If you have a desk job, chances are you spend the majority of your waking hours in the office. Whether we (or health experts) like it or not, our desks have pretty much become our second homes. Whether we’re dashing to the gym or heading to post-work drinks, our workspace is the hub that holds our day together. So, it makes sense that we should keep a back-up collection of beauty essentials in our desk drawer! From a sophisticated work event to a last minute date, your emergency stash will ensure you’re prepared for any scenario. Here are 9 beauty must-haves you should always have in your desk drawer.
The lip balm
Most of us have experienced how chapped lips can get when the air-con is blasting through the office in summer. That’s why it’s so important to always keep a lip balm within arm’s reach at all times! We’re sure you’ve got 10 different types in your bag, but it’s always a good idea to keep a lip balm at your desk. Dior Addict Lip Glow is a sheer balm that enhances your natural lip colour. So, you can swipe it on without even glancing in the mirror! If you’re after a lip balm with a subtle tint, the super hydrating Mecca Tinted Lip De-Licious is the way to go. For girls who’d prefer to go nude but still want to moisturise their pout, the raw vegan Hurraw Coconut Lip Balm is a great option.
The hand cream
Nothing adds a touch of luxury to your working day like an indulgent hand cream. Plus, we all know how important it is to keep one of the most rapidly-ageing parts of the body moisturised. So, it makes sense to keep a tube of hand moisturiser in the place where you spend most of your time! AVEDA Hand Relief moisturising creme and Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream are both top picks, thanks to their super nourishing natural ingredients. We’re also in love with Byredo Gypsy Water Hand Cream. You may have heard of the the Swedish brand’s popular perfume, but we guarantee their hand cream smells (and feels) just as amazing!
The powder
No office beauty arsenal would be complete without a mattifying powder. It’s the perfect way to touch up your face makeup without having to carry your foundation with you. The Antipodes Mineral Finishing Powder is a lightweight, translucent powder that leaves you with a perfect, luminous base. Worried about spilling loose powder all over your desk? The compact Chanel Luminous Matte Powder is a fantastic option. If your skin is on the dry side, opt for the Smashbox HALO hydrating perfecting powder. The skin-perfecting pressed powder won’t leave you with a dry, caky finish.
The scent
It doesn’t matter how big your handbag is, nobody wants to tote their signature scent around with them all day. That’s why a rollerball version of your favourite fragrance is a great thing to keep handy at your desk. These days, you can find mini alternatives for most well-known perfumes out there. Our picks are the deliciously musky Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black rollerball or the fruity and floral Marc Jacobs Daisy rollerball. If you want to add a touch of summer to your desk while you’re daydreaming about lying on the beach, try the tropical-inspired Evodia Whitsunday Coconut and Lime Fragrance Roll-on.
The dry shampoo
Ever run out of time to wash and style your hair after your morning workout? Yep, us too. But nobody feels professional sporting oily or flat the office. By keeping some some dry shampoo near your desk, you can make sure you have (almost) salon-worthy locks from 9-5 and beyond. The Klorane Oil Control Dry Shampoo is the perfect size for toting to and from the gym in your work bag. We’re also obsessed with the Mr. Smith Dry Shampoo. Not only does it come in stylish monochrome packaging, it’s vegan and works wonders on oily hair. If you’re not keen on the idea of using an aerosol dry shampoo, don’t worry! The Davines Volume Creator Brush works like a dry shampoo, but is a refillable applicator brush you run over your locks to disperse volume-boosting powder!
The tint
I mean, you could keep both a blush and a lipstick at your desk. But why take up the extra room when you could get yourself an awesome product that does both? A cream-based tint is an amazingly versatile product that you can swipe on to add a natural flush to both your cheeks and lips. We love the fact that the BECCA Beach Tint blends so easily and doesn’t leave a streaky finish. You also can’t go wrong the long-lasting The Body Shop Stain or the Benefit cult product, Benetint.
The deodorant
There’s nothing worse than realising you’ve forgotten to pack your deo on a boiling hot day. Even if you already applied some in the morning, an arvo touch-up always makes you feel so much fresher. By keeping an extra stick of deodorant at your desk at all times, you’ll never have to do the embarrassing ask around the office again. At the moment, we’re loving natural roll-on deodorants that are completely free of potentially harmful toxins. LAVANILA’s Pure Vanilla Stick smells amazing and doesn’t leave annoying white marks on your clothes! We also love Kai by Gaye Straza’s aluminium-free deodorant and the odor-neutralising Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus deodorant. If you prefer the ease of a spray deo, the Rexona ActiveReserve Mini is always a super convenient option.
The face mist
Ever find yourself getting all hot and bothered (not in a good way) after a stressful meeting at work? The perfect way to de-stress is with a quick spritz of a hydrating face mist. You’ll feel like a brand new person and will be ready to tackle anything else the day throws at you! The perfect face mist not only feels and smells great, but is also packed with plenty of nourishing ingredients for your skin. The KORA Organics Calming Lavender Facial Mist ticks all the right boxes with its soothing, all natural ingredients. Another beautifully packaged, naturally-derived product we love is the Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water Hydrating Face Mist. We’re also big fans of Swisse Deep Sea Hydrating Mist Toner. It’s formulated with aloe vera and sea minerals to tone and rejuvenate the skin.
The shadow stick
When you’re heading out to drinks after work, one of the easiest ways to take your makeup from day to night is with a smoky eye. But when you’re in an office surrounded by your co-workers, it’s not exactly convenient to pull out your eyeshadow palette to do an elaborate look. Instead, you need a cream based shadow that you can swipe on within a matter of seconds and still look amazing.We love how pigmented the Bobbi Brown Long-wear Cream Shadow Stick is. A little bit goes a long way! If you’re into a more metallic look, the long-wearing Gilded Cage Revelation Eye Shadow in rose gold is just divine. As for organic beauty devotees? The RMS Beauty Cream Eye Polish will give you a beautiful subtle eye look and moisturise the delicate eyelid area!
