Whenever I travel, whether checking a bag or not, I always have the same fear: What if my makeup kit gets lost? To put it lightly, I’ve spent a lot of time curating the perfect assortment of cosmetics. Concealers that give coverage without weighing down the skin, blushes perfectly suited to my undertones, lip shades for every occasion. If, somehow, my makeup bag vanished, where would I go from there?
I was toying with this idea as my fashion colleagues were brainstorming how to curate a full look under $300 as part of our Affordable Fashion Special. While I could certainly splurge on my favorite Chanel foundation, Dior blush, and Westman Atelier setting powder, could I manage to replenish my lost goods for under $300 without sacrificing efficacy? Ahead, I set out to do just that. Reviewing Vogue’s library of beauty content, taking inventory of my current makeup assortment, and revisiting my experiences with products over the years, here’s how I would rebuild my makeup bag from scratch with only readily accessible drugstore and mainstream labels. And as proof I’ve kept a running tally of how much I would be spending. Girl math!
The Complexion Heroes
I am really passionate about complexion products. If I were to seriously rebuild my makeup bag from scratch, these would be my first buys. That said, I will not cut corners on the foundation front. While there are a number of great drugstore tints to choose from, the Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation is worth every penny, delivering exceptional light-to-medium coverage via a gel-cream texture that sinks well into skin. It’s perfect for daily wear or even jazzed up for a night out.
Of equal importance is concealer, and a certain drugstore formula has completely captured my heart over the last few months. I was skeptical of the hype behind Maybelline’s Instant Rewind formula (mostly because of how it took over my TikTok feed), but it’s creamy and generously pigmented, meaning it veils blemishes, dark spots, and circles with minimal product. For the sake of this story, I would buy a flesh-toned shade for allover concealing, but in case I’m left with extra funds, I’d pick up a hue a few shades lighter than my skin tone to brighten the undereye.
Glossier
Stretch Fluid Foundation
Maybelline
Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer
The Long-Wear Lip
My lip products would be the next priority. I’m realizing brown lip liner has become sort of a personal signature; I rarely leave the house without a pencil or two on hand. Of the best lip liners I’ve tried, the NYX one has been a favorite for years, long before I became a beauty editor. You can’t beat long-wear pigments in an outstanding 31 shades for just $5. Next: lip colors. Gloss is my go-to finish, so I’d likely pick up another NYX option: my beloved Butter Gloss for an everyday lip. Then maybe I’d do a multipurpose pigment like E.L.F.’s Chubby Stick designed for the lips, cheeks, and eyes (an added bonus when you’re looking to do more with less). Lastly, some days require a full-coverage color pigment, which is where a good lipstick comes in. Our senior beauty editor, Margaux Anbouba, put me on to Maybelline’s Super Stay lip, which, despite its vinyl finish, is nondrying and lasts for hours.
NYX
Slim Lip Pencil
NYX
Butter Gloss
Maybelline
Super Stay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipcolor
e.l.f.
Monochromatic Multi Stick
The Cheek Color
Cheek color seems to be the most important part of a makeup look these days. I’m noticing so much innovation in the blush, bronzer, or blonzer, if you will, spaces. While options are plenty, I’d gladly splurge on Merit’s Flush Balm set, which includes three minis of its beloved blushes. That makes each blush $13, which is a steal! For bronzer, I’d pop right back over to NYX for its Buttermelt Bronzer to warm up the cheeks, forehead, and jawline—applied with precision for a sculpting effect or generously to feel more sun-kissed.
Merit
Mini Flush Balm Cream Blush Trio Set
NYX
Buttermelt Bronzer
The Stellar Setters
If I’m going to wear makeup, it certainly better last all day or night! That said, I am particular about my setting powders and sprays. The Kosas Cloud Set setting powder is excellent, not only ensuring your makeup stays in place for hours but blurring the look of pores and skin texture. Use a fluffy brush to dust the powder along the undereyes, T-zone, and other oily areas. Once makeup is done, I always spritz my face with a setting spray. I’ve heard great things about Milani’s, which can also be used to prime skin, hydrate, and set. Again, we love a multipurpose find!
Kosas
Cloud Set
Milani
Make It Last Original Setting Spray
The Brow Perfectors
With all my makeup essentials added to cart, I’d now move on to brows, which I admittedly have yet to master. (All brow artists, please give me some tips!) I tend to keep my brows groomed how I like them, so I gravitate toward a foolproof pencil to fill in sparse areas with hairlike strokes. The Benefit Cosmetics one is my current pencil; I find that it draws on with precision but is creamy enough to blend and smudge. Sometimes, I do reach for a gel, to make my brows appear bushier or to brush them in place on a no-makeup day. I love the size of this NYX The Brow Glue applicator wand, so it’s my pick today.
Benefit Cosmetics
Precisely, My Brow Pencil
NYX
The Brow Glue
The Eye Enhancers
Surprisingly, I’m not really an eye-shadow or liner girl. But if I’m headed to an event or a night out, I try to give them some love. These subtle enhancements are typically a baby wing with a black pigment or even a deep chocolate brown along the waterline. On the eye-shadow front, I’m loving latte, bronze, and terra-cotta hues that scream vacation. This Morphe palette with 35 fitting shades is right up my alley.
L’Oréal
Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner Pencil
Morphe
Supernatural Glow Artistry Palette
The Added Accents
With my leftover budget, I’d probably grab a tube of mascara and some bronzing drops. I’ve been obsessed with the Maybelline Lash Sensational Firework Mascara since it launched a few months ago. The applicator is shockingly flexible, which helps it grab each and every lash. L’Oréal’s Lumi Glotion—a TikTok favorite—warms up the skin like no other and can even be used atop foundation as a highlighter. This would definitely be coming home with me.
Maybelline
Lash Sensational Firework Washable Mascara
L’Oréal
True Match Lumi Glotion
Et voilà, an entire makeup library with just $15 to spare, leaving me with just enough money to buy one more tube of concealer but likely not a makeup bag to store everything. Looks like I’d be keeping all my new products in a zip-lock instead of a chic toiletry bag. Worth it? Absolutely.
