When it comes to makeup, we all start somewhere. That's why it's so important to start by following makeup tips for beginners rather than jumping to a cut-crease or advanced contour technique. Of course, before we start with simple tips and tricks, we need to put together a solid makeup kit.
Putting together a good makeup kit can be quite challenging and overwhelming for even the most seasoned makeup connoisseur — let alone a makeup beginner. With thousands upon thousands of products to choose from, it can start to get a bit confusing when figuring out which ones work best for you.
If you're just starting out on your makeup journey and are looking for a good guide, we put together a list of all the makeup staples, products, and tools you need in your cosmetic bag. What's more, we consulted experts in the makeup industry to find out which products are the best of the best. Here Sharon Becker, as well as Donni Davy, both weighed in on all the essential products for your makeup starter pack.
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You can trust us that not only are they easy for newbies to use, but they've also been put to the test and have quickly become pro favorites.
Discover exactly what you need to have on hand with our selects below.
You will never be more enthusiastic about your makeup artist job than while buying your first makeup kit. Anyway, it is essential that you won’t get too excited and buy the wrong stuff. Investing in products that are low quality or don’t fit your domain (as there are makeup artists for photo shootings, for movies, for TV, for events, etc.) is pointless.
Before starting to work as a makeup artist, you have to make sure that you know well the basic information in your industry. For example, after finishing your makeup academy, you’d better know something about cosmetology and skincare too. Plus, in such a competitive market like makeup, knowing how to promote yourself as a makeup artist, what products to include in your beginner makeup artist kit, how to manage your small business, what are the latest makeup trends, or how to deal with social media stuff is key to overcome your competitors.
In this article, you’re going to find what are the brands, products and accessories you need to include in your beginner makeup artist kit, whether you are on a budget or not. Take this makeup artist tools list with you and start your makeup artist experience like a pro!
What Tools Do Beginner Makeup Artists Need?
Let’s get started with your makeup artist products, from disinfectants to quality makeup foundations and colorful lipsticks. Ready?
1. Cleansers and disinfectants
First of all, before you start thinking about the marvelous makeup you’ll put on your client’s face, make sure you will provide them a safe and clean service. Cleansers and disinfectants are a must-have in your beginner MUA kit.
Disinfecting your brushes, pens, and makeup tools after every client are essential. Plus, they’ll gain even more confidence by seeing you’re always focused on cleaning before starting, so they’ll be more likely to come back to you. We’ve all met at least once that makeup artist who applies mascara with the original mascara wand and we don’t want to see that ever again. Eyes are sensitive, lips are the ones who transfer the most bacteria, so using disinfected tools or disposable brushes is key to maintaining proper hygiene.
Cleaning your makeup brushes
Separating the synthetic brushes from the natural haired ones is important, as they require a different cleaning technique and soap. For example, for the synthetic brushes, you can use solid cleansers, while for the natural-haired ones it is recommended to use a liquid, soft cleanser. Anyway, it is up to you if you find it practical to use a liquid cleanser for both of them.
This cleanser removes excess residue and germs for a clean makeup application. It supports the integrity of the blender as it provides the same cleansing results and soothing lavender fragrance as the liquid BlenderCleanser.
You can find it here
Clean, condition, and disinfect your makeup brushes easily with Parian Spirit Professional Makeup Brush Cleaner. Made with non-toxic, food-grade ingredients, this quick-drying brush cleaner instantly removes makeup, dirt, oil, and bacteria from brushes without damaging their delicate fibers.
You can find it here
Scrubby cleaning pad was designed to gently help remove stubborn makeup from cosmetic brushes. Just use a gentle shampoo, and buff the brushes into the heart! The heart shape fits snugly in your hand or in the sink for easy cleaning.
You can find it here
Disinfecting your accessories
For disinfecting your other makeup accessories like tweezers, scissors, spatulas, or palettes, experts recommend using Barbicide. Barbicide is an EPA registered hospital grade disinfectant used in salons, barbershops, and spas. Barbicide is able to kill germs, viruses, and fungi.
To disinfect your tools, you’ll also need a Barbicide jar, often made of glass, so you’ll avoid making a mess around you. How to use the Barbicide? Easy, but be careful: fill the jar with the diluted solution and dip your tools in for 10 minutes.
