My Make-Up Bag Essentials

Hey guys and welcome to my blog. Its been a long time coming that’s for sure. I’ve been trying to write something since before Christmas and I had a blog post of sorts prepared but I just felt in the end it wasn’t good enough to publish. I don’t want to write just for the sake of it. I want my blog posts to have meaning, and to share what really interests me and keep them more true to life. With this in mind I wanted to share with you a few of my makeup essentials. Though we’re not going very far I will always pop on a little makeup, even if its just some mascara. However its important not to forget that doing your makeup, hair or popping on a dress can sometimes make you feel like a new pin. Its all about effort at the end of the day and if it keeps your spirits up and you feel good about yourself well then it was worth it.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter.

This is by far my number one favourite product and can be worn under foundation, on its own, as a primer, or as a highlight. I prefer to use it as a base for foundation or I did pre lockdown but now I use it on its own as it has a slight coverage and reduces any signs of redness on the face living up to its name and giving your skin a dewy flawless finish. It is available in 12 different shades. I use shade 2 which is perfect if I’m not wearing any tan and shade 3 if I am wearing tan. The price point is approximately €40 and well worth the money.

Mac Studio Fix Foundation.

Ok so Im not putting on as much foundation as I used to as were not going anywhere. Yes letting my skin breathe is liberating but I yearn for the days when I get to plaster myself in makeup, doll myself up, throw on the heels and go dancing. So when the time finally comes I will more than likely use my old reliable from MAC. The studio fix foundation is iconic and a bit of a veteran of the makeup world. For anyone who knows me will know its the holy grail of my makeup kit and my own personal makeup bag. This foundation has amazing coverage and will last all day and night. It has a matte medium to full coverage buildable finish. It glides onto the skin seamlessly. I find that you can get better coverage with a brush rather than using a sponge. It also has an spf 15 but there is no flashback. Matching the studio fix foundation to your skin is very important. I have a tendency to mix my colours to get the right shade for me however I’m a makeup artist and mixing is what I do. You guys on the other hand do not need to do this. I’m usually a NW15 without tan. However when I’m wearing tan I always wear NC30. If anyone doesn’t understand MACs coding of their colours, the NC shades are more cool shades with yellow undertones and the NW are the warmer shades with pink undertones. It is a bit of a minefield as they have a shade for every skin colour so that’s why I stress getting colour matched by a professional in one of their stores or with a makeup artist before purchasing. This is so important. Also the price point is good with Brown Thomas selling it for €31.48.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.

This has to be my favourite concealer of all time. It has a creamy texture with a buildable coverage. I find it is light enough to wear under the eyes and yet is buildable enough that it will cover other blemishes on the face without caking. It is also crease proof which means it wont cake in those pesky fine lines around the eye area. If anything it gives a more smooth finish and diminishes the appearance of fine lines. The retail price is approximately €30 so yes it is expensive when you can cheaper versions on the high street but sometimes you pay for what you get. I do use cheaper concealers but this is just one of my all time faves.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade.

If there’s a brow product I cant live without its the ABH brow pomade. I love love love this product. This waterproof pomade is ideal for sculpting and shaping out the perfect brow shape. Again there are many brow pomades on the market but i find this one so easy to apply, a little goes a long way, and its smudge proof. I also find that other pomades get a little cakey but this glides on seamlessly into the hairs of the brows. I also use this brow pomade as an eyeliner and set the liner with a little powder. I think that if a product is multifunctional then its worth its weight in gold. The price of the ABH pomade is approximately €21.90. Prices vary on different sites.

Rebeluna Makeup brushes.

As a makeup artist I use so many different brands of makeup brushes. My kit is full of excellent quality brushes but if i had to choose one brand it would definitely have to be Rebeluna. The brainchild of makeup artist and business woman Lauren Cleare This Irish brand has taken the Irish market by storm. Their 7 piece starter collection is €65.00 which has every brush you need really for your own personal makeup kit. They also do a range of lashes also which are amazing.

Rimmel wonder’full waterproof mascara

I’ve tried so many different mascaras over the years and for some reason I continuously go back to this Rimmel mascara. I find it nourishing, as it doesn’t dry out the lashes probably mainly due to the infused Argan oil. It is pretty wet and the brush is quite big which is a bit of a downside but I always use a disposable mascara wand anyway even on myself. I just find the staying power and colour excellent and it is easy to remove. It also costs less than €10 so its your every day mascara you cant go wrong.

So that’s it, my makeup bag essentials. I hope you enjoyed and remember these are my preferences, the makeup that I cant live without. I have so many products that I love that are also essential to my kit. I didn’t include any lip products or eyeshadows, as to be honest, I could write a whole post on them alone. Maybe that will be my next post. Until then …..