make-up bag logistics
October 29, 2019 10:13 AM Subscribe
I'm interested how those of you who wear make-up manage the make-up you carry around with you. I don't wear a lot of make-up but I really enjoy the small amount that I do wear. One thing that stops me wearing it more regularly is the logistics of deciding what make-up I carry around with me versus what I keep at home.
Do you just buy 2 of everything and keep one set at home and put the other set in your make-up bag to touch up during the day?
Do you just keep all your make-up in one bag and remember to put it into your handbag (or whatever) before you set out?
Do you keep your make-up bag IN your handbag (or whatever) and just do your make-up on your commute?
Do you do your make-up before you leave home, then not bother with touching up during the day?
I wear tinted moisturiser, eyeliner, blush (sometimes) and (also sometimes) lipstick, which is usually the thing that needs touching up a few times over the day. The other stuff tends to stay put. But I only have one lipstick of each colour (I do not have an extensive collection of make-up) so I have to remember to put whatever I'm wearing into my make-up bag before I leave for work. Which is just another thing I have to think about first thing in the morning.
I'd be interested to learn how you approach the logistics of it. I'm considering just stocking up on dupes of my favourite colours and carrying them around me. But that stuff ain't cheap!
Do you just buy 2 of everything and keep one set at home and put the other set in your make-up bag to touch up during the day?
Do you just keep all your make-up in one bag and remember to put it into your handbag (or whatever) before you set out?
Do you keep your make-up bag IN your handbag (or whatever) and just do your make-up on your commute?
Do you do your make-up before you leave home, then not bother with touching up during the day?
I wear tinted moisturiser, eyeliner, blush (sometimes) and (also sometimes) lipstick, which is usually the thing that needs touching up a few times over the day. The other stuff tends to stay put. But I only have one lipstick of each colour (I do not have an extensive collection of make-up) so I have to remember to put whatever I'm wearing into my make-up bag before I leave for work. Which is just another thing I have to think about first thing in the morning.
I'd be interested to learn how you approach the logistics of it. I'm considering just stocking up on dupes of my favourite colours and carrying them around me. But that stuff ain't cheap!
I keep a pressed powder, lip balm, and a bunch of lipsticks at my desk. My every makeup is primer, concealer, loose powder, blush, mascara (with eyelash curler), and eyebrow pencil. I keep that in a little pouch in my bag and usually do it in the car or once I get to work. I have lots of eyeshadow and other things that I keep at home, and consequently never or rarely wear! I rarely wear lipstick on the weekend so if I want to I just use one of the colors that is at home.
posted by apricot at 10:23 AM on October 29, 2019
posted by apricot at 10:23 AM on October 29, 2019
I keep my lipsticks rolling around in the bottom of my bag and usually apply my lipstick on my way out the door in the morning (when I’ve already grabbed my bag) and then touch it up after lunch at work and after work when I’m heading home. I have no organized system and usually lose and find different lipsticks over and over again (ha). I do have multiples of my favorite lip balm (Burt’s) to keep in different purses and drawers.
posted by sallybrown at 10:28 AM on October 29, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 10:28 AM on October 29, 2019 [5 favorites]
I just throw whatever lipstick I'm wearing into my purse/backpack right after I apply it. I don't touch anything else up during the day--I do use a setting spray before leaving the house, though.
posted by assenav at 10:34 AM on October 29, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by assenav at 10:34 AM on October 29, 2019 [4 favorites]
Personally I try to use long-lasting products and the touch up minimally if at all. My skin is quite oily so I have to blot throughout the day.
I rarely wear striking lip colour so if it so happens that I only have lip balm in my bag after lunch that’s ok.
If you are partial to more striking lip colour there are different ways to go about it. One is to pick something fairly pigmented that wears down to a stain and then the stain still looks nice later and you don’t need to touch up unless you want to. I also apply lipstick last thing before I leave so I tend to just hold on to it and put it into my bag as I head out. The next morning, your lipstick of choice will be either in your makeup bag or your handbag. So I don’t feel this adds to my mental load.
Alternatively there is nothing wrong with buying two if that’s financially feasible. There are also more long wearing products but not all have a pleasing texture.
In general I do my makeup before I leave the house, unless I am running late and have to catch a train or plane. When I was driving more I went through phases of applying it in the car but I also have a tendency to be on the drag. When I use public transport there is a built in time slot where you can do makeup. If I drive there isn’t necessarily one unless I leave so early that I may as well do it at home.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:34 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
I rarely wear striking lip colour so if it so happens that I only have lip balm in my bag after lunch that’s ok.
