A Look Around: My Makeup Bag

A few months ago I shared a look at my bulletin board. My bulletin board is one of my favorite things in my room, and something I enjoy looking at it whenever I need a moment of inspiration. It is present around me every day, and is a great way to show off what I like and display favorite moments or memories. Another thing that shows off personality and that I use every day is my makeup. While I keep it quite simple, I wanted to share what I keep inside it. During the past year or so, I have come upon some favorite items that I have repurchased and kept in my daily routine. Let’s take a look inside!

Beginning with the bag itself, what I store my makeup in is actually one of my favorite bags I own because of the Mulan design. I found this bag about two years ago in a clearance section at Walgreens. I couldn’t believe that they had my favorite Disney princess, since she can be pretty hard to find. Along with Mulan, they also had Pocahontas and Ariel. The collection was called “Dare to Dream,” and not only did I love the princesses they featured, I loved the watercolor images on the products. They had a selection of small and larger bags from the brand SOHO, as well as nail polish, lip balm, and makeup palettes. Because they were all on clearance, at 50% off or higher, I ended up getting the large Mulan clutch bag and two small rounded bags featuring Ariel and Pocahontas (they are perfect for holding little accessories or taking on trips!). I then went back and got the final small bag with Mulan for a friend who also loves Mulan (her dog unfortunately got a hold of that bag this winter though, and now it is gone. RIP small Mulan bag). Inside each bag also features a nice pattern with the silhouette of the princess, with the Mulan bag also containing a pocket. This bag have stayed in great condition so far, and I hope to keep it for many more years. 

Inside my bag, I keep a basic set of makeup brushes and tools. I found the set I am currently using at Hot Topic. While it isn’t fancy or super high-quality, it achieves what it is supposed to do. I personally don’t need too many tools to work with, and I have been able to keep this set clean and in good shape.

After taking out my bag, I always start my routine by using the Trader Joe’s “Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion” on my face. I have been using this lotion for quite a few years now, and like it because it is light, fragrance free, and affordable. Just a small squeeze is enough to use all over my face, and helps keep my skin soft and more fresh. 

I then like to apply some lip balm, with EOS being my favorite. I have tried many of the scents available, and always manage to use up all of the balm. The current scent I have is called “Fresh Grapefruit with SPF 30,” which just might be my favorite. Before this one, my favorite was the “Sweet Mint,” but there is something extra moisturizing and fresh about this one. The SPF is also a plus. The “egg” style isn’t always my favorite to carry along with me though, so it works perfectly by being in my makeup bag. I am getting low on this, and plan to repurchase soon. 

After moisturizing my face and lips, I then go to my eyes. I start by putting on a small dot of eyeshadow primer. I have tried probably three brands, and my favorite is definitely the NYX “Proof It!”. I like that it is so light, and almost refreshing, on the eyelids. Plus, it is very easy to swipe on with the applicator and so silky to rub into the skin. I currently also have this product from Wet n Wild, which isn’t quite as good as the NYX one, but does the job. Since there is no applicator, you have to squeeze out a bit instead of directly being able to apply it onto your eyelid. The consistency is more thick and not as light either. Once on the lids though, I don’t notice it, which is important since you don’t want it to feel heavy on your skin. 

Next up is my eyeliner, which I usually choose in a brown color. Eyeliner is something I always use, but never feel confident in my application. I try to just draw a soft line along the bottom of my lid, and slightly smudge it. I have purchased this Essence “Long Lasting Eye Pencil” in hot chocolate many times in the past few years, because it is affordable, soft, and does the job well.

