I’ll be the first to say that I have way more items in my makeup bag than I’d like to admit. Sure, I held on to that sparkly eyeliner I got for free 5 years ago because, hey, it might come in handy. The important thing here is what that sparkly eyeliner is lying next to in my oh-so-cluttered makeup bag. Need a hint?
The 11 makeup essentials.
Whether you’re a first timer or a pro, keep these in your beauty bag at all times to avoid total crisis (because who really has time for that these days?)
1. Tweezers:
Ever go to do your makeup and there’s one pesky eyebrow hair that’s just staring back at you in the mirror begging to be plucked? And if it doesn’t get taken care of immediately then it will throw off the entire look of your face? Queue tweezers.
2. Moisturizer:
Most women completely disregard the importance of applying moisturizer before makeup. You wouldn’t put cheese on your Macaroni before making the noodles first, now would you? Well, this is pretty much the same thing. If you want your skin to feel and look gorgeous, moisturize it up ladies.
3. Mascara:
As Shelley once said (almost too comfortably) in the movie The House Bunny, “the eyes are the nipples of the face.” There is no better way to make them pop than by lengthening those lovely lashes of yours! Plus, who wants to deal with eye shadow and winged eyeliner these days anyway?
4. Under eye concealer:
We are all working women here. If you say that you get 8-10 hours of uninterrupted beauty sleep every night, you’re lying. Between dealing with upcoming deadlines, trying to have a social life, and Netflix binge-watching, nights just seem to be taken away from us more than we’d like to admit. Taming those dark under-eye circles is the first step to tricking yourself into feeling more awake than you actually are.
5. Powder Foundation:
Powder foundation is the queen of all foundations. The Beyoncé if you will. It goes on light and keeps your face looking au naturel all day long. Who doesn’t love the feeling of a fresh face and stunning complexion while totally cheating the system? Score!
6. Foundation Brush:
This pretty much goes hand and hand with the powder foundation. No foundation brush, no feeling like Beyoncé.
7. Blush:
Rosy cheeks look good on everybody and blush is what has the ability to give women that healthy, happy glow! As long as you go for a more “effortless model” look rather than “scary clown” you shouldn’t have any problems.
8. Bronzer:
Just to be clear, bronzer should be used with caution. If you have skin as pale as a nauseated 7 year old who just ate school lunch, then steer clear. If you just spent a whole day at the beach and want to continue rocking that sun kissed glow, then bronzer is your new bestie. No matter the case, just remember: less is more.
9. Lipstick:
Every girl has her color. Whether it’s Plumful, Fusion Pink, or Russian Red, (shout out to MAC for their awesomeness) it is crucial to always have kissable lips. Always.
10. Compact mirror:
It is basically an unwritten rule that girls should never be caught without a mirror at hand. Just imagine trying to fix that oily t-zone, yet everywhere you turn is reflection-less wall. Talk about crisis! The best compact mirrors have built-in lights or double as a hairbrush– fancy.
11. Makeup wipes:
If you’ve ever fallen asleep with your makeup on you know just how tragic the next morning can be. If you’ve ever had your mascara running in public, you know that’s even more tragic. I think it’s safe to say that we all owe our lives (not really) to the person who invited those lovely things we all know and love as makeup remover wipes! They come to the rescue. Every. Single. Time.