Traveling for longer periods of time can be an unforgivable adventure. Meeting new people, discovering magical landscapes and festing on some local specialities. Like many of us millennials, traveling is on our top to-do list. We seek it, we yearn for it and we want to do it as much as possible.
I have traveled for long periods of time with my children before and we love it. This year, 2024, we decided to pack the kids again and leave the Midwest snow for the cool and comforting breeze of the Mediterranean Sea of Tunisia.
Homesick? Us? No! Tunisia is a home to us. I'm from there originally, I speak the language, I know some parts of the country. My mind and my body belongs to the planet but my heart belongs to Tunis. I am a Tunisoise at heart.
But homesickness is sneaky and unpredictable. It gets you at your weakest moments. You miss certain things. You bed. Your local coffee shop (Phoenix Coffee on Coventry Road, Cleveland I love you and I miss you,). My Sister-in-law. My beloved library. And certainly... my favorite beauty products which for me means skin care products.
There are products they are simply not available here in Tunisia. As much as I tried to pack my favorite things and vitamins... I still run out of them.
Prenatal Vitamins don't exist here and Panoxyl (which I live by) is unavailable. Therefore I had to venture to Pharmacies and special shops in order to build a beauty regiment that can resist the harsh North African summer.
Here I made a list of the products I have used while being here. Some were good, others meh. My acne is back on full mode (hey girl I hate you!) and I have been trying to keep peace with it.
Some of these products are for hair, other skins. I decided to make a list if you ever find yourself in Tunisia or in Europe (as most of this come from Europe) and you need something to keep you going (or to avoid.)
I hope this post finds you wherever you are!
Fanola Nourishing Restructuring Fluid Crystals 100ml
I purchased this hair serum in a speciality hair shop that sold professional hair products. I needed a serum for my daughters to keep the frizz at bay and maintain their curl pattern. By the looks of the almost empty bottle we ended up enjoying this product a lot.
PROS
Easy to apply and smells good.
Keeps the curls pattern and helps with the detangle.
Makes the hair glossy and shiny.
CONS
Could be hard to find.
The formula could be improved to add more healthy ingredients such as castor oil or almond oil.
I definitely recommend, especially if you and your family members have frizzy, curly or kinky hair. You can purchase it here.
Glycerine DEO Cream
This 100% Tunisian deodorant cream is marvelous. It beats any high end deodorant I have ever purchased. It keeps me fresh and dry which is essential to me when its +100 degrees outside. Also it's super affordable and it smells good. My daughters also use it with no issue. Big winner for me!
PROS
Long-lasting odor protection
Non-greasy, quick-absorbing formula
Gentle on sensitive skin
Subtle, refreshing scent
Suitable for all gender
CONS
Only available in Tunisia, so if you ever travel there, grab some!
Have to be applied with the finger which can be icky for some.
Avène Xeracalm Nutrition Cleansing Gel
Boy have I been let down by this cleansing gel. Yeah I know it's crazy. I've known Avène for years because I grew up in France and I am pretty familiar with french brand like these. I love french beauty brands because their formulas are so gentle and effective. So naturally when I saw this cleansing gel, it had all the elements I was looking for in a face wash. It was aimed at dry and sensitive skin like mine, it can be used for the entire body, which I need for my chest and back, and it was in a gel form, which is perfect for the summer. Perfect right?
WRONG! 
like supa-dedupa wrong. When I tell you what happened...
First, the itch. Like I was scratching my face like I had a rash or something. I thought well maybe it's just the Tunisian heat that causing this itch but then I looked myself in the mirror and I saw this rash. Was it caused by me scratching my face like crazy? Maybe. But this random rash appeared on my cheeks and chin right after I used this cleansing gel. It lasted for about ten minutes then it went away.
I repeated washing with the gel and the same thing happened.
Now it's been two weeks I have been using it. I don't get rash anymore but my face is itchy for 3 to 4 minutes after using the cleansing gel.
So the question is, does the cleansing gel improved my skin despite the itch and the temporary rash? No. At this point, I only wash my face with this Avène Xeracalm to keep my face clean because I do feel like it cleanses well. But mostly, I keep using because I don't like waste. You can purchase it here.
PROS
Cleanses face and removes impurities.
Subtle and pleasant smell.
CONS
Made me itch and caused a rash.
Not soothing at all like it claims.
Formula made with 99% natural ingredients.
I want to say I don't recommend it but something tells me maybe I received a bad batch? I know my skin is hyper sensitive so maybe it could work for someone else.
Cadiveu Brasil Cacau Shampoo A Anti-Frizz and Conditioner B Anti-Frizz
I have never heard or use any protein shampoo prior to this one. It was suggested to me by my friend esthetician after she performed a protein hair treatment on my hair in order to restore the massive hair loss I endured postpartum.
She told me it will maintain the protein treatment, strengthen my hair and add overall volume and shine. She insisted that my hair was "extremely tired" and it needed this treatment to restore it. It was an emotional moment for me because I've experience hair loss on my edges and I was desperate to do something.
When I initially started using this shampoo and conditioner duo I was skeptical. I mean the smell was strong. Very strong. It was overwhelming. It made me sick. This could also be attributed to the ingredients present in the shampoo. I am not sure. But I know for a fact, after using this product, I felt sick for a day.
However I kept using it. I would wash my hair and let it air dry. The results were fantastic. Wash after wash, my hair was bouncy, full, healthy. Now three months later, and my edges are fully regrown.
I guess being sick for a day is the cost to try to regain some of my hair. Is it worth it? I don't know. Not for the long term. Right now, this Brasil Cacau is working for me but I might have to move on in the near future.
PROS
Strengthen my hair and makes it shinny and healthy.
Makes the protein treatment last longer.
Helped with hair growth.
CONS
The smell makes me sick. It could also be caused by the formulas.
Hard to find. The product is considered professional use for hairstylist so I had to search special stores.
These are the products I have used so far. It can be challenging to get used to new products, new textures without causing a reaction from my body. Im excited to trying new things and I hope I provided some help if you ever travel to Europe or Tunisia and are in need of beauty products. Some can also be purchased online in the States. Just click the link and let me know what you thoughts are. I would love to hear your opinions!
bye!