Okay, so I groaned when I realized I had scatterbrained-ly left my makeup kit in my uncle’s house.  It happens to the best of us.  My cousin, Ella, was kind enough to secure that baby the minute I texted her.  If you’re wondering, that illustrated ”Prettify” canvas pouch has most of my personal favorites. It’s a good thing I’m a makeup bug blessed with more than enough to choose from.  Without overthinking it (and in a complete hurry) I managed to put a small temporary kit together using the pretty Kate Spade polka-dot wash bag Mom got me. 

Let me significantly point out that this spare kit came together in 2 groups:

1) What I grabbed the moment I knew I left my kit the other day…

CLOCKWISE (sort of): Wet & Wild Megalast matte lipstick 902C, MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NC30, Jordana lipstick Beige Glow, NYX Nude Beige lipliner, Korres Multivitamin Pressed Powder, Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Black Drama mascara, Okuma concealer (by k-palette), black Maybelline Eyestudio Eyeliner pencil

and 2) What I added in today with time to think.

FROM LEFT: Stila Smudgestick automatic eyeliner in “Halfmoon”, Za EverBrows pencil with brow brush, Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner black (pot) & brush, Missha perfect concealer in natural beige, Nichido mineral concealer pencil (for small spots & perfecting the lip edge after lipstick), and Elizabeth Arden 8-hr Cream Stick.

You’ll notice i haven’t added a lash curler and blush product that’s simply coz I didn’t have time and I’m being super honest. I’d probably add a lash curler and my new NARS Zen blush to make this complete but that’s in the kit I left behind. I’ll have my main makeup kit back with me soon enough but these will see me through.

These days you never know what’s going to happen, whether it’s an earthquake, tsunami, flood, fire or the “zombie apocalypse” it’s always good to have prepared what you’re going to grab in the wake of a sudden disaster.

I’ve put together a backpack of stuff and made a video where I talk about what and why on these items.. The following video loosely follows the categories of First Aid, Beauty, Clothing, Food and Survival tools I’ve prepared for myself and for my family.  Check out What’s In My Emergency Pack. The full list of items and some things I might have missed mentioning are written below this embedded video.

1.  Lightweight but sturdy bag or backpack, comfortable for running with and appropriately contains the following categorized items.

2.  FIRST AID KIT – Bratpack travel rollout pouch, bandages, bandaids, Ricqles Peppermint Cure liquid, SunPlay Sunscreen SPF 130, bandage, gauze, band-aids, alcohol swabs, povidone iodine swabs, antiseptic swabs, surgical gloves, cotton buds, aspirin, non-aspirin, antihistamine, Biogesic paracetamol, scissors, toothbrush, matches, desiccant, Cure exfoliant sachets, The Face Shop skin essence sachet, Chlorhexidine/HIBICLENS antiseptic.

3. MINI MAKEUP KIT – Muji clear pouch, Ecotools retractable powder brush, Tarte Amazonian Clay blush, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation mini sample, The Face Shop Phytogenic Infinite Concealer Duo NB25, MUFE Aqua Liner liquid liner, Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Mascara, Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm, Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream Lip Stick, MAC Brow Pencil “Lingering”, Missha Luminous Color Mini Lipgloss, MUFE Rouge Artist Intense #17 lipstick, A’postrophe Nailcutter and Tweezers, The Face Shop Lash Curler

4. Water/Drink Bottle – 1 liter

5. CLOTHING PACK – Disposable undies, Antibacterial wipes, jogging pants, cloth undies, 3 top options, a pair of shorts.  I’d also bring along my all-weather Columbia jacket.

6. FOOD/SUSTENANCE PACK – Cup noodle veggie soup, EDO Japanese Nori (seasoned), Ocean Spray Trail Mix Dried Fruit and Nuts, Century Tuna Lite easy-open can, Twinings tea sachets, starchware sporks, Light My Fire Titanium Spork (check outdoor sporting stores, got mine at Paseo Center, Sta Rosa), Payless Instant Noodles Chicken Corn Malunggay, starchware takeaway box, dried fruit and 2.5 cups of uncooked dry rice sealed in ziplock packs.

