Winter is a whole other beast when it comes to curating a beauty routine. Although winters in L.A. are pretty mild, my skin still tends to get dehydrated more easily, and makeup just doesn't sit the same unless I take extra precautions. While skin prep at home is incredibly key, I've gotten a little high-maintenance over the past few years.
Sometimes (okay, most of the time), I tend to carry around a small drugstore in my purse. I've gotten to the point where my skincare and makeup essentials come with me everywhere during the colder months to ensure my skin doesn't feel like the Sahara Desert after a few hours. If you need winter beauty essentials that are purse-friendly, you're going to want to keep reading. Ahead, I'm sharing all my favorites along with the perfect bag to keep them all in.
This bag is Coach's slightly smaller sister to the celeb-loved Brooklyn 39 Shoulder Bag. Don't be fooled by the smaller size, though—it's still incredibly roomy and holds a hefty amount of essentials. My phone, wallet, and keys fit perfectly, but there's a handful of winter beauty essentials I've been carting around in it as well that all magically somehow fit. The texture and feel of this bag are so luxurious. You can tell it's extremely well-made, and the minimalist style is a classic that I'll carry around forever.
Viral K-beauty brand Dr. Althea is known for this rich, hydrating cream, and it turns out that it's the perfect winter skincare staple to keep in your bag. I love that it has an ointment-gel hybrid consistency, but it doesn't feel overly heavy on my acne-prone skin. It also calms redness and irritation with a host of soothing ingredients like centella asiatica extract and panthenol. I bring it with me when I'm running errands and need a top-up of moisture on my dehydrated skin, or I use it as a hand cream.
My amazing organic aesthetician friend Katie Sobelman was kind enough to send this oil to me recently, and I was so impressed that I started taking it with me everywhere. This is one of several of the brand's formulas that Sobelman sent me, and we both can't believe how high-quality the oils are for the price point. This 100% pure rose-hip seed oil is super affordable and keeps my skin so hydrated throughout the day. Not that I'm complaining about getting a four-ounce bottle for $15, but my only wish is that it came in a smaller size so it's a little more purse-friendly.
Another K-beauty staple I always carry with me is Aestura's Cream Mist. It's so refreshing and perfect for winter with hydrating ceramides and a triple lipid complex. It can also be used over makeup, which I love because sometimes, makeup tends to dry out my skin when it gets colder out.
If I could only use one eye cream for the rest of my life, it would be Dieux's Auracle Eye Serum. I've tried a lot of eye creams in my career, but I always seem to come back to this because it's so hydrating, works so well for dark circles and bags, and smooths any fine lines around the eye area. It also works super fast—something I appreciate in an eye product.
This is one of my most reached-for items the past few weeks. The weather has gotten extremely dry here in L.A., and nothing seems to keep my lips hydrated quite like this new lip oil from Florence by Mills. I picked it up at an event recently, and honestly, my expectations were low just because I own so many other lip oils, but this formula has such a nice feel to it with avocado and coffee seed oil. It isn't sticky and just gives you the perfect pop of color on the lips. A true winter staple.
ABH's original Brow Wiz is a longtime staple for me, so I jumped at the chance to try this new pen from the brand. Boy, did it dazzle. I use a super light touch with this because it's pretty pigmented, but it looks so beautiful when applied to the brows. It really does create realistic feather-like "hairs" so your brows look naturally full and defined. It's also incredibly easy to work with and easy to remove in areas if you go a little overboard. I take it with me in my purse in case I need a touch-up throughout the day, but usually I don't even need that because it's so long-lasting. It's easily my new favorite brow pen, ever. I only wish I had gotten it in a slightly lighter shade because the dark brown shade I got is a tad bold for me.
This viral foundation has been on my radar for years, but it was always sold out when I would try to snag it. I finally got my hands on it recently and couldn't believe it's only $10. The coverage it offers is unreal—you don't need much product to cover your entire face. It really does give your skin an airbrushed look, effectively smoothing out any visible pores and texture. The dropper is kind of annoying to use and doesn't work very well, but that's my only complaint. I promise I don't always carry an entire makeup bag in my purse, but if I'm going to be out all day and need to touch up my makeup, this foundation is the perfect size to keep in my bag.
This mini palette from Charlotte Tilbury is perfectly sized to fit into a purse. I know it seems extra to carry around eye shadow in your purse, but in instances where you'll be out all day and may need touch-ups, it really is a necessity. I've been obsessed with these gorgeous pink hues, as there are so many different eye looks you can create that you'll never get bored. The shimmers are absolutely gorgeous on the lids and really catch the light when you're taking photos.
This is one of my favorite blushes. I picked it up in a gift bag recently and haven't been able to stop using it since. I tried this along with MBM's new foundation and completely fell in love. The blush offers the perfect amount of rosiness to the cheeks without veering into clown territory, and it melts right into your skin for a naturally flushed look.
Trust me—this hydrating treatment from Laneige isn't just an overnight mask. I keep it in my bag with me at all times, especially during the winter. The new Hot Cocoa flavor smells so good, while shea and murumuru seed butter help hydrate the lips all day long.
I never used to bring my own nail polish to the salon until I tried Mooncat's unreal nail lacquers. Now, I never get bored with my manicures because there are so many exciting shades to choose from. So many that it's overwhelming, actually. Lately, this IG-worthy violet-blue shade has been sitting in the pocket of my bag just waiting to be used.
Trust me—SPF is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer, especially if you live in a warmer climate. I've been loving this mineral formula from Mama Sol because it feels more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen, as it's so hydrating on the skin. It also doesn't leave a crazy whitecast like some mineral formulas can on darker skin tones.