The bigger the bag, the more you fill it. Fine when you have a sack bag on your shoulder the size of a small house, but when you have to resort to a minuscule clutch for party season, it's downsize ahoy.
Keys, check. Coins, check. Phone, check... then, oops, there's barely any room to squeeze in beauty essentials to keep you looking gorgeous for mistletoe encounters.
Charlotte in Sex And The City once remarked on the girly party problem during a preening session with Carrie and co, saying: "...but they just won't fit into my Kate Spade purse!"
That's where double duty beauty comes in - the products that serve more than one purpose - saving you time, money and space in even the daintiest of evening bags.
Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley, authors of new book Beauty Bible: Beauty Steals, say cutting back on products doesn't mean compromising on looking good.
"The basis of many products is the same," explains Sarah and Jo. "Make-up wise, you can double or even triple up on masses of products.
"In fact, savvy beauty companies are beating the credit crunch by producing multi-taskers now. Just be creative."
Check out Sarah and Jo's double duty beauty tips and pack your favourite party clutch with these glam-in-seconds essentials. It's make-up magic!
- Bronzing powder for eyeshadow
Also try products in any bronzing palette, mixed with balm as a lippy, as blusher (perhaps with a tad of pink) and under brows.
Try: Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Shimmer Brick Metal Compact in Nectar, £42 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk)
- Eyeshadow pencil for brow liner
Taupey colours are best: avoid anything with red in it.
Try: Miss Sporty Fabulous Eyes Eyeshadow Pencil in Chocolate, £2.19 (Superdrug)
- Brown mascara for brow thickener
Apply sparingly and move wand with direction of brows.
Try: MAC Plush Lash in Brownette, £12 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk)
- Glitter powder for face or body highlighter
Use dry or wet on the eye, mix with lip balm for a glittery sheen, sweep pale shades on cheekbones for instant highlighter, swish across shoulders and collarbones for bare-shouldered glam.
Try: Barry M Fine Glitter Dust, £4.50 (www.barrym.com)
- Ivory coloured cream eyeshadow for under eye concealer
Dot on very sparingly, then smooth on a touch of your own skin-matching foundation on top.
Try: e.l.f Duo Eye Shadow Cream in Coffee & Cream, £1.50 (www.eyeslipsface.co.uk)
- Eye make-up base as blemish concealer
Also apply sparingly and add foundation on top.
Try: Jemma Kidd I-Rescue Bio-Complex Cover, £27.40 (020 8740 2085/www.spacenk.co.uk)
- Rosy lipstick for blusher
A soft rosy-brown lippy looks great on cheeks. There are also specific lip 'n' cheek stain products.
Try: Benefit Benetint + Gloss Pocket Pal lip/cheek stain & clear gloss, £14.50 (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk)
- Hair styling gel for brow fixer
Apply a tiny bit with ring or little finger to keep brows groomed.
Try: Label.m Split-end Sealer Compact, £21.95 (£10.95 for refills) (0870 770 8080/www.labelm.co.uk)
- Top double duty product
If you can squeeze just one little product in your clutch for the party season, pack a mini balm.
"A good, clear, slightly gungy balm or salve (or Vaseline) is fab as a base which you can mix almost anything into," say Sarah and Jo. "Balm is possibly the greatest multi-purpose product ever: use it for glossing lips, taming frizzy hair and brows, moisturiser, and even as a make-up remover."
Try: Jurlique Love Balm, £10 (www.jurlique.co.uk)
