Five Makeup Bag Essentials Straight From a Beauty Product Pro

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Beauty vlogger—and our former Style Crush—Lynette Cenée knows a thing or two about giving good face. After years of work as a makeup artist to countless celebs, the admitted product junkie is now sharing her tips on everything from nailing a Kardashian-esque contour to looking glam and photo-ready on your wedding day on her YouTube channel.

Now that we've found a new, LA-made cosmetics bag to covet, we thought we ought to turn to this pro to curate a collection of makeup must-haves to stash inside. Lynette whittled it down to five items she thinks we all shouldn't be living without and explained a bit more about why.

What: Makeup Primer

Why: "Just like a brand new car, a wooden table, or your nails before a manicure, the one thing they all have in common is the need for a primer or base coat before a beautiful paint job. This is also true for your face before applying foundation—if you want the best results anyway. Of course you can apply without either, but I wouldn't recommend it. What I love in a good face primer for a totally flawless look is moisture! Ladies, even though you might have an oily skin type it is still very important to prep your skin with something that has some sort of emollient. Otherwise, your makeup begins to cake and collect in areas not allowing for the perfect blend. #notgood #notcute"

Try: Heir Atelier Ultimate Make Up Prep

What: Beauty Blender

Why: "If I were stranded on a deserted island there would be no need for this pink little egg-shaped friend. That said, is it bad that this may be one of the items I would choose anyway? The beauty blender sponge changed the entire game for me in the makeup department. From applying my foundation, blending in my concealer and contour, all the way to pressing in my setting powder, this is something I currently can't live without. #thetruthcomesout"

Try: The Original BeautyBlender

What: Concealer

Why: "It amazes me that a lot of women still haven't added concealer to their makeup bags. When I was working in the industry as a Makeup Artist (now a full time YouTube personality) one of the things I heard most often was how amazing they felt after I had applied concealer under their eyes. Whether you have dark circles or not, adding a brightness under the eye area is a sure fire way to look your most youthful and refreshed. #winning"

Try: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

What: Highlighter

Why: "The contrast of contouring that that I see a lot of women forget is highlighting. It is such a simple addition but it offers so much. We can't forget to bring out the features we want to pronounce and not just conceal and contour those we do not. Add a subtle highlight to your brow bone, cheekbones, the cupids bow (the little curve above your top lip), and the tip of your nose and watch the compliments that come pouring in. #youGLOWgirl"

Try: Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter

What: A Good Mascara

Why: "Alright, I'm gonna give it to you straight. At this point, there is just NO excuse for spider leg lashes or brides running around without waterproof mascara. There is enough "good" mascara to go around for all of us and you don't have to break the bank to become the proud owner of one either. Drugstore makeup formulas have become just as great and even in some cases my go-to preference. The beauty of the internet and social media *pun intended* (ie: blogs, YouTube, Instagram) is that you can weed out mascaras that may not have the best reviews and find some of the most loved out there within a few clicks. Allow yourself the time to do a little research. After all, we all wanna have that double-edged sword for backup - #theBeautyANDtheBrains"

Try: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

All photos courtesy of Lynette Cenée