Goody Ouchless Bobby Pins
Bobby pins are essential whenever you want your hair off of your face. I especially like the Goody Ouchless bobby pins because they don’t snag or pull your hair. They are available at all supermarkets and drug stores, for little money. I have thick Asian hair so I crisscross two together so they don’t slip out.
If you are not familiar with dry shampoo, it's a powder, usually in a spray can, that absorbs oil in your hair and leaves a fresh scent. It gets rid of greasy “second day” hair, adds volume, and makes hair look and smell fresh and clean, minus the need for water. The only problem is if you don't apply it correctly, you could end up with hair that looks like Storm in X-Men. I have natural dark brown hair-black hair and I spray it about one hand length away from my roots, then I use my fingers to rub the product in. By doing so, this removes the white powdery look (very obvious on dark hair) and adds much needed volume to my life-less hair. I recommend only using this if you hair is between washes (using your hair daily will dry out your hair and cause breakage), this should not replace your volumizing or styling products.
Compact Mirror.
I always keep a compact mirror close by. You never know when you need to rem't ove smudged eye makeup or remove a small piece of food that gets lodged between your teeth! I have a cute Fendi mirror but you can buy compact mirror at any beauty store. A used/empty compact works too!
It's not good to re-apply powder throughout the day as it clogs your pores and will create that really caked on makeup look. To freshen up my makeup, moisten and revive my tired long day at work skin, I keep Caudalie Beauty Elixir handy. It is a great freshening spray. I have a large bottle at home to give my skin a nice glow in the morning. I keep a travel size bottle at work so I am never without it.
Always always wear sunscreen, regardless of rain or shine. I live in rainy Vancouver but I apply sunscreen throughout the day. I use Shiseido SPF 55 in the morning and keep the Bare Escentuals BareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen in the office for re-applying when I go out for lunch and after work. The reason why I like the BareMinerals SPF 30 are a) it's a natural sunscreen in a powder form, b) it has a built-in brush for application, c) it comes in 3 shades (light, medium, tan. I use medium for my yellow undertone skin) so it is perfect to use to touch up and to remove any shine.
Hand Sanitizer and Antibacterial Wipes.
Public places are full of germs.
If you go outside, it is likely that you will come in touch with many things that have been touched by many others. You, yourself could sneeze or cough. There is nothing worse than knowing that the teeny tiny micro-organism could be living on your hands and stay dormant for a very long time. There is also no need to pass around the unwanted bugs. Do yourself and people around you a favor and disfinfect. I am a huge germaphobe so I keep two types of disinfectant on me: Bath and Body Works Pocketbac Sanitizing Hand Gel and Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes Singles. They are in my bags, throughout my house, my office drawers, my car, etc. I also include them in goodie bags for friends during Christmas. :)
Band-Aids
Is there anything worse than getting paper cuts or breaking in a new pair of shoes (and ending up with nasty blisters on your heels or toes)? I spend a lot of money on shoes but even all leather shoes can rub like crazy the first time you put them on. I also go through a lot of paperwork and architectural drawings and when you flip through tens of pages at a time, paper cuts are un-avoidable. My savior is pretty Sanrio Hello Kitty Band-aids. I keep a stash of various sizes of bandages at my desk, just in case. Of course regular Band-Aid brand works too, but having pink Hello Kitty is way better than plain beige (for me anyway).
I use it to quench dry lips and smooth it over my cuticles if I need a quickie manicure. Vaseline works too.
Hand Cream
The temperature varies a lot between the outdoor and the office, which can often lead to chapped hands - especially when I constantly wash them and use hand sanitizer. To prevent dry, cracked hands, I moisturize throughout the day using one of my favorite hand lotion, Acca Kappa moisturizing hand cream.
Hydrocortisone cream is the best cure for many common skin problems - allergic reaction to detergent, makeup, poison ivy, eczema, etc. My skin is especially sensitive in the winter with the harsh wind that cause my face to get all red, dry and itchy. I keep a tube of Sunmark Hydrocortisone Cream close at hand for quick relief. Many larger supermarkets including Safeway and Walgreen have their house brand of hydrocortisone products but I find that Sunmark makes the cheapest 1% formula.
Medications, Supplements
Whether you’re team Tylenol or a natural supplement fan, having a stash of goodies to combat headaches or to keep monthly cramps at bay is a great idea. I also keep a few of my daily supplements in case I forget to take them at home. I would not recommend any natural supplements as everyone is different but LivCo is a great natural (all-green) supplement to cleanse your liver. It is especially helpful in preventing your liver from overworking if you are a lover of alcohol. Talk to your naturopath to see if you can benefit from it.
After each meal, give your teeth the once over. If you spot any leftovers, dislodge them using a floss pick. I prefer
Oral B Glides Pro-Health Floss Pick because it's shred resistant and it has Scope to give your mouth a breath of freshness. Floss picks can also be used to de-clump mascara or remove dirt from under your nails. However, please remember to perform such forms of maintenance in the privacy of the ladies room.
Q-Tips
Q-Tips are very versatile. You can use it to remove smudges under your eye, to apply vaseline or lip ointment onto your cuticles, to dab concealer on a zit...the list goes on and on.
Mini Perfume/Perfume Samples
I always keep a couple of my favorite perfume in sample vials at work. They are quick for freshening up if you have a last minute after-work date. My favorites at the moment are Balenciaga Paris Eau De Parfum and Cartier Baiser Vole Eau de Parfum.
These are my essentials. If you’re stranded in your office or an island, these items will get you through.
Leave a comment or send me a message telling me about your beauty essentials. I will be having my first beauty giveaway at the end of February so watch out for it. It will include some of my favorite beauty products.
