This Is the Only Accessory I'm Willing to Splurge On as a Beauty Editor

Despite being surrounded by fashion editors at work every day, when conversation about the trending It products of the season arise, I zone out. It's not that I'm not interested in fashion or that I don't appreciate the beauty of certain items, it's just that, beyond how it looks, I don't know what makes a good item of clothing and what makes a terrible one. Way before I got into this job, I was always the sort of person who would much prefer to drop £100 on a serum than they would a pair of jeans—and that, I suppose, is why I'm a beauty editor and not a fashion editor.

When it comes to my fashion choices, I'm always thinking practically and, truthfully, always in relation to my beauty routine. Is that white silk shirt a good idea when I know my SPF has a tendency to stain? Will I really use that handbag if I can't fit a 100ml bottle of perfume in it? How much wear will I actually get out of the leather trousers that will no doubt stick to my freshly moisturised legs? These are the questions I ask myself most when shopping for clothes and accessories—and this attention to detail (okay, and maybe fussiness) is why I feel warranted to consider myself to have truly exceptional taste when it comes to makeup bags.

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(Image credit: @_JESSICASKYE)

I'm not blowing my own trumpet here (well, maybe a bit). I just truly consider my makeup bag collection to be elite. While I know most people might enjoy splurging on a luxury handbag, I take great joy in treating myself to a luxury makeup bag. After all, as a beauty editor, I consider them my most used and most practical accessories.

And my collection is extensive. For starters, I like to have one large makeup bag to keep at home on my dressing table. Here, I keep things that I am using on rotation—the things I like enough to pull out of my beauty storage (as a beauty editor, I require floor-to-ceiling cupboards) but not things I'm yet sold on enough to pack in my handbag. This bag needs to be large, but not too large, and accessible enough for me to be able to grab things easily, without risk of products getting buried. Then, I like to have my luxurious bags. These are typically smaller (small enough to fit in my handbag) and are there to hold only my most coveted everyday products—these are the makeup bags I leave the house with. And it's for this reason that I love to splurge on them. While my friends show off designer handbags, my flex is my makeup bag.

Believe me when I say I've tried every makeup bag out there that matters. From budget buys to frankly ridiculous ones, I've put them all to the test. So whatever your taste and budget, keep scrolling for the 18 best makeup bags money can buy.

1. Best Makeup Bags Under £35

2. Best Makeup Bags Under £100

3. Best Makeup Bags Over £100

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Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.