VANITIES: New York Fashion Week Edition
Plus, Model-Approved Makeup Removers I Use on Set
With New York Fashion Week upon us, it’s time to embark upon my favorite pastime—seeing what’s in other peoples’ makeup bags. As a makeup artist I have all of my favorite things, but I also love the constant discovery of what’s new (at least to me). Fashion Week is a particularly good opportunity to discover what others are into—many people are in town from all over the world, so the diversity of products can be really exciting.
Below is a collection of some of my favorite models’ favorite beauty items in their natural environment, the show casting handbag. Plus, a few of them threw in some non-glam items that make the casting “hurry up and wait” game a little more fun. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
As an added bonus, at the end, I included some of my favorite model-approved makeup removers that you can add to your routine, too.
Aqua Parios (@aqua)
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
In my bag I keep some of my favorite things!
Makeup for Touch-Ups:
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: It’s super moisturizing, I love it so much!
Chanel La Palette Sourcils Brow Wax and Brow Powder Duo: I love it because it comes with the brushes and even mini tweezers! It's so convenient and includes both a brow wax and brow powder.
Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Matte Powder Foundation: I’ve been using it for the longest time. It’s super light and goes great with my Dior foundation.
Mac Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer: I work for Mac a lot and they gave me this concealer; it's so wonderful! Perfect amount of coverage.
Other Stuff I Carry:
Daisy by Marc Jacobs Mini: I love this fragrance—it’s not too intense and smells fresh and clean!
Monopoly Deal Cards & My Nintendo Switch: My Nintendo Switch is the Animal Crossing special edition. I love the game; my cousin plays it too. It keeps me very occupied in lines or on my long flights for work.
Celine Sunglasses: I love the shape of them, they’re so fun.
My Comp Cards [Editor’s note: These are like business cards for models. On the front is a tight headshot with little-to-no makeup, and on the back there is a full-body shot with more of a “moody” feel, along with the model’s height, measurements, eye and hair color, shoe size, and now, often their Instagram follower count.]
Loro Piana Gloves: It’s always cold in New York. This brand is known for the best wool and cashmere. SO warm!
A Portable Phone Charger
A Notepad: I write everything down so I don't forget when I have to be somewhere :) I have a very busy schedule.
Sif Saga (@sifsaga)
Hometown: Reykjavik, Iceland
Favorite Skin Care Products:
Favorite Hair Products:
Aveda Light Elements Defining Whip to style my short hair and for flyaways.
Beauty Products:
Favorite Masks After a Shoot:
Jisu Hong (@jisuu_uu)
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
In My Bag:
Hair elastic
Comp card
Phone chargers
Beauty Creations Sweet Dose Lip Oil: It just smells so good and my lips are extremely dry so I prefer lip oil; it gives me extra moisture!
AirPods
Shiseido Eyelash Curler: I think the shape is perfect for my eyes!
Diptyque Orphéon Refillable Solid Perfume: It’s long lasting and smells so good!!!!
Mariah Strongin (@mariahstrongin)
Hometown: Medford, OR
In My Bag:
I keep it light with tinted moisturizer and a little mascara. I like the Tarte Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer and the Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara—both are light and natural looking.
I keep my hair natural unless something specific is needed for the casting, but I use Living Proof Restore Smooth Blowout Concentrate out of the shower to tame the frizz.
My daily skincare combination is Clarins Total Eye Lift, Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion, Christine Chin Cell’Gold Face Brightening Serum, Christine Chin Daily Renewal Refinishing Serum, and Weleda Skin Food. It keeps my skin moist and healthy going through so many makeup changes along with normal daily wear and tear.
I swear by the Christine Chin Soothing Hydration Masque. It locks in moisture to leave me feeling hydrated all day.
Living Proof Restore Smooth Blowout Concentrate is the best product I’ve ever used in my hair, and a little goes a long way!
Sierra Lee Babashoff (@sierrababashoff)
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Makeup & Hair for Castings:
IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Skin Tint SPF 40: I don’t wear much makeup when I go to castings, so the IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Skin Tint is perfect for color correction and hydration, and it has SPF 40!
Pixi by Petra Sheer Cheek Gel: I love a good dewy skin look, so I use this liquid gel blush from Pixi, and it gives the perfect glow!
NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue Laminating Gel: The NYX brow glue is truly my staple makeup item; LITERAL glue and the only product I use for my brows.
Honest Beauty Magic Beauty Balm: Another staple of mine (especially during Fashion Week when makeup products start drying my skin) is the Magic Beauty Balm from Honest Beauty. I apply it to the highlight points of my face, like cheekbones, forehead, brow bones, and lips, and it gives me a lovely glow that looks great in casting pictures, too.
OGX Extra Strength Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner: My hair can get a bit frizzy with the weather and the use of heat products at shows, so to tame my flyaways and soften my hair, I use just a little bit of coconut oil.
For After Shows:
FROM THE KIT
The products and trends worth knowing about now
Model-Approved Makeup Removers
As a couple of the ladies touched on above, for models going from show to show, wearing all sorts of fun hair and makeup looks at each, there can also be a lot of “glam damage” (my term for wear and tear on the hair and skin from dramatic hairstyles and repeated makeups/makeoffs). I hear about this dreaded Fashion Week fallout all the time from my model besties; the smarties combat this job hazard with an (often portable) arsenal of products to heal and repair hair, skin, and nails.
Even if you’re not walking in New York Fashion Week, these products will strip off every stitch of the makeup you’re wearing (including the most waterproof of mascaras—we have all been there with the post-shower racoon eyes).
Chanel Démaquillant Yeux Intense Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover
This remover takes off EVERYTHING. The most waterproof thing you have stands no chance; just make sure you give it a good shake before use.
A classic, although I don’t recommend it for waterproof looks since it can take some time to get the heavy stuff off (so if you’re dealing with that, I’d pull out a bi-phase formula like the Chanel for the heavy lifting—aka the waterproof eyeliner and mascara—then finish up with the Bioderma). Models always ask for the Bioderma as it’s supremely gentle. Additionally, it’s a no-water cleanser, which I love on days when I’m too tired to actually wash my face.
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes—Fragrance-Free
You really only need one of these. Keep them in your handbag for when you’re on the go. I especially like the new fragrance-free variety.
White Rabbit Naked Cotton Classic
I love this cotton. I know it sounds crazy to get fancy cotton, but it’s worth it. They are really generously sized so you can use one or two compared to four to five regular cotton rounds. They also are FUZZ FREE. You don’t know you need them until you’ve tried them, and then you can’t go back.
Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser
I love this not only because it will take off the most difficult makeup with ease, but also because it’s a great multitasker—you can use it as a moisturizing makeup removing cleanser or add granules (which come with it ) to make it a scrub. Make sure to remove it with a wet washcloth for squeaky clean skin.