Makeup Kit for Beginners

Updated on March 8th, 2024

As a makeup beginner, it can be overwhelming to see all the products available on the market. I created this makeup kit for beginners guide to help beginners figure out what makeup they actually need. For beginners, I recommend starting with products from affordable drugstore brands to get an idea of what you like and also what does not work for you. For the recommendations, I focused on products from NYX since they were one of the first brands I used, and I still use their products today. Their products are affordable, good quality, and available in numerous countries. Let’s begin!

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Primer

When I first started wearing makeup, I did not wear primer. Once I discovered what a primer was, I had to try it out. I found that primers can make your makeup last a little longer than normal, but the main benefit is they provide a smooth base for your foundation and the rest of your makeup. I currently use the NYX Shine Killer, but it is ideal for those with oily skin. The NYX Hydra Touch Primer is highly rated and would be great for dry skin.

Foundation

There are several different kinds of foundation including powder, liquid, and cushion. I recommend starting with a powder foundation since it is much easier to apply. However, powder foundations only have light to medium coverage, so if you have any dark circles under your eyes or imperfections you want to cover, I suggest using a concealer as well. If you want to try a liquid foundation, I definitely recommend getting the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to apply the foundation since it is a better and more affordable alternative to the Beautyblender (another highly-rated makeup sponge). I do not recommend buying cushion foundations since they are just liquid foundations soaked in a sponge and do not contain that much product. I recommend the NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Mattifying Pressed Powder and the NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Full Coverage Liquid Foundation.

Concealer

Concealers are great for covering any imperfections. There are cream and liquid concealers, and I would recommend liquid concealers since they come with an applicator wand that makes them easy to apply. Again I would recommend using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to blend the concealer with your foundation. I recommend the NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand since there are 23 shades including 3 color-correcting shades: yellow to cover dark circles, veins, and bruises, green to neutralize redness, and lavender to neutralize yellow spots.

Blush

I always use a blush when I wear makeup, and they add color to your cheeks so your face looks more youthful. There are liquid, cream, and powder blushes available, and I would recommend using a powder or stick cream blush since it is easier to apply and blend. The NYX Wonder Stick Blush is one of their best sellers, and the stick is double-ended, therefore, you have 2 shades in one.

Highlighter

I have never really been big into highlighters, but they are good for adding a glow to your skin. Once you have the basics down, I suggest trying a highlighter. Highlighters come in liquid, cream, and powder varieties, and like with the blush, I would recommend starting with a powder or stick highlighter. The NYX Jumbo Multi-Use Highlighter Stick comes in a variety of gorgeous shades.

Bronzer

Like with highlighters, I rarely use bronzers, and I would only recommend using a bronzer once you get the basics down since they are difficult to apply. Bronzers can give you a natural sun-kissed glow, which I do not care much about. There are liquid, cream, and powder bronzers available, and I would recommend starting with a powder. The NYX Buttermelt Powder Bronzer is available in 8 shades.

Setting Spray

To actually make your makeup last all day or night, I would recommend using a setting spray as the last step for your face makeup. To use a setting spray, you spray it directly on top of your makeup and as it dries, it makes your makeup stay in place. I currently use the NYX Makeup Setting Spray – Matte, which is for oily skin. If you have dry skin, there is the NYX Makeup Setting Spray – Dewy available.

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I recommend applying your eye makeup before starting with your face makeup because eyeshadows can be powdery and have a lot of fallout when you are applying them. It is much easier to clean up any eyeshadow fallout if you have not applied your face makeup yet.

Eyeshadow Primer

I always recommend using an eyeshadow primer before applying your eyeshadow because it makes your eyeshadow more vibrant as well as lasts longer without fading, creasing, or smudging. The NYX Ultimate Shadow & Liner Primer has good reviews.

Eyeshadow Palette

Eyeshadow shades vary from neutral to vibrant and come in a variety of finishes from matte, satin, shimmer, and glitter. As a beginner, I recommend starting out with a neutral palette that can be used for both light day looks and darker night looks. The NYX Ultimate Warm Neutrals Shadow Palette comes with 16 neutral shades to give you variety. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can try a more vibrant palette like the NYX Ultimate I Know That’s Bright Shadow Palette as well as the other Ultimate palettes. You can also buy individual eyeshadow shades, but buying a palette is more cost-effective.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner can be tricky to apply, and I do not use it even now. I suggest practicing using an eyeliner before using it with eyeshadow. There are liquid, gel, and pencil eyeliners available, and I recommend starting out with a pencil eyeliner since it is easier to work with especially compared to liquid eyeliners that are much less forgiving. The NYX Slim Eye Pencil has positive reviews and comes in 28 shades.

Mascara

Mascara is used to add length and volume to your lashes, and it helps complete your eye look. The most common color for mascara is black, but other shades are available. The NYX Worth the Hype Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara has great reviews.

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A lip product is a great way to complete your makeup look.

Lip Gloss

Lip glosses are very easy to use, and they add shimmer to your lips. They do not last that long on the lips, but they are great for adding shine. I have several shades of the NYX Butter Gloss, and I would highly recommend it. There are also 35 different shades of gloss available.

Lipstick

There are all kinds of lipsticks, from sheer, cream, matte, and liquid, and it is up to your own personal preference what type of lipstick you prefer. I suggest starting with non-liquid lipstick since they are easier to use, but like with lip glosses, they do not last long. I recommend the NYX Suede Matte Lipstick, which comes in 35 shades. Once you have gotten the hang of applying lipstick, I suggest using liquid lipstick since they are longer lasting. I would highly recommend the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, which comes in 19 shades.

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What makeup brands and products did you first use?