I remember when I could apply makeup in the morning and it would last all day. But between middle-aged skin and the shifty Olympia climate, even setting spray isn’t getting the job done. Thus, I must touch up throughout the day. Here’s what I keep in my office makeup bag.
The Bag // I purchased this Sonia Kashuk clear top travel makeup case at Target. It’s a great bag. I actually think I’ve seen the same bag with a different interior being sold by another makeup company for 3x the price. I own both and they are so incredibly similar, I can’t tell the difference. I also like that I can see into the bag and that it zips open all the way around, so I don’t have to dig around for what I need. 10/10 would recommend.
Corrector & Concealer // I need peachy under eye corrector. It works better than concealer for my under eye darkness. This Bobbi Brown one is my favorite, so I bought a new pan for my at home makeup bag and brought the half-used one to work.
I don’t need a lot of concealer, but sometimes you need to touch up. I keep this Fara Homidi palette in my bag because I sampled it last fall, and there was just a little bit left in the container. Obviously, the price on this product is eye popping for how much you get, so I did not restock even though I loved it. So I’m just using up what is left.
Want an affordable concealer that is great for touch ups? Try this $10 one from Makeup Revolution.
Blush & Bronzer // Sometimes a little blush is all you need. I stock the Merit Apres balm because it is the brightest rosy mauve. It really makes me look awake and full of life, even when I’m ready to curl up under my desk and die.
I also keep a bronzer stick to use for contour. I harvested this Ciele one from my makeup bag.
Powder // If my face has started looking like an oil slick, I always blot with a tissue before reapplying powder. Luckily, most offices stock that cheap tissue that’s thinner than my patience when Kyle leaves the grocery list I made at home and needs to text me a million questions, and it’s perfect for blotting.
I used up the Charlotte Tilbury powder that I put in there at the start of session, and decided to replace it with a drugstore loose powder from Maybelline. This is a pretty good option if you’re just setting makeup you already have on or minimizing shine. But I need a bit more coverage, so I’ll probably buy a dupe of my new One Size face powder and add it to the bag.
Eye Makeup // I need an eyeliner and a mascara in my work makeup bag because you never know when your eye makeup might decide to evaporate like a man who slid into your texts with a “U up?”
This Caliray is the best mascara. I have tried others. I always end up back here. As for eyeliner, I stock brown so I can also use it as eyeshadow if need be.
Lips // Summer Fridays Brown Sugar Lip Balm. Moisturizes, deposits sheer color. There is nothing better.
Tools & Brushes // I always keep a pointy tweezer because what perimenopausal woman has not been tortured by an errant chin hair that you swear was not there that morning. Additionally, I like a great concealer brush for touch ups and a short, retractable powder brush.
Hair // I keep a brush, hair pins, hair ties, and a clip for emergencies. You just never know when you might leave the house with your hair down, full of hope for a good hair day, and realize that, by lunch, you need an updo. It happens. And just in case my hair feels dirty by midday, I also pack dry shampoo.
That’s it. What do you stock for work?
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