THE FIVE ITEM MAKEUP KIT
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Scenario: you're at JFK about to embark on a ten day trip, just went through security, and realize you forgot your makeup bag. This was me en route to Rio. In the fifteen minutes** we had to spare before boarding, I had to curate a makeup kit with the goal of choosing several items that A. Would be versatile enough to use for both day and night, beach and city and B. I would still have use for after the trip. The result? A five item cosmetic kit that took me from local beach to upscale restaurant and cut my getting-ready routine by more than half. Though I wouldn't put myself through this travesty again, it was actually freeing to not have to dig through dozens of products to find one of six different highlighters. This mishap has helped me to pack lighter on trips following and I felt I should share my newfound spiritual awakening. All brands are available at duty free shops in the virtually nonexistent chance anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation.
A medium coverage foundation: mix with serum or SPF for a sheer BB cream-like effect for day, then layer for more coverage in the evening. My choice was Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua, which offers the glow of a tinted moisturizer but enough coverage when you want a little something extra.
A multitasking concealer: I grabbed my favorite Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast. This MAC powerhouse can be used undereye, to highlight and even for spot coverage. Light Boost is wonderful for lighter skin tones.
Black mascara: This one's easy. One coat for day, lay it on for nights out. This Clinique one definitely wasn't my favorite, given the choice I'd go for Benefit They're Real or something Lancome--but alas, I was in a duty free shop and beggars can't be choosers.
A lip/cheek balm or tint: Chose a color that's close to what's in your usual arsenal--for me that's a neutral pink I know will complement my skin tone and I won't get tired of. The moisturizing formula of a balm means you don't have to worry about prepping your lips. My pick was Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Powder Pink, a pinky beige I know will be flattering for my skin tone whether pale off the plane, or with a bit of a sun-kissed glow (and by sun-kissed, you know I mean sunless tanner-kissed).
Signature: The final buy is your go-to, can't-live-without item, the one that instantly makes you look and feel pulled together. Perhaps it's the bronzer without which you feel washed out, eye liner for your signature cat eye, or red lipstick for your trademark evening look. For me, this item is obviously highlighter. Benefit High Beam was a product I wanted to try, and it added a pretty, versatile sheen to my cheekbones, Cupid's bow and brow bone. I also added a drop to my serum/foundation mixture for daytime, which created a sheer, luminescent effect perfect for hot and humid days at the beach.
**I had--figuratively--the world's slowest cashier for this endeavor. You can imagine my consternation when my sales associate took the entire allotted time to pick me out, and I quote, "ANY BLACK MASCARA." After several gentle reminders that my flight was boarding, I told her I would run to Chanel and MAC then come back to checkout--and upon my return she legitimately still had not located one. When I hastily grabbed one myself and she asked to see my boarding pass during checkout, she commented something to the effect of "oh, you really need to get going, your flight is boarding." If looks could kill, she might have dropped dead :)