I’m a Beauty Editor—Here’s What I Think Would Be in Each ‘SATC’ Character’s Makeup Bag in 2024

Carrie is nearly always willing to shell out her money for an expensive pair of shoes, but on beauty products? Not so much. She wouldn’t be on TikTok, so #beautytok’s hair recommendations are nonexistent to her. To tame her famously curly hair, she’d use John Frida’s Frizz Ease Touch-Up Cream—which she’d likely have been using since she was 13.

Carrie’s beauty routine would consist of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mainstays. She probably spent her 20s wearing bareMinerals’ Original Loose Powder Foundation, and only recently swapped it out for their Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Cream to even out her complexion after late nights spent trying to make deadlines.

Carrie’s order of getting-ready priorities would be outfit, hair, makeup—every single time. She wouldn’t be negligent to her skin, though; instead, she’d rely on a minimal skincare routine full of un-fancy but hard-working products. She’d hydrate her skin with Cetaphil’s Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion, which she’d love that she could pick up at her nearest Duane Reade.

Despite having a few seasons of being married to her hair straightener, Carrie’s iconic curls were her signature look. She’d buy a new blow dryer only when her old one petered out, and she’d opt for the portable Curlsmith Travel Hair Dryer and Diffuser so she could leave it at Big’s… with or without his permission.

Carrie rarely wears anything but minimal makeup, but her eyelashes are always long, defined, and fluttery. She’d be a lifelong fan of L’Oreal’s Original Voluminous mascara to amp up her eyelashes (while leaving them clump-free) for less than a cup of coffee.

As a no-fuss kind of gal, Miranda would adore multi-use products that could get her work-ready quickly and with minimal effort. Merit’s Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick serves as both a concealer and a foundation, and she’d love how she could dab it on for coverage where she needed and run out the door.

Miranda’s medicine cabinet’s contents would be minimal, so the products she’d have gracing the shelves have to really do what they promise. She couldn’t be bothered to apply multiple products to her hair post-shower, so she’d rely on Dae’s 3-in-1 Cacus Styling Cream as a one-and-done product to smooth, style, and prep her short hair before blasting it with a blow dryer.

As a lawyer (and eventually a single mom), Miranda simply wouldn’t have the time to fully wash and dry her hair every day. To keep herself looking presentable in the meantime, she would opt for the cult-favorite Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, which she would, obviously, keep backups of in her storage closet. Trying something new and running the risk of not liking it? She wouldn’t dare.

Miranda wouldn’t have time for the facials and beauty appointments Charlotte and Samantha would have consistently booked, so she’d invest in heavy-hitting products that kept her looking her best in the littlest time possible. She’d use First Aid Beauty’s Glycolic Facial Radiance Pads every other night to slough off dead skin cells and keep her skin looking even and glowing—no professional chemical peel necessary.

Miranda often had shiny, glossy lips, but she would be miffed if her gloss didn’t hydrate her lips, too. She’d use Clarins’ Hydrating Peptide & Plumping Oil Balm as a chapstick-and-gloss hybrid to keep her pout feeling plump and hydrated and looking sexy in one swipe.

Samantha never hesitates to treat herself (nor should she!) and she would love turning her everyday beauty products into a luxe experience. She’d love Valentino’s High Pigment Lipstick not only for its satin finish that lasts all day, but also for its telltale red packaging that would scream “I’m a luxury few can afford” every time she dug it out of her purse to re-apply it.

From important meetings to lunch dates to late nights with her latest escapades, the last thing Samantha needs is to worry about her makeup budging. She’d rely on Patrick Starr’s On ‘Til Dawn setting spray to keep herself looking fresh as a daisy throughout whatever her day (or nights) bring—even if that includes getting home at 3 a.m.

Nobody has ever fought aging quite as hard as Samantha Jones—who could forget her infamous beauty snafu of getting a chemical peel right before Carrie’s book launch party—and in true Samantha fashion, she’s willing to try just about anything. She’d have shelled out for a LED mask to aid her in her fight against wrinkles, which she’d use every morning to start the day off on a productive foot.

Samantha would have a standing appointment to get her highlights touched up every eight weeks, but she wouldn’t let that come at the expense of having shiny, healthy hair. She’d apply Kérastase’s Nutritive Magic Night Serum to her iconic blonde locks every night before bed to keep split ends at bay and wake up with beautiful, luscious locks.

As a PR maven, Samantha would know that a product’s presentation can be just as important as its performance, which is why she’d love Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal Eyeliner. Its luxe black-and-gold packaging is as just as beautiful as the creamy, blendable eyeliner within it, which is something Samantha would appreciate more than anyone.

To make her naturally doe-ish eyes pop, Charlotte would have a hard time straying from what she knows. Her mom would have taken her to the nearest Clinique makeup counter in Connecticut as soon as she started wearing makeup in middle school, and the sentimental value of their High Impact Mascara would have her still repurchasing it at 35.

The WASP-y Charlotte York wouldn’t mind splurging on a makeup product, especially when it comes with the perk of an emblazoned Dior logo that could sit on her vanity. She’s rarely seen with her cheeks looking too blush-heavy, so she’d opt for the shade ‘Rosewood’ for a subtle, everyday flush.

Charlotte has impossibly silky, bouncy hair—”do you think my hair is too shiny today?”—that, knowing Charlotte, is likely due to weekly professional blowouts. But to keep her perfect hair intact, Charlotte would turn to none other than the Dyson Airwrap. She’d finish her morning routine by smoothing her flyaways with the Coanda and giving her ends a refresh with the curling attachments.

Frankly, Charlotte wouldn’t be caught dead putting a drugstore makeup product on her face. Instead, she’d go in the (high) high-end direction, and would be a lover of Clé de Peau’s iconic concealer to cover the eye bags she got from worrying about if she was ever going to find true love in the wee hours of the night.

You can look at Charlotte York and tell she smells immaculate, but she’d also find a too-sweet or too-strong smelling perfume to be déclassé. Because of this, her go-to fragrance would be Jo Malone’s light floral Peony & Blush Suede perfume. She’d be sure to mist its apple, peony, and suede notes on the back of her neck to be prepared for a potential suitor to hug her at any given time.