Looking for makeup-must haves or makeup essentials to create your own makeup vanity. Well, then keep reading on. Here, we will see a curated list of all the makeup essentials that you must include in your makeup checklist. Whether you are a makeup novice, just beginning to learn the art of makeup or you already have the hang of makeup and looking to expand your makeup vanity by adding a few more makeup essentials to the existing makeup kit then you landed at the right place. I have covered the most essential makeup must-haves to make your makeup journey smoother and easier. Without further ado let’s jump onto the 18 Makeup Essentials That Is A Must-Have In Every Makeup Kit.
Table Of Contents:
- Makeup Essentials For Face
- Makeup Essentials For Cheeks
- The Makeup Essentials For Eyes
- Makeup Essentials For Lips
- Makeup Essentials To Set Makeup
- Essential Makeup Brush For Face
- Essential Makeup Brush For Eyes
- Conclusion
18 Makeup Essentials That Is A Must-Have In Every Makeup Kit
Makeup Essentials For Face
1. Primer
Primer is the first step in makeup (after your skincare routine) and is used in makeup to create the canvas seamless for further polished makeup application. There are tonnes of primer available, you can choose them as per your skin requirement and skin type. If you have dry skin reach out for a hydrating primer like e.l.f Cosmetics Hydrating Face Primer. If you have oily skin opt for a mattifying oil-free primer like Lancome La Base Pro Oil-Free Longwear Makeup Primer or L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Lock Primer.
For acne-prone skin look for non-comedogenic primers that don’t clog pores like L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Lock Primer. For correcting the skin colour you can try a colour-correcting primer like REVLON Photoready Color Correcting Primer. If large pores are your concern give a go to pore minimising primer like Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer. However, primer is completely optional. If you have normal skin that does not require smoothening out the canvas you can straightaway jump onto the next makeup product.
2. Foundation
Foundation, as the name implies lays the foundation of the makeup. For building a stronger foundation never miss out on this make-up staple. Remember, the foundation is used to even out the skin tone and not to make the skin appear fairer. So you have to be very vigilant while selecting a foundation shade for your skin.
Do not test the foundation on the back of your hand as the shade of your hand is different from the shade of your face. Perform a swatch in such a way that the product is on your jawline and neck. Also, the foundation tends to oxidize after some time of application, let the swatch dry completely before you give a final nod to your foundation shade.
To build a flawless base choose the foundation as per your skin type. If you have oily skin reach out for a mattifying finish and oil-free foundation like Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation it will reduce the oiliness of your skin imparting a gorgeous matte finish. For dry skin, hydrating foundations are an ideal choice as these foundations hydrate your skin rendering a luminous and dewy looking skin. Try Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation for dry skin.
If you have sensitive skin evade foundations that contain fragrance. Acne-prone skin is benefitted from products that are non-comedogenic that doesn’t clog pores like L’oreal Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation. If you have an oily T-zone ( forehead, bridge of the nose and chin) you have combination skin. Combination skin needs to strike a balance between hydrating and mattifying foundation. Try Revlon ColorStay Liquid Foundation Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin for combination skin.
Foundations are also available in different coverages. If you just have to even out the skin tone light coverage foundation is your thing. For achieving a natural look whilst still covering some imperfections medium coverage is an ideal choice. If you wish to cover acne scars and large pores remarkably give a shot to buildable to full coverage foundation.
Read: How To Choose The Perfect Foundation Shade For Your Skin Type
Read: What Is The Correct Order To Apply Makeup Products
3. Concealer
Concealer is used to conceal any blemishes, dark circles, pigmentation and any imperfections thus creating a perfectly flawless and impeccable base. Often, there’s confusion on what goes first, foundation or concealer. It’s the foundation that goes first, as the primary role of a foundation is to even out the complexion which is then followed by a concealer whose function is to hide any dark spots or blemishes commendably. Also, using a foundation first will ensure the concealer is not wiped off during the application of the foundation. However, If you are using a colour correcting concealer then the colour correcting concealer goes before the foundation to neutralize the colour.
