Getting started with makeup can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when there are so many products on the market. But no worries! In this guide, I’ll list the best makeup products for beginners, helping you navigate through the overwhelming options and build your essential kit with confidence.
As a beginner, it’s crucial to nail down the basics and choose the right products that will lay a solid foundation for your makeup journey.
I’ll walk you through the basic makeup items every beginner should have in their kit, from primers to lip products, making your makeup routine simple and stress-free. Let’s dive in!
Related Post: How To Get a Flawless Makeup Base
Best Face Makeup Products For Beginners:
1. Primer
Priming your skin is an essential step for achieving a flawless makeup application. A primer acts as a base, creating a smooth canvas for your foundation, ensuring it glides on effortlessly and stays put throughout the day. For beginners, investing in a quality primer can significantly enhance the overall finish of your makeup.
When selecting a primer, it’s important to consider your skin type and any specific concerns you may have. For oily skin, opt for a mattifying primer to control shine and minimize pores. If you have dry skin, choose a hydrating primer to keep your skin moisturized and prevent flakiness. Alternatively, you can also use a rich moisturizer as a primer for dry skin.
For those with combination skin, focus on using a mattifying primer on oily areas such as the T-zone, while using a hydrating primer or moisturizer on dry areas.
Remember, a little goes a long way with primer. Start with a small amount and gently blend it into your skin using your fingertips. Allow it to set for a minute or two before applying foundation.
With the right primer, you’ll notice that your foundation applies smoother, lasts longer, and gives you a beautiful finish every time.
Recommended Primers For Beginners:
Recommended primer for oily skin: Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer
Primer for dry skin: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Drugstore option: Elf Power Grip Primer
2. Foundation
Foundation is a crucial step in any makeup routine. It helps to even out your skin tone and provide a base for the rest of your makeup. As a beginner, finding the right foundation match can seem daunting, but with the right guidance, it’s achievable.
When choosing a foundation, consider factors such as your skin type, coverage preference, and desired finish. For oily or combination skin, opt for oil-free or matte foundations that control shine and provide long-lasting coverage. If you have dry skin, look for hydrating or luminous foundations that offer moisture and a dewy finish.
When testing foundation shades, swatch a few options along your jawline to find the closest match to your skin tone. Remember to blend the foundation into your neck to ensure a seamless transition.
For beginners, it’s recommended to start with a medium coverage foundation because provides enough coverage to even out the skin tone without feeling heavy. Liquid foundations are generally easier to work with and blend seamlessly into the skin.
To apply foundation, use a makeup sponge or brush to dab small amounts onto your skin, starting from the center of your face and blending outwards. Build up coverage gradually as needed, focusing on areas that require more attention such as blemishes or redness.
Once you’ve found the perfect foundation match and mastered the application technique, you’ll notice a significant improvement in the overall appearance of your makeup. Your skin will look more even, radiant, and flawless, giving you the confidence to conquer any look.
Recommended Foundations For Beginners:
Recommended foundation for oily skin: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
Foundation for dry skin: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
Drugstore option: Loreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation
3. Concealer
Concealer is a product that helps to cover imperfections such as dark circles and blemishes, providing a flawless complexion. As a beginner, understanding how to use concealer effectively can enhance your makeup look and boost your confidence.
When selecting a concealer, consider your specific concerns and the coverage level you desire. For under-eye circles, opt for a concealer with a peach undertone to counteract darkness and choose a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone for a brightening effect. For blemishes or redness, select a concealer that matches your skin tone.
When applying concealer, use a small brush or makeup sponge to dab a small amount onto the area you want to conceal. Gently blend the concealer into the skin using tapping or patting motions, ensuring a seamless finish.
To set your concealer and prevent creasing, lightly dust translucent setting powder over the concealed areas using a fluffy brush.
With the right concealer and application technique, you can achieve a flawless complexion and confidently tackle any imperfections.
