What Ankita Anthony Keeps In Her Vanity Pouch
If handbags could speak, they would reveal many interesting things about their owners. According to Ankita Anthony, Founder at Alltere PR, her work bag would probably call her a “hot mess”.
But look a little closer, and you’ll find one thing that's impeccably organised, and holds exactly what it needs to and nothing more: her vanity pouch. And mind you, it’s a full-grain leather vanity pouch, because this girl believes in taking good care of her beauty and self care stuff. Turns out, sometimes, there’s a method to the mess.
Her Opaline vanity case is the one corner of her bag that's immune to chaos. Inside, Ankita keeps her beauty essentials: makeup, moisturiser, sunscreen, and eye drops, all exactly where they should be. And since she's admittedly forgetful, she makes sure to stock up on the basics like hair ties and lip balms. Because you can never really have too many of either.
5 Must-Have’s in Ankita Anthony’s Leather Vanity Bag
“My warm tan vanity pouch for makeup and other essentials fits cozily into my main leather tote handbag.” says Ankita.
Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte Lipstick - Afternoon Tea
Working in PR means Ankita is essentially always on; and in a world built on first impressions, a lipstick smudge is simply not an option. “Whether I'm networking over cocktails at a press meet or sneaking in a quick lunch between back-to-back calls, I need something that keeps up with me,” she says. The Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte Lipstick in the shade Afternoon Tea is her answer to that.
The fact that she's a self-confessed foodie makes the matte formula even more of a non-negotiable. Because when you're genuinely excited about what's on the plate, you're not stopping to reapply between courses.
And this is exactly where her Opaline Lume Vanity Pouch earns its place. “Everything is right where I left it, so even if I have literally microseconds before walking into an event, I'm not digging around or panicking. I find it, I touch up, I walk in,”
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
Living in Mumbai means humidity is basically a fifth season, and for Ankita, a foundation that slides off by noon was never going to cut it. The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Natural Matte Tinted Moisturizer is her skin solution. For someone whose day has no real off switch, the last thing she needs is a base that clocks out before she does. The mineral SPF 30 doesn't hurt either.
She'll also be the first to tell you that she doesn't believe in buying things she'll throw away in six months. "I'd rather invest once in something that genuinely works than keep replacing things that don't," she says and her full grain leather vanity bag is exactly that kind of investment. It gets tossed into bags, dragged through airports, and pulled out in a hurry a hundred times over. And it still looks like it means business.
PS. The Opaline vanity pouch is also available in a rich deep wine color.
A Paddle Hairbrush
This one might raise a few eyebrows: a full-sized paddle hairbrush, living comfortably inside this vanity pouch or what she often calls her travel makeup bag . "Most vanity bags have you playing Tetris just to get the zip closed," she opines, “this one actually has room.”
The brush has been with her through enough high-stakes events to qualify as a lucky charm at this point. And Ankita will tell you without hesitation that it's her secret to a guaranteed good hair day. Which, when you're in PR, isn't really optional; because you can wing a lot of things in this industry, but bad hair on a big day is simply not one of them.
Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation
There’s something about hotel room lighting that no ring light has ever managed to replicate; and Ankita knows exactly how to use it. The Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation comes out on travel days, and so does a version of Ankita that isn't fielding three conversations at once. “It almost feels like me-time,” she says. “The room is quiet, the lighting is perfect, and for once nobody needs anything from me.”
The foundation gives her that effortless, second-skin finish that looks like very good skin rather than very good makeup. And her Opaline Lume Vanity Pouch sits snugly on the bathroom shelf like it was always meant to be there, like it belongs.
Extra Scrunchies
Anyone who’s been on an outdoor shoot knows the exact moment it stops being fun. When it's 35 degrees, the humidity is at its worst, and your hair is stuck to your face while you're trying to hold a conversation.
That's when Ankita reaches into her sleek vanity pouch and produces a scrunchie like it's the most natural thing in the world. “There has to be a graveyard somewhere where scrunchies go to die,” she says, “because no matter how many I buy, they just disappear.” Which is exactly why she never leaves home with fewer than two tucked into her pouch.