Similar to foundations, concealers are also available as per your skin type and different coverage ranging from light coverage to full coverage to meet the necessities of your skin. Oily skin can embrace concealers that are oil-free like Smashbox Studio Skin Flawless Oil-Free 24 Hour Concealer while dry skin privileges from hydrating concealers. Try e.l.f, Hydrating Camo Concealer if you have dry skin. You can also choose concealer depending upon the wear time. Also, there are concealers designed and formulated to address specific skin concerns like dark spots, under-eye dark circles that chiefly focuses on these skin concerns. For masking dark circles, try CoverGirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer or Lancome Effacernes Under Eye Concealer. For full coverage, try Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer it is best suited on the normal, combinations, to oily skin.
Read: 9 Best Concealers For Oily Skin
4. Powder
The powder is another essential makeup staple that helps to set the foundation in place. Depending upon the type of look and coverage you covet there are different types of powder to cater for your needs.
Loose Powder: To set the makeup in place preventing creasing and providing a luminous look with natural to light coverage. Try your hands on Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder.
Pressed Powder: Great option for beginners as they are easy to use. Also, they offer a wide array of shade ranges to complement your skin tone. Try Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Powder (suitable for normal to oily skin).
Translucent Powder: These powders are colourless and provide absolutely no coverage. They are best used to bake make-up or set the make-up.
Setting Powder: To set the makeup in place for a longer duration. They are also available in shades to complement your skin tone.
Finishing Powder: This powder is normally used after setting powder. Finishing powder blurs pores, fine lines, and acne scars.
Makeup Essentials For Cheeks
1. Bronzer
If you wish to achieve a sun-kissed look then bronzer is a must-have. Bronzer contours your cheeks and adds definition to your look. For a sculpted look apply bronzer below your cheekbones, jawline, the temple of forehead and side of the nose. They are formulated in matte and shimmery formulas. Opt for a matte finish for a sleek and polished look. For a night or party makeup, you can go about swiping some shimmery bronzer.
There are three different types of bronzers available.
Powder Bronzer: These are the most classic type of bronzers. They are suitable for almost all types of skin. However, they are best suitable for oily skin. Apply it with a brush and blend well. Try Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Highlighter & Bronzer Face Palette Kit.
Cream Bronzer: They have a thick consistency, provide heavy coverage thus rendering a more contoured and sculpted look. Suits best on dry skin. Apply with a brush or finger and blend it well. You can give a shot to Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer.
Liquid Bronzer: They have a thinner consistency as compared to cream bronzer making it easy to blend into the skin. You can try Iconic London Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer.
2. Blush
Blushes add a pop of colour to your cheeks thus flushing healthy colour to the otherwise pale looking skin. Blushes are applied onto the apple of the cheeks elevating the make-up look and enhancing the appearance of cheeks. They are available in several colours like peach, pink, red, maroon, mauve, etc. Peach and pink shades of blush complement well on fair skin. Pink, red, maroon looks stunning on medium-toned skin. Maroon, mauve or purple shade blushes suits deep-toned skin.
Blushes come in powder, cream or gel formula. Powder blush being the traditional blush is one of the most popular blushes. You can give a shot to Maybelline New York Fit Me Blush for a powder formula. For cream blush, you can try Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush. Cream blush is best suited for dry skin and can be applied using a finger or brush. Well, that may not be the case with gel blushes since they have gel-like consistency you need to use a finger to blend them. Try Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush.
3. Highlighter
Highlighters are used to emphasize certain areas of your face by adding luminosity and radiance to your face. When applied near the inner corner of your eyes they impart a wide-awake look. They are generally applied on the upper cheekbones, the centre of the forehead, the ends of your eyebrows, the bridge of the nose and the chin. For a fuller lip illusion highlight the cupid bow with a highlighter.
