EACH WEEK, WE’LL be taking a peek into some of our faves’ makeup bags to see their must-have products, because we’re nosey. This week, it’s the turn of makeup artist Rachel Coffey. You can follow her on Instagram here.
Her earliest makeup memories
One of my earliest makeup memories was playing with my sister in what makeup my Mam did have. I remember her mauve Rimmel lipstick we’d smear everywhere and her many black eyeliners for her to rim her undereyes only with.
I used to use her makeup to draw new makeup on my Bratz dolls. I’d always steal her eyeliner and draw new brows and black eyeshadow on them. I still have them somewhere with the makeup still intact! Talk about long lasting eyeliner.
“I started wearing makeup at 12 (the typical orange face, foundation lips of the time) then stopped wearing it for years. My real interest in makeup didn’t happen until maybe 2015, and in 2016 I started my Instagram account which led to me seeing makeup as an art form rather than something to enhance beauty. I developed a bold style and I try something new every time I do a look, because I get excited to see what else I can do with my face.
“Because of this, I don’t really have a ‘signature’ look. I just try anything and everything!
“I work from home so don’t feel the need to wear makeup most of the time. But something I love to do if I’m out for a whole day and night is do a two-in-one day/night look.
So I start the day and morning with a pink eyeshadow, subtle nude lip look with some mascara and in the nighttime go over that makeup with a darker burgundy or berry smokey eye and some lashes. It means you’re not walking around with heavy makeup for a whole day and night. I’d say the pink eye is my signature ‘day’ look.
Her makeup bag and what’s inside
“The bag I always travel with is from Penneys. It comes in a set of three and it’s so handy because the largest one has fit ALL of these products! Then I have room in the other two bags that come with it that are smaller for other items that aren’t essentials.They’re also clear so it makes it super easy to organise my kit with them because I can see what’s inside.
“I always start with my eyes first. When I’m going to an event or want my makeup to last all day, I’ll usually prime my eyes with Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion since I have oily, hooded lids. Other than that, I use my concealer.
“My eyes are what I consider my best feature, so I always choose to play they up. I’m such an eyeshadow lover, but i’m so indecisive so I need to have options on me in case I change my mind. I always use my custom large Z-Palette that I created with shadows from Inglot, Makeup Geek, MAC and NYX for every look. Then, a colourful palette like my BH Cosmetics Take Me To Brazil Palette and my favourite black - Melt Dark Matter. These two palettes and the black make it easy to do my day-to-night looks with the pinks and reds since I have everything between them.
“I have very watery eyes so I like to put a waterproof gel liner in my waterline to stop it from ruining my makeup. I love Inglot’s Gel Liners, they stay put all day. I use 68 (nude) for a lighter daytime look and 77 (black) for a nighttime or smokey look.
“I’m not fussy with mascara. But if I’m going out, I’ll always use a waterproof mascara because of my watery eyes and hooded lids. The one I’ve been liking at the minute is Maybelline Colossal Big Shot Waterproof Mascara because it actually stays on and doesn’t smudge.
“I always use DUO’s Brush On Glue (the one with the green writing) for my fake lashes. Best glue I’ve tried by far.
“For lashes, I keep my lashes I’ve worn in a little tackle box so I can have options and a place to store them if I’m going to be away from my house. I swear by SOSU by Suzanne Jackson Glam Lashes from Penneys. I haven’t worn any other brands since I first started wearing them.
“I’m pretty simple when it comes to my brow routine as I naturally have bushier brows that I love to emphasize. So I fill in gaps with NYX Micro Brow in ‘Black’ and use clear brow gel like NYX Control Freak Gel or mascara in my brows to make them bushier.
“Recently I bought NARS Sheer Glow and I’ve been really liking it. It’s not my favourite foundation but it makes my skin look really nice. Also I need a new one because mine is disgustingly filthy, but I only use my black Beauty Blender for foundation.
“Underneath my foundation I always wear an illuminator, and recently I’ve been loving the CYO Illuminating Mixing Cream. It’s nearly the exact same as MAC Strobe Cream but it has a pump which makes it a lot easier for me not to waste product!
“For concealer, my favourite at the minute is Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I like that it’s a bit dark for me, as I don’t like super highlighted undereyes. I find they make me look ashy since I’m pale, so this one balances out my face.
“I’m oilier skinned so I need to powder. I haven’t found a favourite just yet, but for now I’m using Kat Von D’s Translucent Powder. I use this to set my face and bake it under my eyes to catch fallout.
“I’m not a huge fan of extremely highlighted skin when I’m not taking photos, I prefer a more subtle glow. The Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in ‘Peach Lights’ has been all I’ve used for about a year now. It gives you a natural, buildable glow and it has a sort of pink shift to it which is lovely.
“I can never do a look without blush. I will happily take contour away if I can keep blush. My favourite is NYX ‘Pink The Town’ and I don’t use anything else for my “everyday” skin. It’s a pinkish coral shade that’s not to bright and not too dark so it’s perfect for my skintone.
“For contour I use the Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Kit. I always contour as I have a natural hollow in my cheeks and my face looks huge and flat without it. I mix the two shades to the left of the palette to get a natural contour colour. I use the Kat Von D Double Ended Contour Brush for this and they work together really well.
“I love wearing bold lips but if I know I’m away from my house, I’ll usually always stick with a comfortable nude as I don’t like needing to touch up. I like a satin or creamy finish as I have the driest lips and can’t deal with matte lips. I’ll always line with a pinky beige lip liner. I’ve been liking the Catrice ‘Vintage Rose’ Long Lasting Lip Pencil at the moment but I don’t have a preference for brands, as long as it works. Then I either use MAC ‘Viva Glam 2′ which is a satin, or MAC ‘Modesty’ if I want more creaminess. Those two are my holy grail nude lips.”