If you are partial to more striking lip colour there are different ways to go about it. One is to pick something fairly pigmented that wears down to a stain and then the stain still looks nice later and you don’t need to touch up unless you want to. I also apply lipstick last thing before I leave so I tend to just hold on to it and put it into my bag as I head out. The next morning, your lipstick of choice will be either in your makeup bag or your handbag. So I don’t feel this adds to my mental load.
Alternatively there is nothing wrong with buying two if that’s financially feasible. There are also more long wearing products but not all have a pleasing texture.
In general I do my makeup before I leave the house, unless I am running late and have to catch a train or plane. When I was driving more I went through phases of applying it in the car but I also have a tendency to be on the drag. When I use public transport there is a built in time slot where you can do makeup. If I drive there isn’t necessarily one unless I leave so early that I may as well do it at home.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:34 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
I keep my main make-up in a bag that I carry with me if I'm going to apply it at work (like if I'm working out and showering before work) or if I'm traveling; it lives in the bag, often on my dresser. But I often just carry my lipstick with me. After I apply it, I put it in my pocket or put it aside to put in my purse with my chapstick. Sometimes if I'm going out that night, I might also bring a lip pencil and re-apply that at the end of the day.
In fact, sometimes I don't have my lipstick in my make-up bag because it's in my purse.
If this is just about the lipstick, I say buy an extra of your favorite color and see how it goes.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:37 AM on October 29, 2019
In fact, sometimes I don't have my lipstick in my make-up bag because it's in my purse.
If this is just about the lipstick, I say buy an extra of your favorite color and see how it goes.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:37 AM on October 29, 2019
I keep my “main” make up at home - eyeshadow, primer, foundation, concealer, highlighter, bronzer, mascara, brushes, setting spray. I have 2 powders: a “good” one which stays at home and a drugstore one which comes out with me in my handbag.
I have a few lipsticks which also live at home; as soon as I apply the lipstick du jour, I switch it to my handbag to take out with me. The next time I go out, if I’m wearing a different lipstick that day, I’ll swap the one in my bag out for the new one.
I have one lipgloss and keep that in my handbag.
My aim is to travel light. Constantly thwarted and rendered pointless by 2 teen/early twenties daughters who refuse to carry bags and make me carry their make up when we go out together.
posted by JJZByBffqU at 10:56 AM on October 29, 2019
I have a few lipsticks which also live at home; as soon as I apply the lipstick du jour, I switch it to my handbag to take out with me. The next time I go out, if I’m wearing a different lipstick that day, I’ll swap the one in my bag out for the new one.
I have one lipgloss and keep that in my handbag.
My aim is to travel light. Constantly thwarted and rendered pointless by 2 teen/early twenties daughters who refuse to carry bags and make me carry their make up when we go out together.
posted by JJZByBffqU at 10:56 AM on October 29, 2019
I normally only bring lipstick with me, but on a day-to-day basis if I want longlasting lip color, I actually use a primer on my lips, a press of setting powder, lipliner in my fave color, another press of setting powder, an optional lipstick, and an all-over setting spray once done. If I'm just going to work, I have my magical lipbalm that I bought a case of and keep one everywhere. If I'm going to an event, I pack a small purse with ID, cash, and lipstick.
My morning makeup routine for work is: foundation, eyebrow wand, eyeshadow, touch of eyeliner, mascara, natural-colored bronzer/blush/highlighter, lipliner as lipstick, and an allover setting spray. It's a 5-minute routine before I do my hair.
When I travel, I have a large makeup bag that I can fit my usual stuff (and some extra "elevated" colors as I'm probably traveling to an event), as well as a travel-size dry shampoo and small comb/brush.
posted by DoubleLune at 11:11 AM on October 29, 2019
My morning makeup routine for work is: foundation, eyebrow wand, eyeshadow, touch of eyeliner, mascara, natural-colored bronzer/blush/highlighter, lipliner as lipstick, and an allover setting spray. It's a 5-minute routine before I do my hair.
