Everyone has their go-to morning makeup routine. Some of us keep it simple, and some of us are more adventurous. Some of us keep only the essentials, and others have drawers stocked with new products they’ve yet to try. These are our favorite “can’t live withouts” and everyday essentials.
Allie’s Makeup Bag
BareMinerals Get Started Complexion Kit ($49) / BareMinerals Ready Blush ($23) / Covergirl TruBlend Fixstick Concealer ($8.99) / Ulta Eyeshadow in Elegance ($7) / Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick in Nudie Red ($10) / Burts Bees Lip Balm-Original ($3.30) / NYX High Definition Eye Shadow Base ($6.99) / Elizabeth Mott Queen of the Fill Brow Gel ($20) / Almay Eye Liner ($7.99) / Almay Multi-Benefit Waterproof Mascara ($8.49)
I’m not ashamed to admit that I have an entire drawer full of makeup. I love Bare Minerals for the majority of my face makeup since it feels light and blends well. It’s a bit pricey but it lasts forever. I recently became obsessed with the Elizabeth Mott Queen of the Fill eyebrow gel I got in one of my bags as well…One of my eyebrows is blonde and the other is brown, so this is a godsend (and the only thing I’ve found that makes them match).
Mayura’s Makeup Bag
Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer ($16.99) / e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer ($6) / Garnier India BB Cream (Rs. 69 – equivalent to $1.50) / e.l.f. Aqua Blush & Bronzer Compact ($6) / Chosungah 22- Dong Gong Minn Brow Maker in Black Brown ($22) / Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 04-Medium/Deep ($20) / L’oreal Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black ($9.95) / Revlon Colorstay Skinny Liquid Liner in Black Out ($7.99) / Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Flared in Blackest Black ($6.99)
Over the years I’ve brought my makeup routine down to a few tried-and-true items, and my favorites aren’t even from the US. I tried the US version of Garnier’s BB cream a few years ago and hated it—the cream felt heavy on my skin and even the medium/deep tone didn’t match my skin and made me look ashy. I have very sensitive skin, so I prefer sheer coverage to heavy foundation-like coverage. When I went to India two years ago I stocked up on their BB cream formula for a tenth of the cost in the US and fell in love with it. The formula is light, it matches my skin tone flawlessly, and when I apply it with the e.l.f. Retractable Kabuki Brush, it has an airbrush-like finish. I’m also obsessed with Chosungah 22’s brow maker—it’s a Korean brand that is finally being distributed stateside at Sephora. The gel formula is creamy and blends easily, but isn’t so pigmented that it looks unnatural. Plus, the brush is perfect for taming unruly brow hairs.
Lauren’s Makeup Bag
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil ($44) Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream ($52) Vaseline Lip Therapy, Crème Brûlée ($2.99) Urban Decay, Naked 2 ($54) Clinique Quickliner, Intense Aubergine ($16.50) Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($12) Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned ($26)
My primary priority when it comes to my cosmetics routine is skincare. I love playing around with color, but I also love being able to feel comfortable with a bare face. How you treat your skin now will show in how healthy it looks and feels in the future. I have a pretty oily complexion, so I try to keep my skin from over-producing oils by keeping it clean and hydrated. Going to sleep without washing your face at night is an absolute sin. I wash my face morning and night and lightly apply a hydrating eye cream to soothe puffiness from late nights of studying and to prevent lines in the future. On days that I do wear makeup I typically aim for a more natural look with neutral colors, but mascara is my weakness. Nothing compares to long, full lashes, and there are actually some pretty fantastic drugstore brands out there. For extra drama I go for Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, but for a little everyday lift CoverGirl’s new Plumpfiy Blastpro can lightly lengthen and also layers well for extra drama. I’m also a sucker for a deep, but subtly sultry lip color that works for day and night and Nars’ lip pencils come in lots of rich, playful colors that are easy to apply.
