Makeup for Beginners: Makeup Kit Essentials

Amber has written about fashion and design, beauty, and skin care for several years.

How to Make a Makeup Kit

When you first begin to learn how to do makeup for beginners, you’re going to be bombarded with products. There are so many different types of eyeliner, eyeshadow, and even lipstick that it can be hard to figure out what to buy. Not to mention trying to figure out whether you need bronzer or highlighter! Take a deep breath. This comprehensive makeup for a beginner kit list will help you have the ideal beginner’s makeup kit with all of the essentials.

Three Tips to Build the Perfect Makeup Kit for Beginners

Building your makeup kit is not going to happen overnight. As you explore the world of makeup, you’ll discover new products that you love and want to add. You’ll also wind up tossing a few products that simply do not meet your standards. It’s important not to rush out and buy everything on a list. Instead, keep these tips in mind to create the perfect makeup kit for you.

1. Pick What Type of Products You Need

   There’s no point in picking up mascara or an eyelash curler if your eyelashes are so full that you won’t use them. However, if you love playing with lipstick and want to learn to do lipstick art, consider picking up more than two tubes of lipstick. One important thing for every beginner to remember is that there are no rules to makeup. You can do, or not do, whatever you like.

2. Start With the Basics

   Likewise, you want to make sure that you get at least the basics of makeup products. You won’t jump into doing a full face of makeup overnight. Since you’ll start doing your makeup with the basics, it’s only important that you get the basics for makeup.

3. Learn a Little Bit at a Time

   One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make is when they want to jump right into the world of makeup and learn everything they possibly can. Watching hours of YouTube videos about how to do makeup or product reviews for makeup products will make you feel burnt out. There is so much information out there it would take months to learn it all, even if you studied every day. Because of that, you need to take your time. Check out different videos and websites for makeup tips for beginners. Focus on one thing at a time, such as your eyebrows. You’ll be doing a full face of makeup before you know it!

What to Include in Your Makeup Kit

This is a comprehensive list for every beginner that includes the basics you will need for a full face of makeup. Keep in mind your individual preferences instead of simply buying everything on the list. For example, if you’re not a fan of foundation, do not buy it thinking you’ll use it later. Instead, wait until you’re ready to use foundation to pick some up.

Makeup Brushes and Tools

In order to apply makeup for a beginner properly, you need to have the right tools for the job. Pick up a makeup brush set with various makeup brushes to ensure that you have everything you need.

Other tools you will want to consider include:

• A makeup mirror (a magnifying makeup mirror is a must if you have poor eyesight)
• Beauty blender
• Eyelash curler
• Eyebrow spoolie

You can use a brush instead of a beauty blender, but beauty blenders are easier to use, so you should pick one up if you plan on using foundation.

Face Primer

Primer is applied after your moisturizer but before your foundation. You can use strobe cream as a primer, too. Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizing Primer is a wonderful product for beginners. It works well for all skin types. This primer helps minimize the appearance of pores. It also can be worn by itself for a smoother complexion! You can find it on Amazon, Sephora, or by doing a quick Google search.

Foundation and Concealer

Your skin shades will change over time, so it is recommended that you have various shades of foundation and concealer in your makeup kit for beginners.

Start off with a shade of foundation that matches your skin tone now. Your foundation should match your jawline, not your neck or chest.

Your concealer should be two shades lighter than your foundation. However, if you use concealer to cover pimples, pick up a shade that is two shades darker to cover the darker spots.

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If this is your first time buying a foundation and you are feeling a bit lost, head to your local Sephora or Ulta. The customer service experts will be happy to help you find a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly!

Eyebrow Pencil and Gel

There are a lot of eyebrow products out there. The easiest to use is an eyebrow pencil. Use this to fill in sparse areas, and then set the look with an eyebrow gel.

Black Eyeliner

Black eyeliner is always a great go-to option. Pick up an Urban Decay 24/7 glide on pencil (available at Sephora) for a seamless look that is easy for beginners. After you get the hang of how to wear eyeliner for beginners, you can try out the other eyeliner options on the market.

Mascara

Thrive mascara is a great vegan option that you can find at Sephora! It goes on evenly, rarely clumps, and is perfect for your eyelashes regardless of how thin or thick they are. If you’re not a fan of this mascara, you still need one black mascara in your makeup kit. This is another one of the must-have makeup products that you don’t want to leave out of your kit.

Lip Color

Lip color is one of the easiest things to apply, so which makeup products you use depends on your personal preference. Pick up a lip gloss for a glossy shine. Lipsticks are always great. (A nude lipstick is always on my vanity.) Browse through makeup products to find a lip color that you love, and go with that. Make sure that you buy at least one classic color that you can wear with anything, such as a pink or nude shade.

Blush, Highlighter, and Bronzer

These are optional, but they’re awesome to have some fun with, even if you’re just learning how to do makeup for beginners. TheBalm has a small compact that includes one of each, so you won’t go broke just to find out that you purchased several products you don’t like.

Eyelid Primer

Before applying eyeshadow, you need to prime your lids just like you do your face. Because of that, make sure that you pick up a great eyelid primer, like Urban Decay or Stuck On You.

Eyeshadow Palette

If you’re just getting started out with makeup, you don’t need several different eyeshadow palettes. One eyeshadow palette with several neutral shades is essential, though. Make sure that your palette has at least ten different colors to give you plenty of options.

Setting Products

Setting products are makeup products that help keep your makeup in place. Some people prefer to use a setting powder. These are wonderful for anyone with an oily skin type of T zone. If you don’t have oily skin, you’ll be fine with a setting spray like Urban Decay All Nighter. Setting sprays are easy for a beginner to use.

Makeup Remover

If you make a mistake, and you’re bound to make a few as a beginner, you’ll need to be able to wipe it off. Even if your makeup is flawless after your first try, you still need to be able to wash it all off at the end of the night. Make sure that you pick up some makeup remover wipes. These won’t substitute properly cleansing your face, but they are a lot better than sleeping in makeup. They are essential for cleaning up mistakes, too.

Are You Ready to Build Your Makeup Kit?

Ensuring that you have these makeup products in your beginner makeup kit will guarantee that you can look amazing! You’ll have the makeup basics that you need to learn a few things about makeup too.

However, practice always makes perfect, and soon enough, you'll be a pro!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2021 Amber Lynn