Since I was in the 6th grade, I’ve loved looking through my friends’ makeup bags (with permission, of course.) We would get together at each other’s houses every weekend, bring a ton of stuff and trade makeup/makeup bags/bracelets, you name it. They would always laugh at me because I usually had only one brand of makeup. For example, I may or may not have owned over 25 different Lip Smackers flavors at one time. I know that I’m somewhat of a brand loyalist. I never really like to branch out and try new products unless it’s absolutely necessary… or if I have some extra money and I’m feeling adventurous. Honestly, about 85% of my makeup bag is Benefit, but I wouldn’t have it any other way (although I’m sure my bank account would say otherwise). When I find a product that I love, I want to try everything from the whole line.
Here’s what’s currently in my makeup bag:
Too Faced Naked Eye palette, Benefit’s Eye Bright pencil, Smashbox ‘Peony’ blush, Benefit’s ‘Honey’ Hello Flawless foundation powder, Benefit’s ‘Spin the Bottle’ Play Stick, Rimmel London dark brown eyebrow pencil, MAC brush #224 and a Bare Minerals blush brush. (Not pictured: Smashbox Photo Finish primer, MAC ‘Kid’ eyeshadow, Benefit’s Boi-ing/Lemon Aid, Benefit’s ‘Fair’ Erase Paste and Rimmel London’s black soft kohl eyeliner pencil.) Whew!
My current favorite product in my makeup bag is definitely Smashbox’s Photo Finish primer. I really haven’t had much experience with Smashbox products until I splurged on a sample pack at Ulta a couple of months ago. The products were all great, but I was especially blown away by the this product. Previously, I had been in love with a shine-minimizing product by Lancôme (now regretfully discontinued), and while I’m very happy with the pore-minimizing results that Benefit delivers, nothing seemed to get rid of that shine… until now! I apply the primer before applying any makeup, and my makeup stays put all day. And I love how many different options they have… I currently use the regular photo finish primer, but I think I may switch to the hydrating primer for this upcoming cold weather. Have you tried any of them?
What’s your favorite product in your make-up bag?



















guest
I also have Smashbox’s Photo Finisher. It’s probably my favorite. I also have a lot of Clinque’s line. I’ve found that the products work well for me.
guest
I have a mix of drugstore and department store makeup/skin care. Although I love trying new brands, colors and types, I try not to buy too much stuff. I intend using most of it before moving on to another. I don’t think I ever finished anything makeup product, except for facial moisturizer and cleansers. There are too many products, I don’t know what to pick as my favorite! Well, right now, I am really liking Urban Decay’s Primer Potion eye primer. Really makes the eye shadow stay put, but ironically, I prefer Too Faced eye shadows rather than Urban Decay. So, I would say my favorite eye shadow product right now is Too Faced’s Natural Eye palette.
guest
I have WAY too much makeup to even begin to list, but I’ll list some of my favorites of each.
I’m a bit biased, as I work for MAC, but I really do enjoy our products; mostly blush and lipstick.
Eye primer – Urban Decay Primer Potion
Shadow – I don’t have one specific shadow that is my favorite, but my 2 favorite brands for shadows are Urban Decay & MAC.
Palette – Urban Decay Naked 1 palette & Lorac Pro
Liner – Gel, Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack. Pencil, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On in Perversion
Mascara – MAC False Lashes or Benefit They’re Real!
Moisturizer – Philosophy Take a Deep Breath and MAC Studio Moisture Cream
Face Primer – Philosophy The Present and Clarin’s Beauty Flash Balm
Foundation – MAC Matchmaster & Clarin’s Skin Illusion
Tinted Moisturizer – Laura Mercier
Concealer – Undereye, MAC Moisture Cover and MAC Pro Longwear. Face, Benefit Boiing
Bronzer – NARS Laguna and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep
Highlighter – Clarin’s Instant Light Complexion Perfector
Blush (I have a LOT) – MAC Blushbaby, MAC Whole Lotta Love, MAC Harmony, Tarte Amazonian Clay in Exposed
Powder – MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
Lipstick (I have a lot) – MAC Modesty, MAC Girl About Town, MAC Red, MAC Fanfare, MAC Rebel, MAC So Chaud & MAC Ruby Woo
I HATE the brand Too Faced. Everything I’ve tried from them was horrible.
guest
I really like Mary Kay and my friend sells it, when I go to Walgreens I am so tempted. Lol. Maybe if I get a coupon I will buy stuff from there, but I will probably buy Mary Kay for the rest of my life for the most part.
guest
I love that makeup bag in the first picture. It just makes me so happy.
orchid / 105 posts
@babybug329@xanga - me too! i love that palette! i go back and forth between the natural and naked eye. they were definitely impulse purchases… gotta love those.
i’ve been thinking about trying that urban decay eye primer too… i may try it when summer rolls around again. does it feel greasy or anything?
@NightShade_Tea@xanga - i love it too! i totally nerded out and spent like an hour just looking at strangers’ makeup bags online… good to know that over 10 years later, i’m still super nosy about other people’s makeup bags.
@SUPletstake___surveys@xanga - i’m in love with that benefit mascara. i actually went and bought some on my lunch break today! love it.
guest
it seems rather unsanitary to keep the eye makeup brush/brushes just casually tossed into the makeup bag like that without a brush cover. that’s my ocd kicking in when looking at these makeup bag pics
I don’t wear eyemakeup, therefore, don’t use makeup brushes*whew* lol I don’t really wear makeup but I do have a few makeup bags and other cute makeup related accessories. I bought a makeup bag that has “I love shoes” on the front-not sure why they would put the love for shoes on a makeup bag, but I bought it anyway
I mainly like to collect anything that I deem cute. I also have a lot of earrings, yet I don’t have my ears pierced. and I have a lot of shoes that I barely wear, but they are mainly for display amongst many of my other girly possessions. I’m a collector
guest
@misswheeler - My eyelids aren’t very oily to begin with, but there was no sign of grease with Urban Decay Primer Potion, even after several hours on a warm day. I found it in the old style packaging at Nordstrom Rack for $9, it was worth a try.
orchid / 105 posts
@P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga - i always kinda think that too. i wash mine with brush soap about once a week… probably should do more. however, they got to hang out with the rest of my makeup for their fancy photo shoot.
daisy / 625 posts
Oooh love the photo gallery of makeup bags, so pretty! I also love Smashbox’s photo finish primer! I recently got a sample from a friend and was amazed by how great my face looked throughout the whole day at an outdoor wedding.
I’m not very brand loyal but definitely in the same camp “if it works, why buy something different”. I love MAC for their powder foundations, blushes and eye brow pencils. I always buy drug store mascara and eyeliner (usually Maybelline) and my sunblock has been Neutrogena for the past 10 years.
The one beauty product I’m always changing up is my lipgloss. Right now I’m using Nars lipgloss (Orgasm) but almost out.
Lovelies, any suggestions/recommendations for a new lip gloss?
guest
My favorite go-to lip gloss is Artistry’s Light-Up Lip Gloss. Not sticky, pretty shades, hint of mint flavoring, and a little mirror on the side and an LED light inside the cap so you can apply lip gloss in the dark if need be