What’s In My Makeup Bag

I’ve been nurturing an affinity for beauty products since I was in high school. Proably before then if I’m being completely honest. I’ve ridden almost every makeup trend since the early ’00s, and that probably won’t change. While I no longer feel the need to make sure I figure out a way to pull off every single trend, I like seeing what’s new from time to time.

My makeup routine is incredibly simple now. I like to aim for my skin, but better most of the time, and I rarely wear eye shadow or eyeliner. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a few hero products that I will keep buying over and over again so here is a breakdown of my favorite products, and what’s currently in my makeup bag!

Primer

This Tatcha primer is one of the best primers I’ve ever used on my oily skin. I’ve bought this no less than three times and I can’t imagine doing my makeup without it. It slightly blurs my pores and creates a smooth surface for any complexion products I use.

Concealer

I’ve been wearing Nars Radiant Creamy concealer for years and I don’t see why I’d stop now. It wears beautifully and Amande is such a good shade match for me! I’ve wanted to give other concealers a try just to try something new, but Nars is where I set the bar for a shade match.

Mascara

I initially bought this YSL mascara because I thought the packaging was pretty. I thought I’d feel the same way about it as I’ve felt about most mascaras, they make my lashes darker and that’s about it. In just two coats this one gives my lashes the volume I’ve been wanting plus a little length. I don’t have the patience for false lashes anymore so this mascara is likely to get scooped up again. I wouldn’t mind finding a cheaper option since you’re supposed to toss out your mascara after 3 months of use, but I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by this one that I’ll be comparing all others to it.

Brows

I occasionally get tempted to bust out my ABH brow pomade and make a block brow a la 2012, but I stop myself because I have no desire to put on the amount of makeup required to balance out such a heavy brow. I have fallen in love with another ABH product, the Brow Pen. I have pretty thick brows so I don’t need to do much to give them a more defined shape. I can draw in some faux hairs on the more sparse parts of my brows for a more natural brow look than using a pomade.

I brush my brows as part of my morning routine, whether I plan to wear makeup or not, but when I really need my brow hairs to stay in place I’ve been using Kosas Air brow. I’ve bought it repeatedly and I have no complaints about how it wears, how long it lasts, or how easy it is to wash off. I love the clear packaging until I’ve gotten too much setting power or foundation mixed into it and it turns brown, though that’s obviously not a deal-breaker for me since I keep buying it. I’m trying Ami Colé’s brow gel next simply to try something different.

Lips

Now if we really want to name a product as a ride or die it’s Smith’s Rosebud Salve in a tube. I have bought no fewer than 30 tubes of this over the years most likely more. I love it so much I’ve even given them away as gifts. I keep one on my nightstand and so does Chanston. I even have one in my purse. I need a tube of this close by at all times during the day.

I love the Tatcha Kissu lip mask because it’s a heavier-duty version of the rosebud salve. It’s slightly thicker and feels more luxurious to use. I use it at night before bed and wake up with soft, super hydrated lips. I can’t use anything else at night, I fear. Smith’s in the daytime and Tatcha at night. It’s going to take one heck of a product to get me to change that.