The Makeup Basics

If you’re still starting your relationship with makeup, then you would know that picking and choosing what you need can get a bit overwhelming. I get a lot of questions about what one absolutely NEEDS in their makeup kit, so for this post, I’ve listed some basic products that I think everyone should have in their makeup kit.

If you have oily skin and visible pores, then it might do you well to have a primer in your kit. A good one that I like is The Body Shop Instablur Primer. It helps my makeup stay on longer and go on smoother. It also helps control oil, so this would be a good one if you have really oily skin. Another primer I like is the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. If you have dry skin, then this one’s for you. It’s infused with ingredients like coconut water and probiotics to make your skin bright and hydrated.

As your base, I would suggest a liquid foundation. The Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation is a great one (and apparently, it’s what Kim K uses when she isn’t reaching for her usual high end foundations). It has medium coverage, and it’s great for covering up redness and other imperfections.

Sometimes there are things that foundation just can’t cover up on its own, which is why a concealer is essential to any makeup kit. My favorite one is and always will be the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. It covers up both dark circles and zits really well, and I find that it doesn’t fade or move around my face.

Some people skip setting their makeup, but I don’t think it would hurt to have a powder on hand. The Maybelline Fit Me Powder is great on its own or for setting makeup, and I also love the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder for when I want to set my face without adding any extra coverage.

Blush, bronzer, and highlight can be difficult to figure out since there are so many options. This is why I really like the Sleek Face Form Kit. It comes with all three products, and I find that the shades are really flattering. Benefit Hoola is also a really great cool-toned bronzer, and I love to use it for contouring. I’m also a highlight maniac, so the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Ultimate Glow Kit give me so much life.

Another thing that gives me life is a good eyebrow product. My favorite one is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo. I always get compliments whenever I use it to make my eyebrows on point. Another great one is the IN2IT Waterproof Eyebrow Liner. The pencil is really hard and there’s not a lot of color payoff when you swatch it, so it’s easy to build up the color to how you want it to look.

Eyeshadow can be quite intimidating, but I think it’s an important part of a makeup starter kit since you’ll never know when you might need it. I suggest getting a small palette with neutral colors since they go well with everything, and it’s harder to mess up your makeup with it. The Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes is a great neutral eye palette to have.

Even more intimidating than eyeshadow would probably be liquid eyeliner. They can be tricky to use, but once you’ve mastered eyeliner, you’ll never want to stop wearing it. One that’s a breeze to apply is the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner. The felt tip makes it super easy to draw a precise line and cat eye, and it stays on all day, so it’s great for anyone who has oily eyelids.

To effortlessly open up the eyes, mascara is key. The Benefit Roller Lash Mascara curls and lengthens eyelashes really well, and it doesn’t make them look too done. Other really good mascaras include Maybelline The Falsies and the Covergirl Clump Crusher.

Lastly, lipsticks really complete a makeup kit. If you’re still starting out, I suggest that you own one nude shade and one red. The Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Touch of Spice is a bestseller for a reason. It’s a really flattering color, it goes on very smoothly, and it has great lasting power. A really great neutral red lipstick is the MAC Lipstick in Russian Red. MAC lipsticks are pretty iconic, and I think that Russian Red would go really well with lots of different skin tones.

And that’s it for my take on what should be in a makeup starter kit. I hope that you enjoyed this post, and that it was helpful to you, especially if you’re still starting out with makeup. Happy shopping!

What’s in your makeup starter kit? Let me know in the comments!