Ever Wondered What’s Inside a MECCA Employee’s Makeup Bag?
January 1 | 4 minute read
Words by Kerri Gordon
Originally published on | April 17
Inside the walls of MECCA HQ, we barely talk about the weather. Conversation defaults to a play-by-play breakdown of the latest serums, powders, creams and sticks we’ve swatched, swiped and sworn by. What’s new, what’s never left your side, and what will change your life.
Gatekeeping is creeping back into vogue [editor’s note: I read something about it - and by that I mean I saw a TikTok], so before everyone becomes culturally reluctant to spill, we tapped the shoulders of MECCA HQ makeup obsessives to uncover their current - and in some cases, forever - makeup must-haves.
TARA. SMALL PERSON, LARGE BAG (IYKYK). SELF-IDENTIFIES AS ‘BEIGE’.
Consider NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder your “can’t mess it up” ticket to perfect bronzed skin. It works on most skin types, is easy to build (so you won’t look like you’ve overdone it on the fake tan), and while it’s a powder, leaves a glow that feels more bronze-drop than matte.
I wear it over the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint - the best product I’ve tried for skin-like coverage over my at-times temperamental skin - and with a slick of Summer Friday’s Dream Lip Oil in ‘Blush Dreams’ across my lips. The lip oil hype is real and I’m all about it.
MADDIE. OFFICE STYLE ICON. WOULD BUY TAP WATER IF SHE RECOMMENDED IT.
Picking makeup favourites when you have the very best in beauty across your desk all day, every day, is like being asked to pick your favourite children - impossible! But the foundation that's been my reliable go-to for the last 12 months is NARS Light Reflecting Foundation; it's a buildable formula that instantly takes the redness and texture out of my skin. I love that the formula is hydrating while being buildable, meaning I can use it for day-to-day wear & date night!
I'm a big fan of blush draping at the moment and think a peachy cheek really helps to lift the cheeks. My current power pairing is Violette's Bisou Blush in shade Ines, topped with Too Faced's Cloud Crush Blush in the shade Tequila Sunset.
STEVEN. GOES VIRAL ON TIKTOK. CAN PR ANYTHING.
Me? High maintenance? Never! I only need four items to get me ready, and these are the must-have staples in my beauty bag. First, I use the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Primer to help reduce the look of my pores and smooth over any texture. This is a MUST for me.
I’ve recently been trying out the Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream (my new holy grail) to add some warmth to my skin - it’s lightweight, dewy and keeps my skin glowing all day long. To finish my look I use the Kosas Brow Pop Nano Ultra-Fine Detailing Pencil to fill in my brows and then complete with the MECCA MAX Brow Guru Clear Control Gel. On lazier days I skip brows - I'm only human.
KERRI. TREND-CURIOUS. WILL TRY EVERYTHING TWICE.
My everyday makeup routine takes a whole six minutes and features my four most-repurchased MECCA products, applied with fingers (mine, specifically).
First comes Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter tapped into the high points of my face to hide the fact I don’t drink enough water. At the sight of my glow, you’d never know!
Then comes Kosas Revealer Concealer to cover the dark circles my dad most lovingly passed on to me, Westman Atelier’s Face Trace Contour Stick in ‘Biscuit’ to alleviate the cheek and chin pudge I haven’t quite NuFaced away (the shade is cool without teetering on ghoul), and the MECCA MAX Off Duty Blush Stick in ‘Moody’ (a maroon-y, reddish, intimidating-in-the-tube shade) to resuscitate the flush that fades from my cheeks each day I approach 30.
LENI. OFFICE MUA. POSTER CHILD FOR FULL-COVERAGE FOUNDATION.
A relaunch of a cult-classic, MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid Foundation is a must have for my kit! I really love the flexibility of this formula, as you can build it up for super full coverage, or use a small amount in targeted areas for a more sheer finish. It’s also long-wearing, oil-controlling and has the perfect soft matte finish, which you can dial up with a powder, or glow up with some highlighting drops as a primer.
I use Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter as a base for makeup every single day under my foundation. The lit from within glow it gives is just my favourite! If I want even more I’ll sometimes use it over the top of my foundation for a soft highlight.
