Sarah Ellen’s life changed at age 13 when she posted a YouTube video of her dancing eyebrows and over 56 million people viewed the clip. Since then, the now 27-year-old has become one of Australia’s most-known names online where she shares her modelling, acting and music work.
I caught up with her at Longines‘s Sydney event to celebrate its fifth flagship boutique recently. Ellen, a friend of the luxury watch brand, gave me a peek into her bag which, on the night, was a YSL Voltaire Top Handle in Box in blanc vintage ($3150).
“When I go to an event, I usually like to travel light,” she says. “I don’t even really like holding onto a bag if I’m being completely honest. So you won’t find me holding onto too many things.”
Here’s what was in Ellen’s bag on the night, plus what she normally always carries with her.
Lucas Papaw Ointment
Ellen always carries in her bag a Lucas’ Papaw Ointment ($5.70), which she swears by for hydrated lips.
“It’s not the sexiest item,” she says. “I think my lips are addicted to it because I have to apply it about every half an hour. But it is my trusty lip balm and I take it everywhere with me. Sometimes if my skin is really dry, I’ll put it on my cheekbones for a little bit of highlight. Love this stuff.”
Handy Cam
If Ellen doesn’t have her film camera (“usually a Contax point and shoot”), she’ll carry her five-year-old handy cam instead.
“I feel like it has a nostalgic feel to all the content that I take which I love,” she says. “It’s a little banged up now. She’s a bit fragile but we love her. I like to film little ‘get ready with me videos’. I’ve got a lot of content getting ready for this evening on here.
“I just came back from a trip to Mexico City so me and Josh — who I’m in a band with — have a lot of content that we shot making music together in the studio, filming covers. I just bought a guitar in Mexico City — we filmed that. I try to capture everything on here. All my travels. I love having an archive of memories to look back on.”
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip and Cheek Glow
Next in Ellen’s bag is a Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Lip and Cheek Glow ($60). The buildable product comes in shades Colour of Dreams and more mauve-coloured Colour of Passions, which Ellen owns.
“I love a Charlotte Tilbury blush,” she says. “I’ve got my blush in here just in case I need to top up. It’s a bit of a darker, creamy blush.”
MAC Lip Pencil
Ellen also carries in her bag a MAC Lip Pencil ($40) which she pairs with a lip gloss. “I feel like I’ve applied this lip liner so many times that I can actually do it without a mirror,” she says.
Essential Oils
While Ellen didn’t bring any essential oils on the night, she usually carries them. “I like to smell like lavender or lemongrass when I’m out with my friends,” she says. “But I really am a travel light girlie.”
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk
Ellen also usually carries a bottle of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($115). Lip gloss, lip liner, concealer and foundation — that’s mainly all the makeup she wears.
“I do love Giorgio Armani on my skin,” she says. “I don’t often wear too much mascara because I get my lashes lifted which is a complete game-changer.”
Bang and Olufsen Headphones
Finally, Ellen usually carries a pair of Bang and Olufsen Headphones ($298.77) — “serious noise-cancelling headphones — in her bag.
“I’m always listening to a podcast or new music, always on the hunt for new music. Or an audiobook. I feel like I’m listening to 10 audiobooks at once. But I’m listening to an audiobook right now called Bittersweet.
“It’s about — basically the duality in life. Not being able to have one thing without the other. Like bitter, sweet. You can’t have happiness without sadness. It’s okay to sit in melancholic feelings because without sadness you wouldn’t be able to appreciate happiness as much. Also, my boyfriend just recommended The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. It’s his favourite book — he’s read it twice now.”
