The Staples We Keep In Our Bags At All Times

Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balm gets a lot of hype, but its Dream Lip Oil deserves all-star status, too. Its nine nourishing oils “feel like a soothing cocoon of moisture and leave my lips looking subtly juicy,” says BDG Executive Beauty Director Faith Xue. Soft Mauve, in particular, is her go-to everyday lip color.

A pinky nude hue that looks good on everyone (hence, the name — it’s as trusty as a pair of your favorite blue jeans) and moisturizing sunflower seed oil combine to enhance the natural tone of your lips while making them plumper and softer. “Every time I wear this lipstick, someone asks me if I've gotten lip injections — and if I have, they look good,” Xue says. Best of all, a tiny mirror is hidden in the cap for post-coffee touchups.

These sustainably sourced organic cotton tampons have such fun, vibrant packaging that NYLON Senior Social Media Strategist Kelly Reed says she doesn’t mind being seen slipping away to the bathroom with them. They also have BPA-free plastic applicators that are longer than those of other tampons on the market for a more comfortable experience.

Topicals’ fan-favorite treatment clings to lips all day with a glossy shield of hydration. It also lets ceramides work on rebuilding your lips’ delicate moisture barrier. Slick Salve “consistently comes to the rescue for me on days when my lips are too much on the drier side,” says guest judge Sarah Feingold.

This velvety matte powder with blurring and oil-absorbing benefits keeps skin shining in all the right ways. “I feel fresh and flawless without limit when I have this on me,” Feingold says. You also won’t be afraid to throw it into your bag because the jar is outfitted with a fine netting that controls how much and when it dispenses.

Le Rouge Francais’ unassuming cheek and lip delivers a tint of color and hydration, courtesy of a slew of plant and vegetable pigments (which the Eco-Cert brand uses instead of traditional dyes), shea butter, and apricot oil. “I love that it can be used on cheeks and lips for a monochrome color effect,” says Xue.

This year’s lip liner renaissance gets the Glossier treatment with a minimalist, foolproof pencil that comes highly recommended by Xue. It glides along the perimeter of lips for instant definition and shape enhancement. Match either your natural lip color or your favorite lipstick with eight stay-put neutral shades.

Believe the hypochlorous-acid hype. We like to think of it as hand sanitizer… for your face. It instantly kills bacteria on the surface of skin while quelling redness and irritation. Beauty creator Golloria carries a travel-size version of this TikTok-viral spray everywhere to refresh her skin post-workout, flying, and general life living.