A satiny coral pink lined with a gold zipper. Medium in size, perfectly rectangular in shape, not too hefty, not too light. This object could easily double as a clutch, but it rests in the large interior of my handbag instead. This pink object whose texture is so familiar to my fingers contains, as it seems to me, all the necessities I ever need to survive. Well, alright, not literally, but close enough. This object is a make-up pouch, and within it are the objects that I simply can't get through each day without. Like other gals out there, I love make-up: the browsing for the colors, the application, and the overall finished product of some good products. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm clingy to my beauty products; I carry a pouch full of it in my everyday bag, and I have two other large cases stored on my vanity table. Maybe I indulge a tad too much in it, but I certainly have the same basis as other gals: make-up is a must...and there are 10 beauty products gals just can't go without! Get an empty pouch ready to be filled to the brim!

1. Basic Tools - Just as an artist needs a variety of brushes to achieve a variety of effects, every gal needs a myriad of brushes in order to achieve a desired, polished look. The thing is, make-up brushes are probably the most extravagant (price-wise) objects that will ever occupy your make-up pouch, but this is not an area to skimp on. Each brush is designed to serve a different purpose (i.e. a flat brush can't ever double as a blush brush), so you will naturally require at least 6 brushes (the bare minimum): a blush/powder brush (round and full), a foundation brush (wide like a fan but slightly flat), a lip brush (to apply lip color), a concealer brush (very small and round), shadow brush (small and full; short and very precise). Never intermix these brushes because 1.) they were specifically designed for their own unique purposes, and 2.) doing so could contaminate bacteria from one area to another (yuck!). Of course, a full range of brushes would be better; a full range consists of the 6 bare minimum brushes, along with: a crease defining brush (eyes), angled brow brush (the arch beneath your brows), flat eye liner brush, blending/smudge brush (perfect for smudging eye liner into shadow), eyebrow brush (more like a mascara wand for the eyebrows), clean-up brush (very wide and very flat fan-shape brush meant to sweep excess shadow/powder on the face). Retractable brushes are the ideal choice, because they'll keep the actual bristles from getting in contact with other surfaces, which in turn prevents bacteria from storing up quicker than normal. Brushes come in a variety of materials, but I personally like the ones made out of goat hair because they are very resiliant and soft. They also last longer. The best way to buy brushes if you are starting a make-up pouch is to buy a pre-arranged set (usually of 6 or 7 brushes); some of the best-quality brush brands are Bare Escentuals, NARS, and Laura Mercier. Those can be costly though. Sephora offers brushes of just the same high quality, but for slightly more affordable prices.

2. Primers - This is the key componant and first step to getting even, smooth, and flawless skin. Without primers as a base, the rest of the make-up application will be off to a negative start, and the end product won't be as satisfactory. Get primers for everything. Literally. An eye primer, lip primer, and primer (for the face) are must-haves. They are applied after moisturizers and toners, but before any other make-up. Practically every cosmetics brand out there has a few primers, so you've got a wide market to select from. I recommend Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36-$42) which is amazing in and of itself; it contains vitamins and antioxidants and fills in lines and pores to really visibly even out and smooth the skin. Even more, it has a to-die-for silky smooth texture, can be worn alone (!), and comes in a variety (original colorless, peach for added SPF 15, green to minimize redness, purple for yellow skintones, orange to conceal eye circles and sunspots and veins, and maroon to give a sheer tan; don't worry -- they all dry clear!). For eyes, I love Bare Escentuals BareVitamins Prime Time Eyelid Primer ($16) which smooths the eyelid for maximum shadow application, extends the staying power of shadows, and enhances the vibrant hue of eyeshadows. Shadows layered on top this primer looks vivid and literally lasts all day without fading. As for the lips, Smashbox Lip Primer ($24) is absolutely what the cosmetologist ordered, what with its amazing abilities to stop lipsticks from fading, bleeding, and (ugh!) creasing. What more could a gal ask for? There's even a primer for eyelashes (the only brand I've come upon is Smashbox), but I find that it's a tad unnecessary, so I wouldn't splurge on it. Lash primers are one thing that could be skipped over.

