Ask Belle: Emergency Handbag Must Haves

Hi Belle,

You mentioned once that you don’t carry a makeup bag in your purse.  I carry one every day but I want to pare down.  What do you carry?  What do you use on a daily basis?  I’d love to clear out some space in my bag.

Help my shoulders, please! DH

J.Crew Metallic Makeup Pouch ($14)

I keep a small makeup pouch in my purse, it mostly has medication (aspirin for headaches, emergency allergy meds, etc.) in it, but I also keep a handful of beauty must haves.

I carry a pop-up hairbrush (a must, MUST, have), bobby pins and a few hair ties.  I don’t carry much makeup, but this Bobbi Brown concealer with a mini-powder underneath is good for under-eye touchups and keeping shininess at bay.  I also like Maybelline’s Dream Bouncy Blush for a pop of color after a long night in the office (or the library).  I like Fresh’s Sugar Plum Lip Treatment because it functions as lip color and lip balm.

Lastly, I keep an atomizer with my favorite fragrance and a tube of L’Occitane hand lotion.  That’s it.  It’s enough to rescue a bad hair day, an unimpressive makeup application or just a quick touch ups.