Makeup Essentials for Beginners Guide

Makeup Essentials for Beginners Guide

As someone who has spent that last three years learning about makeup (entirely online, btw), I can assure you that everything in this post has been tried and tested by yours truly. As you saw in my makeup collection/storage post HERE, I DO NOT mess around when it comes to makeup.  But it does take some degree of time and patience to get the hang of it.

My makeup essentials for beginners guide will help take away some of the guess-work and keep you from making unnecessarily expensive purchases.  Incidentally, I will be providing you with both high-end and drugstore options for each of these essentials.

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As an added bonus, you can receive a free copy of my Makeup Essentials Guide printable delivered right to your email box by signing up HERE.

Let’s get started, shall we?

beginner-makeup-tipsBrushes: How else will you apply your makeup?  At the minimum, you’ll need a foundation brush, blush brush, stippling brush, blending brush, and an eyeshadow brush.
Drugstore Option: Real Techniques Core Collection and Real Technique Starter Kit

Foundation Primer: Primer is used as a base to help your foundation go on more smoothly and to help it last all day.  Primer should go on AFTER your moisturizer of choice.
Drugstore Option: NYX  Cosmetics Primer (Choose the option that works best for your kind of skin, ie. oily vs dry.). If you have oily skin, I also recommend trying calamin lotion as primer. Click HERE to see how to use it.
High End Option: Becca Cosmetics Evermatte Poreless Priming Perfector or Makeup Forever Mattifying Primer – For Oily Skin

Foundation: There are so many to choose from. Too  many in fact, and for this you will need to do a bit of trial and error to find one that works for you. Since I have hyper pigmentation, I rely on full coverage foundation.
Drugstore Option: Revlon Color Stay Foundation. Reviewed HERE. If you don’t have a lot of hyperpigmention, I also recommend the Covergirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless Foundation.
High End Option: Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème. Reviewed HERE.

Makeup Setting Spray: Helps to keep your makeup from looking caked on, and also helps it to last longer.
Drugstore: NYX Matte Makeup Setting Spray
High End: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Setting Powder: Sets your foundation for a long-lasting matte finish.
Drugstore Option: SHEAMOISTURE Online Only Perfecting Face Powder Duo. I really like this as it’s compact and includes a darker bronzer that works great as a daytime contour/blush.

 

Bronzer: On the tops of your cheeks, bronzer just adds that extra something. Click HERE for a review with swatches of my favorite bronzers
Drugstore Option: Covergirl Queen Collection Ebony Bronzer
If you want to start experimenting with highlighters I honestly would just go for the best and purchase the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in the Color Sun Dipped. Here is how it looks on me:

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You can apply it using a small fan brush like This One. Or This Brush.

Super optional for a beginner:

Blush: A touch of color to your cheeks helps to complete your look.
Drugstore Option: Milani Baked Powder Blushes:
High End Option: Mac Powder Blushes

makeup-essentials-guide-beginnersEyeshadow Base: You guessed it, keeps your eyeshadow from creasing and helps it to stay in place all day.
Drugstore Option: Jordanna 12-Hour Eyeshadow Pencils(In continuous almond or White) or NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in White. 
High End Option: MAC ‘Pro Longwear’ Paint Pot – Painterly

Eyeshadow:  it’s always safe to go with more neutral tones for a beginner, and I strongly suggest that you put aside the $$ to be able to buy the high end option on this one.
Drugstore Option: Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette (I’ve created some great looks with this palette)
High End Option: Lorac Pro Palette (Reviewed HERE).

Eyeliner: I don’t even bother with expense ones, but I do believe that sturdy, felt tip liners are the best for beginners and pros alike.
Drugstore Options: Milani EyeTech Eyeliner

Mascara: Who doesn’t want longer, thicker lashes?
Drugstore Option: Rimmel London Glam Eyes Mascara
High End Option: Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara

makeup-for-beginnersLip Balm: EOS Lip Balm

Lipgloss: Not for everyone, but If you do want to try lipgloss there are lots on the market offering light to full coverage.
Drugstore Option: NYX Megashine Lipgloss
High End Option: Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss

Lipstick:
Drugstore Option: Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipcolor (while the packaging on these isn’t so hot, these lippies are matte and HIGHLY pigmented.)

Nyx Liquid Suede Lipsticks Click HERE to see my review with swatches of the original colors or the NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks. Click HERE to see my review of those as well.

ColourPop Cosmetics Ultra Matte or Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks
High End Option: MAC Lipstick, Coloured Raine Liquid Lipsticks, Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks.
That’s all folks! I know it seems like a lot, but if you go step by step, my makeup essentials for beginners guide will help you gather everything you need to start creating fun makeup looks.  Oh, and if you’re going to be purchasing any of the Mac items, be sure to read this post HERE about how to save money on all of your mac makeup every time you shop.

As an added bonus, you can receive a free copy of my Makeup Essentials Guide printable delivered right to your mail box by signing up HERE.

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14 Comments

  1. Thank you for this post Lisa! Very helpful 🙂

  2. This is great! I first started learning about makeup when I was performing so I had to tone it down for everyday!
    xo
    styleontheside.com

    1. You’re welcome! More posts like this to come!.

  3. need help.. wats the diff btw a highlighter, bronzer and blush and how are they used.

  4. Really good information! Great list!

  5. Ann Josephs says:

    This information is very helpful. I will pass it on!

  6. Hi Lisa! Thanks for the tips. This is great for beginners. As I look around, I already have a beginners kit and didn’t even know it! Now off to organize.

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