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Writer's pictureTony

What’s in my makeup pouch?



People say a woman's purse is the most mysterious thing, but they would find exactly what they need in a heartbeat. Ask a guy for a piece of tissue from the said purse and they'd have to pour out all its contents before even finding what was needed. During pre-COVID times, my bag to work contained a number of important things for me— my umbrella, my wallet, silicone sneaker guards in case it rains, a tiny notebook and a pen for when I'm left alone with my thoughts at a cafe— You can ask me to pull out some basic medicine like Biogesic, Diatabs, Buscopan or Allerta because I have a pouch for that. I can leave home without my phone or my earphones, and believe me when I say this had already happened a handful of times and I managed to live through the day, but God forbid I leave home without my make-up pouch.


One thing you'll always find in whatever bag that's hanging from my shoulders is my make-up pouch. It was a delight to have started learning about makeup at a fairly early age and I only know just the right amount to make myself a little prettier than I normally am. I recall talking about mt favourite make-up before, but my routine has changed as I aged and even my choice of products have evolved over time.


Here's a little glimpse of what I keep in my make-up pouch whenever I leave home.


Avon Simply Pretty Smooth & White Pressed Powder in Almond

Oil Clear Blotting Pact from The Face Shop


Face powder - This is something I ALWAYS have with me especially since I have a notoriously oily T-zone. I have a combination skin type and often find myself retouching my forehead and nose most of the time. I use two kinds of face powder, depending on the foundation I wore earlier in the day.



Powder brush - There are times when I prefer to use a compact powder brush to retouch my face. I find using a brush gives me easier control over the amount of powder I want to sweep over my face.


Colourtint in Tara by Colourette

Lip and Cheek Stain Alive Therapy in Merlot by Skin Genie

Ever Bilena Lip and Cheek Roller in Night Berry


Lip tint / Lip balm and Lipstick - I always bring one of each and do layering rather than just wearing it alone since the colour on my lips tend to last longer. I put a few swipes of lip tint before putting on either lip balm or lipstick. I mostly use lip balm nowadays since lipstick tends to get on my face masks and everywhere else.


My go-to lip tint will always be Skin Genie's Merlot, my first bottle a present from my big sister. Whenever I go out for impromptu dates, I tend to drop my blush and swipe this tint on my cheeks and lips, sometimes on my eyelids whenever I feel like making a statement.


Blistex Lip Medex

Human Nature Tinted Lip Balm in Fire Tree

Great Barrier Island Bee Co. Manuka Honey Lip Balm


One of my favourite lip balms is again, a gift from my big sister.


Innisfree My Lipbalm in Sunkissed Cherry


When I was much, much younger, I used to go for very vibrant red lipstick wherever I went, even when I had to serve at church. I remember my red lipstick causing both an issue and inspiring my seniors in the Lectors Ministry to put on their best face for the Lord. I've since mellowed from the use of bright reds and am now opting for more maroon and rose mauve colours. That way, I don't look like a little girl who was let loose into her mother's dresser.


Maybelline Color Jolt Matte Lip Paint in Evocative Mauve

Revlon Matte Balm in Fiery Flamboyante

Avon Simply Pretty Matte Lipstick in Malva


Heroine Make Volume and Curl Mascara

EB Advance Mascara Duo with Silicon Brush

Avon Simply Pretty's Clear Mascara


Mascara - My siblings and I are known for our very long and thick eyelashes. I consider my eyes my charm point and I'm not above using them to get what I want lol. On heavy coverage days, I like using Heroine Make's Volume and Curl Mascara, which, I tell you, IS LIFEPROOF. Their SUPER WATERPROOF warning is no joke because I can personally tell you that I cried with this thing on once and I KID YOU NOT, IT DID NOT BUDGE ONE BIT.


On very light and carefree days, I use Avon Simply Pretty's Clear Mascara. This works especially well after I had my eyelashes permed a month back and I am holding back from using my heavy-duty mascara to make the perm last longer.


Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks

Nichido True Colors Collection Powder Blush in Tomato


Blush - To make up for the lack of drama in my eyes, I use a lot of blush on the nearly-nonexistent apples of my cheek and finish off with a bit of highlight. Nichido's blush really packs a lot of pigment even with just a few swipes, but it still manages to give out a very subtle flushed look.



Oil blotter - I usually take one to two sheets and blot out the oil on my T-zone before retouching with powder. People make the common mistake of swiping the sheet over their faces and that's simply not how it's done, folks! Gently dab the sheet over your face because swiping will lead to the further spreading of the oil.


Miniso's water-based nail polish

Shopee-bought nail polish


Peelable nail polish - I'm not a manicure kind of girl and I like keeping my nails short since it's such a pain to keep longer ones since I have a hard time typing at work. I suggest getting peelable nail polish if you can't handle the commitment of putting on nail polish or gel polish and having to remove it with acetone.


Eye-Mo

Katinko Stick

Fresh Breath Drops


Bonus: Tita essentials (!) - Ya girl is the queen of dry eyes and it can't be helped that I'm in front of my laptop most of the time. I keep my Eye-Mo handy in case my vision suddenly gets blurry due to dry eyes. The Katinko stick is pretty self-explanatory, but I often swipe it over problem areas like my neck, or when I'm trying not to scratch an insect bite. Lastly, I keep a tiny bottle of breath drops with me just in case I eat something savoury with a really unsavoury odour.


While I find myself leaving home more barefaced than normal because, like what others say, there's no point in wearing make-up when people can't see it under a mask, I still make it a point to brush some colour on my face because it really lifts my spirits and brightens my mood. Does putting on make-up give you that kind of feeling, too?


May your make-up stay in place for the rest of the year! Peace!


Love forever, Tony


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