When I travel, I have a large makeup bag that I can fit my usual stuff (and some extra "elevated" colors as I'm probably traveling to an event), as well as a travel-size dry shampoo and small comb/brush.
posted by DoubleLune at 11:11 AM on October 29, 2019
I keep what I use most often (foundation, blush, mascara, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner) in a makeup bag which I carry with me. If I’m doing an elaborate eye look I do it home, but usually I put it on in the car on the way to wherever I’m going (I have a toddler, don’t @ me.)
posted by tatiana wishbone at 11:16 AM on October 29, 2019
posted by tatiana wishbone at 11:16 AM on October 29, 2019
I keep my actual makeup-makeup (concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadows) at home and I don't travel with them other than if I am literally going on a trip.
My most-used lipsticks live in a bag that lives in my handbag. My less-used ones live in a bag that lives in my vanity, and I pull them out and swap them into the handbag location as needed. I also carry a pressed powder compact with me in my handbag, but as far as carrying makeup around with me, that's all I do.
posted by Medieval Maven at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2019
My most-used lipsticks live in a bag that lives in my handbag. My less-used ones live in a bag that lives in my vanity, and I pull them out and swap them into the handbag location as needed. I also carry a pressed powder compact with me in my handbag, but as far as carrying makeup around with me, that's all I do.
posted by Medieval Maven at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2019
I have so much makeup. So much! It’s all in a dressing table and I do it before I go to work: foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, blusher, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara. Then in a tiny purse I keep in my handbag I have a pressed powder, small brush and compact mirror for touch ups during the day because I tend to get shiny. Finally whatever lipstick/gloss I’m wearing that day I put on at home then throw in the purse to have with me for touch ups which is generally just maybe after lunch or if I’m going to a meeting.
posted by billiebee at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by billiebee at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
I just opened my makeup bag at work to check what I have in there:
Travel toothbrush plus toothpaste
Floss
Comb
Glasses spray and cloth
Deodorant
Lipstick / lip gloss
Foundation
Small tube of hair mousse stuff
I have more stuff at home (but honestly not much more - my makeup routine is very streamlined now) but this is my essential stuff that I need to go from bedraggled to presentable at the end of the work day. I keep it at work - I'm not capable of remembering to put things in my bag in the morning and the last thing I need is more stuff to schlep / more things to do in the morning. I don't touch up a ton during the day - mostly just brushing my teeth / lipstick / lip gloss. And yes, I basically only use one kind of lip gloss and one kind of lipstick. To me, it's a matter of figuring out what you really need to use at work and buying duplicates only of that. No need to replicate all your makeup.
posted by peacheater at 12:52 PM on October 29, 2019
Travel toothbrush plus toothpaste
Floss
Comb
Glasses spray and cloth
Deodorant
Lipstick / lip gloss
Foundation
Small tube of hair mousse stuff
I have more stuff at home (but honestly not much more - my makeup routine is very streamlined now) but this is my essential stuff that I need to go from bedraggled to presentable at the end of the work day. I keep it at work - I'm not capable of remembering to put things in my bag in the morning and the last thing I need is more stuff to schlep / more things to do in the morning. I don't touch up a ton during the day - mostly just brushing my teeth / lipstick / lip gloss. And yes, I basically only use one kind of lip gloss and one kind of lipstick. To me, it's a matter of figuring out what you really need to use at work and buying duplicates only of that. No need to replicate all your makeup.
posted by peacheater at 12:52 PM on October 29, 2019
I usually only wear mascara, pencil eyeliner, lip color and sometimes a little bit of a light powder foundation. I keep these in a clear plastic makeup bag in my purse so I can put it on wherever I happen to be when I remember. I keep tweezers, cuticle nippers, nail clippers and a sharpener for the eye pencil in there as well. I tend to wear the same lip color every day for long stretches of time so I don't have to worry about swapping it out daily.
I will often take a few pieces of extra makeup to work and leave it at my desk, it is generally what I do with items that are ok but not my favorite. A mascara that I didn't love the texture of, an eye pencil in a color I liked but is not my favorite, a lipstick that is mostly used up but I could get a few more applications out of it with a cotton swab, etc. That way I have a little something to put on in case I accidentally leave my regular makeup bag at home, which occasionally happens if pull the bag out while digging for something in my purse and forget to stick it back in.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 12:55 PM on October 29, 2019
I will often take a few pieces of extra makeup to work and leave it at my desk, it is generally what I do with items that are ok but not my favorite. A mascara that I didn't love the texture of, an eye pencil in a color I liked but is not my favorite, a lipstick that is mostly used up but I could get a few more applications out of it with a cotton swab, etc. That way I have a little something to put on in case I accidentally leave my regular makeup bag at home, which occasionally happens if pull the bag out while digging for something in my purse and forget to stick it back in.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 12:55 PM on October 29, 2019
In the past I've kept duplicates at work and home but my routine is very simple (foundation, mascara, brow pomade, lip gloss, and a swipe of cream eyeshadow) and I wear drugstore brands pretty much exclusively so it's not a huge cost sink and my workplace is very casual.
