The Essentials

I know I did an “In the Bag” purse-edition post once before. And maybe this is kind of similar to that, but I wanted to get a bit more in depth. I decided to focus on what I believe are essential items that every gal should carry with her at all times (though I totally understand the use of a clutch or even just a pocket when going out for the night). I’ve learned the hard way what I need/don’t need to have in my purse, and I think I’ve finally figured out the perfect mix of things I need to keep close to feel normal/fix issues quickly/stay prepared!

Let’s start with the most important things. I don’t know about you, but a day without lip balm is sort of the worst. If I can’t de-chap my lips at any given moment, I am a super grump. So I make sure to have one on me at all times (and a refill when it’s getting low, before it runs out). I also like to keep a lipstick in my bag. This Rimmel brand is a bright red, so it doesn’t get worn a lot, but it’s nice to know I could kick it up a notch if I so desired. At the top of this little group, I have a pill case. I usually try and keep it filled (though it can only handle so much) with some kind of pain reliever. Any pills you need or use frequently, this is a discreet and neat way to keep them close at hand so you never have to worry! I also am a big proponent of eye drops. I use Refresh Natural Tears, which come in little disposable, one-time-use dispensers and can be used with/without contacts. They are amazing. Topping off the group is a great hand combo. I’m not the biggest hand sanitizer freak around, but I am always so thankful when I have it and have made a point to keep it in stock. The Nivea Crème can be replaced with whatever hand lotion you like. However, this stuff is amazing. The tiny tin costs .99 cents and a little goes a long way. It’s sort of a miracle worker. I hate when I’m out and my hands go from freezing cold to crackling, or a public restroom has a super-drying soap. It goes hand-in-hand with my lip balm theory. If any part of me is dry or uncomfortable, I will have a terrible day.

Notebooks and pens are a recent addition to my bag, but I’d be lost without them. There’s always a moment when someone (me, usually) needs a pen. I keep two different lightweight notebooks in my bag as well. The Hello Kitty one is just for fun, a place to write down blog ideas, wish lists, party brainstorms. The bigger one beneath that is a journal of sorts, a place to keep track of my moods and write out my issues.

I find it really important these days to have reading material on me at all times. When work is slow, when I’m in a waiting room, whatever. It’s just a good thing to have. I am at the tail end of Mindy Kaling’s book (it’s adorable and funny, of course) so I’m showing it off here. Music is also super important. Most days of the week I am driving around 40-60 minutes total (whether to and from work or Brad’s), and I’d go crazy if it weren’t for my fully loaded Zune. The headphones are always with me, though they came with my iPhone. I use them pretty much everyday, so I can talk and text and tweet or whatever all at the same time. They have a built in microphone, so they are the best. Obvious but oft-forgot items are sunglasses (even in the winter…especially then, the sun glaring off the snow is soooo bright), chewing gum, and some throat lozenges. I get a tickly throat after singing loudly (alone in my car, all the time) or talking a lot and this helps soothe the discomfort.

Last but not least, the tech portion. I showcased my phone here, but basically I think everyone should have a camera on them at all times. It doesn’t have to be your phone (it’d probably be even better if it wasn’t), but you never know when memories will unfold. Yes, my phone is helpful in so many important ways, but I love that it takes great photos and video and I can capture sweet things at any given time. And finally, a flash drive. I’m so glad I started to keep mine with me. It’s easy to share music or photos with anyone because of this.

So there you have it! Michal Lynn’s suggestions for the essential purse/bag necessities.

In the Bag: Makeup Edition

I decided to take you on a journey through my makeup bag. I recently purchased this cute makeup tote from Target (6 bucks, heck yeahhhh) and it’s a huge step up from the stupid, clunky box I was using before that would always open and spill things. 
There are four clear sections that keep everything super organized and easily accessible.
Bonus: I can detach the middle pouches for traveling!

Everyday Use

When it comes to my everyday makeup routine, it’s short and simple. I’m often rushing to get ready for work in the morning but I’m
low-maintenance anyway, so it works out! The products I use are meant to make me look awake and subtlety enhance my features.

From Left to Right:
EOS Lip Balm (I keep one accessible at all times)
Rimmel’s Match Perfection concealer
Maybelline’s Colossal Volum’ Express mascara  
Bare Minerals Tinted Mineral Veil, Warmth, and blush in Avant-Garden

EOS Lip Balm is something I’ve raved about in the past, and I still stand strong by it. It’s not waxy and the flavors/scents are yummy yet subtle. I don’t like to go beyond a lip balm on work days…too much upkeep. I recently ran out of my Bare Minerals foundations (I buy a sample kit that’s only supposed to last a month or so, and it usually takes me almost a year to go through because I basically use them for spot treatment only), but I’ve had a lot of luck with Rimmel concealers in the past and this is no different. As for my mascara, I am always changing that. I do not discriminate with mascara. All I care about is voluminous lashes…though I usually complain they aren’t thick enough even with mascara on. This one is doing the job for now, but when it runs low, I’ll surely have a completely different one in the bag.

