What's In Her Bag? A 25-year-old ex-makeup artist who uses men's hair gel on her brows.

Mamamia’s What’s In Her Bag series asks Aussie women to give us a look at their everyday beauty routines. Kind of like a sex diary but with beauty. So… not like a sex diary at all. We discover what women are putting on their faces, how much of their hard-earned cash goes towards beauty, and what works for their busy lives. There’s no right or wrong, just real beauty from real women. This week, a 25-year-old ex-makeup artist shows us what’s in her bag.

Name: Maddie.

Age: 25.

Job: Client Services Executive, former Mecca Makeup Artist.

Biggest skin concern: Dullness, fine lines and wrinkles.

Speaking of makeup artists, we asked one to show us exactly how to get a bronzed smokey eye if black isn’t your thing. Post continues after video.

AM skincare routine.

I love the routine of applying my skin care. Sometimes, I wonder if a 10-12 step process is a tad excessive, but then I’ll see an Instagram post about #selflove and decide it’s totally within reason and no one can stop me!

In my previous job as a specialist makeup artist at Mecca, I had the wonderful experience of working with top notch skin and makeup experts and influencers. The number one lesson I took away from my invaluable time with them was: skin is fundamental. It is queen and without proper skin care and preparation, your makeup cannot and will not do its job properly. I would work on fashion shows backstage and the lead artist would make sure each makeup artist prepped their model with at least a 10-minute facial lymphatic drainage massage and a seven-step skin prep routine. And so, with that in mind, let me take you through my (potentially over the top) routine that ensures my skin is ready to be the best possible canvas it can be for makeup.

I start with the Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, which is never dehydrating due to its glycerin base. Every third or fourth day, I mix in the Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder to turn it into an exfoliating cleanser. This enzyme peel is a very gentle exfoliator which actually calms redness and simultaneously eats away at dead skin (genius). If I have an event on that day, I go ahead and use the Patchology Milk Peel 5 Minute FlashMasque Sheet Masks, which use lactic acid and coconut milk to gently exfoliate, hydrate and calm the skin – hello “glassy skin”. If I don’t use the mask, I use the Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence to prep the skin to be able to absorb anything I put on top of it. It’s sort of like wetting a sponge before you use it to soak up some spilt liquid.

Following that, I always add a healthy dose of Vitamin C from the Tatcha Violet C Brightening Serum to lighten my sun damage. I usually mix in the self-tanning drops from Isle of Paradise for a subtle glow. To top this off, I then use my rose quartz roller to massage in my Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream for a glossy finish. In winter, I occasionally add in two to three drops of my Korres Wild Rose 15% Vitamin C Spotless Serum, which is an oil/water mix meaning it is super absorbent but also really nourishing. And finally, the piece de resistance, my Mecca Cosmetica SPF 50 to ensure my freshly Vitamin C soaked skin is not damaged by the sun.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, $49.

Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder, $79.

PATCHOLOGY Milk Peel 5 Minute FlashMasque Sheet Masks, $46 for four masks.

Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence, $224.

Tatcha Violet C Brightening Serum, $135.

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops in Dark, $39.

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream, $104.

KORRES Wild Rose 15% Vitamin C Spotless Serum, $86.

Angela Caglia La Vie En Rose Face Roller, $99.

MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50+, $40.

PM skincare routine.

My night time routine is much the same, minus the sunscreen and with a few small product and “tool” additions.

I was once told by an esthetician that I am in fact a “crinkle-er” (prone to fine lines, drooping and thinning of the skin), as opposed to a “melter” (thicker, usually oiler, skin that loses elasticity over time). Whilst this was confronting to hear – and delivered with particularly terrible bedside manner to boot – it did allow to me understand the best way to care for my type of skin. In particular, the importance of a very helpful addition of retinol.

On top of my regular skincare mentioned above, I use the Olay Eyes Pro-Retinol Eye Treatment to tackle the fine lines around my eyes which seem to be par for the course as a “crinkle-er”. I also use the Lonvitalite Microneedle Derma Roller (0.30mm) to encourage the skin to produce more elastin and absorb my products more effectively. If I really want to treat myself or tighten my facial contours for a special occasion, I whip out my Nuface Trinity mini, the device that honestly looks like a bizarre sex toy.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, $49.

Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder, $79.

Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence, $224.

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops in Dark, $39.

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream, $104.

KORRES Wild Rose 15% Vitamin C Spotless Serum, $86.

Olay Eyes Pro-Retinol Eye Treatment, $48.99.

LONVITALITE Microneedle Derma Roller 0.30mm – Titanium 540 Needle Roller, $49.95.

NUFACE Trinity Mini, $229.

Everyday makeup routine.

