The Traveling Make-Up Bag

No, this post isn't a take-off on the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Instead, it's a brief recap of my decision to put together a make-up bag to take with me.

For a long time, it's been my practice to have one make-up bag that primarily stays at home. If I'm going somewhere and I know I have to get ready for something while I'm there - say, heading to a party after work - then I'll bring this same make-up bag along. Recently, though, I've realized that there are some cosmetics and tools that I want to have with me all the time. It's not so much that I'm suddenly going to want to put on mascara while I'm sitting at my desk. It's more like, I'm at work and notice a painful cuticle or a stray hair. I want to get it taken care of ASAP. So, without further ado, here's the collection of stuff I've put together for my traveling make-up bag:

Here's the breakdown
1. Tweezers. I'm pretty sure they are Revlon, but I'm not someone who pays attention to tweezer brand.
2. Fingernail clippers. Again, I think they're Revlon but I don't know for sure.
3. Hair elastics. I like these thicker ones, which I'm pretty sure are Goody (though I would imagine Scunci would be just as good). I used to use the thinner ones, but I found they got stretched too easily and often had to be thrown away before they got lost.
4. ELF Blush in Mellow Mauve. This stuff is available at Target and is pretty cheap. I know some people swear by fancier brands, but I love it because it's just the right color. It also seems to me that it stays on at least as well as the last time I had blush from Sephora.
5. ELF Clarifying Powder. I also picked this up at Target. I was mostly looking for something to tone down the shine if I were getting ready after work. I bought the lightest shade Target had and I've been very impressed. It also stays on more effectively than the stuff I got at Sephora.
6. Neutrogena Acne Gel. This stuff is the best! By far the biggest splurge in the make-up bag, this is my favorite product to use if I feel something coming on. It dries it right out. Yes!
7. Revlon nail file. I used to be frightened of nail files. My mom had one when I was little that was metal and the sound of someone using it to this day makes me shudder. But, I've grown to love the use of these soft files. And this is perfect if I notice something sharp while I'm typing away at work.
8. Lip Smackers. I know, I know. I'm 28 years old, maybe I've outgrown the cosmetic that is primarily aimed at elementary school aged girls? Nope! I still love Lip Smackers today just as much as when I was little. I find that they do a good job moisturizing without being sticky. I also usually try to select those that are kind of pink because I find they sometimes leave behind just a hint of pigmentation. I also discovered a secret, as a Lip Smacker hoarder: get them in multi-packs at holidays. They're a combination of colors and flavors that is different from what you see during the rest of the year. I began my hoarding last Christmas season, when Ginny witnessed me buying approximately 8 new LipSmackers during one evening shopping trip that included both Target and Wal-Mart.
9. Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream. This stuff is the best! I got this itty bitty jar as part of a sample kit that I bought in college. I don't use it all that often, but I've still got it nearly 10 years later. I think it's effective and smells really good. What more could you ask for?
10. Mirror. I love compacts, but I couldn't find one I loved while I was putting this project together. I bought a plain one and decided to deck it out with stickers from my scrapbooking stash. Success!
11. Retractable Blush Brush. This item was another great investment. I got the house brand at Target and realized just how well it was designed. There's a metal piece in the handle of the brush that comes up to keep all the bristles together so you can get the cap back on without smashing them. Super easy.
12. Makeup Bag.

I really struggled with picking out just the right bag. I think most of the bags out there right now have sort of a light plastic glaze. I was worried about that because I thought it wouldn't protect the bag from marks. This Emilie Sloan Anna has a much more rubbery texture, which is exactly what I was looking for. I really wanted something durable. I got this discontinued print at Marshalls. I added the two small charms to the zipper pull: a mini pearl and a small bright green bead because I wanted to personalize it a little bit.

I've been carrying this bag with me for about 2 weeks now and it's holding up great. Now I have the tools I need when I'm on the go. Success!


* I do not have a relationship with the manufacturers of any of the products mentioned in this post, nor was I compensated for my review.