #9 ~ How To Choose The Perfect Blush

Choosing the right blush for your skin can be challenging. Just standing in front of a giant display of amazing blush shades can be totally overwhelming, especially when they all look so beautiful!
It's not only about which color is perfect for you, but also which texture is ideal for your specific skin type.
If you find shopping for blush a little confusing, or if you have a makeup drawer full of blushes you don't wear, then this one's for you!

HowTo Choose The Perfect Blush

image of Katie Bunn by Eric Cassee, hair by Will Zecco, makeup by Corinna Cooke

1. Know your undertone

The first step to choosing the perfect shade of blush is to know the undertone of your skin. Not a color theory expert? No problem: if you wear foundation that falls into the porcelain/ivory/beige grouping then chances are you have a cool undertone to your skin. If your foundation is a bronze,olive or ebony shade you are probably a warm tone. (Ebony skin can wear cool tones too).

2. Know the undertone of your blush.

If you have a cool toned skin then you want a cool toned blush (or a neutral). If you have a warm complexion then you will look best in a warm blush. If the cool/warm thing is confusing to you, think of your blue based pinks as being cool colors and your orange/nutmeg/copper/bronze based shades as being warm.

Apricot looks lovely and refreshing on everyone, and there are some blushes that look good on most skins, but understanding warm and cool colors is key.

3. Don't fall off the deep end.

Once you have the undertone down its time to figure out how deep of a color to choose. My rule is don't go darker than the shade you naturally flush to. If you go deeper your cheeks will look heavy and muddy. Our goal with blush is to lighten and brighten the complexion, not weigh it down.

4. Choose your texture.

I love cream blushes. On normal to dry skins they are just glorious.

But if you get shiny through the T zone, tend to be a little oily, or just live somewhere super humid a cream blush can make you look super shiny. 

If you are a powder blush girl, opt for one that has a fine texture and lays smoothly on the skin.

5. Finish it up.

Once you have your shade and texture sorted out don't forget to check out the finish of your blush.

I avoid anything with big, sparkly particles as they can make the face look horribly glittery. A blush that is too matte can make your complexion look flat, dull and lifeless.

I like blushes that have a soft sheen to them so that light can pop off the cheek, lifting and brightening the face.

Here are my 4 favorite blushes from my pro makeup kit

My favorite blushes

Clockwise from the left: 

Nars Multiple in Portofino

Inglot AMC Liquid Blush in 85

Nars Blush in Orgasm

MAC blush in Melba

Coveted, March 2015

I'm always planning another international trip, and as such am always looking for perfect travel items.

This month's coveted list make up the perfect travel pieces. They are gorgeous, modern, and some of them are timeless...

The Coveted List March 2015

Clockwise from left:

Rag and Bone Classic Tee. Perfect to travel in, chic with white pants, maybe the most perfect tee I have ever found. 

Available at Nordstrom.com

Chantecaille Rose De Mai Face Oil. I'm obsessed with face oils, and this one is sensational. Super hydrating and nourishing it leaves a luxurious texture to the skin. Rich in vitamin C it is also anti aging and has healing properties. Available at Nordstrom.

Ellis Faas Hot Lips. I always travel with Ellis Faas products. Their unique bullet packaging is ideal for your handbag or your travel bag, and the products themselves are amazing pro makeup artist quality. Hot Lips are super pigmented, so a little goes a long way. They are non greasy, long wearing, and don't dry out your lips. I adore fuchsia lips so am coveting their L403 Bright Fuchsia shade.

Dolce and Gabbana Sunglasses. I've been wearing aviators the past couple of years and want to change it up. I love these animal print glasses, and also their floral sunglasses. 

Prada Backpack. I am a Prada girl through and through. I normally shop at the Prada outlet in Montevarchi where prices are 75% off, just as the items are arriving in the stores here. It's brilliant! This Prada soft calf leather backpack is a timeless piece that is perfect to travel with and will also look chic running around town. I would love it paired with the Rag and Bone Classic Tee, a pair of white linen pants and a nude wedge or platform shoe. In a perfect world that would be my spring/summer uniform this year :))

10 Fantastic Bitcoin Travel Tips

I am fascinated with the concept of traveling internationally with bitcoin and with a bitcoin debit card, so I have been researching everything I can find on the subject. 