3. Foundation - This is the key to providing coverage for your entire face, evening skin tone, and pulling your look together. There are two types of foundation that are available: liquid and cream (more compact and velvety). I personally prefer using the cream foundation (usually found in a compact case like a powder), because I find it works better for my oriental skintone. Liquid often feels too heavy and thick, which leads to discomfort through the day (there are some really light ones though). The best method to pick out a foundation for the first time is to go to those cosmetics counters at the mall and have a sales associate test a few out on you (different shades and textures)...once you've found one you like though, don't ever, ever change it. Like men, a good foundation that works for you is hard to find, so stick to it! Over the years (and through countless experimentation with different brands), I've found that the best cream foundations are Shiseido The Makeup Compact Foundation ($28.50) and Vincent Longo Water Canvas Creme-to-Powder Foundation ($52.50 but well worth it since it doubles as a foundation and powder; saves money and space). For liquid foundations, try Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation with SPF 15 ($38), Lorac Breakthrough Performance Foundation ($38), Lancome Teint Idole Ultra ($38), or Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Makeup ($38).

4. Powder - This is a very light product that smoothes the appearance of your skin and may be applied on top of foundation or without the foundation beneath. It serves the purpose of a foundation, except on a smaller scale (perfect for when you just want a light veil of coverage). There are also two kinds: loose and pressed. I prefer the pressed powder, as I've found that loose powder is more messy in application (it'll fall everywhere), but nowadays there's the Bare Minerals rage (Bare Minerals' makeup is all loose powder). For pressed powder (the compacts you always see), I recommend Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Translucent Pressed Powder ($22.50), Stila Sheer Pressed Powder ($28), and Laura Mercier Pressed Powder ($30). If you prefer loose powder, try Make Up For Ever High Definition Microfinish Powder ($30), Vincent Longo Perfect Canvas Loose Powder ($40), or Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Quartet Air Sensation ($63).

5. Concealers - Perfect for hiding and covering those little imperfections (think pimples and blemishes, along with dark circles) that fail to disappear even after applying foundation and powder. I always carry a concealer around, because you never know when you'll need it. These little magic workers are the perfect investment for every gal, plus a good stick will become your best friend. Concealers come in a number of forms, the two most common being a compact form and a stick form. I prefer the stick form just because it's thin and fits easily into small spaces, and are very handy. Some of my favorite concealers are Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer ($18), Stila Cover Up Stick ($18), NARS Concealer ($21), and Too Faced Absolutely Flawless Therapeutic Herbal Concealer ($19.50). Like all other types of beauty products, you should test out a variety of concealers to see which one works best for you personally. There are separate concealers for the eye area, but I find that a facial concealer works just as well.

6. Mascara - They say there is no magic lamp or magical object for anything in life, but I've found that a good mascara is close enough to a magic wand. An excellent mascara will make your eyes stand out, wider, more lively, and much more sensual. In the beauty market, there are so many mascaras for sale, and all with so many purposes. When choosing a mascara, I like to experiment around (unlike with foundations, I tend to try a different type every time my mascara runs out), but I always choose ones that are black (I'm not fond of the ones with colors like blue, green, or brown), lengthens, volumizes, and curves. My favorites are Imju Fiberwig Fiberwig ($22) which only lengthens but does so better than all other brands (it gives the full effect of false lashes with only a few swipes!), Tarte Lights Camera Lashes! ($18) which lengthens, curls, volumizes, and moisturizes, Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow ($18.50), Lorac Visual Effects ($19.50), multipurpose Stila Multi-Effect Mascara ($20), and Bourjois Pump Up the Volume Waterproof Mascara ($14.50).

7. Eye Liner - It's amazing, but true: a simple pencil will make your eyes stunning, defined, and gorgeous! Eye liners come in more brands than you can count and multiple colors, but I always find myself coming back to my now-stump-size dark brown Bourjois liner. Black eyeliner, I find, doesn't work well with my eyes (since I'm Asian) and makes my eyes look smaller rather than defined, but dark brown is perfect. Pearly colored eyeliner (they have a pearl-like sheen to them) are a no-no for me because they make my eyes look washed-out, but it may work for some (again, experiment!). I've found that kohl eyeliners are the ultimate best, because they glide on so, so, so easily and are intense (kohl liners are waxy and very soft). Eyeliners, too, come in a variety of forms -- pencil form (you sharpen them), container form (use an angled flat brush to apply), and liquid pen form (a pen that has a brush at the end to draw on the liner). I prefer the old-fashioned pencil form. My favorite eyeliners are: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes ($16 each) which are water-resistent (this aspect really does come in handy, as all make-up wearers will testify to), Stila Smudge Pots ($18) which requires a brush to apply, Stila Kajal Eyeliner ($16.50), Stila Liquid Eyeliner ($16), Bourjois Eyeliner Pencil ($13), and NVEY ECO Organic Cake Eyeliner ($24).

