Whether you travel frequently or just like being well-stocked with all the right beauty essentials, knowing what you should have in your makeup bag is key.
That's true regardless of if you're a low-maintenance kind of gal or someone who likes to have a full face of makeup every single day.
From lipstick to bronzer, there are all kinds of products you might want to include in your makeup bag. Here are some tips on finding (and including) the right gear.
You never know what a trip (or outfit) will call for!
Any person with a love for cosmetics knows that the makeup bag is the holy grail of all beauty gear. Not having what you need for a fresh face can be extremely frustrating.
You might find yourself out and about, wanting to touch up your mascara and unable to because you forgot to pack it in your bag. Perhaps you have multiple events in one day, each of which calls for a different look (neutral for the day, more glam at night).
You want to look your best regardless of whether you're putting on makeup at home or a hotel room halfway around the world. Maintaining a makeup bag stocked with all of the gear you could possibly need is a smart move!
The long list of beauty essentials will vary for just about everyone. What you might consider must-haves might not even be on the list for someone else.
But, some things are non-negotiable for just about every beauty queen. Here are some good ideas of makeup bag essentials to stock no matter what.
Why settle for one eye pencil if you're able to find a double-eyeliner that gives you two in one?
Look for an eyeliner with a defining brown shade and a creamy white. The white will hook your tear ducts to give you a wide-awake look while the darker brown, nudged into your lash line, will make your eyes really pop.
If an eye pencil isn't your thing, you can always try a liquid liner. These aren't quite as natural-looking as regular eyeliners. But, they still offer an attractive look that may be better suited for very formal events - like a wedding, fancy dinner, etc.
Mascara can take you from feeling so-so to spectacular with just a few quick swipes on your lashes. It's important to have at least one mascara wand.
Look for one with a full brush, a buildable formula, and any other characteristics that are important to you. We recommend sticking with a basic brown or black mascara that has the ability to lengthen, thicken, and volumize all in one coat - but play around and find the one you like the best.
Then, make sure you keep it with you at all times. You never know when your lashes might need a boost!
An eyebrow pencil is essential for shaping and polishing up your brows. It will give your face a cleaner, more symmetrical look, even when you don't have time to tweeze. Look for eyebrow pencils that are similar to the natural shades of your brows so you don't create an odd effect.
If an eyebrow pencil isn't your style, upgrade your brows with a brow gel. Brow gels help give your brows and entire face a serious lift in any kind of light. They tame your brows to help reel in unruly strands.
Stray eyebrow hair? No problem - tweezers to the rescue. This tool has a place in everyone's makeup bag.
If an eyelash curler isn't already part of your beauty routine, it should be. Add a good one to your beauty collection today.
A multitasking eyeshadow palette is another beauty product you should never leave the house without. Look for an eyeshadow palette with multiple shades and shimmers. That way, you'll always have the eyeshadow color you need for any event.
At the end of a long night, you may wish you were able to fall into bed with a full face of makeup still on your face. But unfortunately, that is not the case. Most of us need to cleanse our skin in order to prevent breakouts.
Use a cleansing gel that will remove your makeup without overdrying your skin. A few little drops are all it takes. Make sure you include a lightweight cleansing formula in your stash for a more well-rounded collection.
You can go for a blush/bronzer combo or mix and match. Whatever you choose, make sure you add a soft, blendable brush to your beauty collection.
A good option for many people is a cream blush. This will help your cheeks' color look more natural. A powder can work well, too, but if not blended correctly, it can stand out harshly in bright lighting.
A tinted moisturizer can be used to provide coverage in warm weather. These beauty products tend to offer some SPF protection and can be found in a gel, cream, or matte formula. A good moisturizer will give you the coverage you need without feeling overly heavy.
Lipstick - it's one of the few beauty products that have the ability to instantly transform your look. You can include lipsticks in a variety of shades, or you can stick to one color that you know looks great on you no matter the outfit or occasion.
Some lipsticks even come with nourishing vitamins A and C for extra moisture - you can double up on your health and beauty routines just by combining them with these beauty products!