These are the Bare Minerals products I still have and use daily. The Tinted Mineral Veil adds a little extra color to my skin. And I love the perfectly pink Avant-Garden blush. I wouldn’t have those products if it weren’t for my mom. As for the classic Warmth powder, it takes a while for me to go through a compact…I use it everyday, but only a light dusting for a slightly sun kissed glow.

A Little Extra…

From Left to Right:
Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil – Easy Going, Touch of Glam, Cool Down, and Go Wild
From Top to Bottom:
Cover Girl Natureluxe Gloss Lip Balm – Tulip, Coral, and Cabernet

On the days I know I’ll be seeing friends or going out or being social in anyway other than work, I like to kick it up a notch. It’s a little notch, but a little goes a long way. These eyeliners are way more fun than eyeshadow (and they don’t crease!). I am especially fond of the Purple and Blue sticks, they get the most use for sure. As for the lip balms, I am obsessed with these. They are the perfect stepping stone to lipstick, which can be intimidating for someone who’s usually very natural. I’ve worn them all, but Cabernet gets the most use. It’s super dark in the tube, but it puts a nice rosy color on your lips that brightens the entire face without the woes of it bleeding into cracks or moving onto the teeth. Highly recommend all these products above. They are inexpensive and worth every penny.

Special Occasions

From Left to Right:
NYX Eye/Eyebrow Pencil in Gray
NYC Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in Black
Bare Minerals Big and Bright Eyeliner in Black Coffee
Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara in Black
Rimmel Lip Liner in Nude
Wet n Wild lipstick in Stoplight Red and Smoking Hot Pink

This section of my makeup bag is maybe only reserved for special moments like dinners and dates and weddings and other moments that require a little extra effort. The eyeliners have made their way up the ranks on a few random nights, but lipstick is a once in a while thing.
The lip liner is necessary for keeping the highly pigmented lipstick in it’s place. I love how cheap and wonderful these lipsticks are, but I wouldn’t have purchased them if it weren’t for this excellent article on HelloGiggles. As for the mascara, I have used it on occasion, but my favorite thing to do on fancy nights is layer both this Bare Minerals mascara and the Maybelline one from above for super thick lashes.
It’s pretty excellent.

So, there you have it guys! I am by no means a beauty expert, but I am quite happy with the makeup I have (and continue to purchase time and again) and would highly recommend all of these products! Hope you enjoyed your peak into my makeup bag!

In the Bag

I’ve always wanted to do a “Look inside my purse” post, but it was my friend’s new blog (check it out!) that gave me the final push. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not super exciting…but it’s a little glimpse to my life.

The bag itself is nothing super special or expensive. I have a tendency to use the same purse over and over until it’s ripped and shredded and completely unusable. I bought this bag about a month or so ago at Ross, because my previous purse had holes inside (I was constantly losing keys) and was chipping on the outside. I fell in love with the soft texture and the multiple pockets and pouches. I immediately imagined throwing in my cameras and film comfortably, along with the regular purse products, and that’s what sealed the deal. So now, a look inside.

These are belongings currently in the front pouches of the purse…

1. My Zune. Maybe you’ll find this odd, but I have never owned an iPod in my life (I do not count the iPhone, because I don’t use it as such). This was given to me for free by my friend’s ex (though he wasn’t her ex at the time). I’m really lucky to have a working MP3 player I didn’t have to pay a cent for.
2. These are the two camera phone lenses I got for Christmas from Photojojo! One is a fisheye, the other is a 2 in 1 wide angle/macro lens. I love them both, but I haven’t used them as much as I’d like. It’s a pain because I have to take my phone case off every time I want to use one.
3. This is a mini composition book I use to write all sorts of things in. Mostly grocery store lists, or things I want to do, or even little blog ideas I have when I’m not by the computer and am afraid I’ll forget.
4. This cloth cleans my eyeglasses. Super boring, but I wear my glasses to work every single day and I’d be lost (or blurry-visioned) without it.

This is the inside of the bag.

