From The Straits Times    |

makeup bag must haves touch up on the go story

Chinese New Year means lots of visiting relatives, running errands and full-day affairs without much time for freshening up in between. It also means taking lots of family photos and selfies, so it’s only natural to want to look your best throughout the day. 

If you haven’t seen it yet, we’ve got a handy checklist of things to do to look radiant and help your makeup last all day. As for your handbag makeup must-haves, here are five beauty essentials we highly recommend taking with you in order to keep your makeup flawless all day.  

#1 A mini lipstick 

makeup bag must haves touch up on the go lipstick

Going for a bold lip? Don’t shy away from one just because of the upkeep. An easy alternative to carrying the full tube of lipstick is going with a set of minis. Tom Ford’s Lips & Boys lipsticks are small enough to carry around in a clutch and look incredibly chic to boot. Dash off to the bathroom if you  must, but sporting a bold lip on a photo-heavy occasion is well worth the effort of touching it up. If you’re using a matte lipstick, make sure you’ve got some lip balm in your bag as well!

#2 Cushion compact

makeup bag must haves touch up on the go cushion compact

If you’re into cushion compacts, you probably carry one with you at all times. Aside from touching up your foundation throughout the day, it’s also handy to have a cushion compact around to double up as a mirror in your purse for other makeup or beauty emergencies (like checking for food stuck in your teeth between meals). 

They might be a tad bulky if you’re carrying a tiny bag, so a trick I’ve learned is to go with a mattifying foundation if you don’t plan on carrying a cushion with you for touch ups. 

#3 Blotting paper

makeup bag must haves touch up on the go blotting paper

Getting oily throughout the day is par for the course in Singapore weather, as most of us end up with excess sebum and oiliness on our faces after a few hours. Blotting is an easy way to freshen up and get rid of the shine while leaving your makeup intact. Unless you’re someone who prefers to blot with a powder (which can leave your makeup looking patchy), blotting paper is a better option for carrying around. The sheets fit into any handbag, and you don’t need a mirror to blot your face.

#4 Cotton buds

makeup bag must haves touch up on the go cotton buds

Whether you’ve got an eyeliner that smudges, eyeshadow that transfers, or a bold lipstick to reapply, carrying cotton buds with you is a lifesaver. It’s the easiest way to clean up small makeup mistakes and keep you looking pulled together. I always keep a few cotton buds in my purse during a night out because i’m never without a bold lipstick. 

#5 Concealer

makeup bag must haves touch up on the go concealer

Unless you’ve got super strength concealer, any concealer you put on at the start of the day will fade over time (especially in Singapore’s humid and hot weather). If you’ve got dark spots or blemishes to conceal, picking a handy concealer that works both under the eyes and on spots is important. Try the Nudestix concealers, which come in a pencil and are creamy enough to blend under the eyes while doing a great job with spot-concealing as well.