As a beginner, when you’re just starting to wear makeup, building up your makeup collection with all the necessities can be very overwhelming. Where does a girl start?
Your best option will be to put together a makeup starter kit. That way you have the essential products that you need to experiment with creating the makeup looks and trends you’ve been saving to your Pinterest boards.
Luckily for you, I’ve put together a list of just 15 items that need to be included in your beginner makeup kit. That way you won’t need to be completely overwhelmed when wandering down the makeup aisle between the hundreds of choices, wondering what to buy and what to pass.
1. Primer
First and foremost, you’ll want to grab a reliable makeup primer. Primer is the product that many girls skip when they first try makeup. Although it is possible to do your makeup without primer, it makes things more difficult – especially for a beginner.
Makeup primer will help improve the lifespan of your makeup look, keeping it from fading throughout the day, and also create an even base for you to apply the rest of your makeup.
2. Foundation
You will need a foundation. For your beginner makeup kit, look for a foundation that has a buildable formula.
This way, you can use it for everyday wear, as well as days where you want to create a full-coverage look.
When in doubt, stick with a natural finish and ask for assistance in picking the shade that goes best with your natural skin tone.
3. Concealer
Sometimes you may not want to apply a full face foundation, however, you may have some blemishes that need a bit of extra coverage.
That’s when you need to be able to reach for your concealer. Look for one that has a full-coverage formula that’ll hide pesky pimples and under-eye bags with ease.
Back in college, I had a “blemish stick” concealer that worked brilliantly. A dab and blend and my pimples would vanish. Likewise, the dark circles under my eyes from an all-night study would disappear in seconds.
There was one draw-back to my favorite blemish stick. It reflected the black light used in nightclubs. So instead of hiding my pimples and under-eye bags, I had glowing dots on my face. Luckily a girlfriend pointed it out and pulled me to the bathroom for makeup rescue so I wasn’t glowing embarrassingly all night.
4. Bronzer
I’m sure that all of us love to have a bit of a tan. However, dealing with skin damage to our faces from too much sun is less than desirable.
Bronzer is a must for your makeup kit if you want to give yourself a healthy-looking glow and emphasize your facial structure. Use a powder bronzer to contour and give your face a sun-kissed glow without damaging sun exposure.
5. Blush
One thing that you will quickly notice when you do a full face foundation is that your cheeks will be devoid of any natural color.
So, whether you’re just starting to wear makeup or can count yourself as a self-certified pro, you’ll want to restore a bit of natural-looking color to your complexion.
Use a rosy blush to give your cheeks a little flush instantly.
6. Highlighter
Earlier we were talking about how to add a glow to your skin. By using a highlighter you can take it up a notch or two.
To help define your facial features even further, apply a highlighter to your cheekbones, tip of your nose, and cupid’s bow.
For your beginner makeup kit, it will be best to choose a liquid formula that can easily be dotted on with your fingertip.
7. Makeup Sponge
The liquid highlighter we just mentioned can be easily applied with your fingertips, not all makeup products can be applied just as easily this way.
This is where your makeup sponge comes in. This super handy tool is the secret to blending your foundation and concealer like an expert, resulting in a stunning airbrushed finish.
Don’t just get one, you will need a few of them. Remember to clean your makeup sponges regularly as they can trap bacteria quite easily over time.
8. Brow Mascara
If you are looking at building your beginner’s makeup kit, the chances are that you’re just starting out with makeup.
With so many brand new makeup skills to learn, you don’t necessarily need to go crazy when it comes to filling in your brows.
However, a little bit of eyebrow grooming can go a long way to giving you a polished look. Instead of burdening yourself by also trying to master a brow pencil or pomade at the beginning, use a brow mascara to give your eyebrows the perfect boost.
9. Eyeshadow Palette
You are just starting out with makeup and building up your beginner’s makeup collection. I know that it might be tempting to buy a million eyeshadow shades at once so that you can create all those pretty looks you’ve been saving on Pinterest.
Instead of getting a multitude of single eyeshadow pots that might not suit your skin tone, stock your makeup kit with a neutral eyeshadow palette that will aid you in creating a variety of classic looks.
To help you get the hang of using eyeshadow, here is my Easy Eye Shadow Tutorial for Beginners.
10. Liquid Eyeliner
I’m sure you’d love to create that flawless winged eyeliner look you’ve seen so often. The truth is that getting in perfect and matched between your left and right eye can be a little intimidating. Sometimes it is difficult from keeping your hand from shaking.
There is no need to be afraid. You just need the right liquid eyeliner.
Instead of picking up the first one you see, take some time to find an option that comes with a stencil. That way you can create a sharp, flawless wing without a struggle every single time.
11. Pencil Eyeliner
Even though liquid eyeliner is essential for your upper lid and creating those wings, never limit yourself to only ever using liquid eyeliner.
You will always need pencil eyeliner in your makeup kit. There may be days you want to wear pencil eyeliner, either on its own or together with your liquid eyeliner.
A pencil liner is great for lining your lower lash line as well as your waterline. Besides a black pencil eyeliner to match your liquid eyeliner, you can even apply a nude shade to your waterline to create the illusion of bigger, more well-rested eyes.
12. Mascara
No makeup kit can ever be complete without a trusted mascara. Be sure to look for a formula that is both volumizing and lengthening.
Whether you’re in the middle of running errands or headed out for date night, a few coats can make all the difference in the world.
13. Lipstick
Did you really think that I would be leaving out lip color? There are two options and you’ll want to include both in your makeup starter kit.
The first of these is lipstick. You will want to choose a traditional bullet lipstick that has a hydrating formula.
Choosing the best shade or color for your skin tone can be a bit tricky. When I am in the mood to shop for a new color I will narrow my choice down to 3 or 4 shades of that color and test those on the back of my hand. That almost always eliminates at least 2 of the options and makes my final choice much easier.
14. Lip Gloss
There are some days when I’m just not feeling lipstick. That is why I have lip gloss in my makeup kit and so should you.
Lip gloss is ideal for when I want a sheer, glossy wash of color on my lips. My normal daily lipstick is more of a matte shade which makes my lip gloss even more of a shiny contrast.
15. Setting Spray
You will need to complete your beginner makeup kit with a setting spray.
A few spritzes will ensure your makeup look stays fresh day and night, with no smudging or fading as the hours pass by.
Safe Makeup Removal
Now that your beginner makeup kit is complete, you will need some micellar water and cotton makeup pads so that you can properly clean off all your makeup before bed. Going to sleep with your makeup on is a bad idea. Not only is it bad for your skin, but you will also get makeup all over the bedding.
Add A Spoolie And Curler To Your Kit
There are two useful little tools that will help your makeup process a lot. I would ensure that they are in your makeup kit as well, even though they are tools and not strictly makeup.
The first of these is called a spoolie. I’ve written an article explaining exactly how to use your spoolie to achieve beautiful brows.
The second essential tool for your starter makeup kit will be an eyelash curler. Here is the article that I wrote teaching you all you need to know about using an eyelash curler. Once you have gotten proficient with your curler and eye makeup you can maybe think of false lashes but that won’t be soon.
Edith, your story about your concealer made me laugh so hard! Thanks for the laugh, and the warning!