Inside My Makeup Bag

I love makeup! When my friend Tanya came to town for a visit this week, one of the first things we did was to look through each other’s makeup bag. There has also been more conversations about makeup on the Youlookfab forum, and Angie did a great post on holiday makeup last week. So, just for fun, I thought I might give TMF readers a peek into my makeup bag. Of course, what’s inside changes from season to season and by occasion.

Click the photo for a closeup view. My foundation products are from Laura Mercier, although I use a Benefit concealer and Bare Minerals translucent powder as well. My eyeshadow is Chanel (eyeshadow quads are great because all the colors you need are included and coordinated for you), and I use an eyeshadow primer by Urban Decay. The eyeliner is Almay, and mascara is super-cheap-but-awesome Maybelline Great Lash. The blush is Nars’ “Orgasm,” and I use a set of MAC makeup brushes I bought years ago during a holiday promotion. I’m obsessed with lipstick (I rarely ever wear gloss), and I switch the color by mood and outfit.

I do have a makeup bag for traveling, but I don’t pack my things away in it on a daily basis. I used to try and do that, but it was just too much hassle and I’m in too big of a hurry to be very neat in the mornings, so my stuff just ended up all over the bathroom counter in a big mess. I found these little organizer cups at Ikea a couple of years ago, and I installed two small bars on the wall next to the sink so I could easily toss my makeup in the cups and hang them on the bars out of the way. It keeps the sink neat, and my makeup organized. I don’t take any makeup with me other than lipstick when I leave the house, so storing makeup in a bag isn’t a priority for me.

Whenever I watch those makeover shows, my favorite part is always hair and makeup. I think they make more of a difference than even new clothing does. I used to be very timid about wearing any makeup, and only started doing so in my early twenties. Now I always feel more polished and confident if I put at least a little on. Below, I’ve posted three different looks. In the photo on the far left, I’ve got no makeup on at all (for comparison). The center photo is a “minimal” look, just light foundation, mascara, blush, and tinted lip balm. In the photo on the right, I’ve added eyeliner and eyeshadow. Somedays I go with look two, and others I’ll wear the whole shebang, it really just depends on the mood I’m in.

I’m also always on the lookout for new things and love to talk shop. Are there any products you like in particular?

*Disclosure: In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, The Math Fashionista would like everyone to know that all items mentioned above were purchased by me, and that I did not receive any of them for free.