By: Stephanie Shiwram
Stephanie Shiwram is a makeup artist. Here, she gives us a peek inside her makeup bag.
My makeup bag essentials change depending on how my skin looks on a particular day (i.e. when I’m on my period, I lean for a more full-coverage concealer). However, the following makeup products are on constant rotation in my makeup bag. Fun fact: I do my makeup on the train, so these products are definitely travel-friendly.
Stephanie Shiwram: My Makeup Essentials
1. Concealer/Powder: Glossier Stretch Concealer, Beautycounter Touchup Concealer Pen, L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Powder
I love using these concealers as they are lightweight and look natural on the skin as using my fingers really melts the product onto my skin. To prevent creasing underneath my eye area, I pat the powder delicately as I don’t want to tug my sensitive eye area.
2. Eyeshadow: e.l.f. X Jkissa Eyeshadow Palette
I am so in love with this palette! Not only is Jkissa one of my favorite Beauty YouTubers, but she created a palette with neutral shades and bright colors, so I can play up my eyes in multiple ways. The formula is vegan/cruelty-free and comes with a dual-ended brush that’s great for blending! Also, she created this palette to be travel-friendly and even has a mirror. Like I said, I’m in love!
3. Blush: Glossier Cloud Paint Seamless Cheek Color in Dusk
I love blush. It makes me feel cute. It’s that simple. It brings a flush of color to my face and terra-cotta shade is perfect for every day. What I love about this product is that it’s buildable and leaves a healthy, flush-from-within glow. Sometimes I put a little on my nose for a sun-kissed look.
4. Mascara: e.l.f. X Jkissa Mascara, Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara, Glossier Lash Slick
I couldn’t choose a favorite because these three mascaras are what I constantly rotate through. I love the e.l.f. mascara as it’s a beautiful rust-colored mascara that leaves my lashes looking full and natural. Milk Ubame mascara is a black lightweight, voluminizing formula and Glossier’s Lash Slick in black is perfect for darkening and lengthening the lashes.
5. Highlight: Glossier Haloscope in Quartz and INC.redible Highlighter drops
Depending on how much I want to blind people with my highlight, I switch between Glossier which has a nourishing core of vitamin-rich moisturizers for a subtle dewy fresh-face look or INC.redible which leaves a dewy shimmer because there are small glitter particles – great for an after-work-let’s-get-drinks touch up. Always applied on the high points of cheeks, nose, and Cupid’s bow.
6. Liner and Brows: Glossier Boy Brow in Clear, Glossier Play Technogel eyeliner in Early Bird, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner
My favorite eyebrow gel is boy brow! It keeps my eyebrow hairs in place and because I prefer a more ‘bushy’ look, I brush my hairs in the opposite direction to stick up slightly. I keep two eyeliners in my bag just in case I want to do a classic cat-eye or the Play pencil for a pop of color on the lid.
7. Lips: Colourpop Blotted Liquid Lip and MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick, GrandeLIPS Hydrating Lip Plumper Gloss in Clear.
I am definitely a lipstick fiend. I can never decide on what color I should wear for the day. Colourpop Blotted Lip was actually introduced to me as a dupe for Glossier’s lipsticks. The blotted liquid lips line is one of my favorites as its formulation is light and long lasting. The application is a sheer coverage of color and I usually carry these three as I love to switch between a red, a berry, and a terra-cotta. MAC Powder kiss lipsticks is another great lipstick and has the same concept of a soft wash of color. The application of my makeup is very light and fresh, so wearing a strong liquid lip can be overpowering. The blotted lip look, no matter what color, ties my fresh look together and my lips look like my lips – but better! And finally, my lip plumper. Besides my Fenty Gloss Bomb, I always carry a clear gloss with me because I love to layer it over my lipsticks for a super glossy look without changing the original color of my lipstick. Sometimes I would just wear the gloss alone as I like my natural lip color to shine through.