It takes a village

It occurred to me that while I’ve certainly owned up to my makeup addiction here before, I’ve never actually shared my whole arsenal with you. Probably because it’s a little embarrassing excessive. See?

But I swear I use (almost) everything in there! With the exception of the lip stuff (which I’ve really pared down over the years – I am just not a lip-makeup-wearer) I use every last piece of makeup in there on a semi-regular basis.

Here’s how the case is organized (working in a standard top-to-bottom, left-to-right clockwise figuration):

Upper left, top: Lip stuff (lip brush, lip liner, a couple glosses, all of which are 10+ years old, all of which should probably just be thrown away)

Upper left, bottom: Face stuff (pressed powder, shimmery stuff)

Lower left, top: Face stuff (blushes, bronzer)

Lower left, bottom: Face stuff (moisturizer I never use, eye cream, concealer)

Middle, top: Tools (brushes, scissors, curler, tweezers)

Middle, bottom: Eyeshadow palettes

Upper right, top: Eyeshadows (green-hued)

Upper right, top-middle: Eyeshadows (black- or grey-hued)

Upper right, bottom-middle: Eyeshadows (brown-hued)

Upper right, bottom: Eyeshadows (beige-hued)

Lower right, top: Eyeshadows (purple-hued)

Lower right, top-middle: Eyeliner (Laura Mercier gets her own special spot)

Lower right, bottom-middle: Tools (eyeliner sharpener, mirror, matches (for those pesky, dried-out eyeliners))

Lower right, bottom: Mascaras and eyeliners

WHEW. That’s a lot of makeup.

Here’s the makeup I use the most, though (again, using a standard top-to-bottom, left-to-right clockwise figuration):

– CoverGirl clear mascara (to keep my rowdy eyebrows in check)

– Maybelline The Turbo Volum’ Express mascara (not my favorite, unfortunately. I used to think I had mascara SOLVED, but then my old standby, Maybelle Volum’ Express Turbo Boost mascara sort of shit the pot, so I started trying other brands/formulas, to no avail. Last time I bought mascara, I tried to buy the old standy, but either they were out of stock or they stopped making it, so I went with this one because the name was so similar. I don’t love it, but it’s working for me for now.)

– M.A.C. eyeshadows in Shroom (for all-over, highlightification) and Satin Taupe (my very favorite eyeshadow shade ever.)

– M.A.C. eyeshadows in Nehru (black matte) and Embark (brown matte.) (I use these for eyelinering or as base colors when I’m doing a smokey eye.)

– M.A.C. eyeshadows in Moth Brown (stolen from my aunt years ago and unfortunately, I think it was a limited edition color) and Green-Smoke. (I use these for a little bit of all-over color or as crease colors when I’m doing a smokey eye.)

– M.A.C. eyeshadows in Beauty Marked (shimmery black), Black Tied (looks shimmery maroon, but goes on shimmery grey), and Trax (purple, but not in a you-look-ill sort of way.)

– Amazing concealer in Light Golden and M.A.C. Fast Response Eye Cream

– Laura Mercier eyeliner in Black Ebony and special flat eyeliner brush

– M.A.C. PowerPoint eyeliner in Engraved

– M.A.C. Select Sheer Pressed Powder

– M.A.C. Sheertone blush in Pinch o’ Peach

– Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother in Shimmer

And there. You. Have. It.

Like I said, excessive (and a little embarrassing.) BUT! So much fun and 100%, absolutely necessary. Of course.