Recommended Concealers For Beginners:
Concealer for under-eye circles: Too Faced Born This Way Concealer
For blemishes: Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer
Drugstore option: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
4. Setting powder
Using a setting powder is essential to lock in your foundation and concealer, control shine, and prolong the wear of your makeup throughout the day. As a beginner, mastering the application of setting powder can help you achieve a flawless and long-lasting makeup look.
My personal preference is a loose powder to set concealer under the eyes. However, there are also pressed powders available, which are more convenient for on-the-go touch-ups.
To apply setting powder, use a powder puff or brush to set your under-eye area and lightly dust the powder over your entire face, focusing on areas where you tend to get oily or where your makeup tends to crease.
If you have dry skin or prefer a more natural finish, you can choose to only set under your eyes and skip setting the rest of your face.
With the right setting powder and application technique, you can achieve a smooth finish that lasts all day.
Recommended pressed setting powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
Recommended loose setting powder: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Drugstore option: Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
Best Eye Makeup Products For Beginners:
5. Eyeshadow Palette
Any makeup collection needs one good quality eyeshadow palette offering a range of colors to create endless eye looks. As a beginner, investing in a quality eyeshadow palette can be a great starting point for experimenting with different eye makeup styles and techniques.
Choose a palette with a mix of neutral shades that can be easily blended for everyday wear, as well as some bolder colors for more dramatic looks.
It’s also helpful to look for palettes with a good balance of light, medium, and dark shades, as well as transition colors to help seamlessly blend different eyeshadows together.
To apply eyeshadow, using a brush start by applying a light, neutral shade all over the eyelid as a base. Then, use a slightly darker shade in the crease to add depth and dimension to the eyes. Finally, apply a shimmer shade to the lid for a pop of color or sparkle.
Check out my post on The Best Eye Makeup Brushes for eyeshadow brush recommendations.
Experimenting with different eyeshadow combinations and techniques can be a fun way to enhance your eye makeup skills and discover what works best for you.
With the right eyeshadow palette and a bit of practice, you can create stunning eye looks that compliment your features and express your personal style.
Recommended Eyeshadow Palettes For Beginners:
Recommended eyeshadow palette: Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Drugstore option: ColourPop 11:11 Pressed Powder Palette
6. Eyeliner
An eyeliner is great to have to enhance the shape and definition of your eyes, adding depth and drama to your makeup look. As a beginner, mastering the application of eyeliner may take some practice, but with patience and the right techniques, you can achieve stunning results.
When choosing an eyeliner, there are several options to consider, including pencil, gel, liquid, and felt-tip liners. Pencil liners are great for beginners as they are easy to control and can create both subtle and bold looks. They are also excellent for lining the lower lash line for a smoky look. Gel and liquid liners offer more precision and are ideal for creating precise lines and a winged eye look.
Experimenting with different eyeliner styles and techniques can help you find what works best for your eye shape and personal preference. With practice, you’ll soon become confident in your eyeliner application skills and be able to create a variety of stunning eye looks.
Recommended Eyeliners For Beginners:
Liquid eyeliner: Physicians Formula Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner
Pencil eyeliner: Wet N Wild Mega Last Breakup Proof Eyeliner
7. Brow Product
Another essential product to have is a brow product, which is used to shape and define your eyebrows, framing your eyes and completing your overall makeup look. Understanding how to use brow products effectively can enhance your facial features and give your makeup a polished finish.
When choosing a brow product, consider factors such as your eyebrow color, texture, and desired level of definition. There are various types of brow products available, including pencils, powders, gels, and pomades. My personal preference is using a pencil. Brow pencils are great for filling in sparse areas and creating natural-looking strokes, especially if you already have full brows. Powders offer a softer, more diffused effect and are ideal for filling in larger areas or setting pencil application. Pomades provide a more defined and sculpted look, while brow gels are great for setting and helping to tame unruly brows.
