Makeup Bag Essentials

There are a few items everyone should have in their makeup bag. With these you can create almost any look from natural daytime to a full on evening makeup.

Here is a list of my recommendations:

Powder foundation: I use one every day, it evens out your skin in a flash and sometimes you don't even need a concealer. My pick is Hello Flawless by http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ which also has an SPF in it so you can top up your sun protection all day!

Black eyeliner pencil: This you can use to give subtle definition or go for an all out smoky eye. Useful to keep in your bag for touch ups too. My favorite is 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero by http://www.urbandecay.com/ it stays on all day and is waterproof, I also like Oil Slick which is black with a tiny silver glitter in it - perfect for night.

Black powder eyeshadow: I always use black powder shadow over eyeliner to set it and you can use this to add drama too by smoking it outwards and lining under the eyes too. My choice is Black 4 by Makeup Forever available at http://www.sephora.com/

A palette of neutral shadows that you can create different looks with, going from extremely natural with light sheeny shades to dramatic evening with the more shimmery shades combined with the previous black pencils and shadows. I love 5 Coleurs in Earth Reflection by http://www.dior.com/

Eyebrow pencil: Your face isn't finished until you have defined your brows. It's amazing what a difference it makes. Choose a pencil in your shade from http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ their Instant Brow Pencil comes with a spooly brush on the other end making it wasy to achieve perfect brows, even on the go.

Black mascara: I know everyone says you should wear brown mascara if you're blonde but I like the added definition and depth that black mascara gives to every coloring. My favorite is Deep Color Mascara in Black 01 by http://www.korres.com/   for US readers go to http://www.korresusa.com/ also available at http://www.sephora.com/ and http://www.studiobeautymix.com/

Powder blusher: This is the easiest to apply, especially for touch ups. I prefer a pinky peachy shade which suits most coloring, if you have very dark skin opt for a plummy shade. The one I use all the time is http://www.cargoscosmetics.com/ powder blush in Catalina.

Powder Bronzer: Great for any skin to add warmth and cheekbones if shaded underneath the apple! It's best to choose a matte formula that isn't too orange so it looks natural during the day and add shimmer with a highlighter at night. The best I've come across is http://www.jouercosmetics.com/ matte bronzer in Suntan.

Lipliner: A neutral shade can be used to define lips and add a base for gloss. I don't like just lining the outside of the lips, I always fill in too so that you don't end up with a ring around the edges when your gloss wears off! A great choice is Lipliner in Natural or Blush (for pinkier lips) by http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

Lipgloss: This is entirely your choice of texture and color. You can go for ultra glossy, plumping or a sheeny balm depending on your preference. Good picks are: Ultra glossy - Extreme Sheen by http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ , Plumping - Instant Plump Volumizing Lip Shine by http://www.get247beauty.com/ (also available at CVS), Balm: Sugar Lip Treatment in original (no color) or Rose by http://www.fresh.com/ which has an SPF 15, great for the summer months to stop lips drying out in the sun.

Eyedrops: After a long day my eyes get red and no matter how great your makeup is, this can definitely spoil a look! I keep a bottle of Naphcon A eyedrops http://www.alcon.com/ (available at all good drugstores)  with me all the time, they not only relieve redness totally but also stop itching and irritation from allergies.

Last but not least I like to keep a makeup finishing spray in my bag to set my makeup but also refresh during the day. I cannot do with 10 Years Younger by http://www.skindinavia.com/ - it has come to my rescue many a time!

An edgy but not overdone evening makeup

I've been noticing lately (even more than usual) that a lot of celebrities are wearing far too much makeup. I'm all for a smoky eye but it needs to be balanced by glowy skin and natural looking lips or it starts to stray into drag queen territory and the only people that makeup looks good on IS drag queens! It can also be incredibly aging - I've seen some pictures recently of 25 year olds where they look like they are over forty and extras on Dynasty....not a good look!

Here is how to do evening makeup with an edge but not overdone:

Photo: Richard Wright http://www.rwrightpix.com/

Firstly start with a glowy luminizing tinted moisturizer (I will recommend products at the end) and blend all over the face. Conceal where necessary and set with a light layer of very fine powder to take away shine but without dulling the glow.
Start your eyes with a base of satiny or matte bone coloured powder shadow on the lids into just above the crease. Next line upper and lower lashlines with a black eyeliner and smudge slightly. Line inside the eyes with a metallic eyeliner such as a silver or gunmetal. Now go over the upper and lower lashlines with a glittery black or metallic gunmetal powder shadow and blend outwards. Finish with a couple of coats of thickening black mascara.
Dust a highlighting champagne colored highlighting powder for light skin or bronze for dark skin on to the highest point of the cheekbones, on the temples and a little down the center of the nose. If you really can't live without blush put the lightest amount of pale pink or peach for light skins or plum for dark skins on the apples of the cheeks and blend until it's almost gone.
Outline the cupids bow of your lips with a flesh colored shimmer pencil to give fullness and definition and then fill in with a nude colored gloss or satin lipstick.
This is a striking look but evens out the heavy eyeshadow with natural skin and lips, and this can make you look years younger.

Product recommendations:

Luminizing tinted moisturizer: Jouer Luminizing Tint http://www.jouercosmetics.com/
Concealer: Face Stockhom Blemish and Capillary Concealer http://www.facestockholm.com/
Fine Powder: Alison Raffaele http://www.alisonraffaele.com/  Translucent Finishing Powder
Highlighting Powder: VS Bronzer/Highlighter Trio http://www.victoriassecret.com/
Eyeliner: Givenchy Magic Kajal in 1 http://www.givenchyparfums.com/
Inner Lid Liner: Korres Soft Liner Pencil in 5 Silver http://www.korres.com/ (available at Sephora too)
Sparkly Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Stardust http://www.urbandecay.com/  in Void or Christian Dior 5 Couleurs Designer in Smoky Design http://www.dior.com/
Mascara: Makeup Forever Smoky Lash http://www.makeupforever.com/
Cupids bow shimmer: Guerlain Lipliner in Cupidon http://www.guerlain.com/
Nude gloss: Eden Gloss by http://www.armourbeauty.com/
Nude satin/sheer Lipstick: Becca http://www.beccacosmetics.com/  Sheer Liptint in Gisella

(All products were provided to me)