What I'd Buy If I Lost My Beauty Bag

This letter is produced in partnership with Walmart.

I have this kind of worst case scenario mini fantasy wherein I lose my beauty bag while traveling and I get to go to a giant mass store with an excellent drugstore beauty section and I get to just go crazy buying new products for myself. It would obviously be a bummer to lose all my creams and makeup and things, but man what a DREAM to get to go on that kind of shopping spree! When I have this fantasy, I’d want to go somewhere that had a good mix of drugstore and prestige beauty, somewhere that has everything, and what better place to do an IRL beauty go-nuts-shopping-spree, than Walmart.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been dropping questions on Substack notes and in the chats asking for yall to send me your favorite products and beauty bag essentials, but now…here are mine. This is what I’d buy if I found myself stranded with an airline credit and an Uber straight to my nearest Walmart.

WELEDA SKIN FOOD

This is something I already use religiously, and completely rely on. It’s mega moisturizing, healing, soothing, everything good, and I use it all over my face and neck, plus elbows, knees, cuticles, feet…everywhere. This is one of my #1 must must MUST haves. Weleda Skin Food, $22

[DEAR KLAIRS] FOAMING CLEANSER & TONER

This is one I want to try. It has almost 500 reviews and an average of 4.7 stars. I love trying new cleansers, and one that’s a rich foaming one sounds very appealing. It’s mild and moisturizing, but very thorough. Sounds A+. Meanwhile, this toner has over 788 reviews, and a 4.9 rating in Walmart’s app. I would love to have a toner in my routine, and this one looks to be clarifying but also moisturizing. I would definitely bring both of these home. [Dear Klairs] Foaming Cleanser, $18 ; Toner, $23

DOVE CURL DEFINING MOUSSE

I’ve been using a lot of Dove hair products recently, and a few weeks ago I got the curl mousse. I’m a recent mousse convert, and this gives me perfect corkscrew curls that have hold but don’t stay wet looking or crispy all day. Dove Mousse, $8

PEACH SLICES NOSE PORE PATCHES

I’m on a forever mission to get my nose pores to look smaller, and this is one thing I haven’t tried. It looks like you put it on your nost overnight and the patch kind of slurps up all your extra oil? It’s not like the pore strips of our youth that rip out the plugs in your nose (I do love those), but this seems to be a more gentle and more long-term solution. Peach Slices Nose Pore Patches, $10

COLORESCIENCE SPF

This is another one I use all the time and LOVE. It’s a great mineral SPF and has just enough tint to even out my skin. I looooooove this. Colorescience SPF, $58

MAYBELLINE EYEBROW GEL

I don’t wear much makeup on a daily basis, but I do always try and wear tinted SPF, blush, and I do my eyebrows. I’m totally falling victim to the marketing here, but something about “Superfluff” eyebrows is MASSIVELY appealing to me. I want to try it. Maybelline brow gel, $11

…AND NEUTROGENA BLUSH

And here’s the blush I’d choose! I love a stick blush and this one looks great. It has all kinds of butters and nice things in it to blend into your skin and keep it hydrated. I’d go for this in Peachy Keen for a nice natural pinky tan. This looks very good. Neutrogena Blush, $10

LA ROCHE-POSAY HYALURONIC SERUM

I have dry skin, and I love layering a super moisturizing serum under my moisturizer and ideally after a toner. This one has pure hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize and “replump” your skin. I’d love to try it. La Roche-Posay Hyaluronic Serum, $40

THESE CRAZY STEAMING EYE MASKS

These just look interesting! I want to try them! This is what I love about shopping somewhere like Walmart—all the things I already love, some fancy, some mass, and then something totally fun and weird and unexpected that I’d want to try at a sleepover with my friends. But anyway, I guess these warm up and help depuff your eyes? Sounds great. LotFancy Steam Eye Masks, $15

AND THAT’S IT! I ordered those eye masks. I’ll keep you posted.

Your friend,

Laurel