Getting into makeup for the first time is a bit overwhelming. Besides having to learn a whole new slew of terms and vocabulary, you also have to spend money on products that may or may not be worth it for you. To try and mitigate this risk, you search up hundreds of YouTube videos and reviews on products you think you might like or need and then make your purchase. And, even after all that, you still might not be happy with what you buy. And that's okay. Just because everyone else is in love with a product, doesn't mean you have to be. Plus, making mistakes is an inevitable part of the learning curve. Also part of the learning curve is trying to orient yourself and decide what kind of product you should be looking for in the first place. I'm not going to recommend all the specific brands or products as must-haves, but rather the types of products a beginner should look for and some tips on finding what your must-haves are, because not everyone's must-haves are the same.
The face.
Every beauty guru starts off with the face, because in the world of makeup, the face is the canvas that your makeup masterpieces begin with. But, instead of recommending a concealer or foundation, I suggest you look for a cleanser, because you need the best skincare regimen before you can use the perfect foundation. Skincare is, after all, #1.
If your skin is too dry, your makeup will flake. If it's too oily, your makeup will not stay on as long as it should. Also, if you're having trouble with acne or large pores, you might feel as though makeup magnifies them. I left off sunspots, hyper pigmentation and redness because, as a rule, dimension is always harder to conceal than color. As a general rule of thumb, your regimen should look something like this.
1. Cleansing twice a day.
2. Moisturizing after you cleanse.
3. Apply sunscreen every day.
4. Keep yourself hydrated.
5. Change your pillowcase every other night.
6. Avoid touching your face.
7. Use a scrub three times a week
So, these are my Seven Heavenly Virtues of Skincare. I know how difficult it is to get into a new routine, but when trying out a new regimen, you have to stick to it for a few weeks before you see any dramatic results.
The base.
Foundation and concealer. These are truly must-haves, and if you splurge on only one makeup item, it should be your foundation. Oil-free, fragrance free foundations are optimal and check that it matches your skin tone as closely as possible. If your skin is dry, go for a liquid foundation and if your skin is oily, try a powder one. For concealer, you don't have to break the bank, but you should invest in one because concealer is the miracle worker of makeup. It hides dark circles, acts as a primer for eye makeup and it can be used as an eraser to create clean lines and fix mistakes. Overall, it's a great product to have.
If you want to invest in BB creams, translucent powders, pore minimizers or foundation primers, those are all additions to/coupled with foundation or concealer.
The cheeks.
A good blush is also a must-have (again, go for a cream blush if you have dry skin and powder if you have oily skin). While I recommend a highlighter and bronzer, you don't have to invest in those right away.
The eyes.
Overall, mascara, eyeliner, and an eyeshadow palette are essentials. Drugstore brands are fine for all these items. Some beauty gurus say that gel liner tends to be the most forgiving while others argue pencil, but there's a consensus that says liquid liner is tricky. In the end, it's your call. As for eyeshadows, go for a nude eyeshadow palette—they are really versatile and tend to give you the best bang for your buck. As far as what type of mascara to get, Michelle Phan has a great video to help with that.
Afterwards, it really becomes a matter of personal preference. Do you feel your eyebrows are too thick? Tweezers. Do you want your eyebrows to be thicker? Brow gel. Do you want curlier lasher? Lash curler. Do you want more lashes in general? Fake lashes. There are a lot of options, but when you sit down and ask yourself what you want, the options narrow down.
The lips.
Personally, I'm crazy about lipsticks. But if I'm totally honest, you only need four things: a lipliner that matches your lip color, Chapstick, and two lipsticks (one for a daytime look and the other for a nighttime look).
Brushes.
Brushes are super important, but there are just so many of them, with each one having different brush types, that the easiest course of action is just to order a makeup brush set/kit.
