There’s something more useful about seeing what someone actually uses than looking at another long shopping list. Today, I’m sharing what’s in my makeup bag at 45, along with the few skincare products I use before makeup.
My collection includes a mix of brands, from IT Cosmetics and Clinique to Tatcha and UCANBE. In several categories, I rotate between two products. These are the products in my current routine, rather than a list of everything a woman over 40 needs to buy.
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Before Makeup: My Simple Skin Prep
These products belong more on my skincare shelf than inside my makeup bag, but they deserve a quick mention because they are part of my routine.
The Moisturizers I Use
My moisturizer rotation includes:
- SimplyVital Retinol, Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid Face Moisturizer
- Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
- IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream
I don’t mean that you need all three in one application. These are the moisturizers I use in my routine.
I’ve previously shared my experience with SimplyVital: after several weeks, I noticed softer-looking lines and a more even-looking skin tone. Those are my personal observations, rather than a promise of the same results for everyone.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream is another favorite. One thing I especially appreciate is that it hasn’t caused pilling for me. When I’m getting ready to apply makeup, that matters.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream rounds out my moisturizer rotation.
For more hydration options, explore my 10 Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin to find a formula that suits your skin’s needs and budget.
My Current Eye Product
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I also use BloomPulse’s retinol, caffeine, and ginseng eye product. It’s the eye-care step in my current routine.
An eye product’s ingredients don’t tell the whole story of how it will work for someone, so I’m including this as a product I use, rather than making a promise about removing wrinkles or dark circles.
The Gap in My Routine: A Separate Sunscreen
For a while, I thought the SPF 50 in my IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream meant I had sunscreen covered. I recently learned that the amount of makeup I normally apply shouldn’t be assumed to provide the full protection printed on the label.
I haven’t purchased a separate sunscreen yet, so I can’t share a personal favorite in this category. This is a gap in my routine, rather than a step I recommend skipping.
Cleveland Clinic advises applying sunscreen before makeup because people generally don’t apply enough SPF makeup to obtain adequate protection. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. [1, 2]
What’s in My Makeup Bag: My Everyday Favorites at 45
My Everyday Primer: Benefit The POREfessional
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Benefit The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer is my normal, everyday primer. I love how it blurs and minimizes the appearance of my pores, helping my makeup go on smoothly and stay in place throughout the day.
When my skin feels especially dry or looks flaky, I reach for Smashbox Photo Finish Hydration Primer instead. It helps hydrate my skin, but in my experience, it doesn’t give me the same pore-blurring effect as The POREfessional.
For my usual makeup routine, The POREfessional is my first choice. Smashbox is the alternative I reach for when my skin needs extra hydration.
My Foundation: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream
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My Foundation: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is my foundation choice and one of my favorites for my dry skin. It combines full-coverage foundation with color-correcting pigments, hydrating skincare ingredients, and SPF 50+.
The formula includes hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin E, and its coverage helps camouflage redness, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. Applying thin layers lets you build coverage where you need it without making your makeup look heavy.
In my experience, it wears beautifully, doesn’t settle into my lines, and lasts throughout the day. I get the coverage I want while still feeling comfortable on my dry skin—those are the qualities that keep me reaching for it.
The SPF is a useful feature, but I now understand that my usual makeup application doesn’t replace a properly applied sunscreen. I wouldn’t rely on the amount I use for coverage to provide the full SPF listed on the label.
For more options beyond my everyday CC cream, explore my 10 Best Foundations for Mature Skin to find coverage and a finish that suit your skin.
My Go-To Concealer: Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless
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Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Cakeless Full Coverage Waterproof Liquid Concealer is my everyday go-to, and I absolutely love it. It covers my dark circles, blemishes, and discoloration without looking heavy or cakey.
Despite its full coverage, the formula feels lightweight and blends easily. The cushion-tip applicator makes it easy to place the product where I need it, and a little goes a long way—one tube has lasted me ages!
Benefit describes it as waterproof with up to 24-hour wear. I’m not wearing my makeup for 24 hours, but I appreciate a concealer that gives me coverage without a heavy-looking finish.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Full Coverage Concealer is the alternative I reach for when my dark circles are out of control. It’s a very thick, full-coverage option for those days when I need extra coverage under my eyes. For everyday concealing across my face, Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless is my first choice.eed and how a formula looks on your own skin. A product being in my bag doesn’t mean everyone needs both.
For more options to cover dark circles and discoloration, explore my 10 Best Concealers for Mature Skin to find one that suits your coverage needs.
My Blush: Clinique and NARS
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My Favorite Blush: Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm
Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm is my first choice for blush. I love its creamy texture and how it adds color without settling into my pores. I also love the variety of colors they offer!
The formula is blendable and buildable, so you can start with a sheer wash of color or add more for a bolder flush. The swivel-up stick makes application easy, requires no sharpening, and is convenient for touch-ups. It’s also allergy tested and 100% fragrance free.
I also use NARS The Multiple in Orgasm, but Clinique Chubby Stick is the blush I reach for most.
My Powder: Laura Mercier
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My Only Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is the only setting powder I use because it’s the best I’ve found for my skin.
A lot of powders settle into my fine lines and wrinkles so badly that they make me want to wash my makeup off and start over. This one sets my makeup without emphasizing those areas, which makes a big difference at 45.