Highlighters are available in powder, cream, stick, liquid forms. With cream highlighter encompassed with a moisturizing element thus making it best suitable for dry skin. Stick highlighters are travel-friendly. Try cream stick highlighter like Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Champagne Cream Highlighter. You have to be vigilant with powder highlighters if you have dry skin as they may accentuate the flakiness of the skin. You can give a shot to powder highlighter like Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Highlighter & Bronzer Face Palette Kit. Liquid highlighters are quite easily absorbable into the skin. Be sure to keep a light hand while swiping highlighters as overdoing may make your face appear like a shiny ball.
Makeup Essentials For Eyes
1. Eye Primer
If you crave having intense and dramatic eyes look for longer hours then this is essential for you. Eye primer forms the base of the eyeshadow. It makes the eye makeup application smooth and prevents creasing, retaining the eye makeup in place for a longer duration. However, this is optional. If you still want to add this to your makeup vanity then try, Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer.
2. Eyeshadow
The sassiest makeup in the make-up kit. Whether you go for a no-makeup makeup look or dramatic eyes look, you cannot acquire any of these looks without employing eyeshadow to work.
There are galore of eyeshadow palettes available in the market from gold, nudes, pinks and peaches, glitters, smoke, to bold shades. You can pick them based on the intensity you desire to add to your eyes.
Eyeshadows comes in powder, cream, and liquid formulas. Powder eyeshadow is the most commonly used eyeshadow and a great option for beginners as they are easy to use and blend. Cream eyeshadow has more pigmentation and intense colour payoff but tends to crease quickly. If you have oily eyelids be vigilant while using them. Liquid eyeshadows come with a wand. You just have to swipe the wand on your eyelids and blend it with a brush.
If you adore nude eyeshadows look you can try Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette. This palette features 12 rose-hued neutral eyeshadow shades in matte, shimmer and metallic finishes. Or you can try Morphe 35C Everyday Chic Artistry Palette. It features 35 super-wearable shades for any occasion.
Read: How To Create Brown Smokey Eyes In Easy Steps
3. Eyeliner
Eyeliner back then was only an aficionados thing. Now however there are ample types of eyeliner options available to make the application straightforward. Now an amateur can also pull the thick or thin feline without any endeavouring efforts. Also, you can use several hacks and tricks to acquire the sharp and crisp winged eyeliner on point.
The different types of eyeliner are:
Pencil Eyeliner: If you are a beginner you can try your hands on these. This is one of the easiest types of eyeliner to use. You can try L’oreal Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner.
Gel Eyeliner: These eyeliners come in a pot and you have to dip an angled brush to apply. They usually last for longer durations. Try L’Oreal Paris Infallible Lacquer Eyeliner.
Liquid Eyeliner: One of the most difficult to use types of eyeliner but with the most flattering outcomes. However, with a felt tip or fine tip precision brush, it became quite achievable now. You need to have your hands sturdy while applying this eyeliner. Try Nyx Professional Makeup Epic Wear Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner.
Eyeliners are also available in different shades. You can play around with the colours to match your outfit.
Read: How To Create The Perfect Winged Eyeliner Every Single Time In 5 Ways
Read: 5 Different Types Of Eyeliner Styles To Transform Your Look
4. Mascara
One of my makeup favourites and a must-have for me. Mascaras enhances the appearance of your lashes uplifting the eye makeup game strong. There are mascaras out there that help accentuate or elaborate certain features of your lashes like length, volume, and curls. Depending upon your requirement you can choose them. I adore the sultry lashes look that mimics false eyelashes without actually having to wear falsies. To volumize, lengthen and lift curls try Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. You can also try Loreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara if you are exploring drugstore options.
Mascaras are also available in the waterproof formula to last even longer. Also, you can add an eyelash curler to your makeup checklist if you like curled eyelashes. Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler just before applying mascara.
Read: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Review
5. False Lashes
Smoke eyes or highly dramatic eyes look incomplete without false lashes. It is a must-have for those who go overboard with their eye makeup. To fix the false eyelashes in place you’ll require eyelash glue. There are also magnetic lashes out there that eradicate the need to use glue.
