What's in my make-up bag? Not very much, but they're all the best of the best! (What's in your makeup bag?)

Member Name: grey0220

Product:	What's in your makeup bag?
Date:	09/11/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clear focus on cheeks and eyes

Disadvantages: Nothing to see here for foundation fanatics...

I have a very simple beauty routine which only involves two more items than I normally use when adapted for night-time or special occasion use. I am lucky enough to have skin that doesn't need make-up foundation, so you won't find any discussion of such below.

I never leave the house overnight without my MAC LiquidLast liquid eye liner in black. It is the perfect make-up to go from day to night in as it literally will NOT wash or wear off, whether or not you've gone to the gym, gone out all night, or just been sitting at your desk - it won't even SMEAR. When you put it on, you'll notice it feels quite gummy, almost like old-fashioned glue - I take this as a sign of it adhering to your eyes and not budging until you attack it with proper make-up remover! It's the most reliable liquid liner I've ever come across, and really, the only liner I need on a day to day basis.

My second everyday item is my Shiseido blush. I have tried Bourjois' pot blush and was very happy with that for about a year, if I had to learn how to work around how intense it was to begin with (and it did necessitate reapplication throughout the day). I am a big fan of all of Shiseido's products so when making my quarterly Shiseido boutique trip, I decided to pick up the blush just to see what it was like. The smell is very pleasant, and the brush, compared to the Bourjois brush, is very soft against your skin, though it does pick up enough powder for application. The blush also lends itself well to layering - so you can have a more sheer blush during the day, but at night, sweep on a few more layers for a more dramatic, eye-catching look. Another plus is that though I have very sensitive skin, I have not had any issues with the powder so far.

My two 'special occasion' items are my Diorshow mascara and my Benefit kohl eye pencil. If I feel as though I need an extra bit of 'oomph', I'll simply run my Diorshow wand once or twice across my top and bottom lashes - even though my lashes are already dark, Diorshow really thickens each lash, emphasising each lash's presence. The Benefit kohl will be used to draw on the inside of my lids, giving my eyes an intensity that is misplaced in the office but perfect for dinner or drinks. It doesn't run as badly as other kohl pencils I've used, and it's easy to throw into my bag as I'm running out the door.

Other items that I use occasionally include Benefit's High-Brow pencil, which I use under my eyebrows and at the inside corner of my eyes only at most special occasions. I also have a Shu Uemura eyelash curler, which I only use if I have the time and inclination to heat it up! I should also note that the only product I regularly use on my lips is Carmax lip balm - no fancy glosses for me!

Summary: Interesting for drawing cat-eyes and emphasising high cheekbones