Now it is on to the main product, eyeshadow. My biggest purchase ever on a makeup item was for the Too Faced “Chocolate Bar.” I am not into the trend of these never-ending expensive eyeshadow palettes, but I bought this for $30, instead of the usual $50 (and it also came with two lip products!). I felt that it was a great deal to try a product I was interested in. The “chocolate” aspect definitely intrigued me, and the colors seemed pretty practical. Since I mostly stick with nudes, browns, and golds (anything else I never seem to make work), this palette had a lot of potential. I have had it for a year now, and so far I have gotten a lot of use out of it. The formula has held up well, and is comfortable on the eyelids. The cocoa scent is also a plus! I have definitely stuck to the lower left corner colors though (with “Hazelnut,” “Creme Brûlée,” and “Semi-Sweet” being my most-used colors), and don’t think I will manage to use much of the remaining colors once I run out of those. I am not very good at successfully blending, so I tend to stick with one color on the eyelid, and maybe a swipe of something else above it. I do enjoy this product, but I don’t think I would necessarily repurchase, as I would want to try something different.

Along with my larger eyeshadow palette, I also have a smaller one from Maybelline called “TruNaked Nudes.” I initially purchased this with a coupon intending to use it just for traveling. Since I don’t travel too much though, I moved it to my main makeup bag so I could get more use out of it before it gets too old. The formula is more powdery than I would prefer, but I am very fond of a few of the center colors, and have been using them more than my Chocolate Bar as of late. 

To finish up my eyes, I use the Covergirl “Clump Crusher” mascara in black. I find that most mascaras don’t stay super nice for too long, but this one has worked quite well for what I am looking for. For the first few weeks the clumping is very minimal and the brush applicator works well to add the right amount of mascara easily. I like that it is easy to separate the lashes and keep them not overly thick and full of gloopy mascara. While eventually the clumping control isn’t as great, this is one of the more successful mascaras I have used. This is my third tube of this product, and I will most likely buy it again.

Next up, I use my favorite BB cream, Covergirl “Clean Matte” in fair. This has been my go-to ever since I first tried it a year ago. I’m not normally very fond of matte products because they tend to be more noticeable and uncomfortable on my skin, but this product is light and not cakey. It blends well and I don’t need much for it to cover effectively. Since it is a BB cream, it doesn’t necessarily conceal any blemishes super well, but I like the simplicity of it and it adds just enough coverage for me. 

To finish up my makeup routine, I add some blush to my cheeks. I have been using the Physicians Formula “Mineral Glow Pearls Blush” in rose pearl for a while now, and have really liked it. It was my first Physicians Formula product, and I would buy a blush from them again. Not surprisingly, my lid has cracked off at the hinge, but other than that it has stayed in nice condition. This product does come with a flat brush in a bottom compartment, but I use my regular brush instead. I like the pearl aspect a lot, because it brings just a tinge of sparkle to the cheeks. For me, the blush really pulls the finished makeup look together, and it is my favorite part to add on to my face.

I also have a few highlighters, that I honestly just use as a bit of a bronze glow occasionally, since I have no skills in the highlighting department. Both are maybe a bit too dark for my very light skin, but it is nice to have another option apart from the blush. This ColourPop and Wet n Wild highlighter both work quite well as an eyeshadow!

While my makeup bag isn’t packed full of items, I like having a pretty compact collection of makeup. Essentially, I try to go for a natural look that freshens up a few spots, making me feel more put-together and ready to take on the day. I like lip products the most, so after finishing up my roughly 5 minute routine, I then choose a lip stick or gloss to take with me for the day. As I have slowly found some favorite items, I can keep the reliable basics, while being able to switch up items like blush, eye shadow, and lip color. 

Lip Haul 4

I collected another pile of lip products throughout the last couple months and wanted to share my thoughts about them. This time around, I used each product for a few weeks before reviewing them, thinking that it would give me a better idea of how I really like them.

J.R. Watkins Lip Balm in Raspberry

I received this as a gift from my cousin who is a big fan of J.R. Watkins products. I had this for a few months, but finally opened it when I was looking to bring a basic lip balm with me on a day trip.

Price: $2.99 (found at Target)

Tube: The tube is a basic click stick.

Scent: My first reaction was that the raspberry smell was nice. I honestly don’t think I have really had a raspberry scented balm before, since I tend to primarily get cherry or strawberry, so it was nice to have a different berry scent.