Experimenting with different brow products and techniques can help you find what works best for your eyebrow shape and personal style. With practice, you’ll soon become confident in your brow grooming skills and be able to achieve perfectly sculpted brows every time.
Recommended Makeup Products For Beginners: Brow Products
Recommended brow pencil: Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil
Brow gel: Benefit Gimme Brow+ Tinted Eyebrow Gel
Brow pomade: Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Smudge Proof Brow Pomade
Favorite drugstore brow pencil: NYX Micro Brow Eyebrow Pencil
8. Mascara
Mascara is a staple product in any makeup routine, as it enhances your eyelashes, making them appear longer, fuller, and more defined. Mastering the application of mascara is essential for achieving a polished and put-together look.
When choosing a mascara, consider factors such as your desired lash effect and formula preferences, such as waterproof or regular. There are volumizing mascaras that add fullness to your lashes and lengthening mascaras that provide added length.
To apply mascara, start by curling your lashes with an eyelash curler, if desired, to open up your eyes and create a more lifted look.
Holding the wand horizontally, gently wiggle the brush from the roots to the tips of your lashes, coating them evenly with mascara. For added volume and length, you can apply multiple coats, allowing each layer to dry slightly before adding the next.
Experimenting with different mascara formulas and techniques can help you find the perfect combination to enhance your lashes and complete your makeup look.
Recommended Makeup Products For Beginners: Mascaras
Recommended mascara: Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Drugstore option: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
9. Blush
Out of all the cheek products such as blush, bronzer, contour, or highlight, I choose blush as that is, in my opinion, the most essential for beginners. Blush adds a natural flush of color to the cheeks, bringing life and dimension to the face.
There are various types of blushes available, including powder, cream, and liquid formulas. Powder blushes are the most common and are ideal for beginners due to their ease of application and blendability. Cream and liquid blushes offer a more dewy and natural finish, perfect for achieving a fresh-faced look.
To apply powder blush, use a fluffy blush brush and tap off any excess product before lightly sweeping the blush onto the apples of your cheeks, blending upwards.
If using a cream or liquid blush, you can apply the product directly to your cheeks using a makeup sponge or brush, blending it into your skin for a seamless finish.
When choosing a blush shade, opt for colors that complement your skin tone and undertones. For fair skin, light pink or peachy shades work well, while deeper skin tones can opt for richer berry or bronze tones.
Experimenting with different blush formulas and techniques can help you find what works best for your skin type and desired look.
Recommended Makeup Products For Beginners: Blushes
Powder blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
Cream blush: Rose Inc Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Color
Drugstore option: Burt’s Bees Blush
Best Lip Makeup Products For Beginners:
10. Lip products
Lip products are the finishing touch to any makeup look, adding color, definition, and dimension to the lips. As a beginner, having a few essential lip products in your collection can help you complete your makeup routine and enhance your overall look.
There are various types of lip products available, including lipsticks, lip glosses, lip liners, and lip balms. Lipsticks come in a range of shades and finishes, from matte to satin, allowing you to customize your look based on your preferences. Lip glosses provide a shiny, reflective finish and can be worn alone or layered over lipstick for added dimension. Liners help to define the lips and prevent lipstick from feathering or bleeding. Lip balms provide hydration and nourishment to the lips, keeping them soft and smooth.
When choosing a lip product, consider factors such as your desired lip color, finish, and level of hydration. Opt for shades that complement your skin tone, and experiment with different finishes to find what works best for you.
Experimenting with different lip products and shades can help you find what works best for your personal style and preferences.
Recommended Makeup Products For Beginners: Lip Products
Recommended Lipstick: Nars Lipstick
Lip gloss: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb
Lip liner: Huda Beauty Automatic Matte Lip Pencil
Favorite tinted lip balm: CoverGirl Clean Fresh Lip Balm
There you have it – the best makeup products for beginners. The only essentials you need. What is the most essential in your opinion? Let me know in the comments below!
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