Edit| Makeup and the Office

Most mornings, I can get ready and do my makeup in 15 minutes flat. On days where I can't roll out of bed I rely on my trusty pouch at work to finish up my face. 

The Laneige BB Cushion currently houses #23 Sand Beige and a mirror. I also have my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer in "Neutralizer" to conceal any dark circles that's still showing after foundation.

As a constant hand washer, I rely on my L'Occitane Hand Cream in Subtle Violet to moisturize. I'm almost done with this tube and ready to move on to my Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater hand lotion. 

I tend to hoard lip products at work so that I can reapply after tea and lunch. My MLBB shade is Too Faced Spice Spice Baby. I keep a NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee for frequent touch ups, and the Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss in Berry Allure as a "just in case." 

For brows, I use Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark since it requires virtually no effort. 

As for eyes, I make sure to have eye liner (this NARS Via Veneto sample size from Sephora is perfect for tightlining) and mascara (YSL Babydoll Faux Cils sample) on hand so that I can "complete" any eye looks I've started at home.

If I need a simple wash of color, the Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 20e gives a perfect wash of peachy shimmer all over the lids. For really desperate situations, I use my L'oreal quad in "Because I Am Worth It!", sponge applicator and all. 

In all, these products don't require more than 5 minutes to apply and can freshen up my face completely. It's not a complete routine, but this bag can complete any look I've started at home and want to perfect by the time the boss comes downstairs in the morning. 

xo Be

Edit| The Makeup Bag Five Minute Face

When you wake up every morning on the dot at the crack of dawn, putting on makeup is the highlight of your rushed, frantic, scurrying effort to get out the door and be at work on time. I keep two makeup bags with me. One is at the office and currently has a translucent blotting powder, a brow gel, a lip gloss, and mascara. These are the relatively extraneous steps I can finish up once I'm at the desk.

For the hurried morning routine part, I have a separate makeup bag that contains everything I need to make a face in under five minutes. (Three, if you really warm up for it.) If I'm running late, I can always zip it up and dash out! I got this 'lil makeup bag from Crabtree & Evelyn as a gift with purchase.

 For the base:

BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Prime Perfector ($36): After my morning dark spot serum has soaked into the skin, I apply the tiniest amount of this to my index fingers, rub it together, and then push the product into the sides of my nose and the middle of my forehead. This stuff is insanely mattifying and works so well that I don't have to blot by lunch. It seems ultra luxe, but I use less than half a pea size each morning.

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting ($42): This stuff is overpriced imo, but it performs very well. I use Light which is a match for NC30 and it isn't grey cast or ghastly. For a natural look I can skip the concealer pen. It dries down to a natural finish that isn't overly-dewy or greasy either. I like that it looks natural enough for work and I can apply with my fingers.

If I'm feeling self conscious that day, I'll dot on some MUFE Full Cover concealer in 7 Sand ($32) to cover up my acne spots. Then, I use my Hourglass Brow Sculpting Pencil to define the shape and tail of my brows, brushing through with the provided spoolie. The gel to fill and set comes in later when I get to the office.

For the face:

Next, I use Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow ($20) in 20E Pearly Beige and/or 22E Pearly Copper to haphazardly draw on some eyeshadow and blend out the edges with a finger. I had never seen these before until I realized that shadow sticks would cut my getting ready time by a few minutes. These are insanely waterproof and don't crease or smudge throughout the workday, even sans primer.

By now I should be out of clean fingers, but I somehow find a way to apply Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise ($22) to the apples of my cheeks. The color is healthy, sheeny, and flushed so that it balances out my matte base. I've always shied away from cream blushes, but this one is really long lasting (I've counted 7 hours of strong color) and natural.

To finish up, I slap on a gloss. For this week it's MAC Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait ($20), an ultra pretty milky nude that mellows out my blush.

Do you carry a makeup bag around? I never saw the appeal of touching up my makeup, but I've realized that it's good to have portability when you're rushed for time. Let me know if you'd like a separate review on any of these products above.

xo, Be