Texture: This is a pretty standard balm, but I did find it quite stiff to begin with, and it takes quite a few swipes around the lips to get going. The formula is similar to how I feel about Burt’s Bees balms, in that it is just a bit too hard or waxy in texture on my lips. I like to have a bit of a silky texture from my balms, which usually results in a bit of a shine once on the lips.

Color: There is no color.

Overall: While this balm didn’t leave any shine, it was comfortable enough on the lips once I had it on. The balm overall just doesn’t offer anything special or good enough to become a favorite balm.

Carmex Orange Dream and Tropical Colada Daily Care Lip Balm

I’ve said before that Carmex is my #1 lip product, and I honestly use it every day of my life. I usually buy a three pack of the original tube, which is my favorite version of the balm. The stick style does tend to be a bit overly soft, making it harder to keep the formula nice in the container, but it is very moisturizing.

Price: 2 for $3 (purchased at Walgreens)

Tube: The tube is a basic click stick, and felt sturdy for wear and tear. You can actually hear the click as you turn the stick.

Scent: I was so excited for these new scents (they also had winter mint and honeydew melon). The scents I chose were both really pleasant, with the Orange Dream smelling like an orange creamsicle and the Tropical Colada smelling like a blend of pineapple and coconut. All the different scents Carmex has been coming out with is welcome, especially because the people I know who don’t really use Carmex tend to find the original scent off-putting.

Texture: The formula had the same feel and texture as the other Carmex sticks I have tried. It was very soft and creamy, feeling very comfortable on the lips.

Color: There is no color.

Overall: I noticed that both scents have sunscreen protection, but the Orange Dream points out that it is SPF 15, and the Tropical Colada highlights that it is water resistant for 80 minutes. I don’t know why they point out different things or if they both do the same. The balms lasted a long time on my lips though, really refreshing them with moisture, while also adding a slight bit of shine. These are great balms to keep in your purse so you always have something along when you go out. Similar to the other Carmex click stick versions I have had, the creamy softness of the formula does tend to make it harder to keep the balm nice and even in the tube as you apply.

Lip Freak Buzzing Balm in Atomic Cherry and Clockwerk Orange

This was a balm I noticed a while back at Ulta, and kept it in my mind that I wanted to try it sometime. I was so curious what the packaging meant by “buzzing," since I had never had anything like that. There were a lot of scents that were more sweet focused, and I tend to like fruity scents for lip products. Sweet scents tend to give me a headache, so I went with the fruitiest they had. I actually got a scent called Psycho Punch first (apparently an Ulta “exclusive” scent), which I instantly fell in love with. I used it each day for a couple weeks, until I accidentally left it in a pants pocket one eventing and it ended up in the wash the next day. Needless to say, it died after the dryer got its hand on it. So, I went back and bought the other two fruity scents, one for my mom and one for me. 

Price: $4.95 (purchased at Ulta, and used a 20% off coupon for one of the balms)

Tube: The tube is a basic click stick, which feels secure and not too cheap. The only thing I didn’t like, and it happened on each tube, was that some sticky residue was left after breaking the seal to open the product. 

Scent: The orange is more of a spiced orange, and the cherry (as well as the punch scent I had) have a pleasant fruit scent. Because of whatever is in the formula to make the balm buzz, the scents don’t seem to matter too much once on the lips as the buzzing takes over. 

Texture: The formula is soft and smooth, providing a nice shine.

Color: There is no color.

Overall: I really had no idea what to expect with these, but I ultimately really love this balm. The product takes about two minutes to start to really do anything in terms of buzzing. Once it starts though, it really is very noticeable. It feels like a small vibration or slight pulsing, and goes on for several minutes. Because of this, I don’t think this product would be for everyone, but I really enjoy the tingles it gives. I don’t think it plumps the lips, but the tingles make it feel like it is making your lips bigger (which honestly isn’t something I would be interested in). As a plus, I think the formula is also quite moisturizing. This, along with my Carmex, has become my go-to general balms each day. It is definitely the most fun balm I have and I get excited to use it each time.

