Work Bag Essentials: CEO Edition

Big picture-wise, it takes vision, brains, and a whole lot of perseverance to run a company, and when it comes to making the most of every day, the power of a strategically packed purse can’t be underestimated. Here, we tapped three boss ladies to spill the contents of their bags to give us a little insight into the gadgets, accessories, and of course, beauty products, they trust to work just as hard as they do.

Karen Behnke

Founder of Juice Beauty

Our love for Juice Beauty and the clean beauty pioneer behind the brand, Karen Behnke, is well documented. As to be expected, her everyday carryall is packed with some of her (and our) favorite Juice Beauty products and other wellness-friendly essentials.

1. Tumi Tula Tote “My Tumi purse is truly a working bag. As a mom and entrepreneur, I pack it with all sorts of things I need access to for this crazy but fun-filled life.”
2. Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip “There are so many lip products in my bag, including my new fave, Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip in Blythe—a really nice pop of power color. (Of course, I have every other Juice Beauty product in my bag, too.)”
3. Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Last Looks Blush “For a mid-day—or any time of day—touch of color for my cheeks, I love our cream blush.”
4. Juice Beauty Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 “I like to keep some SPF 30 around in case I go on a run at lunch time when the California sun’s rays are at their strongest. Our version is water-resistant for 80 minutes and is made with certified organic ingredients.”
5. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream “Our CC Cream in Desert Glow is a multi-tasking tinted SPF moisturizer, so if I’m feeling dry or really exposed to the sun, I can touch up on the go.”
6. Gucci Tortoise Square Sunglasses “Well, what’s not to love about Gucci? These sunglasses are always in style.”
7. Klean Kanteen Insulated Classic 20oz “I keep my Klean Kanteen filled with filtered water, no suspicious coatings on these bottles.”
8. Apple iPhone 6s “My iPhone. I love the big screen so I can check my kids’ texts and my Instagram feed.”
9. John Hardy Dot Bracelet with Diamonds“I love bracelets, but they have to be really comfortable. I’ve recently branched out from my usual David Yurman obsession to include this John Hardy piece.”
10. Fabletics Hera Tee and Salar Capri “Fabletics makes some of the most comfortable and stylish yoga and running clothes ever. And who doesn’t like Kate Hudson?”
11. Numi Organic Tea “Numi organic tea, because I don’t want pesticides with my tea.”
12. Green Apple “Rich in malic acid, this fruit inspired our bestselling Green Apple Peel.”
13. Manduka Eko Lite™ Mat 4mm “Yoga Thursdays at Juice Beauty mean it’s time for Kate, our yoga instructor, to come in and relieve the team of our stress for the day. I really like the padding on this Manduka yoga mat.”

Rachel Blumenthal

Founder of Rockets of Awesome

Rockets of Awesome, a brilliant direct-to-consumer children’s clothing delivery service, was an instant hit with goop moms when it launched earlier this year—and a huge part of its astronomical success can be attributed to founder Rachel Blumenthal. Before her current post at RoA, she ran beloved online parenting resource Cricket’s Circle, which, combined with her status as mom of two, make a peek into her purse particularly insightful.

1. Prada Vela Cosmetic Bag “I carry my everyday necessities in an old-school, black nylon Prada makeup case that I throw into whichever bag I’m going to use that day. This pouch is by far the greatest life-hack I ever discovered. It’s never been simpler to switch between bags and find things fast.”
2. Rockets of Awesome Limited Edition Patch/Pin Set “Besides the fact that they just make you smile when you see them, I carry packs around with me to introduce Rockets of Awesome to friends and new customers and spontaneously decorate friends’ bags, jackets, and notebooks.”
3. Apple EarPods “I’m a self-professed expert multi-tasker and the ability to mute on and off a call while responding to emails and navigating people on the street is an all-day, every-day thing.”
4. Boy Chanel Coin Purse “When we were building the Rockets of Awesome brand, I had this distinct blue color in my head, but the color didn’t exist in the Pantone book. I happened into Jeffrey one Sunday and saw the exact blue I wanted and knew it was as good an excuse as any to upgrade my wallet.”
5. Warby Parker x Maiyet Bird Sunglasses “My husband is one of the founders of Warby Parker and after endless harassment (by me) for more glamorous sunglasses, the collab with Maiyet was born. They are effortless and timeless, plus, they stand up to my one-year-old daughter who is now obsessed with dropping them every time she tries to fit them on her face.”
6. Tweezerman Rock-hard Cuticle Nipper “I’m a freak for clean cuticles and I hate picking them so I always have a clipper on hand to tame the surprise cuticle.”
7. Excedrin Extra Strength “Sadly, I get a lot of headaches and this is the only thing that works.”
8. L’Oréal Wet Shine Stain “I could never understand how women wore lipstick, drank out of a glass, kissed their husbands, and still had that perfect pink glow until I met the lip stain. This particular shade offers just the right amount of color without looking like you’re wearing lipstick, and it lasts for hours.”
9. Jane Iredale Eye Pencil “If I was only allowed one makeup item indefinitely, it would be black eyeliner; Jane Iredale makes a long-lasting and natural option.”
10. Muji Gel-Ink Ballpoint Pen 0.5mm “I’m very particular about my pens and Muji makes one of my favorites.”
11. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm “I love mint and this is the greatest chapstick—plus, the yellow color makes it easy to find it inside my makeup pouch.”
12. Poppin Silver Medium Soft Cover Notebook “I’m a paper-and-pen kind of girl, and this notebook is the perfect size and shape to drop into my bag…and it’s Rocket silver.”

Maria Dobrzanska Reeves

Founder and Designer, Marysia Swim

Maria’s iconic scalloped swimsuits are a bestseller in the goop shop, and her ultra-flattering designs have helped grow her fledgling company, Marysia Swim, from an indie brand to a cool-girl favorite in just a few years. She may have moved from New York to LA a few years ago, but her bag and its contents are California through-and-through.

1. RMS Beauty The Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipe “These are the best on-the-go natural wipes. I often us them to clean my kids’ faces and various boo-boos. I also use it to wipe off mascara after a surf or swim session.”
2. Earth Tu Face Skin Stick “This is the best lip gloss I have ever come across. It’s super hydrating without leaving your lips too greasy or too glossy.”
3. Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm “This cream smells so good and fresh, I never leave home without it.”
4. Apple EarPods “I need these for walking and talking. With all the research out there connecting cell phones to cancer, I’d rather not hold it to my head.”
5. Céline Solo Coin and Card Purse “While it fits in most clutches and purses, this little coin purse is great on its own if I need to run out with just a few credit cards, ID, and keys.”
6. May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden “Heaven in a bottle. This stuff makes me feel better every time I spray it, plus it gives my skin a nice, healthy glow. I also keep a bottle on my desk.”
7. Bonpoint Pouch “I love shopping at Bonpoint and this is one of the few things I can borrow from my girls—it’s perfect for stashing little things.”
8. Kreation Green 2 “I can’t live without Kreation, I drink a #2 almost every day, though sometimes I go for the That’s All Green to change things up.”
9. Céline Baby Audrey Sunglasses “Celine sunglasses are my favorite: The lenses are really durable and the frames never go out of style.”
10. Vintage Woven Leather Tote “Less is more when it comes to the items in my everyday bag (I found this one at a shop on Abbot Kinney). I like to carry around necessities that I can use for my daughters and myself—and since we live walking distance from the office, I never have to leave home with too much.”