Why Ankita Loves Her Leather Vanity Pouch from Opaline
“I've tried everything: little pouches, the interior pocket of my main handbag, just throwing things in and hoping for the best," Ankita laughs. “But the Lume Vanity Pouch from Opaline is the first thing that's actually made me feel like I have my life together, at least from the neck down.”
What won her over was the interior slip pocket, because there is something deeply satisfying about your lip balm having its own designated home. No more rummaging, or “that-was-there-a-second-ago” panic before a meeting. Everything has its own place, and everything stays in it.
Just like the Opaline laptop sleeve , it's compact enough to slide right into her work bag without taking over, yet spacious enough to hold everything she needs.
And here’s what she had to say about the zip closure: “It sounds like such a small thing, but I cannot tell you how many times I've walked into an office washroom looking completely composed on the outside while mentally juggling thirty different things. Just knowing my bag isn't going to betray me by spilling everything onto the counter is genuinely a relief,” she laughs.
What To Look For In a Vanity Pouch for Women
A vanity pouch sounds simple enough, until you've owned three disappointing ones. The truth is, most pouches look the part but fall apart the moment you actually use them. They're too small, too floppy, or have exactly one pocket where everything goes to get lost together. If you're going to carry one every single day, it needs to work as hard as you do.
Here's what to look for in a women's vanity pouch:
A place for everything: The whole point of a vanity pouch is organisation. So if you're still digging around for your lip balm at the bottom of a pile, it's not doing its job. Look for a pouch with dedicated compartments and an interior slip pocket, so your small essentials have a home and stay there.
Sits flat on any surface: A pouch that collapses the moment you set it down will tip everything over the second you unzip it. You want something with enough structure to sit flat on a washroom counter, a hotel dresser, or the edge of a vanity table. Without you having to hold it steady with one hand while rummaging with the other.
Travels without losing shape: Your vanity pouch lives at the bottom of your bag, gets squashed by your laptop, and survives more than a few overhead compartments. It needs to come out the other side looking like it hasn't been through anything. A well-constructed pouch, especially one constructed in full grain leather, holds its shape regardless of what you put it through. That means it looks just as good on day three hundred as on day one.
Interior pocket for the small stuff: Hair clips, a spare scrunchie, a lip liner; the small things are always the ones that disappear first. An interior slip pocket keeps the tiny essentials separate from everything else, so you're not shaking the whole pouch upside down looking for something that was technically in there all along.
Zip that doesn’t fight back: A stiff, snagging zip on a vanity pouch is one of those small daily frustrations that adds up fast. Two minutes before walking into an event, you don't have time to wrestle with your own bag. A smooth, secure closure means everything stays in place and you can get in and out without a second thought.
Slim enough to slip into your bag: A vanity pouch that takes up half your tote is just a smaller bag inside your bag, and nobody needs that. The right one is compact enough to slide in without reorganising everything around it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best leather vanity pouch for makeup ?
The Lume Vanity Pouch from Opaline is one of the best leather vanity pouches for makeup and other essentials. It’s structured design means it won’t flop over when you set it down. It has enough room for your daily essentials without swallowing your entire bag. Crafted in full grain leather, it features a spacious main compartment, and an interior slip pocket that keeps everything exactly where you left it.
What do you use to hold your makeup or essentials?
A leather vanity pouch is the most practical way to keep your essentials organised and easy to find. The Lume Vanity Pouch is a favourite. Crafted in full grain leather, with a smooth zip closure, and an interior pocket that keeps the small stuff neatly organized.
Where can I find a durable vanity bag for women?
Opaline’s latest vanity bag for women is crafted in the highest quality full grain leather, so it won’t peel or lose shape over time. Available in four stunning colors including warm tan, deep wine, moss green and espresso brown.
What to put in a makeup bag for a gift?
A great makeup bag gift includes the basics: a tinted moisturiser with SPF, a reliable lip colour, a few hair ties, and a lip balm or two. But honestly, the bag itself can be the gift. The Opaline Lume Vanity Pouch is the kind of gift a woman wants but rarely buys themselves.
What is a good designer vanity bag for brides as a gift?
The Opaline Lume Vanity Pouch makes for a deeply considered bridal gift. Crafted in premium full grain leather that only gets better with time, it's the kind of gift a bride will reach for on her wedding morning and keep coming back to for years after.
