Story + Rain contributor Brigitte Reiss-Andersen is in the very top tier of makeup artists working in the beauty industry today. For three decades she's worked with the world's most notable and talented photographers, magazines, celebrities and brands. She started her career in Paris working for Yves Saint Laurent, and she's since worked and collaborated with just about everyone in fashion and beauty, including legendary photographers Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, Arthur Elgort, Patrick Demarchelier, and more.  Having designed the makeup for over two hundred iconic magazine covers and painted the many famous faces that have graced Hollywood's red carpet including over twenty seven Academy Award winners and long time client, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brigitte has had an enormous hand in defining beauty in pop culture and at large. We couldn't wait to talk to her about what she's currently carrying.
 - Tamara Rappa

A shoot for Vogue in the mid 90's, shot in Panama featuring model Yasmeen Ghauri. Brigitte worked alongside editor Grace Coddington and Hairstylist Didier Malige. Photo by Hans Feurer.

In my purse I carry blotting papers, which are a girl's best friend. I also carry a compact dual mirror with a magnifying side so I can easily touch up both my makeup and my hair. I always have a small bottle of peppermint essential oil. It's a great for waking up the senses, and it smells amazing! The greatest lip balm ever is by a Swedish brand called Lypsyl, and I always have a few Ricola handy. They're versatile. I use them as cough drops, candy, or as a breath freshener. And I have a fun pen that looks like a lipstick; it makes me smile every time I pull it out!

Some other products that I'm loving right now are Henry Rose Last Light fragrance, created by my client Michelle Pfeiffer. It's a gorgeous mix of flowery and exotic ingredients. And I love the brand's transparent commitment to a clean, safe product. Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream is an organic moisturizer that makes my skin happy every day. Koh Gen Do's Cleansing Spa Water makeup remover takes off makeup exceptionally efficiently, no rubbing needed. R+Co's Rodeo Star styling mousse is a pure necessity for creating subtle volume in my fine hair. And Harry Josh's jet engine of a hair dryer is so powerful it dries my hair in five minutes flat. Can’t beat that!