You can find it here
2. Cotton pads and sticks
For sure, cotton pads and sticks are a must-have not only for makeup professionals, but for everyone who has a minimum makeup or skincare routine.
3. Solutions for preparing the skin
There’s no way to apply makeup before preparing the skin. First of all, you need to include in your MUA beginner kit products like micellar water, cleanser, hydrating cream, and sebum control solution for the ones who have a sebum excess.
La Roche Posay Micellar Water
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm
Bioderma Sensibio H2O
Origins GinZing™ Ultra-Hydrating Energy-Boosting Cream
L’Oreal Paris Hydra Genius Water Cream
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
4. Professional makeup brushes
Professional brushes cannot miss from a makeup kit for beginner makeup artists. Of the million varieties of brushes for makeup, I’ve selected some that I considered being the best after reading thousands of reviews from makeup experts and after trying out some of them.
Important: you can save some money when buying lipstick or mascara, but never save on your makeup brushes. They are the most important tools and the whole makeup depends on the quality of the brushes that you apply it with. This being known, you’ll need makeup brushes in different shapes and sizes, for different purposes, each of them is destined for a specific part of the face. Here are a few essential ones you need first:
Foundation Brush
Real Techniques 200 Expert Face Brush
Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush
Buffer Brush For Concealer
Morphe M173 Mini Buffer Brush
Blush Brush
Real Techniques 400 Blush Brush
Bronzer Brush
Anmor Contour, Blush and Bronzer Brush
Contouring Brush
Real Techniques Flawless Base Set
Morphe M405 Contour Brush
Sigma F23 Soft Angled Contour Brush
Small Fan Brush
Morphe R36 – Pointed Highlight
Large Powder Brush
Makeup For Ever 130 Large Powder Brush
Anastasia Beverly Hills A20 Pro Brush
Complete Eye Brushes Set
BH Signature Rose Gold Brushes 13 Piece Set
Zoeva Complete Eye Set
Large Flat Eyeshadow Brush (all over shadow)
Smashbox All Over Shadow Brush
Small Flat Eyeshadow Brush (lid color)
Morphe X Jaclyn Hill JH41 All Over Lid Brush
Blending Brush
Morphe M573 – Pointed Deluxe Blender
Sigma E25 Blending Brush
Small Pencil Brush (for under eye shadow or inner corner shadow)
Mac 219 Synthetic Pencil Brush
Morphe M210 – Small Chisel Fluff
Angled or Straight Eyeliner Brush
Eyeliner Brush Fine Angled
Stiff Angled Brow Brush
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brush
Lip Brush
Mac 316 Lip Brush
Sponges
Thrive Causemetics Blend + Blur Sponge
Original BeautyBlender Makeup Sponge
5. Primer
What’s the role of a primer in makeup? To make it look better and stay on more. When making the shopping list for your beginner makeup artist kit, don’t forget to include a good primer in it.
The truth is that there are many makeup primer brands that promise a lot and do nothing. Well, don’t worry: experts often share their personal opinion after trying different products, and here I’ve selected the most demanded ones.
This primer contains aloe water, cherry blossom, hyaluronic acid, B vitamins, and cannabis seed extracts. Well, it’s for sure a godsend for thirsty skin.
This oil-free primer is super lightning, just perfect for sensitive skin. It is ideal for the skin’s dry patches, without making it feel clogged up.
This silicone formula primer minimizes and fills in the pores. Plus, it’s one of the best mattifying primers makeup artists ever used.
The NYX primer does not let the side down. Glowy skin is on-trend, and this silky booster tends to be the perfect canvas for foundation. It comes in three tints (Moonbeam, Rose Quartz, and Sandy Glow), which allows you to adapt the primer’s color to a wide range of skin tones.
6. Foundation & concealer
Foundation is an absolute must in a makeup artist kit, from fair to dark skin tones. Meanwhile, there are many palettes that include creamy foundation and concealer and there are many makeup artists that prefer using liquid foundations. Anyway, consider starting with at least 3 shades (one neutral toned ivory, one medium warm toned, and one warm toned ultra tanned.) This way, you can mix them together to always match your client’s skin tone.
Skin colors are classified as either warm or ruddy. Warm complexions have a more yellow tone, while ruddy complexions are pinker. Here are the best foundations for beginner makeup artists that experts in the beauty industry recommend in order to achieve a complete beginner makeup artist kit.
