What does your makeup bag look like? Wild and unruly with at least 7 foundations and 4 bronzers to choose from (but only 1 of each that you actually like)? Our makeup bags are very personal to us (hello, our faces quite literally LIVE inside there) and so it only makes sense that what we consider to be the ‘perfect’ makeup bag varies drastically from person to person.
I’m always going on about makeup - my latest discoveries & obsessions etc - and so it comes as a shock to a lot of people that my cosmetics collection is actually fairly minimalistic. Whilst I do love experimenting with different brands and products, I also love sticking to what I know, and once I find something I love and that works for me, I tend to remain fairly loyal.
It’s not solely about loyalty though - a condensed makeup collection actually makes me feel a lot calmer, too. This might sound a little silly or weird, but I’d rather have a small selection of products that I know I use and love regularly, rather than a huge, overwhelming collection that I don’t know what to do with.
If you’re a professional makeup artist or someone who loves to rock a fresh, exciting look on the daily, then you’re likely reading this thinking ‘what?!’ - and that’s fine! There are no rules as to how many makeup products you should own - all I’m saying is that for me, clean, simple and condensed works best, and I’m guessing that a few of you probably feel the same. So, for this blog post, I thought I’d share some tips on how to organise your makeup bag and whittle your cosmetics collection down to an amount that’s more manageable. I really hope you enjoy!
- Primer - No makeup bag is complete without a skin-perfecting primer, but could you get away with clearing out your collection and just keeping the two that you love the most? Probably! My advice with primer would be to properly consider what kind of finish you like your makeup to have, and recycle/donate any that don’t tick all the boxes. It’s time for a clear out!
- Foundation - Whether you prefer liquid foundation, foundation sticks, compact powders - or a mixture of all three - the one thing that all these formulas have in common is that they don’t last forever. So, if it’s been a while since you properly assessed your foundation situation, then it’s about time you did. Most makeup products in general tend to have a 6-12 months lifespan, at which point manufacturers suggest getting rid, and buying fresh. It seems to be foundations in particular that we women tend to keep hold of for the longest amount of time, though, and that’s because many of us own a collection of them, rather than just one. To give your flurry of foundations a Marie Kondo-style tidy-up, I’d first recommend looking at the expiry dates on the containers. Once the oldies have been eliminated, focus on the shade and the finish of the formulas. If matte foundations aren’t your thing any more, get rid. The same rule applies for any orange-tinted foundations that you bought during your faithful fake tan days. Ultimately, if it’s old, it doesn’t suit you or it’s just a bit past it’s best, give it the boot. Find out How To Choose The Right Primer & Look Flawless here.
- Bronzer - I have a maximum of three rule with bronzer, and to be honest, I’ve only ever owned two at one time - one liquid bronzer, and one powder bronzer. If you’ve got more than three bronzers, or you’re still holding onto that 18-month old Benefit Hoola just because there’s a tiny scrape of bronze goodness left in the bottom, then I’m sorry, but it’s time to say goodbye.
- Blusher - Similarly to my bronzer rule, I feel that with blusher, there is no need to own more than a couple...well, let’s stick with the three maximum rule again. My advice would be to have one good peach toned blusher, a nice pink blusher and a cream blusher or liquid blusher too. I’m a massive fan of the NARS Orgasm The Multiple, and I love the Charlotte Tilbury ones, too.
- Concealer - I’ve never been one for a heavy contour or owning a ton of concealers to help sculpt my face, so I can’t really relate much to those that do. However, what I would say is that your concealer collection probably needs to be reassessed. I used to have a terrible habit of keeping NARS Radiant Creamy Concealers until the tube was quite literally transparent (waste not want not and all!) but this habit can leave our makeup bags overflowing with empty tubes. Not good.
- Lipstick - Where do I even begin with lipstick? My decade-long love affair with MAC lipsticks is still very much in the honeymoon period - and I’m more than happy to admit that! However, whilst I still guard my Angel Lipstick with my life, I no longer invest in lipstick shades just for the sake of it. At one point, I had so many nude lipsticks - and there really was VERY little difference between any of them (my husband Marc was utterly baffled, I must say) - that I honestly didn’t know what to do with them. It got to the point where I was that confused as to which one to wear in a morning, I’d end up being about 15 minutes late, and throwing three in my handbag anyway. On this, I would advise NOT making my mistake, saving your money, clearing out the colours you no longer love and finding a couple of fail safe shades that really compliment your skin tone & personality. Simples.
- Lip liner - With lip liner, it’s always worth sticking to the basics. Once you have a nude, a brown, a pink and a plum, I think you’re pretty much good to go. However, if you do like to experiment with lots and lots of shades, my advice would be to group them all together and tie a hair bobble around them to keep them all in one place in your makeup bag. I only have about three lip liners but I find this really handy!
- Highlighter makeup - I have a real soft spot for highlighter makeup. Whether it’s a liquid highlighter, a powder highlighter, a cream highlighter or whatever else, the chances are, I’m going to be a fan. With that said, highlighters are no different than any other makeup product in the sense that we don’t need tons of them. Right now, I’m only using one highlighter, purely because it’s amazing and I literally see no need for any other. For those that haven’t already tried the MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skin Finish, you really ought to. In fact, that’s an order - you actually have to. I am always asked about my highlighter and this is what I use.
- Setting sprays - boy do I have a soft spot for setting sprays! I’ve owned so many in my time, but I’m very strict in that I only keep one in my makeup bag at one given time. If your makeup bag is overflowing, then you should look to do the same. A couple of my favourite setting sprays include the Pixi Rose Glow Mist and the MAC Prep & Prime Fixing Spray. Both are amazing and last forever.
- Anything else - and the same rules apply to everything else that may be hidden in the depths of your beloved vanity case. If you don’t use it, lose it!
As I said before, having a minimalistic makeup bag doesn’t work for everyone, but if like me all those products and near-empties leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed, then a clear out may just be what’s needed to make that getting ready process a little bit easier .
What’s your makeup bag like? Do you prefer to keep things simple or do you love to have tons of options? We’re all different, but I hope that some of you found this post useful!
Until next time lovelies!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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