It's very easy to overpack makeup and bring a bunch of things you don't end up using. I felt I was pretty successful with how I packed my makeup bag for a four-day visit to Manila in September, because I did end up using everything I brought. Here's what was inside my kikay kit for that trip (some items not in photo):

* Kiehl's Actively Correcting and Beautifying BB cream with SPF 50. Instead of bringing a separate sunscreen, moisturizer, and foundation, I hit three birds with one stone with this. I was really glad I had made sure to bring my BB cream with the highest SPF and good coverage, because it was so hot the weekend I was there.

* MAC Studio Fix powder foundation. I brought my highest-coverage and longest-wearing powder foundation so that it was easy for me to touch up throughout the day, without having to bring a separate foundation and finishing powder.

* MAC Studio Sculpt concealer. I also chose the longest-wearing one I own, because I knew I'd be out for most of the time I was there.

* Brow stuff. I took The Face Shop Design My Eyebrow pencil, Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit brow powder, and MAC Beguile brow gel. I could have brought only my Anastasia brow pomade to cover the functions of all three of these products, but it takes time and precision to apply. I knew I wouldn't have as much time to do my face in the morning before I headed out, and I was right. When you know you might be in a bit of a rush, bring your everyday makeup with you since you know your daily brow routine by heart. I also brought my can't-do-without Ever Bilena tweezers.

* NYX Cosmetics powder blush in Dusty Rose. I took just one in a pink shade that wasn't too bright, so that it would go with any eye or lip colors I brought, and in a long-wearing formula as well.

* NYC Sunny bronzer. I brought this one that I like to use everyday because it's matte and isn't too orange or too dark, just to give my face a bit of allover color and lightly contour my cheeks at the same time.

* MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush. I used this as a brow bone highlight. I also applied it after powder blush as a highlight on cheeks. Other times, I used it before powder blush to help it stay in place longer, which proved to be really helpful in Manila's heat, and gave a pretty glow at the same time. This is one of those products that I don't use nearly often enough, so I'm really glad I brought it on this trip.

* Eyeliner. I brought a liquid one in pen form (Rimmel), a black pencil (MAC Ebony), and a dark brown pencil (MAC Lord It Up). I wanted options for whatever mood I was in or what look I felt like going for.

* Small eyeshadow palette. I brought a limited edition one from the MAC Temperature Rising collection that has a taupe shade, gold shade, dark brown shade, and olive green for a bit of color that would complement the clothes I was bringing.

* Mascara and Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I brought along a travel-size Urban Decay mascara, because you don't need a full-size tube for four days.

* Lip products. This is the part where I tend to overpack. I brought Kiehl's #1 lip balm in Pear, Revlon ColorStay Matte balm in Standout (red), a Maybelline ColorSensational Lip Polish in Glam 2 (pink with a hint of coral), a red Victoria's Secret lip gloss, and MAC Rebel lipstick. I picked different colors and finishes that could cater to my mood (okay, moods!). Five lippies in four days isn't bad, especially because I sometimes have that many in my bag on a daily basis!

A version of this story was published in my column in SunStar Cebu on Friday, 26 September 2014.