From my time doing makeup backstage,  I learned the best makeup looks start the same. First, concealing the skin only in the areas that need it before adding layers of sheer colour and textures to get the perfect opacity and colour correction. In others words, perfect the skin and don't overload it.

To do this on myself daily, I start off with Mac Strobe Cream to prime, followed by the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation, both worked into the skin with my hands. After this, I spot conceal with the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser, contour using the Westman Atelier contour stick (zero orange undertones in this bad boy), highlight using the Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight and then add a pop of blush with the Nars multiple in “Motu Tane”.

Using my damp beauty blender, I then tap this all into my face to give a smooth blend and avoid the horrible Neapolitan ice cream style contour/blush/highlight stripes we've all fallen victim to. I then set this all with the Laura Mercier translucent setting powder to lock it down. For my eyes, I usually just run some of my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer through the crease, pop my Clinique highlighter into my inner corner and load up on mascara from By Terry. Mine has a twist top brush function which supposedly gives you more volume. Is the twist top entertaining? Absolutely. Does it actually give you more volume? It will remain a mystery.

For brows, I actually use my boyfriend's hair gel to brush them up with a spoolie (naked mascara wand). I know that is probably gross, but I find it’s the only way I have been able to keep them in place all day. To fill in my brows, I use the Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in soft brunette. To put the metaphorical cherry on top of the metaphorical cake that is my face, I pop on a slick of Urban Decay's Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in Backtalk. Then I am ready to start my day.

Mac Strobe Cream, $56.

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation, $106.

MAYBELLINE Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles, $19.95.

WESTMAN ATELIER Face Trace Contour Stick, $73.

Nars Multiple in Motu Tane, $60.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight in “Hefty Highlight”, $42.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $60.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, $80.

By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara, $45.

Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil, $40.

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss, $36.

SHOCKWAVES Extreme Hold Gel 250 mL, $4.99.

Hair care, body and fragrance.

Anyone who has bleached their hair would know the struggle of trying to keep brassy tones out, whilst also trying not to fry your hair off (cue flashback of Cynthia the doll from Rugrats). To combat said issue, I try to avoid sulphates, silicones, SLS’s and mineral oils in my shampoo. I have recently been using the Maui Moisture Strength and Anti-Breakage Shampoo and am really enjoying it. Then, I alternate my conditioner between two products. The first is the Maui Moisture mask, and the second is a custom-made toning conditioner that my hairdresser whipped up for me at my hair salon. The brand is called Evo Fab Pro and is completely designed for your personalised colour (the future is now people).

For fragrance, I am currently loving Altaia’s “Don’t Cry For Me” EDP. The fragrance is inspired by the romance of Buenos Aires, it's warm and sweet yet simultaneously fresh and clean. It has beautiful notes jasmine tea, freesia, cherry flower, heliotrope, vegetal amber, cashmere wood and ambrette. Yum.

Maui Moisture Strength and Anti-Breakage Agave Shampoo, $21.99.

Evo Fab Pro Custom Conditioner.

Maui Moisture Strength and Anti-Breakage Agave Mask, $21.99.

Altaia Don't Cry For Me EDP, 100ml for $305.

Maddie's Spendy: By Terry Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi Serum in Sunny Flash.

My spendy will always be the By Terry Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi Serum in Sunny Flash. When pressed onto the high points of the face, collarbones and shoulders, this sheer and luminous bronzing serum makes you look like you're glowing from the inside out. In summer, I wear it alone on my face for a “just been to the Amalfi Coast” (I wish) glow.

By Terry Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi Serum in Sunny Flash, $134.

Maddie's Savey: Ardell Natural Demi Wispies.

I can honestly never justify buying $50-$60 high end false lashes. Instead, I always grab the Ardell Natural Demi Wispy Lashes that come on a clear band. To be frank, once they are cut to size and blended in with your natural lashes, I feel as though they look as good (if not better) than some of the incredibly high end lash brands anyway. I always find them on sale in Priceline which is a bonus!

Ardell Natural Demi Wispies, 1 pair for $10.99.

Mamamia's What's In Her Bag series drops every Wednesday. Want to share your beauty routine? Easy, just send us your What's In Her Bag story to submissions@mamamia.com.au.

You can perve through more What's In Her Bag stories here:

• What's In Her Bag? An ICU nurse who works 12-hour shifts and uses a $10 Aldi serum.
• What's In Her Bag? A 31-year-old dance teacher who uses a $228 tool for dark under eye circles.
• What's In Her Bag? A 53-year-old midwife who uses a $1,653 skincare routine.
• What's In Her Bag? A 29-year-old designer with a 9-step evening skincare routine.
• What's In Her Bag? A 52-year-old banker who uses a $39 'bee venom' serum every night.

Want to chat more about beauty? We've got a podcast for that. For helpful advice, interviews and great exxy and budget beauty recommendations, get the You Beauty podcast in your ears below.