DON’T BREAK YOUR POCKET !!

STARTING YOUR CAREER AS A MAKEUP ARTIST (2)

How to Build Your Makeup Kit as a Beginner

Building your makeup kit should not have to cause you stress. As a beginner, start with what you have and get just the essentials. Yes, you want to invest in your business but it is okay to start small. Don’t get giddy and buy everything that comes out as you may end up broke! Rather invest in palettes to save costs.

Thinking outside the box will be your way out on most occasions. Blushers work really well on the eyes and eye shadows work equally well on the cheeks as blushers. When clients start to pay for you to do their makeup, put half the money aside and slowly start to build your kit.

Essential Tips to Note Before Building Your Kit;

• know what type of makeup artistry you’re going into. This will help your choice of product selection. If you are trying to work as an editorial makeup artist then your makeup kit should consist of a mix of camera-tested makeup products. If you’re a bridal makeup artist then you will need to have more products focusing on skin preparation, and more warm/neutral-toned products.
• Reviews will be your best friend. Do research, watch reviews, and seek advice from other makeup artists.
• Buy palettes to save expenses. Buy other essentials (like tissue) in bulk.

SKIN PREP

Invest in good quality skin prep products cos it will set the perfect base for all other makeup products to sit on. The better the skin is prepped the better your application. Keep in mind that you will be working on different skin types and different skin products differ on the type of skin. But as a beginner, there are products that sit well and can be managed for every skin type.

You will need moisturizers (I think this is the most important thing to have in your kit for skin prep). Hydration is important. Cleansers, toners, and face oils (face oils and toners may not be part of your beginner kit. But as you grow and get more jobs, they are things you should have in your kit). Primers help minimize pores and ensure the longevity of your makeup, therefore as a makeup artist, you must have one.

FACE

Foundation You’ll need 4–5 shades of foundation as a beginner. You can improvise by mixing two shades to get the right shade for your client. The most popular types are liquid, Stick, and cream foundations that come with different purposes best for oily, dry, or combination skins.

Concealer and. Contour Palette when getting concealers, consider getting about 4 shades too. One very light, one very dark, and the two medium shades. The most cost-effective is getting a Concealer palette as it will contain more shades.

Setting Powder you can use a setting powder before or after your foundation because it helps to lock products on the face.

Translucent Powder evens out the tone, brightens up the areas it’s applied to, and gives you that flawless matte look and this is why it should be an essential product in your kit. Translucent powders work well for all skin tones so even if you don’t have a setting powder, you can make do with it.

Powder generally comes in two main types. One is loose powder, which is used to assist oily skin in absorbing excess moisture and mattifying the face to reduce shininess. The other is compressed powder which conceals blemishes and maximizes coverage. Get a palette to have various skin shades at your disposal.

Blush adds a little bit of color to the cheeks and accentuates the cheekbone. But even if you don’t have you can get creative with a pinkish eyeshadow color to act as one.

Highlighters/body glow to add more features to the facial structure, highlighters come in handy. Get highlighters that will give a warm tone before considering highlighters for specific skin tones. The warm tone highlighters can work well for most skin tones.

Setting/finishing spray another essential product to have is a setting spray. A few spritzes of this will ensure the final look stays fresh all the while the makeup is on the face without smudging or fading as the hour's pass.

EYES

Brow set pencils are great for starters and are essential. Other products for the brows are brow gel, brow powder, brow soap, and so on.

Primer, though not necessary for a beginner, can be essential for creating pigmented eyeshadow colors. A lighter shade of concealer can be used instead.

Eyeshadow for a beginning kit, you are going to want a mostly matte color palette with neutral colors and a couple of shimmers mixed in.

Pigments and Glitters are also something you can have. They are dependent on the kind of look you want to achieve and on the client’s preference. As a beginner, you can do without them till you’re confident in their usage

Mascara and eyeliners you can’t do without these two. They will help accentuate the eyes and make them look gorgeous.

Lashes I definitely recommend buying in sets as a beginner. Along with the pseudo-lashes, get a good and lasting Lash glue.

LIPS

Have a few lipsticks, glosses, and pencils too. A great choice would be to buy a lipstick palette that has nudes, reds, and corals. They can come in matte and sheer formulas. Always have a clear gloss in your kit for a little touch of shine, as well as a lip balm/moisturizer. Hydration is important!

And of course, your brush set, sponge/beauty blender. A container/box/bag to keep all the makeup products you now have. I remember using a big-sized tote bag for my makeup products when I started as a makeup artist.

The greatest book in all of history, The Bible, says “ Be anxious for nothing…” Philippians4: 6(a).

So, as you build your kit, avoid unnecessary expenses. It is not necessarily the expensive products that are the best. Focus more on quality rather than quantity. Read my next post on non-makeup product essentials to have in your kit.