Lipstick not your thing? Try a sheer or tinted balm instead. If nothing else, lip balm will help you prevent chapped lips while also adding a bit of shine and color.
Plus, you can do double duty with a tinted lip balm cream, too. Simply apply a few dabs of the cream to the apples of your cheeks instead of your lips and you'll have an automatic blush that requires no special beauty products, tools, or brushes to apply. Genius!
Primer is one of those cosmetic products that a lot of people forget about because it's not the most exciting. However, it's important when it comes to creating the ideal canvas for applying other cosmetics, like foundation, blush, and bronzer.
Without primer, the makeup will seep right into your skin, meaning you need to apply much more product in order to get the same look.
Choose a primer with silicone and it will boost your skin's suppleness and hydration while also helping the makeup last just a little bit longer.
Whether you have a dark undereye area that you need to tend to or a few pimples that need to be covered up, concealer with SPF is especially useful for spot-treating areas.
Rather than applying a thick slathering of foundation or powder, you can use a concealer cream or gel to just spot-treat the necessary areas. That's better for your skin and your budget!
Plus, most concealer cream products come in lightweight tubes that are easy to take with you and apply.
A good matte foundation will help create a clean, even palette on your face. A liquid foundation will offer the best coverage without too much glow - but you can also choose a powder foundation if you want something a little less messy.
You'll be able to get the same clean palette either way! Whichever you choose, just make sure you choose foundations that are in shades as similar as possible to the natural shades of your skin.
An alternative to a foundation is a BB cream with SPF protection. Look for a BB cream formula that matches your skin tone and doesn't look cakey.
Whether you settle on a foundation or a BB cream to give you the matte look you're in search of, make sure you choose one with some SPF protection built-in.
Many foundations protect you from the damaging effects of too much natural light with SPF ratings of 40 or 50. You won't have to worry about applying a messy layer of sunscreen that will give you a greasy glow - but you'll still be protected with the bonus SPF.
Having on-the-go makeup removing wipes is key. Not only can they help get your eye makeup off before you use your cleanser at the end of the night, but they can also be super helpful to have on hand during the day, too. If you have any smudges or just need a quick refresher, makeup wipes to the rescue!
A lightweight matte bronzing face powder is another essential. Choose one with multiple shades - that way, you'll have the perfect color no matter your skin tone or the time of year.
A light shimmer with a bit of bronzer can make you look absolutely gorgeous, especially if you want to try contouring your cheeks. It will give you that sunkissed glow you strive for - people will see you and think you just spent some time at the beach - even in the middle of January.
It's a good idea to stash some hair care essential products in your bag, too.
Hairspray is one of them. Look for a product that will help make your hair pliable while also keeping it put. A humidity-resistant formula is ideal.
Keep a few hair ties and bobby pins with you, as these will be able to serve two purposes. Not only can you pull your hair back quickly so that you can put on your makeup, but you can create all kinds of chic looks with just a couple of hair ties and a few bobby pins. From a retro braid to an elegant low bun, these simple tools do it all.
Another hair care product to include is dry shampoo. Using dry shampoo can dramatically extend the life of your wash or blowout, eliminating oil and freshening up even the greasiest strands in mere seconds.
Last but to least, don't forget to fill your satchel with everything you need to put your beauty products on.
From curling wands to miniature mirrors, think carefully about the tools you need to properly apply your concealer, blush, powder, or cream - and be sure to include them.
When it comes to stocking your makeup bag, every person is going to have a different list of makeup bag essentials. For one person, having a selection of great mascara wands is crucial. For others, a set of bronzing powders will be more important.
But one thing that is essential for every person is this -the makeup bag itself! After all, you can't have a makeup bag stocked with all the beauty must-haves if you don't have the right makeup bag in the first place!
Having the right one will make it easier for you to travel or to otherwise take your beauty routine on the go. You want to look your best at all times, and having the perfect organizer for your gear will allow you to do so.
