25 Days of Makeup! Day 1

Okay, I’m going to attempt the 25 Days of Makeup Challenge this month for Christmas. Blogmas, if you will. Wish me luck!

Day 1 – What’s in your makeup bag?

I don’t really carry a makeup bag with me and I have already posted a “what’s in my purse” and a “What’s in my travel bag” post. So, I’m going to show you my everyday essentials I use daily and always take with me if I’m going out of town no matter what kind of makeup I’m doing. It’s a bit tricky because I change up my products almost daily.

Let’s start with tools.

I just about always use The Real Techniques Complexion Sponge for my foundation, blending concealer and setting my undereye. These sponges are a great affordable alternative to The Beauty Blender, about half the price. At Ulta, you can get twin packs and use a coupon. They’re also available at Wal-Mart so they’re much more accessible.

For brushes, I usually use a variety of shapes and types for different styles of makeup but I always go for these or ones like them.

A pencil brush for the lower lash line and outer V. Oddly, two brushes for my brows, I’m high maintenance. I know. I just the smaller one to create shape and fill in with the larger angled brush by Real Techniques. I love always having a fluffy blending brush on hand for blending out transition shades and making sure everything is seamless. I also use an even larger brush for applying my base shade and highlight.

For the face, I usually contour with an angled contour brush and have a fluffy blush brush and a small one for highlight. I also keep a kabuki on hand for knocking away excess powder and setting.

Primer! A good eye and face primer are definitely essential for me. I float from brand to brand depending on how I feel but Smashbox is my old faithful.
Brow products are a staple as well. Usually, the first thing I do is brows. I always have a pencil like the Nyx Micro Brow and a colored brow gel. The Anastasia Dip Brow gets incorporated a lot too.

A good contouring palette is always in my rotation. I’m fond of the Kat Von D Shade+Light one because of its versatility I discussed in my review. Kat Von D Shade+Light Contour Palette Review and Demo
I definitely keep a liquid liner around. Ya never knows when you’re gonna want to wing it.
Of course, whatever mascara I’m into at the moment is included.
I just about always line the water line with a flesh colored pencil to open my eyes up.

Then whatever foundation, concealer, and powder strike my fancy that day. I take the powder along in my handbag with whatever lippies I chose.

A good moisturizer is always  a must and an SPF!
The Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is my best friend.

Those are my essentials that always come along with me on trips and used daily. Not the most exciting start to 25 Days of Makeup but tomorrow will be fun. Goth Makeup. No problem. LOL.