If I'm headed somewhere directly after work and need to do a whole-face touch-up at the end of the day before my evening event, I will toss the whole bag into my purse before heading out in the morning, but otherwise my makeup lives at home and I only carry a backup lipgloss with me (and Q-tips in case I need to tidy up running mascara).
In your shoes, I'd probably just buy dupes of my most-used lipsticks and keep only those in your bag regularly.
posted by anderjen at 1:36 PM on October 29, 2019
If I'm headed somewhere directly after work and need to do a whole-face touch-up at the end of the day before my evening event, I will toss the whole bag into my purse before heading out in the morning, but otherwise my makeup lives at home and I only carry a backup lipgloss with me (and Q-tips in case I need to tidy up running mascara).
In your shoes, I'd probably just buy dupes of my most-used lipsticks and keep only those in your bag regularly.
posted by anderjen at 1:36 PM on October 29, 2019
I would just take whatever your favourite "not cheap" lipsticks are and dupe them at Colourpop (I'm a fan of the Lippie Stix) or see what's listed at Temptalia for dupes, then keep dupes for both colors in your bag. (Better yet, just only buy the dupes to begin with!)
posted by DarlingBri at 1:39 PM on October 29, 2019
posted by DarlingBri at 1:39 PM on October 29, 2019
I have the worst possible scenario: I love makeup and have an impossible-to-manage collection combined with no single place where I am regularly putting my makeup on, and no dedicated cohesive storage space for all of it either. I might be doing a full face in my bathroom, my dad's bathroom, the bathroom at work, my desk at work, on the train, in the car park, at my partner's house, in the bathroom at an event, on a boat, or who knows where.
I typically carry a "small" makeup bag about the size of a soda can everywhere, which has the products I always use (and likely have dupes in my larger makeup case) with several eyeshadow and lipstick options. Portability is key here, so I look for mini/travel size versions of the staples, and small form factors for the rest. Current inventory: mini mascara*, brow pencil, mini setting powder, mini setting spray*, mini primer*, 2 mini eyeliner+1 full size*, eyeshadow (a trio, single loose pot and two single pressed), pencil sharpener*, lip liner x2, tweezers, 4 loose brushes + 5 more in a little mini travel set, and 6 lip color options (3 staple and 3 shiny new ones).
I have a larger dopp-kit size case that holds everything else I'm currently using, that I also bring places that has dupes/full sizes of everything with a * above as well as my concealer, foundation, highlighter, a couple of eyeshadow palettes, a pouch of brushes, and approximately 927 lip*.* (-stick, gloss, pencil, paint, liquid, cream, and tint).
Every 6 months or so I go through the above cases and rotate stuff in/out/store/trash stuff and then start all over.
In short: mini/travel sizes are your friend and never forget that pressed powder/shadow is a time bomb waiting to explode and shatter in your bag.
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:38 PM on October 29, 2019
I typically carry a "small" makeup bag about the size of a soda can everywhere, which has the products I always use (and likely have dupes in my larger makeup case) with several eyeshadow and lipstick options. Portability is key here, so I look for mini/travel size versions of the staples, and small form factors for the rest. Current inventory: mini mascara*, brow pencil, mini setting powder, mini setting spray*, mini primer*, 2 mini eyeliner+1 full size*, eyeshadow (a trio, single loose pot and two single pressed), pencil sharpener*, lip liner x2, tweezers, 4 loose brushes + 5 more in a little mini travel set, and 6 lip color options (3 staple and 3 shiny new ones).
I have a larger dopp-kit size case that holds everything else I'm currently using, that I also bring places that has dupes/full sizes of everything with a * above as well as my concealer, foundation, highlighter, a couple of eyeshadow palettes, a pouch of brushes, and approximately 927 lip*.* (-stick, gloss, pencil, paint, liquid, cream, and tint).
