What's in Your Makeup Bag?

As a professional makeup artist who has been working on the rich and famous for 15 years, I get asked the same questions. The top three are: “What colors would work on me?”, “What are your favorite products?”, and “What is ‘in' for this season?”

I assume I'm being asked because women are keen on keeping up to date with their makeup. They want to be sure that they are using updated products, colors and gadgets. Because of this, I started a program where I go through a woman's cosmetic bag and help them out. I instruct them on the good, bad and ugly of what dwells in the depths of their makeup kit. What I find is sometimes ghastly!

We all like to hold on to things. I suppose it's just human nature. Men hold on to old tools and ties. Women like to hold on to old cosmetics. Even if it is something they have never worn, don't like, or didn't suit them, they keep it! I suppose they don't want to admit to wasting money, and if you keep a product, it shows that there is still the possibility of using it….after all, if you keep it, it means you didn't waste money, right?

I used to do the same thing with my makeup kit. I would buy something I knew I probably would only use once, and then keep it in my kit. After all, I'm a makeup artist, and you never know when you will need that gold, blue and sea foam green glitter! I then decided to be smart about my makeup kit. There are certain things that I use every photo shoot without fail. They are items that are tried and true, and never fail. One is a palette of 88 colors of eyeshadow. I haven't bought a single shadow in years, because I can now create my own. I also have a lipstick palette of 10 colors. My Shu Umeura eyelash curler, Saúde Pele radiance booster, CDB natural concealer and Veludo foundation and Finale Finishing Powder are all things I never leave without.

I have learned over the years that less is more with makeup. Sure, it's fun to try out the new and exciting products, but what I've found is that they are usually a flash in the pan, and I go right back to what I know and love. There is something comforting in having products that you know you can rely on.

My job is to help women find those products so they can pull out products that they understand and love, and use time and time again...