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The things she carries: All the stuff in my makeup bag

I tote so much makeup with me that some might call me overprepared. Better safe than sorry, I say.

I dumped out the contents of my makeup bag for your benefit.
I dumped out the contents of my makeup bag for your benefit.Read moreALISON SMITH / Staff

On my way out to dinner last week, I got caught in one of the surprise freak thunderstorms that was plaguing our fair city.

I looked like a drowned rat. Luckily, I was prepared.

Not a single regular reader of this column would be shocked to learn that I wear quite a bit of makeup pretty much every day.

I also spend most of my time away from home, and I don't exactly travel light.

I tote so much makeup with me some might call me overprepared. Better safe than sorry, I say.

These are the things I (currently) carry, and why:

  1. L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black, $8.95 at drugstores, is my absolute favorite for tightlining the eye — that is, applying eyeliner to the underside of the top lashes to make them appear longer and fuller.

  2. L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Blackest Black, $10.95 at drugstores, is a new discovery of mine and has quickly become my favorite mascara. It makes my lashes look longer and fuller, and somehow creates more of them out of thin air.

  3. Essence Liquid Lipstick in Peach Party, $5 at drugstores, isn't actually a liquid lipstick, despite what the name says. It IS a beautiful gloss in a summery coral shade that I can wear with anything this time of year.

  4. Bare Minerals Generation Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Cookie, $18 at Ulta, isn't as long-lasting as some liquid lipsticks, but it's more comfortable to wear.

  5. NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream, $4.99 at drugstores, is my favorite lip gloss formula and comes in more than 30 colors. I dare you not to buy multiples.

  6. Bare Minerals Generation Nude Lipgloss in Sugar, $18 at Sephora, is my "my lips but better" shade. Find yours and carry it with you.

  7. NYX Retractable Lip Liner in Nude, $4.49 at Ulta, matches (nearly) any lip color I might have with me.

  8. ChapStick Total Hydration Lip Balm in Honey Blossom, $2.99 at Target. ChapStick is great, but this one is really heavily scented. Proceed with caution.

  9. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Fair, $9.99 at drugstores, has its own sponge, which makes applying on the go a breeze.

  10. E.l.f. Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets, $1 at drugstores. Sometimes a girl gets shiny.

  11. A Blotterazzi by beautyblender, $20 at Sephora. Sometimes a girl gets REALLY shiny.

  12. Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder, $3.99 at Ulta. Sometimes you need myriad options for combating shine!

  13. Maybelline Fit Me! Matte and Poreless Powder in Classic Ivory, $5.99 at drugstores. I really hate being shiny, OK?

  14. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder, $30 at Sephora. It's possible I didn't realize until just this moment how much I hate being shiny.

  15. A very old retractable powder blush, to blend all that powder I apply to make me less shiny.

  16. Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water, $9 on Amazon, to make my face look less powdery after I've applied all the powder.

  17. A (broken) travel magnifying mirror. The mirror itself isn't broken (no bad luck here!), but the hinge on the mirror went a long time ago.

  18. A hair tie and four bobby pins. Why four? Who knows!

  19. And, last, a folding compact hairbrush, $4.53 on Amazon, is possibly the most sensible thing I carry.

With all of the above, I was able to make myself presentable again on short notice. Though perhaps next time I should also carry an umbrella.

Alison Smith is ready for nearly any beauty scenario. Got a burning beauty question? Email asmith@philly.com.