You may be ready to dip your new brushes in a sea of colors, but before you dive into the depths, let this guide to the ultimate make-up essentials for beginners help you get your toes wet in the ever-expanding world of beauty products. We’ve taken expert advice from Jessica Kendall – Hairstylist, make-up artist, and owner of Beauty Asylum – to help us understand everything from how-to how much? Come in, the water’s fine!
FACE MAKEUP
Foundation
Just like artists who need to primer before painting, you need to start with a clean canvas. After preparing your skin, the foundation is your first step. To avoid the dreaded “cakey” look, Kendall recommends applying foundation with a beauty sponge. It absorbs the product and allows you to gradually add the ideal amount of foundation to your complexion.
Concealer
“Concealer is a must-have in your beauty routine,” exclaims Kendall. And we’ll happily bet on that statement! Concealer offers the photoshopped-looking finish that everyone is looking for, but it could be the trickiest make-up to master for beginners.
“The two main differences we want to look out for when buying a concealer are the face and eye concealers,” explains Kendall. “Typically, we want a moisturizing concealer to lower the eyes and soothe the appearance of fine lines. Face concealers tend to be denser and dry, and this is perfect to cover up that annoying blemish or discoloration.”
Bronzer
Now that you have a flawless base, it’s time to make a splash. “A great bronzer makes my top five must-have products,” says Kendall, adding that it’s important to add a touch of color to a washed-out complexion. How can you do that without going overboard? Kendall says to dust a little bronzer into the hairline, cheekbones, and neck to give an instant pick-up.
EYE MAKEUP
Eyeliner
Eyeliner is 90% sultriness, 10% glam, and 100% vital, and can easily handle any make-up look from day to night in a tube. Use a pencil eyeliner – Although it may not be the tool for a great winged eyeliner look, it’s much less fussy and great for first-time ladies.
Expert tip: Start by applying the color in the center of the eye and dab the pencil lightly into the lash line, and gradually work your way up to the outer part of the eye.
Mascara
Now it’s time to lengthen these lashes with a little mascara. Not even the beginners in make-up can get used to it. But the days of pumping the wand into the tube and plumping up the lashes with triple coats are over! Simply take your freshly dipped mascara wand and apply one or two coats before you complete your look. An absolute make-up essential for beginners, mascara darkens, thickens, and lengthens the lashes for a composite look in everyday life.
Neutral Eyeshadow Palette
A neutral eyeshadow palette is the perfect 10 across the board. Stick with taupes, bronzes, browns, and cream shadows for an easy to blend, effortless look ideal for all eye tones.
Kendall explains how to achieve a natural look with just three simple tools:
- Eyeshadow Brush: This is the staple to apply powder loosely to the lid.
- Smudge Brush: This brush is normally packed with dense bristles to apply a larger amount of product. Look for a dome shape the size of an eraser to gain more control over the application.
- Blending Brush: This gives the ability to apply a soft amount of color in the fold and/or buff the shadow over the fold.
BROWS
Eyebrow Pencil
“Any novice can start by filling their eyebrows with a brow gel or powder shadow,” says Kendall. But if you’ve only marathoned the bold brow routines of beauty gurus to make them look, well, not like theirs, Kendall suggested powder. “Powder tends to be looser when you begin. Look for a rough brush to apply the product so it doesn’t apply too much product at once.”
LIPS
One Nude and One Bold Lip Color
Lipsticks are key to an irresistible pout and can transform an entire look with a simple swipe. “The perfect neutral shade and a bright shade are two lip colors that every girl should have in her handbag,” says Kendall, recommending that beginners stick to a formula that is more hydrated because of its forgiving nature.
“To find the ideal lip shade, select a shade that is a bit darker than your natural lip color to achieve the ideal shade. A pop of color can be your preference for coral, berry, or pink.”