I downloaded the Xapo.com app on my iPhone (they have an android app too) so now all I need to do is get a trip booked! I will be in Australia at the end of summer, but I want to take a euro-trip before then.

If you have already traveled with Xapo.com Bitcoin wallet and or debit card, please tell us about it in the comment section below.

screenshot from my xapo app

Meanwhile check out these Bitcoin Travel Tips, and watch the video below: 

This article is taken in its entirety from letstalkbitcoin.com

Bitcoin Travel Tips:

1. Plan ahead. This one is important. In plenty of cases, you won’t be able to go downstairs to a corner store to grab a snack or a bottle of water – use Coinmap, Cointerest, and Bitcoin Restaurants to find merchants which accept bitcoin or Coin ATM Radar to locate ATM’s that allow exchange into local currency.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask. If someone doesn’t accept bitcoin, it doesn’t mean that you can’t change their mind. The competition in places with plenty of tourists is huge, so business owners will usually do everything to entice you to choose them over their rivals. More often than not, you can use that to your advantage.
3. Approach the community. There are plenty of close-knit Bitcoin communities all over the world. More often than not, the locals will get out of their way to help a fellow Bitcoiner. So if you need advice before setting off to a certain destination or run out of road once you’re already there, be sure to Google for local forums or check out Bitcoin Talk and LocalBitcoins.
4. Capitalize on the savings. Paying with bitcoin directly will pretty much always be cheaper than exchanging it into local currency. Some purchases (such as airline tickets) from specialized websites can even be less expensive than buying them from a traditional provider.
5. Don’t give up. If you can’t find any merchants that accept bitcoin on Coinmap or other similar websites, it doesn’t mean you should skip the place altogether. Sometimes all you have to do is take a walk around the neighborhood and look for the bitcoin sign. For instance, you can use the cryptocurrency in more than 5,000 convenience stores in Taiwan, but they don’t seem to appear anywhere on the available bitcoin maps.
6. Be ready to make exceptions. Unless you made a pledge to spend no fiat currency on your trip, it’s necessary to understand that you probably won’t be able to pay with bitcoin in each and every instance. So if you really want that scarf from the souk in Marrakech, there are no reasons to limit yourself!
7. Get ready to educate. Sometimes, the only difference between a successful bitcoin transaction and you having to go to bed hungry is your ability to introduce all the benefits of bitcoin to a merchant who’s never used it before. You won’t need killer presentation skills for that, since the advantages of accepting bitcoin are listed by BitPay and Coinbase.
8. Check the exchange rate. You don’t need to pay more than you owe, even if you’re paying in bitcoin. Therefore, you should consider both the fluctuating exchange rate and the possibility of a conversion error – it can happen to both you and the merchant.
9. Have a budget in mind. While setting a clear bitcoin budget for your trip might be difficult because of the currency’s volatility, it would still be great to have a ballpark figure in your mind. Overspending is as easy on bitcoin as it is on a fiat currency – if not easier.

Midweek Wisdom #9 ~ Black And White Chanel

Don't you just love hats?

I think they add such glamour,

especially to black and white images.

Here are some gorgeous black and whites, with hats, and a quote for your midweek wisdom:

There are some things that

money cannot buy.

Like manners, morals,

intelligence and class.

one of the women I most admire in the world, Carine Roitfeld

Bridal Beauty Tip #9 How To Choose The Perfect Lipstick For Your Wedding

Choosing the perfect lipstick for your wedding day can seem tricky.
You have the dress, the flowers, the hairdo, hopefully all telling the same story, and now you have to bring the whole look together with your makeup. 
Your lipstick choice can really make or break your entire look. Should you go bold or should you go nude? Should you opt for a matte lip or should you try glossy lips? 

