The 10 Make-up Bag Essentials Every Woman Actually Needs

1. A glow primer or fluid. Prep is everything. A milky, glazing fluid gives that lit-from-within look, and on good skin days it's all you need.

2. A skin tint. Swap heavy foundation for a sheer tint with SPF. It evens skin tone while letting freckles show through.

3. A creamy concealer. The real workhorse. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is the one make-up artists never travel without. Dab it only where you need it.

4. A cream blush. If you buy one thing, make it this. A balm blush tapped on with fingers takes ten seconds and makes you look like you've had eight hours' sleep.

5. A bronzer. Sweep it where the sun would naturally hit: forehead, cheekbones and the bridge of the nose. Especially needed in winter.

6. A clear brow gel. Brushed-up brows frame the face better than anything. Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter holds them all day without crunch.

7. A lengthening mascara. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High is the cult high-street pick that rivals luxury formulas at a fraction of the price.

8. A your-lips-but-better liner. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk suits almost everyone. Line, smudge and top with balm.

9. A tinted balm or lip oil. Glossy, comfortable and buildable. The one you'll reapply ten times a day.

10. A setting spray. A few mists of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray melts everything together and keeps it put from 8am to last orders.

Glow fluid, then concealer where needed. Cream blush on the cheeks and a touch on the eyelids. Brush up the brows, one coat of mascara, and finish with a tinted balm. Done, and out the door.

Tip the whole thing out on the bed. Anything you haven't touched in three months goes. Anything that smells odd, has separated or has gone cakey goes too. That bronzer you bought for a holiday in 2022 and the six nearly-identical nude lipsticks can leave together.

Then match what's left against the list above. Most people find they already own six or seven of the ten, they just can't find them under everything else. Fill the gaps and stop there. A make-up bag you can actually see into is half the battle on a dark Tuesday morning.

Save on mascara. It needs replacing every three months anyway, and the cult drugstore formulas from Boots are as good as anything on a department store counter. Save on brow gel and setting spray too. Splurge on base and blush, the products that sit on your skin all day. A good skin tint is the difference between looking fresh and looking like you're wearing make-up. Space NK will colour match you properly, and LOOKFANTASTIC usually has the same brands on offer.

Wash brushes and sponges once a week with a bit of baby shampoo. Dirty brushes spread bacteria, and they lay product down patchily. Sharpen liners before every few uses so the tip stays clean. Check the little open-jar symbol on the back of each product, which tells you how many months it's good for once opened. Mascara is three. Cream products are usually six to twelve. Powders last ages. And never share mascara. Not even with your best mate.

You don't need to carry the full kit around. A tiny pouch with concealer, the cream blush, a lip liner and a balm covers most touch-ups. If your bag is small, the blush can double as lip colour. Add blotting papers if you get shiny by lunch and a mini setting spray if you've got plans after work. Pick up minis and travel sizes rather than decanting. Boots and Space NK both have good sections near the tills, and most of the cult brands make them now.

For evenings out, a swipe of a slightly darker lip and a dab of highlighter on the cheekbones is all the transformation you need. Five minutes in the loos at work, tops. And pack a little hand cream, because a winter make-up bag isn't just for your face.