Make Up Bag Essentials
Summertime is busy time whether it’s trips to the beach, al fresco dining or taking advantage of other outdoor adventures. With all that activity don’t let your make-up bag weigh you down. We talked with New York City makeup artist and beauty expert Kimara Ahnert, and Minneapolis based Makeup and Hair Artist Ingrid Kent to get feedback on what they like to put in a summer make up bag. Kent advises that the key is using as many products as possible that do double duty. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to save face. (wink, wink)
Moisturizer 
Facialists, makeup artists and basically everyone under the sun knows a good moisturizer is the key to maintaining the look of youthful skin. In the summer, opt for one with SPF. We love Aveeno Positively Radiant Sheer Daily Moisturizer for its lightweight feel and its equally lightweight price tag. It smells great too.
For a product that does triple duty (moisturizes, provides SPF and color coverage) the tried and true Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 wins our tri-fecta award. With vitamins that protect the skin, ingredients to soften fine lines, and SPF for sun protection, this tube has it all. And extra bonus, it’s perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Facial Spray 
There’s nothing like the cooling effect of a facial spray, and nowadays there are plenty to choose from. Beauty insiders like Ingrid Kent love Trader Joe’s Rosewater Facial Toner which can be a toner after washing, or spritzed throughout the day for a refreshing mist that makes you feel like you’re in a rose garden (and with a $3.99 price tag at the store itself, you can treat yourself to other indulgences).
Blotting Papers 
One of the biggest challenges for skin in the summer is avoiding shine, but with so many blotting papers on the market it’s easy to keep skin matte. One such product that makes every beauty editor’s list is Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets. They do just as their name suggests and can be found at most drugstores.
Tinted Lip Balm 
You can add color to you lips and keep them moisturized at the same time with tinted lip balm. There are many out there, but Kent loves Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 (and so do we). Another double duty product, this balm has sunscreen as the name suggests, and also gives lips a little color, but not too much.
Powder that’s a Sunscreen 
This is one product we didn’t know we needed, or that it even existed. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 is one of Kent’s go-to products and a must-have for any summer make up bag. It has a self-loading brush and you can apply it everywhere from the face to the décolletage to the shoulders and even the ears. It mattefies and gives you SPF while also evening out skin tones.
Brow Gel 
When it comes to summer we say pare down the eye make-up but brow gel can be your best friend. For fluffy well-shaped brows we love Glossier’s Boy Brow, which is essentially a pomade for your brows. It comes in 4 shades, and conditions while keeping those pesky hairs in place. Kent advises, “you use a light hand, it will make brows look fuller, and you won’t need a pencil.”
Waterproof mascara 
One last product we want to include is a waterproof mascara. There are many on the market but the one that pros and women everywhere turn to is Maybelline Great Lash. Known as the most famous mascara of all time, this product doesn’t budge, and is easy on the wallet too. For summer, make up artist Kimara Ahnert suggests switching up your normal mascara color for one in blue, navy or plum for a fun twist on an old standby.