Creamy
RCMA Makeup VK Palette
Liquid
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation
Maybelline NY Multi-Use Concealer
7. Contouring
Regarding the contouring products, you will want to include in your beginner makeup artist kit a palette with several different color shades. It is recommended to use at least three matte brown shades, one for light skin, one for medium skin, and one for dark skin.
Zoeva Cream Contour Spectrum Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
8. Eyebrows kit
Your color range should be from light blond to deep brown and black. It’s essential to have a few different brow shades to perfectly fill sparse brows on your client, and different types of products (gel, eyebrow pencil, and powder) to be able to construct your client’s brows from scratch if needed. The best I found for you are the ones from Anastasia Beverly Hills, as she’s considered to be the God of eyebrows when it comes to cosmetics. Anastasia has a full eyebrow kit, including gels, powder, pencils, and accessories that allow you to shape perfect eyebrows.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Natural Brow Kit
9. Eyeshadow
For clients, eyeshadow is usually the most exciting part of all their makeup. So eyeshadows are a must in your makeup kit for beginner makeup artists. You are going to mostly need matte color palettes with a majority of neutral colors, but also a few brighter shades and a couple of shimmers.
Mac Eye Shadow Palettes and Kits
PAT McGRATH LABS Mega Mothership: Celestial Divinity Eyeshadow Palette
MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Eye Shadow
Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette
10. Lipstick
For your MUA beginner kit, choose a lipstick palette with plenty of reds, corals, pinks, and nudes. This way, you can mix the lipstick colors on your palette with a spatula in order to obtain exactly the lip color your client wishes. Anyway, if you love a certain brand of lipstick that doesn’t come in a palette, here are some brand recommendations.
Boys n Berries
Mac Cosmetics lipsticks
L’Oreal Colour Riche Lips La Bold Matte Palette
Smashbox Lip Palette
Estee Lauder Intense Nudes Lip Palette
11. Eyeliner and lip liner
Eyeliners and lipliners are fine products that allow you to highlight or bold a beautiful part of your client’s face. Through the best ones, I’ve found Inglot and Milani the most practical, yet inexpensive brands.
Inglot Eyeliner Gel
Milani Lipliner
12. Setting powder & spray
Most often, professional makeup is seen by how much it resists on the face and how low the transfer is. To have resistant makeup, you need a high-quality setting powder and makeup finish spray.
Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
MAC Fix Spray
13. Lashes: glue, extensions, and mascara
For a plus of volume and sensuality, some of your clients might want temporary eyelash extensions. Here are the best ones, and, of course, the best eyelash glue that makeup experts consider you should include in your makeup beginner kit.
Huda Beauty Eyelash Extensions
Duo Eyelash Adhesive
Urban Decay Volume Mascara
14. Accessories & other useful tools
15. Goldie
As a makeup artist, you’ll need a helpful tool that keeps you organized with your appointments. Here’s an app that saves you time and money: an essential investment for makeup artists.
Goldie is the best makeup artist appointment app because it helps you keep track of your schedule. You can send your clients text reminders automatically, you can set up an online booking page, so your clients will be able to book appointments on their own. Plus, with Goldie, you can take deposits and payments from clients and secure your income.
Get ready to create a Goldie account by installing the app on your mobile device. You can find it in the App Store or in Google Play: your organized makeup artist’s online calendar is just one tap away.
16. Makeup artist face chart album
Before and after photos of your work aren’t always very helpful when it comes to makeup. Why? Simply because every woman has a different face shape and a different skin tone. When you show a client of yours a makeup you’ve done, she might like it because she actually likes the girl in the photo, not necessarily the makeup. In order to avoid this situation, a makeup artist face chart album is the ideal solution. Find out here how to create a makeup looks catalog and include it immediately in your beginner makeup artist kit.
Ready like never before to become a makeup artist
When buying makeup products it’s always easy to overspend, so be careful and avoid spending too much on luxury brands and keep focusing on the ones that are high quality and well priced. In this article, you’ve found what are the necessary tools for beginner makeup artists and what you’ll use them for.
The best of luck to you in starting your career in the makeup artists’ paradise! Last advice: having the best equipment will make you a real professional. Using the best apps for makeup artists will help you permanently develop your skills and create stunning social media content.
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