What's in my Makeup Bag? (I know you're on the edge of your seat)

I posted a picture on Instagram this morning showing you my "makeup bag." I normally keep my every day stuff in a bag in my bathroom drawer for easy access every day. The train case is just extra space for all my products and brushes when I do makeup for weddings, Mardi Gras balls, proms, etc. The picture was taken before I unpacked from last weekend's ball. I don't need that much makeup to be suitable to be seen in public! Atleast I don't think.

I saw a few of you posting what was in your makeup bag so I thought I'd do a post on my favorites/ essentials. I used to work at the Lancome counter in our local Macy's and have been doing makeup ever since. I love doing it and wish I could live in a big city and do makeup all day long. Over time I've tried so many brands and products and I can definitely say some things are worth buying name brand for, and some things simply aren't.


First, moisturizer. You can buy any $45 brand you want, but this $6 Aveeno (can be found at any drug store or Walmart) one is my favorite.

 

 

Brushes. I have several cheap Face Secret brushes (purchased at Sally's Beauty Supply) that I love. My powder and blush brushes come from there, but I haven't found a cheap version of a foundation brush that's as good as this one from Lancome. I've had it since I worked there, over 4 years ago. I recommend applying foundation with a brush because a sponge hoards germs like a public toilet.

I've tried tons of foundations and my favorite is Clinique Superbalanced Foundation. I love the coverage and the shade I wear (Alabaster) matches my Casper-esque face oh so well.

I always go for a translucent powder because in the summer I get a little darker and I don't want to look as Casper-like. My favorite powder is Sephora's Sculpting disk. I use it for shading and when I do get darker, I mainly use the bronzer as a powder. It's about $27 but lasts for months. You can't tell from this picture but it's about 3 times the size of a regular powder compact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After I apply my foundation and powder, I fill in my brows with Maybelline Expert Brow Pencil in Black Velvet (I don't make these names up, people) I think everyone should shade in their brows, whether they are black like mine or light blonde. It just gives the face a more framed look. I always buy the cheap versions of eye brow pencils and eyeliners because it's the same thing as name brand, only a few bucks instead.

 

 

 

 

My favorite eye liner:

Another Maybelline product. I rotate between black and brown and always wear liquid. I find a pencil liner doesn't last the whole day on my lids. This tiny tube lasts me months, as opposed to 1-2 months I've gotten out of expensive versions.

 

Of course, like everyone and their mama, I love the Naked 2 palette. I just got it for Christmas but it's great because it has every color I need for a day to day basis. Before this, I only used MAC shadows because they last through the day and have great pigment. They run $15 a piece though and with the Naked palette you get 12 colors for $50. I still love my MAC shadows but will use my Naked Palette till it runs out.

 

 

 

And my favorite mascara:

 

This is another product you can skimp on. You don't need a $35 mascara to get the job done. I always buy Maybelline and this seems to work best on me. I've tried the maroon tube with the white mascara on one side  (you know, the one everyone loves) and I HATE it. It comes off in spider leg looking clumbs in the shower and I don't find it makes my lashes look long. To each his own though.

 

All this being said, I will stress again that you don't need to buy the most expensive makeup brands to look fabulous. The only thing I'd bite the bullet and spend a little more on is foundation and a foundation brush. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

 

 

 

A few of you have asked me to do a makeup tutorial so I'll be doing one this weekend hopefully and posting next week. Would you rather see my every day makeup look or a more dramatic look?