17 Essentials for Women Who Love Makeup
If your cosmetics bag has the feel of a packed U-Haul, take heart: This well-stocked kit provides bountiful choices without weighing you down.
Photo: Kevin Cremens
Face
1. Cream foundation: The key to any successful makeup look? Start with an even canvas. (Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation, $47)
2. Concealer: When you want minimum coverage, skip foundation and dab a cream concealer under your eyes and around your nose. For full coverage, apply foundation, then layer concealer over spots. (NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $30)
3. Bronzer: Tap bronzer over your cheeks and around your hairline for a hit of radiance. Highlighter: Supersubtle formulas impart a natural-looking glow. (CoverGirl TruBlend Contour Palette, $12)
4. Blush: Give your complexion a boost with a rosy blush on the apples of your cheeks. (Revlon Powder Blush, $11)
5. Powder: Reduce shine with a translucent loose powder on the T zone. (Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder, $9)
6. Eye primer: Make your shadow artistry last—or use it alone to neutralize discoloration. (Sephora Collection Beauty Amplifier Lid and Liner Primer, $12)
Lips
7. Lipsticks: You need only two: a nude for day and a bold red or pink for night. (L’Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive La Vie En Rose, $9, and Tom Ford Beauty Lip Contour Duo, $53)
8. Lip gloss: Wear alone or layer over lipstick to double your lipcolor wardrobe. (Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Liquid Rouge, $48)
Eyes
9. Brow pencil: Amp up your arches by lightly outlining the shape of your brows. Then fill in sparse patches with feathery strokes. (Estée Lauder The Brow Multi-Tasker, $29)
10. Brow gel: Set brows with a clear or tinted gel. (Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows, $22.50)
11. Neutral eye palette: Create everything from a simple wash of pinky beige to a dark, sultry smoky eye with just four shadows. (Sonia Kashuk Eye Shadow Quad in Bronzed Beauty, $14)
12. Vibrant eye palette: Mix and match these striking shades with your neutrals. (Urban Decay Full Spectrum Palette, $39)
13. Gel liner: You can’t beat the rich pigment and staying power of a gel formula. (Jane Iredale Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner, $20)
14. False lashes: For when you have to go from the office to a black-tie party. (Kiss Blooming Lash in Lily, $5)
15. Black mascara: But of course. (Giorgio Armani Eccentrico Mascara, $32)
Tools
16. Eyelash curler: Just a few squeezes can make your eyes look more open. (Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $20)
17. Tweezers: A good pair makes for the easiest false-lash application. (Tweezerman Dahlia Mini Slant Tweezer, $17)
Bag
When you can’t leave the house without every conceivable option, this is the bag you choose. With several compartments in various sizes, the Sonia Kashuk Beauty Organizer allows you to store similar products together—a pro’s decluttering trick. (Sonia Kashuk Beauty Organizer in Floral, $26)
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1. Cream foundation: The key to any successful makeup look? Start with an even canvas. (Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation, $47)
2. Concealer: When you want minimum coverage, skip foundation and dab a cream concealer under your eyes and around your nose. For full coverage, apply foundation, then layer concealer over spots. (NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $30)
3. Bronzer: Tap bronzer over your cheeks and around your hairline for a hit of radiance. Highlighter: Supersubtle formulas impart a natural-looking glow. (CoverGirl TruBlend Contour Palette, $12)
4. Blush: Give your complexion a boost with a rosy blush on the apples of your cheeks. (Revlon Powder Blush, $11)
5. Powder: Reduce shine with a translucent loose powder on the T zone. (Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder, $9)
6. Eye primer: Make your shadow artistry last—or use it alone to neutralize discoloration. (Sephora Collection Beauty Amplifier Lid and Liner Primer, $12)
Lips
7. Lipsticks: You need only two: a nude for day and a bold red or pink for night. (L’Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive La Vie En Rose, $9, and Tom Ford Beauty Lip Contour Duo, $53)
8. Lip gloss: Wear alone or layer over lipstick to double your lipcolor wardrobe. (Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Liquid Rouge, $48)
Eyes
9. Brow pencil: Amp up your arches by lightly outlining the shape of your brows. Then fill in sparse patches with feathery strokes. (Estée Lauder The Brow Multi-Tasker, $29)
10. Brow gel: Set brows with a clear or tinted gel. (Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows, $22.50)
11. Neutral eye palette: Create everything from a simple wash of pinky beige to a dark, sultry smoky eye with just four shadows. (Sonia Kashuk Eye Shadow Quad in Bronzed Beauty, $14)
12. Vibrant eye palette: Mix and match these striking shades with your neutrals. (Urban Decay Full Spectrum Palette, $39)
13. Gel liner: You can’t beat the rich pigment and staying power of a gel formula. (Jane Iredale Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner, $20)
14. False lashes: For when you have to go from the office to a black-tie party. (Kiss Blooming Lash in Lily, $5)
15. Black mascara: But of course. (Giorgio Armani Eccentrico Mascara, $32)
Tools
16. Eyelash curler: Just a few squeezes can make your eyes look more open. (Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $20)
17. Tweezers: A good pair makes for the easiest false-lash application. (Tweezerman Dahlia Mini Slant Tweezer, $17)
Bag
When you can’t leave the house without every conceivable option, this is the bag you choose. With several compartments in various sizes, the Sonia Kashuk Beauty Organizer allows you to store similar products together—a pro’s decluttering trick. (Sonia Kashuk Beauty Organizer in Floral, $26)
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