How To Choose The Perfect Lipstick For Your Wedding Day

image of my makeup student Therese, photographed by Jessica Savidge

1. Be True To Yourself
Your wedding day is probably not the best day to get all the way out of your lipstick comfort zone.
If you don't normally wear much color, this is not the day to try out a new red.
If you are a big lipstick girl chances are you will feel washed out with a naked lip.
Choose a color that is in keeping with your wedding makeup, that enhances your skin tone, that doesn't make your teeth look yellow, and that makes you feel lovely.

image of my makeup student Therese, photographed by Jessica Savidge

2. Marry With Moisture
Your lips will be a big focus on your wedding day. You will be talking more than usual, kissing and air kissing, posing for pictures, smiling - you name it! You will also probably get a very dry mouth.
A matte lip will look dried out and cracky as the event progresses, and unless you are a matte-lip-pro it can flatten your entire look.
An over glossy lip can look tacky, and he's probably going to be wondering if he'll get covered in slimey stuff if/when he kisses you.
Instead look for a lipstick with a subtle sheen or satin finish, that looks moist and makes the lip look alive and inviting.

3. Layer Your Lip
If you are prone to eating off your lipstick, think about staining the lip with a longwear color and complimenting it with a subtle gloss. If you are wearing a deeper or bolder color, staining the lip underneath will help you to maintain the color and will require less time infront of a mirror repairing your lipstick.
Most longwear lipsticks are super drying, so make sure you have either a gloss or a satin finish lip to put on top.
Plenty of my brides don't wear lipstick in their day to day life, so a longwear lip works perfectly. They just keep their chapstick/lip balm with them and top up when ever their lip feels dry.

a nude lip shouldn't look like concealer (image via foxerbox.com)

4.Nude no's
Nude lips can be fabulous, especially when paired with a stronger eye, but there are a few things to consider.
* if you normally wear color on your lips you will feel naked in a nude.
* use a nude that compliments your skin tone
* never choose a nude that is paler than your natural lip color
* nudes that look like concealer are never flattering

5. Buy it
You will need to touch up your lips after your makeup artist leaves, and throughout the evening. After you do your makeup trial, buy the lipstick your makeup artist used and bring it with you on your wedding day.

6. Trial
Make sure you have a trial makeup session prior to your wedding day. Wear the lipstick or lip gloss that your makeup artists tries on you, and see how it looks as the day progresses. Does it pill up? Does it dry and crack? Does it look tacky and sticky? Or does it look fabulous on you?

Beauty Tip Of The Week # 8 How To Wear Eyeliner After Lash Extensions ~ eHow.com

How To Wear Eyeliner After Eyelash Extensions
 From the series of video segments I shot for eHow.com

Eyelash extensions are single, individual, generally synthetic lashes that are glued one by one onto your existing lashes 

with formaldehyde free adhesive.

They generally last about 3 weeks before they need replacing.

They have a similar effect to strip lashes,

except that they are semi permanent.

Most women find they don't really need to use eyeliner

with lash extensions as the lashline is so enhanced by them.

However if you do choose to wear a liner, you have to be careful that you don't destroy your new lashes. 

image via rachelsskincare.com

Here's what I recommend: 

Check the label on your eyeliner.

Avoid cream or oil based liners as they can disrupt the adhesive and make your expensive lash extensions fall out.  

Liquid liners typically don't contain oils but can be more stubborn to remove.

A good trick is to use a dark eyeshadow and an eyeliner brush

Take the dark shadow along the lash line and build depth and color.

Next take your gel or cream liner along the lashline but not up against the lashes themselves. The shadow you applied in the first step will give you the depth of color you need at the lashes, enabling you to trick the appearance of  your gel liner and making it look like it goes all the way to the lashes themselves.

Be very gentle when removing any eyeliner. 

Don't use oil based eye-makeup removers.

Either purchase products from your eyelash technician, or use a very gentle cleansing milk and a QTip. 

How to Wear Eyeliner After Eyelash Extensions -- powered by ehow

11 Credit Card Tips For Traveling Internationally

Are you traveling internationally this year? 

