Tina Chen Craig Takes Us Inside Her Makeup Bag

Tina Chen Craig has never been afraid of a career change. The multi-hyphenate entrepreneur has worn many hats over the years – Millennials will recognise her as the former host of MTV Asia, and the founder of one of the first-ever fashion and lifestyle blogs, BagSnob, while Gen Z will know her for her cult beauty brand. U Beauty was founded with the goal to overrule the multi-step beauty routine, with Chen Craig instead focusing on gentle, multi-functional formulas that look and feel great. ‘Treat your skin gently, like the most precious exotic leather,’ she says of her best piece of beauty advice. ‘You wouldn’t use a harsh scrub on your Hermès or Chanel bags. Why would you do that to your face?’ Below, Tina Chen Craig takes us through her makeup bag and product highlights, and shares her personal beauty philosophy.

What’s Inside My Makeup Bag? With Tina Chen Craig

Tina Chen Craig

Run us through the highlights of your makeup bag?

It’s full of lip liners from Jones Road, shadow sticks from Hourglass and U Beauty’s PLASMA Lip Compound in several shades – they’re hydrating, high-performance tints that visibly plump and smooth.

I also keep a travel-size bottle of PROEM Eau de Parfum, our signature fragrance that’s bold, fresh and feminine, and a small pot of The SUPER Tinted Hydrator (I decant it into little clear pots from Boots) for glow touch-ups throughout the day. It offers sheer, buildable coverage with serious skincare benefits.

What’s your pre-makeup beauty ritual?

The SUPER Hydrator is a must. It delivers deep hydration, visibly plumps the skin, and creates a cushiony, glass-like finish. I also use The RETURN Eye Concentrate to help reduce the look of puffiness and dark circles (I’ve actually stopped using concealer because of it). Then I apply the Multimodal Sheer SPF as a makeup primer. It has light scattering silica, which gives skin in a soft matte glow.

Let’s break down your makeup routine – face?

The SUPER Tinted Hydrator #3. This is a multitasking skin tint that hydrates and delivers buildable coverage with a radiant, airbrush finish. If I want more coverage, I reach for Sisley or Clé de Peau foundations.

Eyebrows?

Rare Beauty’s Brow Harmony Precision Pencil in Blonde and Anastasia Beverley Hills’ Brow Freeze – and I just started using Grande BROW 2-in-1 Tinted Brow Gel + Enhancing Serum.

Lips?

Jones Road Lip Liner in Mauve or Nudist with The PLASMA Lip Compound in Lady, Orchid or Tulle. I find these make some of the best combinations.

Finishing touches?

A dab of The SUPER Tinted Hydrator in Shade #3 over foundation and blush as the last step for that glass-like glow.

To set?

The Hourglass Setting Spray.

Brushes and sponges?

I recently discovered a line of antibacterial sponges by Uvé Beauty. They are so soft and cushiony!

Which item instantly makes you feel made up?

The PLASMA Lip Compound Tinted! Even if you’re bare-faced, a swipe will make you instantly feel polished and pulled together.

What’s the one piece of makeup you always carry in your handbag?

Same answer: the PLASMA Lip Compound Tinted. I like to keep a few different shades with me.

What’s the most expensive thing in your makeup bag?

PROEM Eau de Parfum travel-size.

And the most luxurious?

Also PROEM. It’s my signature scent and with floral, fruity and earthy notes that evolve with you throughout the day. It’s my entire fragrance wardrobe in one bottle.

What about the hero product you can’t live without, and have used for years?

RESURFACING COMPOUND! My holy grail multitasker for life.

Tell us about a beauty trend you love?

I love skincare as makeup, and makeup that enhances rather than masks. Skin that looks like skin, but better.

And one you can’t wait to see fall out of fashion?

Over-contoured everything. It flattens individuality.

What’s something you did beauty-wise in your youth that you’d never do again?

Overpluck my eyebrows.

The best piece of beauty advice you’ve been given?

Treat your skin gently, like the most precious exotic leather. You wouldn’t use a harsh scrub on your Hermès or Chanel bags. Why would you do that to your face?

What’s your beauty philosophy?

I believe in embracing the natural changes in my face and body. They tell the story of who I am. But I also believe there’s nothing wrong with enhancements. Do what makes you feel good, confident and at home in your own skin.

Which items do you think should be in every makeup bag?

The SUPER Tinted Hydrator, PLASMA Lip Compound and Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Vanish under eye corrector.

Makeup: for touch-up or self-expression?

Both!

More From Tina

Keep up with Tina Chen Craig (and her makeup bag favourites) on her Instagram (@tinachencraig) or over at theubeauty.co.uk