7. SURVIVAL TOOLS – metal carabiners, personal key sets, mini flashlight, Swiss Knife, waterproof flashlight (I recommend Maglites or Life Gear), MY BIBLE – in the end this is what will truly keep me going from the inside out.

THINGS I’VE NOTED THAT I STILL LACK : Lush Shampoo/Body bar, Small deodorant stick, Light My Fire firestarter thing, mini cooking pot, army Swiss knife, fishing line, insect repellent lotion.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” JOHN 16:33 NIV

These Furla Candy Satchels aren’t mine.  I don’t really obsess over bags because I’m too specific about what I like in a bag and because…they’re bags.  As long as the ones I have still work, most of which don’t have designer names, I pile stuff in and work them till they look weary and loved.  I don’t like bags over-sized because I’m not that huge and I want to be the star, and I don’t want a bag too small because I won’t be able to survive the day.

The colorless one I find gives me a lot of ideas for customization, that bag in a shade of zero might get more use from me than warranted.  And how bout one in Pantone’s luscious declared color of the year Tangerine Tango? I wish I could say the first photo is mine but it isn’t, I simply spotted these Furla candy bags for the first time so I’m just linking to them. These Furla candy satchels may not be the newest IT ladies in the scene, but I quite admire their size and shape, and since brights are practically back I don’t mind the neon shades either, and I do believe these are water resistant and beach worthy.  Furla Candy Satchels are also available in beautiful finishes of patent and aren’t all neon colored.

I’ve just begun a new feature category called “In Her Bag” where I can feature different women who inspire me and who are willing to feature the contents of their everyday survival kit, their handbag.  Let’s see if I can keep this new category on a roll.  They needn’t necessarily all be famous women, however, for my first In Her Bag feature I do have the privilege of featuring someone who isn’t just famous, she’s lovely, kind, Godly, Funny with a capital F, and sweet.  During her years as an MTV VJ in Singapore Donita Rose also graced the cover of Time Magazine and she now brings her sunny attitude to local TV as one of the hosts of an early morning show on ABS-CBN, Umagang Kay Ganda.  Being a wife to Eric and mother to Joshua has brought on more of a sparkle in her smile and she hasn’t lost her kiddish sense of humor in the slightest.  She wanted to hold the camera in this photo.

I’ve known Donita since my days in college and though we rarely see each other she has remained a good family friend which to me also means a friend who is like family.  We had planned to meet up months ago, but prior to our set date we BOTH got sick and decided to call it off, but thankfully our immune systems won over germs this time.  So here she is, armed and ready.  What’s really funny is, I hadn’t expected anything particularly quirky when it came to the contents of  her bag, but as you are about to see, lo and behold, I was in for an absolute surprise.  As she sat down to our lunch in Balducci at Serendra she had a scheming grin on her face.

“You’re going to be surprised by what’s in my bag.  I’m sure you’ve not seen a bag like mine”.  She wasn’t actually talking about her Louis Vuitton handbag, she was talking about what it carried.  I assure you, what this woman is about to share with us is absolutely out of the ordinary, not naman SHOCKING as some say, but not what you’d expect.  I can attest that Donita did not “set up” her bag for this feature.  “My friends always get surprised when they see me take stuff out of my bag, you’re so OC, they say.”  I had thought of  making this a video instead, but that would be so blah.  We always see more of her on TV, somehow in this instance a photo essay lends more charm to this post and it was funner to put together.  Click Read More and brace yourself for a photo overload.

First Donita wanted to freshen up quickly and wipe off the table.  So she combed her hair, brushed up her lashes with L’oreal Double Extend Mascara, then quickly cleared the table.

First off, she pulls out the usual suspects…

Donita’s usual suspects are (clockwise from left): her iPad, her car keys (yes, she drove to meet up with me, cool), her iPhone with an “adorable” photo of herself as a child, and a pen.  A bag is never complete without a pen, which is mightier than a sword.  Next up, the fun begins.

Donita likes compartmentalizing the contents of her bag.  Can you tell? LOL.  She uses small black pouches to keep little bits and pieces of essentials together, oh and the fun doesn’t stop with the pouches believe you me.

Of course she had to proudly display her invisAlign “retainers”.  You have to be confirmed by a dentist as “eligible” before having these made.

