A multi-functional makeup bag is essential for keeping your cosmetics well organized and protected inside your purse. A well-made cosmetic bag should be easy to clean and keep your items from breaking inside your bag. Choosing the right bag depends on whether you're using the bag for everyday or travel, though. That's because the size and durability can make a big difference in its performance. When you find the ideal makeup bag, you'll discover that it's much easier to locate your items, so you can put on your makeup without wasting any time. 

1. Figuring Out What Type of Bag You Need

Determine whether the bag is for daily use or travel. If you're going to throw the bag in your purse to take with you on the go, a smaller bag with a single compartment is usually the best bet. However, if you're looking for a travel makeup bag to hold your entire makeup routine, you'll need a larger bag with multiple compartments.

If you're a professional makeup artist, you can find even larger makeup bags that can hold your entire kit to take with you on jobs.

2. Figure out what size works best for your routine. Even among daily and travel makeup bags, there's some variation in size. The best option depends on your routine. For example, if you only want to bring along some powder, lip balm, and lipstick with you for touch-ups throughout the day, you don't need much space. However, if you also want to bring along eyeshadow, liner, and mascara to turn your daytime makeup into an evening look, you'll need a larger bag.

When it comes to travel makeup bags, think about how long your trips usually are. If you usually take weekend trips, you don't need a very large makeup bag. However, if you often take trips that are a week longer or more, you may need to bring more makeup with you, so you'll need extra room.

In general, you'll need a bag big enough to hold your makeup, as well as your brushes, tools, tweezers, a pencil sharpener, and brush cleaning spray.

3. Decide how sturdy your bag needs to be. A daily makeup bag typically doesn't have to be all that durable, so a soft-sided style works well. For a travel bag, though, it's a good idea to choose a bag with a hard exterior. This can keep containers from breaking inside it if they get jostled around on a plane or in a car or train.

Makeup bags with hard exteriors are usually called train cases.

You can find larger bags with hard exteriors that are similar to luggage or roll-aboard style suitcases for professional makeup artists.