There’s something sacred about a makeup bag. It’s where practicality meets ritual. Mine is always bursting at the seams, never quite zipped up, with just enough space to squeeze in “one more thing.” But those little zippered pouches don’t just hold tools—they hold stories, memories, and moments of self-love I didn’t even know I needed.
Over the years, my makeup bag has become less of a statement and more of a survival kit. A quiet but powerful collection of things that work. Not just on good days, but on those whirlwind mornings, tearful afternoons, sweaty subway rides, date nights, and everything in between.
So here’s a peek inside: the textures that make me sigh with pleasure, the scents that ground me, and the products I reach for again and again because they feel like me. Consider this a love letter—to beauty, to the little things that carry us, and to the joy of getting ready.
The Lip Arsenal: Oils, Balms & Tints I Hoard Without Regret
Let’s start with the truth: I am a lip product maximalist. I do not believe in “one or two good ones.” I believe in redundancy. Multiples of the same shade. Tubes in every coat pocket. Balms I haven’t used in months but can’t throw away because “what if.” My lip lineup is like a diary of my moods—hydrated, shiny, stained, plush, or just barely there.
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint (\$16) – The Moisturizing Chameleon
If you haven’t tried Rhode’s lip tints, let me just say: it’s not hype, it’s hydration with a color payoff that feels effortless. I fell for Piggy and Freckle—they’re like soft-focus blush for your lips. I layer Piggy on bare lips when I want something gentle and low-maintenance. For more definition, I top Freckle with the Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil in Excellence, and it’s absolute magic.
Where to Buy: RhodeSkin.com (limited retail)
Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil (\$20) – The Gloss That Got Me Hooked
There’s something special about a gloss that actually improves your lips. This one gives a jelly-like shine but isn’t sticky. The Excellence shade is this rich cocoa rose that flatters every skin tone I’ve ever seen it on. I layer it over lip liner or bare lips. It lives in every bag I own.
Where to Buy: Sephora, AmiCole.com
Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm (\$38) – The Polished Pop
The name alone gets me every time. It’s balm meets tint meets polish. Petal is my safe shade—it works with anything. If I’m feeling brave, I swipe on Garnet. The color payoff is enough to feel special, never too bold. The packaging? A sculptural dream. Heavy, luxe, magnetic—like a lipstick should be.
Where to Buy: Credo Beauty, Violet Grey, Sephora
Foundations & Tints: Skin, But Elevated
I don’t believe in covering up skin—I believe in enhancing it. I want to see freckles, texture, life. But I also want options that let me look alive even on four hours of sleep.
Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 (\$42) – The Real-Skin Radiance
This is the one I reach for when I want that “well-rested but not too dewy” look. It covers enough without flattening my face. It blends like skincare and has niacinamide and squalane inside, so I don’t feel guilty about skipping a serum underneath. I apply it with fingers or a damp sponge, depending on my mood.
Tip: Mix two shades if you’re between undertones—it’s flexible enough.
Where to Buy: Sephora, Kosas.com
Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch (\$70) – The Filter In A Bottle
This is luxury in a pipette. The micro-droplets of pigment are suspended in water-gel. You have to crush them as you apply, and it feels like pure spa water melting into your skin. It evens tone, doesn’t cover, and makes you look like you’ve had a facial. Every single time I wear it, someone asks what’s on my skin.
Where to Buy: Chanel.com, Nordstrom, Saks
The Blush Obsession Is Real
I could live without highlighter. Maybe even eyeshadow. But blush? Never.
Rhode Pocket Blush (\$24) – The Cream Blush I Keep Reapplying
Toasted Teddy is one of those rare shades that works on cheeks, lips, and lids. It’s warm, not too pink, not too brown. It gives that “came back from a walk” glow. It blends best with fingertips—dab and press. I also like smudging a bit on the bridge of my nose for a monochrome effect.