Its finely milled texture feels light and silky, helping set makeup and prolong wear without a heavy, powdery-looking finish. For me, it gives my makeup that finished look without accentuating the signs of aging I’m trying to soften.
For more options to set your makeup without emphasizing fine lines, explore my Best Setting Powders for Mature Skin.
My Eyeshadow Palettes: MAKEUP BY MARIO and UCANBE
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My Eyeshadow Palettes: MAKEUP BY MARIO and UCANBE
MAKEUP BY MARIO Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Palette is definitely one of the more expensive makeup products I own, but I absolutely love it. Neutrals are my go-to colors, so this palette fits beautifully into my everyday routine.
Its 12 shades offer a mix of matte and luminous finishes, giving me options for a softer everyday look or something with a little more shimmer. In my experience, the shadows are highly pigmented, take very little product to achieve the look I want, and stay on all day.
I also use the UCANBE Toffee Fusion Nude Eyeshadow Palette, a budget option in my collection. It has a little story behind it, too: it was an accidental purchase—the inspiration for my “Oops, I did it again” moment!
I like having both a splurge and a budget palette in my makeup bag. You don’t have to stick to one price range for your entire routine.
For more palette options and tips, explore my Best Eyeshadows for Mature Lids and Hooded Eyes, then find seasonal color inspiration in 7 Gorgeous Fall Makeup Trends for Women Over 40.
My Eyeliners: Clinique and Laura Geller
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My Favorite Eyeliner: Laura Geller Kajal in Smoky Plum
Laura Geller Kajal Longwear Kohl Eyeliner in Smoky Plum is my favorite way to add a little color to my makeup. I’m not the most adventurous with my looks—I usually stick to neutrals—but I love purple eyeliner. It adds a pop of color without looking harsh and makes the green in my hazel eyes stand out more.
The richly pigmented formula glides on smoothly and is blendable, so you can soften the line for a smoky look. It’s designed for long wear, and the chubby pencil can also double as an eyeshadow crayon. A built-in sharpener in the endcap keeps the tip ready for more precise application.
I also use Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense, but Laura Geller in Smoky Plum is the one I reach for when I want that little touch of purple.
My Mascara: Clinique High Impact Waterproof
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Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara is my mascara choice.
I’ve used both the regular and waterproof versions of Clinique High Impact and have had a good experience with them. They make my lashes look longer and fuller and stay in place throughout the day for me.
One of the biggest reasons I appreciate Clinique is my experience with sensitive eyes. Some mascaras irritate my eyes and leave them red; this one hasn’t done that for me. Everyone’s sensitivity is different, but that has been a meaningful benefit in my own routine.
For waterproof mascara, I use an oil-based makeup remover. Otherwise, I find it difficult to remove.
For more lash-enhancing options, explore my 7 Best Waterproof Mascaras for Mature Eyes: Beautiful Length and Volume.
My Favorite Lip Gloss: BUXOM Full-On Plumping Lip Polish
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BUXOM Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss is my go-to gloss. I like its temporary plumping effect—with age, lips can look thinner, and this gloss helps mine appear a little fuller while adding shine.
The formula has a noticeable tingling sensation and a high-shine, shimmering finish. It contains a peptide complex designed to enhance the appearance of fullness, along with vitamins A and E to help moisturize lips. I appreciate those moisturizing ingredients just as much as the plumping effect.
There’s also a wide range of shades, with sparkly, pearlescent, and shimmering options. You can wear it alone or layer it over another lip color.
I pair mine with Clinique Quickliner for Lips to define my lips before adding gloss. BUXOM is the finishing touch I reach for when I want moisture, shine, and a temporarily fuller-looking pout.
My Makeup Brushes and Tools
My makeup collection also includes IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7 and a Travel Makeup Brush Set with Case & Sponge for Foundation, Powder, and Blush.
IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7
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I don’t normally buy expensive makeup brushes, but IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7 has become a staple in my routine. I love the dual-ended design because it gives me a foundation brush and a concealer brush in one.
The larger end has ultra-soft, densely packed bristles that help blend my CC cream evenly. The smaller end helps me blend concealer in harder-to-reach areas, especially around the corners of my eyes.
Designed for foundation and concealer, it’s a useful companion to the products already in my makeup bag—and a brush splurge that earns its place in my routine. [3]
Travel Makeup Brush Set with Case and Sponge
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Travel Makeup Brush Set with Case and Sponge
I also have a travel makeup brush set with a case and sponge, with tools for foundation, powder, and blush. The case keeps everything together and makes the set easy to pack alongside my makeup.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I don’t normally buy expensive makeup brushes! These work just fine for my makeup application and leave me more money for the products I love. My IT Cosmetics brush is a staple, but I’m perfectly happy keeping the rest of my brush collection budget-friendly.
What My Makeup Bag Really Looks Like
My makeup bag is a mix of familiar favorites, different price points, and a few alternatives within the same category. It also has an anchor product: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream.
Sharing my routine means being honest about what I use and what I’m still figuring out—including adding a separate sunscreen.
If you’re putting together your own makeup bag after 40, use this as a look inside mine rather than a checklist you need to copy. Start with what works for your skin and the makeup you enjoy wearing.
What’s the one product you always keep in your makeup bag? Tell me in the comments!
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Should You Put Sunscreen on Before Makeup?
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to Apply Sunscreen
