What can I fit into that dinky, compact, well-designed Muji makeup pouch?

Buy enough makeup or skincare and chances are, you never ever have to buy a makeup bag/pouch. Hands up whoever agrees with me LOL! 😀 I don’t know how it is overseas, but here, GWP (Gifts with Purchase) are common and a common GWP is a fancy makeup pouch. Heaven knows, I’ve collected, given away and used so many free makeup pouches in my time. It came to the point that I’d actually decline a free makeup pouch because I have a cupboard full of them!

Yet quite recently, I bought one.

I blame my friend Xin, who texted me one evening with her dilemma as to whether to buy this adorable makeup pouch she discovered at Muji.

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It’s quite unassuming isn’t it? So we texted back and forth, she sent me a bunch of photos and eventually the clincher came – “It’s on 30% discount” so I said “Ok, buy me one and let’s see what it does!” I’m suggestible that way 😀

But there was a reason I wanted it, and when I took it home during the Chinese New Year break recently, I discovered just what a nifty little thing it is. Yes, emphasis on little, because it isn’t very big is it? As you see in the picture, it sits in the palm of my hand quite comfortably and it barely takes up any space, yet it’s like Mary Poppin’s bag in there – it fits a ton!

Ok, here’s the reason that Xin and I were sold on this Muji makeup pouch.

The pouch zips up to a small handy, compact size that tapers up the top. However, the magic happens when you unzip it, because the reinforced frame along the zip area of the pouch folds open wide, so the pouch stands on your dresser like a little box.

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And best of all, it opens up so wide, you can see everything in there from the top! If you’ve ever had to dig around your makeup pouch you’d know that the struggle is real. With this one, I can see everything in there and because the top opens so wide, it’s easy to take things out without disturbing the packing equilibrium.

You know that packing equilibrium right? It’s when you pack all your items nicely into your pouch, making sure everything fits and slots into place; and then you realise you’ve packed your foundation right at the bottom, and that happens to be the first thing you need. So you pull it out, and disturb the equilibrium and the pouch never zips shut again.

This didn’t happen this time! 😀

So, what do we know about this Muji pouch? We know that it’s small (10 x 15 x 9.5cm) and that it’s a squishy polyester material, and that it has a few side pockets there that can potentially hold a lipstick or hair pin or two. We know that it zips up fairly compact, and that it opens up wide and stands up comfortably like a box on your dresser.

But how much does it hold? Here’s what I fit in there, which I will also use to show you what I brought on a short trip out of town.

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Here’s everything that fit into that small wonder Muji pouch:-

• My HG foundation by Lunasol – it’s light, it gives lovely coverage, it survives heat and sweat and it makes you look good for hours. Oh and the bottle is also compact.
• The RMK face powder because it comes with its own brush and because it’s a wonderful setting powder that I use a lot of
• Chanel Poesie eyeshadow quad because it’s perfect for an understated day look or also buildable for a smokier look. I only ended up using it very lightly. I often wonder why I ever bother bringing eye makeup when I travel because I rarely end up using it.
• Blush in Tom Ford Frantic Pink for a gentle flush of pink to the cheeks.
• Eyeliner, because I don’t wear mascara so I need an eyeliner to define my eyes.
• ZA Ever Brows Eyebrow pencil because it’s cheap and good and it’s ok if it gets broken/lost because it’s cheap
• A selection of makeup brushes for face, cheeks and eyes
• Estee Lauder Pure Color lipstick in Envious – a very festival appropriate creamy red that is absolutely lovely!

That’s quite a lot to fit into a small pouch isn’t it? But it was more than enough to last me a few days and even if I were away for a week, this would quite easily tide me over. In fact, I could just live with this. (So, why do I have a whole crazy collection again? Gosh, this does make me rethink things 😛 )

Put everything back into the pouch, zip it up and it is just a bit taller than a lipstick. I could fit a few more things in there, I’m sure. A lighter lipstick so I can switch looks, another eyeshadow palette maybe?

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So if you ever spot this little pouch in your Muji store, and aren’t the sort who’d pack 2 blushes, 3 bronzers, 5 makeup palettes, 4 lipsticks, 3 glosses, 2 foundations etc … just in case… consider picking it up. If it’s on sale, even better! 🙂

Do you buy makeup pouches or do you just use whatever freebie GWP pouch you have?

I wouldn’t say this is terribly cheap, since we can get these pouches for free, but it’s not bank breaking and the design is excellent. This has also probably been the first makeup pouch I’ve bought ever! But it’s one of the best buys I’ve ever had so it’s worth every penny 🙂

Paris B

Muji Polyester Wide-Mouth Pouch Product No: 4547315820023 Price: RM36.90 | US$12.95 | €11.95 Availability: Muji stores