Your Perfect Makeup Kit

There are so many makeup products in the market—and we love to buy them! But what kind of makeup do we really, really need? While it’s fun to experiment with different colors and brands, those little beauty splurges add up. And if you buy too much, you could end up with a whole bag of expired makeup that you barely used and have to throw out.

Here’s a list of the basic makeup essentials—what you really, really need—so you know what to buy.

Makeup

Every girl needs a tinted moisturizer that contains SPF and a lip stain lipbalm. This is great for days when you don’t have time to fuss over makeup, and want a look that you can create in less than a minute.

Invest in a good foundation and concealer. These two products are absolutely crucial for any good makeup look, and the more expensive brands do offer excellent coverage. Ideally, pick products that also contain anti-aging nutrients, like Vitamin E, or have SPF.

You need at least two shades of eyeshadow in natural colors, and an eyeliner. These alone can help create a more polished or glamorous look for important events.

Black or brown mascara can help eyes look bigger and more awake. You also need a blush in a natural tone (mimicking the color you get after you exercise).

tools

You need tweezers, a makeup sponge, and a good eyeshadow and powder brush (the stuff that comes with the makeup usually doesn’t spread the product very well).

Fun extras

For variety, have a shimmer powder you can use for the eyes and cheeks (and can even dot in the center of the lips for a sexy pout). Bronzer is great for a healthy glow. You can also get an eyelash curler.

It’s also nice to have a deep red lipstick, and one in a natural color for everyday use. Getting a pinkish lipstick and a brownish lipstick also lets you mix shades, aside from using them on their own. (Read our lipstick tips from the pros.)

You may also want to invest in a makeup primer, which makes it easier to apply makeup and helps makeup last longer. This means less touch ups!

Lipliner, close to the natural color of your lips, prevents lipstick from ‘bleeding.’ You can also line the entire lip and then put lip balm.

Many women also like having finishing powder or translucent powder, which ‘sets’ the makeup and can help control oiliness.

Photo from blog.craftzine.com