Forget product placement, Gen Z craves authenticity. That’s why “What’s in My Bag” videos have transcended mere product showcases, evolving into intimate windows into the minds and souls of our favorite stars. Jenna Ortega’s latest offering is a prime example. It’s not just a lipstick inventory; it’s a glimpse into her beauty rituals, wellness hacks, and the ever-evolving journey of navigating mental health.
Ortega peels back the curtain, revealing not just the contents of her handbag, but the philosophies and practices that shape her inner world. It becomes a conversation, an invitation for fans to connect beyond the glossy veneer of celebrity and see the human being underneath.
So, ditch the shopping lists and embrace the deeper conversation. “What’s in My Bag” videos, at their best, are not about empty trends or fleeting fads. They’re about the human experience, shared vulnerably and authentically, reminding us that beneath the glitz and glam, we’re all just navigating our own paths, one lipstick swatch and mindfulness mantra at a time.
On November 28, Harper’s Bazaar U.K. posted an “What’s Inside My Beauty Bag” video featuring the Wednesday star. Of course, we watched the whole thing and found her favorite makeup product to be the most intriguing.
One of her most-used products is her favorite lipstick, the Dior Rouge Dior Forever lipstick ($45) in the shade Forever Nude Touch. In fact, she uses this one so much that the stick itself has become nothing more than a “nub” of pigment. She says she loves it since it’s a “very natural shade, very nude” that she will wear sheer but will also “build it up.” Not only is this lipstick color a hit, but her Wednesday Addams bangs in the Adidas promotional video are also causing a stir on social media.
Ortega says the lipstick, in combination with her favorite eyelash curler—Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($24)—is all she needs to use if she wants to feel presentable without doing a full face.
Another one of her most used products is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($29). For two years, this single tube of multi-tasking cream has been her constant companion, a silent witness to Wednesday’s chilling adventures and the upcoming Beetlejuice 2. Introduced by her makeup artist on set, it became a daily ritual, a shared secret between them. The thick formula acted as a buffer, protecting her lips from the dark lipstick that defined her Wednesday persona. But its magic extended beyond the screen. Ortega discovered its power to soothe and heal. “I used to have a bit of a picking problem,” she confesses, “and I feel like that’s really helped.” This humble cream, tucked away in her bag, became a silent ally in her journey towards self-care.
The product she’s had the longest is one she picked up on one of her first acting jobs. She says she saw everyone in L.A. using the Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle & Nylon Hairbrushes ($43) and couldn’t stop talking about how it was the “cool” brush to use on set. Her first hair and makeup team gave her one of the brushes as a gift when the show finished filming.
Other than beauty products, she carries a journal to practice being present and mindfulness, as well as to jot down her dreams. She says that since writing down her R.E.M. visuals, her dreams have become so much more interesting, plus they have provided inspiration for her future directorial debut.