If you're still searching for the ideal bag to carry all of your essentials, check out the selection of premium makeup bags at Luvo. From teeny-tiny clutches like the Marble Pochette that you can toss in your suitcase to professional makeup trolley cases like the Medium Roller Trolley, we have it all.
Luvo makeup bags have more compartments for more storage and better organization of your beauty products. You'll be able to bring along everything you want and need without having to worry about forgetting any of your must-haves at home (or not being able to find them when you need them).
For all the makeup essentials that you just can't leave behind, grab a Luvo. Everyday beauty has never been more within reach!
I’ve shared how to create a capsule wardrobe for all seasons and how I pack in a carry-on, but I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about how to lighten up on beauty products, especially for travel. It’s taken me years of trial and error to pare down my products and simplify my routine, so I’m sharing my favorites below to spare you the research. The best part is that all of my essentials come in sizes that are 3.4 oz or smaller so I can just toss them in a clear pouch for travel and call it a day. Easy peasy.
I will admit that while I do try to invest in clean (non-toxic) and plastic-free products, I give myself a hall pass for items like my favorite mascara that has many ingredients I have never heard of. My other disclaimer is that some of these products are on the pricier side, but I’ve found that I actually save money because I only buy a new product or two every season or so when I need a replacement instead of constantly buying lower-priced products. Fewer, better for the win!
I love a dual purpose product and this silky formula functions as both a light foundation and a silky powder for a natural, but polished face. All lila b products are cruelty free and formulated without Parabens, Phthalates, or synthetic fragrance. I got this retractable foundation brush which is perfect for daily use or travel.
$48 Linked Here – lila b
Oh, how I live for a multitasking product and this one is my current favorite for that flushed, healthy, “no makeup look.” Made from plant-based ingredients, this creamy formula is easy to apply, buildable, and blend-able.
$34 Linked Here – ILIA
The best sunscreen I have ever used hands down. I am a big whiner when it comes to greasy, sticky sunscreen, and it took me a lifetime to stumble upon this lightweight, fast absorbing version. I love that is is paraben-free, oil-free, and dermatologist tested, and I slather it on every morning for skin protection and a healthy (not shiny) glow.
$35 Linked Here – La Roche Posey
This brow tamer is a bit of a splurge but does double duty keeping brows in place and also stimulating growth. It comes in a tube made from recycled glass and is free of micro-plastics.
$45 Linked Here– La Bouche Rouge
I’ve been a fan of tubular mascara for years and this one is hands down my favorite. No more smudgey raccoon eyes for this lady. Also, this formulation is vegan and free of Phthalates and Sulfates.
$33 Linked Here – Trish McEvoy
My morning routine is super simple. I apply a few pats of face oil followed by SPF and the powder foundation and then use a cheek lip tint and finish with a swipe of brow gel and mascara. Five minutes top. And especially when I travel I don’t really do my hair aside from a messy bun and this raw coconut cream to tame the frizz (also great for dry skin).
I used to be skeptical about face oil (I hate oily things on my skin!) but as I get older and my skin feels a bit more parched, I’ve discovered the joy of a good moisturizing face oil and become a convert. I love to smooth a few drops of this luxurious, botanical oil on every morning before my tinted SPF, and each night after washing my face. It makes me feel like a real fancy lady and bonus – you can use it on your hair, nails, or entire body.
$42 – Linked Here – Nuxe Paris
Full disclosure: In addition to the six products listed, I own only a handful more including this cruelty-free tinted lip and cheek balm. My rule is that if I want to try a new product I have to completely run out of a similar product, which keeps my limited drawer space clutter-free.
If you’re looking to switch up your beauty routine Credo Beauty is my number one source for discovering clean products and Axiology is one of the only brands I know of that offers 100% zero-waste packaging. My friend Cassie also just told me about the Jones Road Miracle Balm – a single product which she says has replaced her face oil, cream blush, eye shadow, and lip balm.
Have you discovered any multi-use or clean products you swear by? Please share in the comments below!
Photography Credit: Vivian Johnson Photography