Hope’s Makeup Bag
e.l.f. High Definition Powder ($6) e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer ($6) e.l.f. Mineral Infused Mascara ($3) Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream ($42) Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water Broad Spectrum ($42) Batiste Dry Shampoo ($9) LOC Vibrant Matte Lipstick ($8) Garnier Micellar Water ($7) e.l.f. Kohl Eyeliner ($3)
My cosmetic routine changes pretty regularly, but my main focus is always my skin. I would rather die than walk around with cakey and clumpy foundation. While this list is nowhere near complete (my makeup collection is vast and varied), I have a few crucial pieces. Because my skin alternates between super dry and crazy oily, I use micellar water at night to clear my makeup and hydrate my face, and use Benefit Total Moisture in the mornings. I worship at the altar of BB Creams, and particularly love Smashbox’s Water Broad Spectrum, because it’s extremely light and offers great coverage. Great foundation and a killer red lip (I highly recommend LOC’s “Wildest Dreams”, which lets you sound like T-Swift daily), paired with some hella voluminous hair courtesy of Batiste (AKA the greatest dry shampoo ever), and I’ve got everything I need to get through the day.
Rashi’s Makeup Bag
I love to sleep too much to do my makeup every morning, and I’m pretty minimalist. I focus a lot on skincare since I wanna look like my mom when I grow up (and she’s a fox). I have a hardcore obsession with Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. It hydrates without being oily and is light and wonderful. I use Benefit’s POREfessional as a primer under my eyes and on any spots I might have. For under eye concealer, I use Garnier’s Skin Renew Anti- Dark-Circle Roller in medium/deep. It does a great job of counteracting my dark circles, but still looks natural. I use Urban Decay’s 24/7 Eyeliner in Perversion on my waterline and tightline. I bake my eye makeup using NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder in translucent and then finish with Maybelline’s The Colossal Volum’ Express Cat Eyes mascara. Everything usually stays put through class and helps me look like a real living person.
Jodie’s Makeup Bag
SpaVerde Facial Brush (part of set, $19.95), Clinique Liquid Facial Wash, Extra Mild ($17), LUSH Cosmetics Skin Drink Moisturizer ($24.95), Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil ($10.95), Aveeno Daily Essentials Moisturizer SPF 30 ($9.99), Clinique Even Better Foundation ($27) Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil ($20), Sephora Foundation Brush ($24), Clinique Almost Powder ($27), Clinique Blushing Blush in Cupid ($22), Black Up Eyebrow Pencil ($19.50), Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara ($16.50), Sephora Nano Eyeliners in Iced Brown & Precious Silver ($3), Urban Decay Vice 4 Eyeshadow Palette ($39), Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment ($24)
I wear makeup regularly but don’t experiment that much; my skincare and makeup routine hasn’t changed a whole lot in the last eight years. I use Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil to give my skin a moisture boost in the winter and Aveeno’s SPF 30 moisturizer to throw on before I go out running or walking in the warmer months. I like to invest in good quality products but I make them last (and I beg for Sephora gift cards for birthdays and Christmas). I have sensitive skin that rages out when I’m hormonal, so I’m wary of playing around too much, but I find LUSH and Clinique never irritate me. I did make some important discoveries in the last couple of years, though: dry-skin brushing is amazing, using proper makeup brushes makes everything look better and even dark-haired girls can benefit from an eyebrow pencil. I bought the Urban Decay palette last Christmas to encourage myself to try new looks and I love how many color combinations you can do.
Katie’s Makeup Bag
Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara ($24) Urban Decay Enigma Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($20) Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow ($54) Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting ($42) NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($26) Folle de Joie eau de parfum ($98)
My makeup routine has done a 180 in the last few years and I’ve switched from intense eye makeup to a statement lip. I used to go bold with crazy Urban Decay eye shadow palettes, but lately I like a simple neutral cat eye and a big bold lip. With fair sensitive skin and red hair, when in doubt, stick to the classic looks because we can trend toward clownish when we put too many colors on. Admittedly my mascara game alters depending on what’s in my Birch Box this month, but I’ve been married to my Smashbox primer and CC cream for years. It’s light, it does the job, and I don’t have to spend hours on it. Urban Decay remains my go-to for eyeliners (Perversion or bust) and their Naked 3 Palette fits every occasion. At this point I can fit all my makeup in a small bag instead of having heaps of it lying around.
What’s in your makeup bag? Tweet us @litdarling