Almay Butter Kiss in Nude-Light

I had a tube of this a few years ago in a brown color, which I used quite a bit. These were on clearance for a few dollars at Ulta, so I picked up a light nude color, because I figured it would be a good basic to have and go with everything.

Price: $2.99 (on clearance at Ulta)

Tube: The tube the product sits it matches the color it is, and has a clear cover to go on top. It looks sleek and seems sturdy.

Scent: There is no scent.

Texture: I really like the formula because it isn’t heavy and is easy to apply, meaning I don’t have to use a mirror to feel like I applied it well (which is the case for many lipsticks). Since it is a lip butter, it is more moisturizing and creamy than a lip stick.

Color: The color payoff isn’t huge, but I’m really fond of the nice soft nude color it gives off, and it doesn’t take many swipes to achieve. There is a bit of sparkle in it as well, and for me, it stays on well. Because it is buttery soft, I don’t really mind reapplying though. The color is a great basic to have when you want a small bit of color.

Overall: I’m not sure if these are being discontinued because they were on clerance, but I would repurchase another in the future. What I like most about this butter formula is that they are both soft and comfortable on the lips, but also provides a subtle color. I am really fond of the nude color and the slight sparkle it has.

Covergirl Oh Sugar! in Soda and Gumdrop

These have been out for a while, but I love the name and font style the packaging has. My mom purchased one earlier in the year, and when I tried it I liked the formula and scent. So, when I was looking to replace some lipsticks with colored balms, I bought a few for myself to enjoy.

Price: $7.99 (purchased at Ulta for buy one, get one 1/2 off, plus an additional coupon)

Tube: The tube is a square shape, with a pretty metallic cap. The white plastic that holds the formula seems a bit cheap, but so far the plastic has not cracked.

Scent: The scent is a lemon sugar combination. I think that some may think it leans toward a chemical cleaning scent, but every time I open the tube I like the sugary scent that comes out. As I said earlier, I tend to like fruity scents over sweet, and this scent provides both.

Texture: The texture is smooth and applies like a balm. When my lips are a little drier though, the color seems to stick on the dry parts more noticeably making it look a little less even.

Color: Both colors are pretty and provide a soft shine. They do take a little time to build up to a brighter color. A few swipes will create a light color, but the more you build, the prettier it looks. I especially like the red Soda color, because it feels more natural than a really bold red lip. They also don’t seem to last too long on the lips, but are easy to reapply. I love that all the names are sweet themed.

Overall: These are somewhat similar to the Revlon Kiss Balm that I tried during my last lip haul. I’ve really decided this year that I need to stick with color balms over lipsticks because I just find lipsticks too drying and hard to quickly reapply. I have used this product a lot because the colors go nicely with many outfits and are easy to swipe on. I would definitely repurchase or try another color.

Bonus:

Shea Moisture Shea Butter Lip Balm in African Water Mint and Ginger 

This lip balm was a pretty big fail, primarily because the lip product was so stiff! I could hardly squeeze it out of the tube. When I did squeeze, the pressure would actually push the applicator out. I would press it against my lips pretty hard to keep the applicator from shooting off. Soon after a few applications, a small hole formed on the seal near the bottom of the tube. So instead of using the applicator at all now, I just squeeze some from the bottom.

Price: $3.99 (purchased at Walmart)

Tube: The tube was a bit of a disaster because of what I mentioned above, but visually it was nice and should have worked well if the formula wasn’t so problematic.

Scent: The scent is not as noticeable as I had hoped. The mint and ginger combination sounded amazing, but it did not really deliver. I would say it was slightly minty, but I didn’t smell any ginger.

Texture: The texture is somewhat grainy, almost like a lip scrub. The stiffness was the biggest problem when applying, but one actually smoothed onto my lips, I liked the way it felt and also thought it lasted a long time. 

Color: There is no color.

Overall: As much of a pain this really was, I actually do like the product in the end. I have been keeping it on my bathroom counter (since I can’t bring it anywhere because of the hole in the tube). I wouldn’t repurchase this because of the struggle, but I do think I will use it up because I like how it feels on my lips (especially after a shower!)