What’s In My Makeup Bag

I have 3 makeup kits: a train case that has all my products that I often use when I do makeup for other people, a bigger personal case that contains the items I don’t use every day (like my smoky eyeshadows and the like), and a small bag of everyday essentials. By far, the items I turn to literally every single day are stashed in the smallest case. Here is what’s inside that case. I would recommend these products without hesitation; they’re the ones I rely on day in and day out.

1. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink ($24): This cream blush lasts all day, and is the prettiest pink shade I’ve found. It glides on whisper-soft for a gentle blush, and layers beautifully for a more pronounced flush. Note: this is the old packaging of this product; check out the new packaging, available now.

2. Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($19): Since the She Uemura curler is only sold online now, I use this–and it’s just as good. Curls expertly, with all-day hold.

3. MAC Strobe Cream ($15-$30): I mix a few drops of this into my tinted moisturizer for extra glow.

4. MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden ($23): This shimmery bronzer gives my fair skin just enough bronzey glow that’s believable, not fake. Note: This packaging is from the 2010 “To The Beach” collection, and is no longer available. Refined Golden is part of MAC’s permanent collection, so the bronzer itself is still available.

Keep reading for more products!

Summerize Your Eyes

Standard neutral and brown eyeshadows are so boring this time of year. I found myself in a rut, doing the same eye color (pale brown) every day and night. Not anymore. Why not try an ocean-inspired twist on your eye makeup? It’s super easy and provides a beautiful pop of summer-inspired color to your eyes.

Learn how I did it after the jump.

MAC Stylishly Yours

Get ready for MAC’s latest collection, Stylishly Yours. The collection will be released Dec. 26 in the U.S., making it both a winter and holiday collection. In stark contrast to the dark hues of winter, this collection is infused with brights, neons, and vivid, saturated colors for eyes, lips, and cheeks.

Full line-up and photos after the jump.

A Peek Inside My Makeup Bag

I love checking out what other women stash in their makeup bags. It’s a great way to steal beauty tips, get inspiration, and discover new products. Here is what I’m currently stocking my makeup bag with, the products that I repeatedly turn to to feel pretty.1. MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF15 in Medium ($29.50)
2. MAC Select Cover-Up in NW20 ($16.50)
3. NARS Bronzer in Laguna ($32)
4. MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, used as highlighter ($16.50)

1. MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study, used as eye primer ($16.50)
2. MAC Fluidline eyeliner in Blacktrack ($15)
3. MAC eyeshadow in Phloof! ($14.50)
4. Smashbox eyeshadow in Minx ($16)
5. Smashbox eyeshadow in Envy ($16)
6. MAC eyeshadow in Print ($14.50)
7. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill mascara ($)
9. MAC Haute & Naughty Lash mascara ($18)

1. MAC Eye Brows in Fling ($15)
2. Anastasia Brow Duality in Camille/Sand ($23)
3. Beauty Society Brow Doctor brow gel ($28)

There’s more – cheeks, lips, and nails after the jump!

Get the Look: Lauren Conrad’s “Hills” Series Finale Glow

Turns out a boho-glam Lauren Conrad is enough to get me out out of a blogging hiatus! I know I said I’d be taking a short break, but I had to break that promise when I saw Lauren Conrad’s look for aftershow of the The Hills series finale. The reality star mixed a bit of bohemian with retro glamour for a result that was striking in its simplicity, and showed just how far she’s come since her Laguna Beach days 6 years ago.

MAC artist Gregory Arlt created Conrad’s quintessential California girl look with MAC products. To recreate it yourself, start by dabbing foundation (Arlt used Studio Sculpt foundation) on the back of your hand, and mix in a drop or 2 of jasmine oil. The oil will help the foundation go further so you use less, and stay longer on your face. To get a Cali glow like Conrad, dust on a bronzer like To The Beach Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden on your nose, cheeks, and forehead for a natural-looking tan. Buff blush onto apples of cheeks with a fluffy brush; Arlt used Margin blush.

On her lashes, Arlt applied Haute & Naughty Lash. A tip from Arlt: To get Conrad’s doe-eyed effect, apply mascara diagonally on the outer lashes, upward on the middle lashes, and downward on the inner lashes. He finished off her eyes with Blacktrack liner, swept up at the outer corners to create the reality star’s signature cateye, and a sweep of Mineralize Skinfinish in Light/Medium in place of eyeshadow. Fill in brows with a slim brow pencil in a matching shade to get Conrad’s full, envious brows, and set with clear brow gel. Polish your look with a light pink lipgloss.

LC’s hairstylist, Kristin Ess, completed the look with a voluminous, bouncy ponytail reminiscent of ’60s bedhead. She created waves with a 1.25-inch curling iron, and swept them into a ponytail with lots of volume at the crown. Conrad donned a long-sleeved glittering minidress to complete her look.

Bobbi Brown’s Ivy League Collection, Fall ’09

Bobbi’s first fall ’09 collection is collegiate-inspired and oh-so-perfect for autumn. The collection includes mostly new debuts, including Creamy Lip Color, Creamy Eye Pencil and Lip Crayon. The collection is highly wearable, whether you’re a co-ed or not.

A new shade of Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, Forest Shimmer Ink, is a beautiful deep, shimmery khaki-hunter green that is the ideal color for fall. Coordinating eyeshadow is Bash, a metallic khaki-green with muted taupe undertones. Goldleaf eyeshadow also debuts in this collection.

Right now I am wearing Creamy Lip Color in Rose Garden, and I am so, so in love with it. I never wear lipstick. However, this is not like traditional lipstick, which I find to be too drying. This is more a hybrid of shimmery lip gloss and hydrating balm. It slicks on easily, is moisturizing, has a beautiful sheer natural pink color, and has a shimmery undertone thanks to fine metallic specks. It’s very comfortable to wear.

I also picked up the Creamy Eye Pencil in Caviar, a rich, deep brown, since I needed a pencil that was a little less harsh than my standard black. This pencil glides on smoothly, creating a solid, even line – no unsightly gaps. The pencil is pretty long, meaning more product, and features at the opposite end a smudging sponge so you can create several different looks. Included is a pencil sharpener. So far, so good. The color is a bit softer than black, but still noticeably defined, and the tip slid right across my eyelid with no tugging or pulling. The pencil is available in Hunter (forest green), Jet (solid black), Charcoal (soft grey), Walnut (light tan brown), Mahogany (medium brown), Brown Plum (rich plum), and Midnight (inky indigo).

The Lip Crayon is short, stubby, and thick-tipped, and comes in a variety of light-toned nudes, browns and muted rosy pinks, with shades like Dusty Nude, Wild Rose, Posey, and Raisin Berry. It is ideal for lining lips as well as coloring the entire lip.

Although these new products were inspired by the verdant hills and hallowed halls of Ivy League campuses, you don’t have to be a co-ed to try them. They are versatile, and will easily adapt to any makeup routine. The colors are reminiscent of crisp autumn air and leaves gently falling from branches; so perfect for a golden fall day.

Available at upscale department stores and bobbibrowncosmetics.com in August.