New to Makeup? You Only Need These 5 Essentials

I can’t believe I have readers reaching out to me asking for advice on building an essential makeup kit for beginners.

Me! The girl whose first makeup purchase was a pressed powder foundation 4 shades darker than her skin tone –a product that has no place being essential in anybody’s kit! Nothing about a compact powder foundation is a must-have.

Well, I was 12. I’ve come a long way. It’s because of these kinds of irresponsible and clueless purchases that I now know what belongs in a basic makeup bag.

So if you’re new to makeup and you really don’t want to bother trying this or that, here’s what I think you should prioritize because these are the ones that will have the most impact on your makeup look. Keep reading for the only makeup essentials you need in your arsenal!

1. Foundation

Foundation is probably the makeup product that will make the most difference in your look. It’s applied all over the face and the right formula can take your confidence from 0 to 100 simply by creating a second skin!

However, it’s not always a priority. Whether a foundation is necessary or not will depend largely on what you want to achieve with your makeup.

If you have uneven skin texture, uneven skin tone with lots of discolorations, or bumps or acne you want to cover, you might want to use a foundation to help smooth things out.

When it comes to improving the look of skin problems with makeup, nothing holds a candle to a foundation.

If you don’t have major skin problems you want to cover up, try using foundation alternatives like tinted moisturizer, CC cream, or skin tint. These are all called base products or complexion products that aim to give your skin a makeover.

M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Matte Foundation

First of all, if you’re going for a foundation, make sure to try your shades in-store to make the color match your skin tone. Finding your foundation shade match is very difficult and that’s why I recommend MAC for this.

I left a Sephora store coming home to a ridiculous shade match, but I’ve never left a MAC store feeling unsatisfied. They will find your shade match!

Plus, this is an amazing high-coverage oil-free foundation with an extensive shade range. It works amazingly and doesn’t oxidize or turn into a weird color. It covers up everything and is sensitive-skin friendly.

2. Concealer

Concealer is such a versatile product. You can use it to camouflage under-eye concerns such as dark circles, very fine lines, and puffiness. You can also use it to spot conceal imperfections on the face such as dark spots or acne.

In fact, you can do your whole makeup with just concealer simply by using it like a foundation but applying it in very small amounts on strategic areas.

Use it under the eyes, around the nose, a little above the cheeks, and any problem areas, and just like that, you don’t need foundation! In the end, concealer can replace your foundation or at the very least, it can complement it.

Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer

This is a concealer you can rely on 24/7 for everything! I brighten my under eyes with it and when I don’t feel like wearing makeup, I apply this all over my face to achieve an even skin tone!

This is a cult-favorite product, which is why I can recommend it to anyone and everyone. It’s a full-coverage concealer that has a natural radiant finish and is very easy to apply and blend.

3. Mascara

When it comes to eye makeup, mascara has a huge impact! Mascara helps volumize the eyelashes, separate them, and make them look longer and thicker.

It can wake you up just like that, make you look more awake, and fresh. It sets the tone of everything, and it can help you put together a whole look.

So mascara is definitely a must whether you’re a makeup newbie or not. But to get the most out of it, choose one depending on your lash shape.

For example, if you have short eyelashes, try a lengthening mascara. If you have scarce lashes, try a volumizing mascara.

L’Oreal Telescopic Original Washable Mascara

You’ll try different mascaras and formulas along the way. But this is a great place to start. It’s a lengthening mascara you can use to see the true potential of your lashes!

Its formula is not sticky or heavy, so you won’t deal with huge, clumpy lashes. It’s gentle in case you have sensitive, watery eyes. And it’s easy to apply and remove too.

4. Blush/Bronzer

Both blush and bronzer are cheek products that usually come in powder form. Blush brings a nice flush to the cheeks whereas bronzer creates a warm, sun-kissed look.

Though I love both of these products and usually wear them together, you do not need both of them for everyday makeup. So again, we prioritize.

A bronzer, depending on your skin tone and whether you have a tan or not, might need to be replaced because of its shade.

For example, if you have fair skin tones, the wrong bronzer shade can be a huge waste as it’s going to be very difficult to use it every day throughout the year.

It will look too dark and muddy in winter, rendering it usable only in summer. So I think you should prioritize bronzer if you have medium and dark skin tones.

Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer

This is like the universal bronzer made for everyone! Its shade is neutral, meaning that it will bronze up your cheeks whether you have warm or cool undertones.

It’s matte, lasts long, and it’s perfect for defining your cheekbones and creating a warm, bronzed, summery makeup look.

A blush, on the other hand, is great all year round! It’s a much safer bet no matter your skin tone. Once you find the right shade, it will give you rosy, flushed cheeks, creating a youthful and cheerful appearance.

And if you end up getting a tan in summer, you only need to apply the blush a little more than usual. You won’t need to replace it with another shade!

Nars Liquid Blush

This is a liquid blush. It’s just a few shades but the most popular one is Orgasm. Its powder counterpart is more popular but I like this one because this is not as shimmery.

So the finish looks more natural. Its liquid formula is beginner-friendly, lasts long, and gives you a fresh, playful look. I don’t know of anyone who used this blush and did not like it. It lasts forever because you only need a tiny drop of it.

Sephora Collection PRO Blush Brush #93

This is an angled blush brush. But since we’re keeping things minimal, it’s a great choice for applying your bronzer too. It picks up a satisfying amount of product and equally dispenses it on the cheeks where you apply it.

The angled tip works great for emphasizing color on the apples of the cheeks when using blush and for emphasizing color under the cheekbones when using bronzer.

5. Lip Gloss/Tinted Lip Balm

Lastly, you only need a pop of color on the lips to complete your makeup look. Now that you have a nice base, whether it’s with foundation or CC cream, a nice color and warmth on the cheeks, and eyelashes more defined, you can put the cherry on top by reinforcing the color of your lips.

You can do this with a tinted lip balm if you want to care for your lips and moisturize them at the same time.

You can also do this with a slightly tinted lip gloss, which creates a nice shine on the lips, giving you a more lively appearance.

Sephora Collection Outrageous Plumping Hydrating Lip Gloss

Let me tell you that this lip gloss is the finishing touch that completes every single type of makeup look. The shade 05 is a natural-looking pink that just intensifies your lip color and adds a flirty shine to it.

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These are the essential makeup products that I think everyone who wears makeup should have. If I were to extend the list a bit, I would suggest getting a brow gel or a brow comb.

You can use your hands to comb your brows, of course. But a brow gel will put them in place to frame your face so your makeup looks neat and sleek.

You can use your fingers to apply your base products but a makeup sponge will make things easier and faster. And lastly, don’t forget to remove your makeup in the evening.

Leaving it on can cause skin problems like acne. So invest in a good makeup remover to prevent your makeup from clogging pores and keep your skin clear too!