How to assemble a basic cosmetic bag? 12 Essential Products for Every Make-up

For us, makeup is not just a familiar beauty routine, but also an opportunity to look at ourselves differently, try new images and, finally, emphasize our uniqueness.

We present to you our columnist Olga Romanova! Olga is a famous makeup artist and creator of the cosmetic brand Romanovamakeup. Today she will tell you how to choose from all the makeup products that you will actually use. Namely, to collect the foundation that you can transform from a brat girl into a very serious, very careful and repulsive one.

Olga Romanova

In recent years, makeup has been constantly at the center of everyone’s increasing attention. The most famous fashion houses and brands are launching their own lines, bloggers are imposing on us strange trends that require the use of a large number of products. Most often, this has absolutely nothing to do with everyday makeup. That’s why I decided to prepare a guide for you that will help you put together the perfect makeup bag with the most necessary products. Then it will be enough to add a few items for special occasions. In fact, such a cosmetic bag is an analogue of a basic wardrobe.

Nowadays, the clear boundaries between business, casual and evening makeup have become blurred. Everything began to depend solely on the person’s preferences, temperament, the atmosphere prevailing around, type of activity. This is a way to tell the world about yourself, do not deprive others of this opportunity!

So the basis of any make-up is to work with nuances and bring what we have to perfection. Ideal, elastic, radiant skin, clear facial features, correct proportions are our most important goal. Here are the products that will help us achieve this.

The skin around the eyes is the primary object of our attention. It is often thin, transparent, with translucent veins and extremely pigmented. And it is this area that determines how fresh you will look.

Therefore, I give the main role in my cosmetic bag to concealer – the basis for local use.

It is more pigmented than foundation, but in no case should it crease or become heavy. And of course, more concentrated, so you can cover everything you need with one touch. I often communicate with customers of the brand and I know that many girls and women are afraid to use concealer. They think that it will add age; wrinkles stand out and the skin looks pale. In this case, the problem lies either in the wrong application (too much) or in the formula of the product. Too oily textures can migrate and cause wrinkles, while too dense textures can look like a mask.

It is better to choose neutral and light products that can be applied in layers to cover up imperfections, without focusing on what you want to hide.

Try applying concealer using your fingertips using a tapping motion. And remember, the most “problem” area is usually not the area around the eyes, but the bridge of the nose (inner corner and below). These spots are the most important. If you have extremely dry skin and a lot of wrinkles, you can apply the concealer only to this area and work a little on your lower eyelid.

Why am I talking about this product in such detail? The thing is that the products we will use in the future, for example, every shade on the lips (especially red and trendy brown) and on the eyes, focus attention on this area. And bright colors may seem unattractive and tiring. In reality, the problem is that the area around the eyes is not properly treated.

Having marked the first item, we proceed to the selection of the main foundation. But we do this only if it is really necessary (there are enlarged pores, blood vessels, the skin is thin and transparent with many color nuances). We prefer products that are not too dense and not resistant.

It is better to choose light, “smart” products with care ingredients and SPF. Or CC and BB creams with a small amount of pigment.

For very dry skin, choose the lightest possible liquid texture. For oily people – not very moisturizing. Carefully read the recommendations written in the annotation.

The next product is a light powder with the most natural shade. This is the product that helps to refresh your makeup throughout the day. It is especially valid for those with an overactive T-zone. It should be applied with an airy, soft brush to avoid the mask effect that can occur when using a sponge. If you are not prone to oiliness and excessive shine, you can do without it.

Blush occupies a worthy place in the basic cosmetic bag. They instantly refresh the skin, so they definitely belong to the category of anti-aging cosmetics. You can choose absolutely any shade. I recommend paying attention to the brightest ones. Their appearance on the packaging may scare you, but in reality they all look very natural. Apply them to the apples of the cheeks and blend towards the temples.

Another product that I don’t recommend to ignore is a sculptor or something similar (like a bronzer powder). This product should be a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. It allows you to play with volumes, visually slimming your face. With its help, I like to make delicate sculptings that are not too harsh and transformative, unlike contouring.

Using a wide, airy, beveled brush, you need to go along the cheekbones, chin, temple hollows, forehead and sides of the nose. The emphasis should be on the play of halftones (so I do not recommend actively highlighting any one area). When people ask me what texture to choose (cream or powder), I always recommend choosing only those that are clean for you and easy to use daily.

Another important component of the cosmetic bag is the highlighter, which we apply to the prominent areas. If the sculptor helped us to slim the face, then this product will make it voluminous where necessary. Draw the letter “C” from the temple along the cheekbone, emphasize the bridge of the nose and the tip of the nose, add a drop above the upper lip. Yes, it is better not to overdo it with this product, so as not to get a shiny, pancake face.

Don’t forget about eyebrows because they determine the proportions. You can choose a product according to your natural features and personal preferences: pencil, eyeshadow or mascara. Some lucky women have naturally luxurious hair and all they have to do is comb them and shape them with clear gel.

When it comes to eye makeup, as practice shows, we use only a few shades in everyday life. Therefore, you should not buy 10 eyeshadow palettes, one or two are enough. It is important to understand what effect you want to achieve. Warm or cold, matte or satin? Or maybe all you need are delicately shimmering sparkles?

Next on the list are pencils, pens, liquid eyeliners: the option that is more familiar to your hand. Here too, multi-colored will definitely not work. A matte black or brown shade will be enough to help emphasize the eyes and give clarity to the lines. It would also be nice to have a couple of light-colored pencils with a metallic effect. One is neutral, classic, and the second is not bright, but with a beautiful nuance (light lilac, pistachio, amber).

Black and brown mascara will be useful. For some, a single color will be enough.

Well, don’t forget about lips. Pink gloss with cool undertones and neutral beige are a must. Take two natural lip pencils: one in the same color, the second one a little darker than your natural tone. And of course, I always recommend everyone to find “your” red lipstick. This is the product of lightning-fast transformation, which can change the image with one touch, making it gorgeous and bright.

You will also need several brushes for application. They should be airy, made of high-quality, expensive raw materials (which do not puncture or crumble). Choose only those that gently pick up and release the product. This is the only way to ensure the most natural application possible.