These are Butterfly Twist shoes as recommended by Oprah, they’re twistable and foldable ballet flats so you can keep them in a pouch.  They’re actually made for tired feet who give up on those killer heels from time to time, it’s a handy way to provide comfort for your feet in between events (or you can wear them at work beneath your desk when no one’s looking).  I was given a pair of these not too long ago, but mine are bright fuschia, they were available at CMG, they may still have them now.

Clockwise from left: Donita’s medicines and favorite gum Dentyne “Fire”, her sewing kit and earphones in two separate cases, heart shaped bag holder (hang from table) and ahem…wardrobe adhesives for emergencies, it’s showbiz right, and tissue, dental floss, and her Vicks inhaler for when she gets nauseous in the car.  Now, prepare for OCness…yes, seriously…

…I’m not kidding.  In mini bottles by Beabi, and in no particular order thank goodness, she carries small amounts of: Shampoo and Conditioner (she likes to shower even after an average amount of sun exposure), Bug Repellent, Neutrogena Body Oil, Deodorant, Makeup Remover, Mouthwash, Liquid Soap, Toothpaste, Stain Remover, Hairspray, Facial Oil, Aromatherapy Oil and Sunscreen, oh and also one with a bit of Benefit Posie Tint which is a pink lip and cheek tint with a bit of shine, she put that on top of her lipstick.  Yes, yes I know, I’ll get to her make-up goodies in a second, that’s the best part .

And now for Donita’s Pièce de résistance, for me, this is the absolute best one out of everything, drum roll please.  Donita  transformed a daily pill organizer into her own custom lipstick palette, and she didn’t get the idea from someone else. Here she wears MAC’s Pink Nouveau lipstick, a bright cool pink suitable for fairer skinned ladies like her.  The dark muddy powder at the end is loose eyeshadow for her brows.

Donita used a tool by Shu Uemura to cleanly cut segments of her favorite lipstick shades and place them in each compartment.  Then she microwaved them all in the container really quickly so they’d all even out inside, about 30-40 seconds on medium heat she said.  Then she labeled each compartment with the name of the color, most of these lipsticks are MAC and one is by NARS.  From what I can see she has MAC Ruby Woo, Unlimited, Pink Nouveau, Nars something Pink, MAC Overtime and MAC Gaga, Viva Glam if I’m not mistaken, which she all labeled individually at the back of course.

Her innovative handy custom lip palette has impressed me, but if you’d like to know what cosmetic items out of her entire bag stash are the ones that really matter to her it isn’t that awesome lipstick palette.

It’s these two little items that Donita says she can’t live without.  Kryolan On Air Micro Foundation (the formula used in airbrushing if I’m not mistaken), and her no-fail Stila Stay All Day waterproof liquid eye liner.

So we’re down to Donita’s last two essentials.

Of course a girl isn’t complete without a hint of color on her cheeks, so she gussies up with MAC Dolly Up Blush using a Body Shop retractable travel brush.

Last but not the least, Donita claims that this exact kind kind of foldable hair brush isn’t easy to find, if any of you know where she can easily get it maybe you can help me point her in the right direction, just in case she needs to replace it.  Whew that was a long parade of goodies Donita had lined up for us in her bag, and like I said, she didn’t put it together for the feature.  She’s this prepared whenever she can be.

Donita needed to go right away, in fact I almost made her late for her cooking class because we chatted for a bit too long prior to shooting this feature.  Donita said that generally, if she had it her way her beautifying routine would only be about being as clean as can be as often as possible.  Hair and makeup are a must when you work in showbiz so of course Donita takes the necessary steps to look as presentable as she can, but she’d much rather take the clean and comfortable route whenever possible, she’s not a naturally kikay type of girl.  If she can get away with lip and cheek tint she will.  By the way, is your bag as insanely organized as Donita’s is?  My bag’s not a total mess, but it certainly is nowhere near as tightly put together as what I’ve just shown you.  In fact when I was in front of her, all I could think about was this scene from one of my favorite movies.

So what do you think of Bless My Bag’s first In Her Bag feature, did you enjoy it?  Would you like to see more features like this from now on?