The girl grip: beauty essentials for life on the go

We’ve all done it: tumbler gripped between two fingers, keys dangling from your index finger, while somehow keeping your lip combo, earphones, credit card and sunnies in hand. This familiar, sometimes precarious, balancing act has been coined the “girl grip”, essentially referring to the art of carrying everything you need in your hands as you make your way from A to B.

Part of the reason it feels so relatable? It’s a visual representation of just how much women carry, both physically and mentally, as we juggle multiple roles, responsibilities and, often, the need to multitask. Videos of women (and men) attempting the trend have circulated online, with women showing off their impressive grip strength and putting their significant others to the test.

Here, we put the girl grip to the test across three everyday scenarios, with beauty essentials that are small, handy, and ready to be grabbed on the go.

At a workout

When you’re heading to a workout, every item needs to earn its place in your grip. The Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow 81 Cashmere Kiss Lip Balm, $42, is a handy pick for keeping lips cushioned and glossy, with its vegan, dermatologically tested formula delivering moisture alongside a sheer wash of colour. Its silicone applicator also makes application easy when you’re already juggling the rest of your gym-day essentials.

For an extra hit of hydration, the Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Mist Keychain comes in a travel-friendly 30ml size and is part of the brand’s Green Tea Hydration Duo, $25, which also includes a full-sized Green Tea Ceramide Milk. A spritz delivers hyaluronic acid, green tea ceramide, ectoin and panthenol to help replenish moisture and soothe the skin, whether you’re wearing it alone or over makeup.

Then there’s the Blunies Ultra Brightening Vitamin Deodorant Spray in Fresh Mint & Pear, $19.90, a fast-absorbing antiperspirant spray designed to keep odour at bay while helping to brighten and hydrate the underarms. Vitamin C, vitamin E, avocado and macadamia oils, alongside plant-based collagen, help care for the delicate area and provide comfort after hair removal.

If you’re heading straight from the gym to brunch or running errands afterwards, the M.A.C Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Cushion Foundation SPF 50+/PA+++, $79, is another handy addition. Its lightweight, creamy formula contains 79 per cent skin-loving ingredients, including glycerin and emollients, to help keep skin feeling moisturised and comfortable. It also provides medium, buildable coverage with up to 12 hours of wear, making it easy to freshen up without having to pack a separate foundation and sunscreen.

For a coffee run

Lock in your base with the Huda Beauty Easy Bake Pressed Powder in Pink Velvet Cookie, $66, a sleek, portable compact that delivers an airbrushed, filter-like finish while brightening the complexion and helping to counteract dullness.

For a little something extra, swipe on the Sigi Skin Vanilla S’mores Shimmer Butter Glaze Lip Jelly, $32. The clear balm catches the light with iridescent shimmer and pink and purple hues, adding dimension to the lips while peptides, strawberry and cacao extracts help leave them feeling soft and smooth.

And when you want one product to do double duty, reach for the Sephora Collection Lip & Cheek Tint, $28. Its small, drop-shaped applicator deposits a gel-to-water formula that melts into the lips and cheeks for a natural-looking flush. Choose from three wearable shades, Fresh Pink, Vibrant Red and Intense Burgundy, depending on how much colour you want to bring to your coffee run.

For the office

When your girl grip is carrying you from the commute to the desk and straight into an impromptu meeting, the Laneige x Matin Kim JuicePop Box Lip Tint Mono Tune, $39, is an easy one to keep close. While its black gloss may look intimidating in the tube, it transforms on the lips into a flattering plum-pink tint with a mirror-like shine. Better still, each purchase comes with a chic mirror keyring and metal chain strap, so that’s one less thing for you to grip.

Keep the sparkle going with the Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All Over Diamond Veil in How Many Carats?!, $65. Its jelly-to-powder formula melts into the skin, delivering a luminous glow that brings life back to your complexion, especially when that midday slump hits.

For the eyes, the Clarins Wonder Perfect 5D Mascara, $52, delivers clump-free volume and lift from root to tip. Beyond its immediate lengthening and volumising effect, its hyaluronic acid-charged lash-boosting complex is designed to care for and strengthen lashes over time.

Finally, add a touch of colour with the Kosas Impressionist Multistick, $49. Inspired by the way Impressionist artists capture light, movement and feeling, the multistick melts into skin to create a natural flush with a soft, blurred finish, without leaving behind a tacky or sticky feel. 

Credits:

Photography: Isabelle Seah

Art Direction: Adeline Eng