What's in my game day makeup bag?
Meghan walks through her gameday makeup bag sharing her favorite go-to products from her time dancing at KU to her time in the NBA.
Name: Meghan
Dance Team: NBA, Collegiate
Look: Every game day
All-time Favorite Product: Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Hey! I’m Meghan! I am a former NBA dancer and previously a 4 year Rock Chalk Dancer. I usually use the same makeup every game day because I love it so much but I always love to switch up the brands and try new basics. Here are some of my makeup products I can’t live without, especially on game day!
Everyone has their own makeup routine. I tried so many different ways to apply makeup over the years and this is the one routine that I have found that makes my makeup last all day! Obviously, everyone has different skin types and some of these things may not work for everyone but this is the one I found works best!
Meghan’s Makeup Bag
PRIMER
I always start each makeup look with the ‘Porefessional’ Hydrating primer by Benefit. I find that even though I have somewhat oily skin, my skin needs a lot of hydration throughout the day so using this really helps me.
I also just got the E.L.F Blemish Control Face Primer that I have used a couple of times and really like as well!
EYE SHADOW
After putting on my primer, I go into doing eye shadow right after. I know this may seem strange to some but I noticed I spend less time trying to clean up any extra eye shadow that may fall onto my face when I start with it. I think it also allows the foundation, later on, to cover up any mistakes I may have made. My go-to eye shadow palette is the Morphe Copper Spice 25A palette. I have naturally tan/olive skin so I love to use browns/natural/neutral colors with some sort of gold shimmer on top to compliment my skin and make my brown eyes pop a little more.
CONCEALER
After doing my eye shadow, I go in with my concealer. I am always trying new concealers and love to find good quality drug store products. The one I am currently using is BareMinerals BareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer. I always put it under my eyes and cover any other blemishes I may have first.
FOUNDATION
After blending the concealer out, I then put on my foundation. I have been using the same foundation for YEARS and haven’t found another one that I think comes close to it. It is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation. I normally have two shades with me at all times. One that is my shade when I have a nice tan, either from a spray tan or just from the sun, and then another one for the winter when I am a little more pale than in the summer time.
If it’s not game day, I also really like the Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator, which is just a tinted moisturizer.
After I put on my foundation, I then go back in with my concealer. I, again, always put a little more under my eyes because I have naturally dark under eye circles that I can never seem to get rid of (if anyone has some ideas, pass those along ha!) So I put some more concealer under my eyes and then I use it to also contour.
CONTOUR
For the contour, like I said, I use my concealer that I always use. I put some on my under eyes, on the bridge of my nose, on my chin, on my philtrum (the space between your nose and upper lip), and a little on my forehead just to brighten it up. I blend all of this out and then bake with the Wet ‘n Wild Photofocus Banana Powder.
I normally just dip a beauty blender into the powder and dab it on where I just put the concealer. While that sits for a couple minutes, I use the Benefit Hoola Bronzer and contour the rest of my face with that. I use it right underneath my cheek bones, on the sides of my nose, a little under my bottom lip, and then around the edges of my forehead.
After letting everything sit for a couple of minutes, I brush the excess away with a fluffy brush and blend, blend, blend!
Biggest thing I have learned over the years of doing make up and all of the trial and error with what stays and what doesn’t, is to blend. If you think your makeup looks “cakey” - blend. Blend more than you normally would and you will love the outcome.
HIGHLIGHTER
After blending to my liking, I then use my Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighter to highlight the tops of my cheek bones (closer to my hairline than to my nose), the tip of my nose, and my cupids bow.
TOP EYE LINER
After my face makeup and eye shadow are done, I normally do my upper eyeliner first. I have been using Tarteist Double Eyeliner. One side is liquid and one is pencil!
LASHES
I will put my eye liner on and then use my lash glue to put on eyelashes. I never really am picky about my eyelashes that I use, so depending on the day I use either ones that are super full and luscious, and other days I use ones that are not as big with really no preference on the brand.
With eyelashes, I have found that putting some glue on and letting it sit for a couple of seconds and then putting it on allows the glue to get a little tacky but you are still able to move the lash around if you need to. I let it dry all the way and then if I feel like it may fall off or isn’t as strong, I’ll go back in with some glue on either my finger or the end of a eye shadow brush and apply to the places that the lash may be popping off a little and then allow that to dry completely.
Once dried, I go back over my eyeliner just so everything is even.
BOTTOM EYE LINER
After the tops of my lashes are all good, I use the IT Cosmetics No-Tug eyeliner in my bottom waterline.
MASCARA
Once I have applied all of my eye liner and eyelashes, I use mascara. I have always used mascara last because I feel like it helps my natural lashes and my fake eyelashes bond together more smoothly. I put a little on my bottom lashes just to make sure they have some color to them and don’t look like there’s makeup on them.
BROWS
Next, I do my eyebrows. I’m not the best with my eyebrows, I’ll admit that. I have a scar on one of my eyebrows from when I was little so my biggest thing is trying to cover that up and that’s all I really do. I have been using a spoolie to comb through my brows first and then go in with a cream-gel brow color by Benefit called “Ka-Brow!”
LIPSTICK
Second to last, lipstick. I am always on the hunt for a good neutral/nude lipstick. At the University of Kansas, we had to wear red lipstick for game days and my favorite that I found was the Maybelline Color sensational in the shade 800 Dynamite Red. When I was dancing for the Nuggets, I used the Kylie Jenner Matte Lipstick in the shade Dolce K. Once that was all dry, I always went in with the NYX Butter Gloss either in the shade 5 or 13 depending on which one I had with me.
SETTING SPRAY
After my lips were done, I finally use my makeup setting spray to help make my makeup last all day/night long, especially through all of the sweat! My favorite right now is the NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray. I love it and it’s such a good price!
“Again, these are some of the products that I have used over the years that I think work best for me and my skin. I’m constantly trying to find new products, especially lipstick, but these are the ones that I love! ”
Instagram: meghan_short