Where to Buy: RhodeSkin.com
Saie Dew Blush (\$25) – The Dewdrop of Color
I love a watery blush—one that leaves your skin looking flushed and hydrated. Rosy and Spicy are my go-tos. It’s buildable, sheer, and plays well with skincare. The doe-foot makes application clean and precise. A little goes a long way.
Where to Buy: Sephora, SaieHello.com
Eyes: Lashes, Liner, and The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Impact
When it comes to eyes, I believe less is more—but it has to be intentional. A single swipe of mascara, a brown liner smudged just so, or a glowy eye cream that doubles as a primer.
Glossier Lash Slick (\$18) – The Clean, Curled Staple
No clumps. No drama. Just lashes that look like mine—but longer, neater, better. It’s a tubing formula, which means it washes off in warm water and never gives me panda eyes. I wear this when I want to look polished but not made-up.
Where to Buy: Glossier.com, select Sephora stores
Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner (\$30) – The Smudgeable Chic
Bronze and Cocoa are my forever shades. They glide on like butter and stay put. I line my upper waterline, smudge it out with a brush, and that’s it—I look awake. It’s sexy without being obvious. The packaging feels like an art tool.
Where to Buy: VictoriaBeckhamBeauty.com, Net-a-Porter
Skincare That Travels With Me Everywhere
I don’t believe skincare belongs in a bathroom drawer. My best serums, oils, and moisturizers have homes in my makeup bag, coat pocket, even my nightstand. If I can’t reapply it, I’m not using it.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (\$24) – The Softening Savior
Vanilla is my forever scent. It melts into lips and leaves them juicy and smooth. I use this during the day and at night. Also amazing over lip liner when I’m too lazy for full lipstick.
Where to Buy: Sephora, SummerFridays.com
Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream (\$52) – The Repair Queen
I’ve gone through four jars. It’s the one cream that soothes, repairs, and strengthens without heaviness. Great under makeup. Great after retinol. Great when I just want my skin to stop screaming.
Where to Buy: Sephora, Skinfix.com
Danucera D22 Tonic (\$88) – The Gentle Exfoliant That Changed My Texture
A facial in a bottle. It brightens, smooths, and preps the skin without stripping. I pat it in with hands, no cotton pads. My skin feels taut, lifted, clean—but not tight.
Where to Buy: Rescue Spa, Danucera.com
Scent Is Emotion: The Fragrances I Carry Like Armor
I never leave home without a scent. Sometimes I carry roll-ons in my purse, sometimes I dab the tiniest bit on my collarbone and wrists before stepping out. Scent is my mood board.
Maya Njie Vanilj (\$95) – The Comfort Scent
It’s vanilla, yes—but not in a cupcake way. It’s warm, musky, and skin-like. It reminds me of library books, worn leather, a cashmere scarf. People lean in and ask about it every time.
Where to Buy: MayaNjie.com, SSENSE
Amouage Guidance (\$360) – The Feminine Force Field
This is not your everyday scent. It’s rose, pear, saffron, and a whisper of frankincense. Feminine in a “don’t mess with me” kind of way. I wear it on important days—interviews, first meetings, or when I need to feel untouchable.
Where to Buy: LuckyScent, Amouage.com
Where I Shop (And Why It Matters)
In the U.S., we’re lucky to have an endless buffet of beauty retailers. Here’s where I buy what, and why:
- Sephora: For rewards, shade testing, and fast shipping.
- Violet Grey: For luxury staples and hard-to-find prestige items.
- Credo Beauty: My go-to for clean beauty, curated with intention.
- Glossier.com: Still the best for minimalist staples.
- Amazon (Official Brand Stores only): For drugstore faves—just be careful of third-party sellers.
- Ulta: A hybrid haven for both prestige and budget.
The contents of my makeup bag shift with the seasons, the mood, even the weather. But the throughline? Products that spark joy when I touch them, that never let me down, and that remind me—every single time I open that little bag—that beauty is both ritual and revelation.