Chances are that if your year does involve trips abroad you are going to be running your money through debit cards and credit cards. After more than 25 years of traveling around the world I have come up with 11 tips for using credit cards and debit cards while traveling internationally.

image via ClarkHoward.com

1. Choose Your Cards Wisely

Before going on a trip you need to research the company that holds your card, and find out their international policies. Many cards have as high as a 4% foreign transaction fee, which means you lose an additional 4 cents on every dollar you spend.

For a list of the best credit cards to travel with, check out this post on NerdWallet.com

2. Take More Than One Card

Travel with more than one card, and keep your cards in separate places. If one card gets lost or stolen you can cancel it and move over to your second card, which means you are never without access to money.

You should also keep your cards' international telephone numbers in a safe place, so that you can make the call as quickly as possible

pickpockets in Paris

3. Use A Debit Card To Pull Cash

The best way to access cash when you travel overseas is via your debit card. Using a debit card will stop you from overspending, but you should only use it to pull out cash. Debit cards are very easy to clone, and if your card is fraudulently used it can take time to get money credited back to your account. Don't use your debit card to make purchases - either purchase with cash or with a credit card.

4. Only Use Bank ATMs And Only Use Them During Bank Hours

Preferably use an ATM that requires you to go inside the bank, as it is much less likely to have a skimmer attached, allowing thieves to clone your card and steal your money.

If the ATM eats your card and you are inside the bank, or using a bank ATM during bank hours it is much easier to have the situation remedied. A few years back a friend of mine had her ATM card eaten by a machine in Paris the night before her tour left for Spain. She had to leave with no money and no card.

5. Find Out Your Bank's Fee Schedule Before You Leave 

Banks' fee schedules vary widely, so you need to find out ahead of time what your bank charges. My bank has a ridiculous list of fees for international transactions, so I use my credit union ATM cards instead. You may find it worthwhile opening an account at another financil instituition just for foreign travel.

6. Withdraw The Maximum

There are fees charged each time you make an ATM withdrawal. One for out of network transactions, one for using your card overseas, and one from the bank whose ATM you are using. You can lessen the hit you are taking by withdrawing the maximum - take out $500 once every 5 days instead of withdrawing $100 every day.

7. Don't Use A Debit Card That Is Linked To Your Main Accounts.

Most of us have payments that withdraw via ACH from our bank accounts. Accidentally withdrawing too much money, or even worse having your debit card cloned or stolen can leave you with a series of bank fines for mortgage payment not going through, car payments not processing etc. Instead have debit cards that don't link to your main accounts but are solely linked to travel accounts.

8. Don't Keep All Your Cash In One Account

Again, if your debit card gets cloned or stolen you want to have your money split across two accounts. This way you minimize the damage and also make sure that you have access to money

9. Tell Your Bank Where You Are Going (and bring back up cards)

Your bank needs to be notified that you are traveling overseas, and they will generally want to know exactly which countries you are traveling to, and within which days. Most of the time this works well, but sometimes they get it wrong. Again, I have had friends who's cards have been suspended by their bank at home, even though they notified the bank that they were traveling. Have a backup card in case this happens, and make sure you have an international number to call your bank on if thre is a problem.

10. Spend Like A Local

Some merchants will give you the option of charging items in your home currency rather than in theirs, which is also known as "dynamic currency conversion". This is always a more expensive choice.

You will invariably get a better exchange rate through your bank or credit card company than you will through local merchants. You will still pay the same transaction fees at home regardless of whether the purchase was made in local currency or your home currency

11. Be Vigilant.

Just because you are on vacation, don't let your guard down when it comes to fraud. In fact you should be more alert.

Don't access online banking from public wifi - you'd be amazed at how many people do! If you need to check balances in your accounts use your bank's telephone banking instead.

Don't leave the ATM without your receipt and your card. Some ATMs hold your card until the transaction is complete.

Don't keep all of your cards together - split them up amongst different bags.

Don't bring everything that is in your wallet at home - take a separate travel wallet that only has the cards and information that you need. If you do lose your wallet you want to limit the information that thieves can access about you.