Every 6 months or so I go through the above cases and rotate stuff in/out/store/trash stuff and then start all over.
In short: mini/travel sizes are your friend and never forget that pressed powder/shadow is a time bomb waiting to explode and shatter in your bag.
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:38 PM on October 29, 2019
I do my makeup in 5 minutes in the parking lot at work, right before I walk to my desk. So my everyday stuff all lives in my bag.
posted by potrzebie at 3:19 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 3:19 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Four categories of stuff:
1. I have one color of it, it doesn't get touched up. (Mascara, foundation.) These live on the dressing table.
2. I have multiple colors, it doesn't get touched up. (Blush, eye stuff.) These live on the table.
3. I have one color, I touch it up through the day or need it for "emergencies". (Blotting paper, powder, concealer.) I get two of these, one that lives in the purse, one that stays at the dressing table. BUT I often have a "full" one at home and an "almost gone" one in the purse, or a "broken, but still usable" one at home" and a "stays neat" one in the purse.
4. Lipsticks. I used to have one "emergency, goes with everything" lip pencil permanently in the bag. Otherwise, I switch out the one I'm using and carry it with me. My purse lives at my dressing table, so it's one less thing to worry about.
posted by Hypatia at 4:47 PM on October 29, 2019
1. I have one color of it, it doesn't get touched up. (Mascara, foundation.) These live on the dressing table.
2. I have multiple colors, it doesn't get touched up. (Blush, eye stuff.) These live on the table.
3. I have one color, I touch it up through the day or need it for "emergencies". (Blotting paper, powder, concealer.) I get two of these, one that lives in the purse, one that stays at the dressing table. BUT I often have a "full" one at home and an "almost gone" one in the purse, or a "broken, but still usable" one at home" and a "stays neat" one in the purse.
4. Lipsticks. I used to have one "emergency, goes with everything" lip pencil permanently in the bag. Otherwise, I switch out the one I'm using and carry it with me. My purse lives at my dressing table, so it's one less thing to worry about.
posted by Hypatia at 4:47 PM on October 29, 2019
I keep my basics in a ziploc bag (powder, concealer, blush, eyeliner, mascara, 1 eyeshadow that I use to darken my brows and smoke my lids, 2 lipsticks, about 5 makeup brushes, toothbrush and toothpaste, hand cream, small thing of hair product).
I do my makeup out of the bag, and then toss the whole bag into my purse (I have to be able to do perfect touch ups at odd moments). If I’m using a different lipstick than my usual nude, I throw that in the bag too.
The bag crushes down to about the size of 2 bananas, which is fine for my large purse. I prefer a ziploc bag rather than a pencil case type pouch, because I can see everything at a glance and quickly rummage without anything falling out.
But I do like having duplicate products wherever I use them!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:56 PM on October 29, 2019
I do my makeup out of the bag, and then toss the whole bag into my purse (I have to be able to do perfect touch ups at odd moments). If I’m using a different lipstick than my usual nude, I throw that in the bag too.
The bag crushes down to about the size of 2 bananas, which is fine for my large purse. I prefer a ziploc bag rather than a pencil case type pouch, because I can see everything at a glance and quickly rummage without anything falling out.
But I do like having duplicate products wherever I use them!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:56 PM on October 29, 2019
Super oily skin, so I will bring my foundation with me and either touch it up or just redo it completely during the day. I also bring whatever lipstick, usually MAC Velvet Teddy, & Fresh Sugar balm in Honey for moisture. I also actually dip my blush brush in a little bit of blush before putting it in my bag so I don't have to bring the whole blush with me.
I touch up blush/lipstick when I go to the bathroom, and foundation if I need it after/during lunch. I have an Ipsy subscription and they always send a perfect sized cute zip pouch that I keep in my bag with all this stuff.
posted by moons in june at 5:57 PM on October 29, 2019
I touch up blush/lipstick when I go to the bathroom, and foundation if I need it after/during lunch. I have an Ipsy subscription and they always send a perfect sized cute zip pouch that I keep in my bag with all this stuff.
posted by moons in june at 5:57 PM on October 29, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks, all! I felt a bit stupid after posting my question because I wear so little make-up and "remembering to put lipstick into handbag" seems like a total non-problem; but it has been REALLY interesting and educational learning what everyone else does.
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:42 AM on October 30, 2019
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:42 AM on October 30, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 10:23 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]