8. Eye Shadow - Here is the truly creative aspect of cosmetics application, where a gal can let her artistic side come through! With eyeshadows, a gal can layer and blend so many color schemes to create numerous looks that will draw all eyes to her...well, eyes. Every cosmetic brand out there offers at least a dozen colors of eye shadows, so every gal has quite a selection to choose from. My personal favorite brands, however, are Smashbox, Urban Decay, Stila, NARS, Givenchy, Too Faced, Pop Beauty, and MAC.

9. Lip Color - When it comes to lip color, a gal has her plate full. There are lip sticks (of course), lip gloss (usually tinted so you don't need anything else), lip stains, lip palettes (applied with a brush), and lip pencils (not to be mistaken for lip liners, which I personally don't like using) that work like a color pencil in that you "color" in your lips much like with a lipstick, except it's more precise. My personal daily cosmetic ritual consists of a good old-fashioned lip stick, followed by a clear gloss (CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine; $7.50). My favorite lipsticks are NARS Lipstick ($24), Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick ($14), Dior Rouge Dior Replenishing Lipcolor ($27), Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick ($26.50), Vincent Longo Velvet Riche Rejeuvanating Lipstick ($23), Laura Mercier Lip Colour ($20), Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick with Sila-Silk Technology ($22), and LORAC Cream Lipstick ($18.50). For those who prefer lip stains, I recommend Benefit Cosmetics Benetint ($28), LORAC Sheer Wash ($19), and Stila Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain ($24). When it comes to lip glosses, the main issue is lip glosses that are sticky (ugh! think hair getting stuck in it whenever the wind blows) and too shiny or shimmery (too prepubescent). For lip glosses, a gal can't go wrong with NARS Lip Gloss ($24), Vincent Longo Perfect Shine Lip Gloss ($22), and LORAC Mocktail ($18) -- all come in tinted shades, so gals can forego lipstick beneath it. For lip palettes, I adore Pop Beauty, CARGO, and Hard Candy. The NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24), Stila Lip Glaze Sticks ($16.50), and Shiseido The Makeup Automatic Lip Crayon ($22) are my personal favorites because they glide on easily, are wide, and provide rich and vibrant colors. Another popular lip product are lip plumpers, but I personally don't use them.

10. Blush - Ahh...the product to achieve that feminine and sweet glow. Blushes nowadays aren't the same blushes as when your grandmother was young; they've evolved dramatically. Blushes now are available in a compact form (applied with a brush), stick form, and stain form. I just stick to the compact powder type of blushes, because I've found that the cheek stains aren't as visible and require MANY swipes to get the perfect, desired shade. Stick blushes tend to be too concentrated in one area and may appear streaky. My favorite ones are: NARS Blush ($25), Stila Convertible Color ($24), Shiseido The Makeup Accentuating Powder Blush ($28), and Too Faced Ooh La Rouge ($19). If you really want to try a stick blush, try NARS The Multiple ($37); for stain blushes, try Tarte Cheek Stain ($28) or Benefit Cosmetics Benetint ($28).

11. Brow Shapers - They say that a gal's eyebrows can really define and impact the rest of her face, which I've found to be true. A cleaned-up and defined brow will really make the eyes more open and beautiful. The brow hairs, however, can be very stubborn and free-form, so to handle those unruly hairs, a brow shaper (gel or wax) is a must to hold them together and in the perfect shape. Brow gels tend to come with a brush (like a mascara wand), while brow wax come in pots like eye shadows and must be applied with an angled flat brush (but I've found that fingers work nearly as well). I like Anastasia Brow Gel ($21) and Smashbox Brow Tech ($24) which is a wax. For those with virgin brows, I recommend getting a complete brow set complete with stencils, pencils, fillers, powder, and holders (Anastasia has the best!).

The 11 types of beauty products listed above are an absolute must for every gal, but they are the bare minimum (all 11 are part of my daily ritual which I never miss). They're just the basics and more products are out there, such as highlighters, false lashes, shimmer, brow filling powders, lip liners, etc. The most important thing is to experiment to see what suits you best -- sometimes experimenting and browsing is the best part! That list should get every gal started!