1. I threw this camera guide in my purse as soon as I got done putting my baby together. I like having it nearby, even if I don’t always refer to it.
2. A cheap pair of sunglasses from Target. It’s important to always have sunglasses…I hate squinting.
3. This is my iPhone. I don’t always have it inside the purse…it’s kind of always in my hand. The case is from Uncommon. It’s my second case in about half a year…but at least it was the case that broke and not my phone :) .
4. This is a little, simple, dollar store pouch I got years ago. I use it to store all my girly belongings that I don’t want floating around in my purse. The two items inside I use most are on top. I am lost without Clean and Clear Oil Blotters. And, though I still stand by my Rosebud Salve, I recently fell in love with EOS lip balms (So much so that Brad’s V-Day treat for me was an egg carton filled with a variety of them). Cute, small, perfectly contoured, and very soothing. Most lip balms are sticky or waxy…not so with this sucker. Plus, the circular shape is a conversation starter and the scents are fantastic.
5. Diana Mini. The random camera in my purse changes depending on what I currently have loaded with film. And I am also in love with her and can’t wait to get more film developed!
6. Nasal Spray. Sexy, right? Ever since my surgery in October, it’s been a staple. And in the cold, dry, winter weather months, it’s a godsend.
7. Pocketo wallet from Target. As soon as I saw this, I had to have it. Love the colors and the designs. It’s also got tons of slots and pockets so I can fit my cards and check register and money and movie tickets and things I like to keep.
8. Random mustache from a coin machine. I have yet to open it, but I can’t get myself to take it out of the purse, even though it’s been in there since before Christmas. You never know when you’ll need a fake ‘stache.
9. Burt’s Bees Beeswax and Banana hand cream. This is heavy duty. I got it because regular lotion doesn’t work on my hands this time of year. It leaves the skin greasy for a tiny bit, but the yummy smell and softness afterwards are totally worth it, plus it still lasts after a good hand wash or two.
10. A little crank flashlight I got from work. You never know when you’ll need it, so you have to be prepared!!!

No Room for the Blues

Bought a new nail polish last week. OPI brand, No Room for the Blues. I was slightly obsessed with finding a nice matte blue after seeing an interview with MIA for NME.  The color was so unexpected and alluring. I couldn’t stop looking at my toes the first day I painted them. I believe I made the perfect color choice. And it’s a nice change from my usual pinks and dark reds.

Average Girl Beauty Recommendations

I am far from a glamour girl and I’m nowhere near perfect. My tastes in make up and products have changed a lot over the years. But there are some things I’ve stood by for a long time, that maybe even changed my life in a way. So why not take the time to discuss?

My skin isn’t flawless and perfect. Man, I wish. I’ve been through lots with it and luckily, it’s been doing pretty well. Over time, I can probably credit Cetaphil face wash for that. I was introduced by a dermatologist, which was interesting because many before her had prescribed me all kinds of medicated, smelly washes. This is a simple, non-irritating formula that I swear by and have been using religiously since high school. I feel like a lot of us get pissed off with our unruly breakouts and try and attack. But sometimes, all you need is a simple wash that keeps everything in order without stripping all the necessities.

I know there is a competitor but C.O. Bigelow’s Rose Salve is easier for my to obtain and I don’t use anything else. I’m not one for lip gloss and I think lipstick looks weird on me, so I’ve always been a lip balm girl. Unfortunately, the sticks tend to dry my lips out more than moisturize them. This tin lasts for a long time…I’m pretty sure I’ve been using the same one since before I graduated college. It actually makes my lips feel soft and smooth and it just makes them look and feel healthier. It may seem strange to put something scented like flowers on your lips but there is no taste and the smell is so light it disappears pretty quickly. I am a big advocate of this product. 

When it comes to makeup, less is more for me lately. When I have a lot of make up on, I don’t feel like myself. I like when my skin can shine through. I’m not perfect and sometimes heavy makeup just accentuates that. So I stick with concealers and blush. The one place I can have fun and experiment is mascara. But I almost always run to the Rimmel aisle. The mascaras are priced well and there are all kinds of formulas you can try. I go through them pretty quickly because I love loading it on. I’d recommend any one of their mascaras, but I am currently using the one above, which is the latest product.

Moisturizing  is super tough for me because I have combination skin. If I don’t moisturize enough, I get dry spots. If I use something too greasy, I am an oil slick. So finding something good was hard for me. I’ve been using this Aveeno moisturizer on and off for years now (sometimes I use something a bit creamier for colder weather) and whenever I stray, I always come crawling back. The formula is perfect for my oily streak, because it almost mattes it down. And yet, I’m still soft and smooth.

So there ya have it. I know it’s not much, but I’m pretty low-maintenance when it comes to beauty products.