BEAUTY ON THE GO

Words: Kira Gimpel | Images: Luke Kuisis

Sure, your handbag is a safe haven for old receipts and loose change. But it’s also the perfect place to keep your everyday beauty essentials close, allowing your carry-all to reach maximum levels of convenience. However, in a world filled with more mini products and samples than we can resist, which ones are the right ones? And, more importantly, how do you stop yourself from stuffing every product you own into your bag in the morning? Here’s where we suggest you start.

For supreme efficiency, find products that apply as easily in the morning as they do before a spontaneous after-work date. Clinique Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment is a superior lip-care choice that’s perfect for lipstick prep or ensuring all-day softness with added gloss. If you’re looking to transform your look with an easy-to-apply pigment, add a quick swipe of your mini M.A.C lipstick or K-Beauty favourite IT’S SKIN Colorable Draw Tint.

Maximum versatility is king. Case in point, Smashbox Brow Tech To Go. The all-in-one brow pencil and gel combo from Smashbox is ideal for a quick impactful brow or small touchup. Another multitasking space saver is the well-loved Benefit’s Hoola bronzer, which comes with a handy natural-bristle brush. Use it for an especially sunny glow or to contour eyelids. And if it’s a pop of colour you’re after, the perfectly pocket-sized Check Jelly Blusher by Too Cool For School adds a perfect flush to cheeks or eyes.

When you get blemishes that won’t budge, this neat spot stick provides all-day calm. Applying a little onto stubborn spots will also stop you from playing with your skin, which can cause long-term damage and lengthen the healing process. For coverage, the small and compact Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit contains a concealer as well as a pressed powder, ensuring your 4pm fix stays put. If you’re just looking for something to control the appearance of oil and keep your face fresh, a pressed powder compact is ideal and if you’re in need of a full face, the two-in-one Smashbox Studio Skin Shaping Foundation Stick will be your new best friend.

With little explanation needed, hand creams are pretty high on the priority list of handbag must-haves. You can stash a mini-sized perfume in your bag, too. Just remember not to toss it about too much – or keep it in a contained part of your handbag – to avoid breakage.

Got hair you’d like to tie up and keep safe from gusts of wind or secure in a bun come “get work done” time? Pop a couple of Invisibobbles into your bag and you won’t have to deal with overstretched hair ties. Add a compact hairbrush or small Afro comb for a midday fix. And last but not least, keep a small bottle of cuticle oil in your handbag to provide immediate relief for dry nail beds and cuticles. Now you’re all set!