5 Things in My Makeup Bag I Really, Really Like Right Now

What's In My Makeup Bag

Project 365, Day 55/365

Hey all! We made it to Thursday! What a wonderful thing. I used to say that Thursday was the new Friday. Let me explain: Friday was wonderful, but it went so quickly, then you slid into the weekend and before you know it, it’s Monday. But Thursday is this close to Friday, so you have the excitement of the upcoming weekend without any of it starting just yet so you can still savor the thrill. This may have just been something I came up with as a coping mechanism to trick myself into being excited about days that weren’t Friday, Saturday or Sunday, but…I might be on to something.

Anyhow, it’s Thursday for you reading this, which means it’s my Lillördag and today, we’re getting takeout, eating outside with friends safely distanced from each other, and then having some ice cream! This will be the first time actually eating anywhere but inside our home (or car) since last March…it’s a big step. I’m pretty pumped. That said, I have a quick and light post for you today.

I’ve been a lifelong skincare and makeup devotee, so there is SO MUCH I could talk about here, but instead, I’ll just focus on what I’ve been reaching for lately in my makeup bag in case you want to give anything here a whirl. Here goes:

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+: My bottle in the photo is a bit beat up if you look closely. That’s the sign of a well-used item if you ask me. This has great coverage without feeling too heavy, has SPF and I find I don’t really need much concealer at all when I use this. There is a matte version of this CC cream as well as a glowy version, but I think the middle “natural finish” one here is the best. It does transfer quite a bit, so be mindful of that.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo and Brush #12: I’ve been using these for my brows for well over five years. One little pot of the powder lasts me seriously about a year and I use it every day. That gross-looking brush in the photo…I’ve had it for the five years I’ve been using this brand. It doesn’t even have the label on it anymore from so much use. I like this powder duo because you can get a really custom color. I prefer to fill in with the lighter color so it’s not too heavy-handed, and then I patch up any spots needed with the darker hue. And the angled brush is a fantastic applicator.

Glossier Cloud Paint: It took me a very long time to finally take the plunge into Cloud Paint, but I really love it. I went with Spark, which is a very saturated rosy, reddish-pink. I wouldn’t recommend it for pale complexions, tbh, because it’s borderline intense even for me. But when I apply it right (meaning, using less of it), it gives my face a healthy glow. You only need the tiniest amount…I mean it…and it blends very well into either bare skin or other makeup like foundation. I can’t wait to buy a few more colors. Oh, and I also regularly use it on my lips and it’s great that way, too!

Glossier Stretch Concealer: I have purchased A LOT of concealer in my time. And dare I say, this may be one of the best ones I’ve ever used in terms of blend-ability and color match for me. On lazy days (read: most days), I just tap some of this onto my red spots, in the creases around my nose and under my eyes and boom, I’m done. I prefer this set with powder so that it lasts longer, but it really feels like a second skin when you put it on. Not cakey in the least.

Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara: A long-time lover of Benefit mascaras, I decided to try Ilia’s clean mascara recently. TBH, I didn’t love it at first because it didn’t give me that false-lash look I need for my stubby, pathetic lashes. But the more I used this, the more I liked it. It didn’t give me raccoon eyes or clumpy spider lashes or even make my lashes feel like crunchy plastic like others have in the past. It’s a more natural look, for sure, but I know it’s better for my lashes which means less breakage.

Saie Glowy Super Gel: I left this for last because it is the runaway I-absolutely-love-this hit of the lot. I bought this back around Black Friday and MAN do I love it. The package is so fantastic (the brand uses very good cotton balls for the packaging instead of plastic), all the bottles are recyclable, and the product is just, ugh…so good. I use it on bare skin when I’m going without makeout for a non-greasy glow. It’s the kind of glow that looks like it came from the inside, instead of that strobe effect so many other types of glow gels give you. When I do wear makeup, I put a punch straight into my foundation, and then I put another pump on my fingers to rub into my cheekbones, temples, down my nose…all over. The Starglow color is very subtle but just perfect. I’m about to purchase Sunglow, too, because I have to imagine it’s just as good with a little more oomph.

Alright, that’s it for today! Anything here you want to try? Do you like these kinds of posts?

See you tomorrow, friends!