6. Eyebrow Enhancer
Eyebrow enhancers come in powder, pencil, pomade, gel etc. to uplift your eyebrows look. The eyebrow powder is used to enhance the eyebrows, which is done with the help of a brush. Eyebrow Pencil is used to shape the eyebrows you need to keep your hands light while doing this. Try Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil. The pomade is made of wax and adds more definition to your eyebrows. You can grab Nyx Professional Makeup Tame & Frame Tinted Eyebrow Pomade. If you wish to tame your eyebrow hair in one place you can opt for Eyebrow Gel. Try Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel. You can go about the choices as per your eyebrow demands.
Makeup Essentials For Lips
1. Lipliner
Lip liner is essential if you prefer to outline your lips before applying lipsticks. If you have thin lips and covet fuller-looking lips do outline your lips. You can also smooth out the uneven areas of your lips outline by using a lip liner.
The lip liner should always match the shade of the lipstick you are planning to wear.
However, lip liner is optional. You can easily skip lip liner and move straightaway with lipstick.
2. Lipstick/ Lipgloss or Lip Balm
Lipstick is an integral part of the make-up. It is the staple of the make-up kit. Lipsticks come in various finishes like matte, gloss, satin, cream, lustre etc. to suit your preference. They also come in classic bullet cases or liquid formulas.
Traditional bullet lipsticks will always hold their position among the favourites as they are easy to apply and remove. Also, there are a plethora of shade options to choose from. Liquid lipsticks are gaining immense popularity too as they glide very smoothly and are highly pigmented requiring minimal touchups.
You can opt for a nude shade lipstick, lip gloss, tinted lip balm or a lip stain if you wish to keep the lip makeup subtle or if you are creating intense and dramatic eyes drawing attention to your eyes. For a party look, opt for red or maroon lipstick but remember to keep the overall makeup subtle.
For go-to nude lipstick, you can give an attempt to MAC Mehr Lipstick or Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Lipstick in Seductress. If red is your colour you will definitely love the cult-favourite MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick.
Read: Best MAC Lipsticks – Stunning 13 Shades
Makeup Essentials To Set Makeup
Setting Spray
After spending a huge amount of time on makeup and the makeup doesn’t last long is something to be concerned about. But fret not, setting sprays are the saviour. After finishing off your makeup just spray some setting spray on your face avoiding contact with the eyes and there you go. Your makeup stays in place for a long duration just as fresh as it was when applied.
Setting sprays are available in matte and dewy finishes. You can opt for any setting spray as per the look you desire. Try NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Makeup Setting Spray. It is available in a matte, dewy, and radiant finish.
Makeup Essential Brushes
Essential Makeup Brushes For Face
For the makeup to stand out and appear flawless brushes play a vital role. Do invest in them and clean them regularly to avoid skin issues.
Foundation Brush: It is designed in a tapered form or sometimes even in round form and is used to blend the foundation. You can also use a sponge instead of a brush.
Concealer Brush: Concealer brushes are usually flat to precisely conceal dark spots or blemishes.
Powder Brush: Powder brushes are large and fluffy for an even sweep.
Blush Brush: Blush brush is a little tinier as compared to powder brush to swipe the perfect amount of pop of colour.
Contour Brush: These brushes are designed with an angle to be used for face contouring.
Highlighter Brush: This is a fan-shaped brush to diffuse highlighter precisely.
You can give a shot to Morphe Face The Beat 5 Piece Face Brush Collection+ Bag.
Essential Makeup Brushes For Eyes
Some of the eyeshadow palettes come without an eyeshadow applicator. Even if they provide a brush it’s just the eyeshadow brush so it’s better to own one set of eye makeup brushes.
Eyeshadow Brush: A flat brush for depositing colours onto your eyelids.
Blending Brush: A fluffy brush to blend the eyeshadow seamlessly.
Spoolie Brush: To separate lashes and comb eyebrows.
You can invest in Morphe Eye Obsessed Brush Collection + Bag
Conclusion
So here we end the article on the 18 Makeup Essentials That Is A Must-Have In Every Makeup Kit. Hope you relished reading this article and find it helpful in your makeup journey. If you are a makeup amateur, this list will certainly help you to level up your makeup understanding and with practice, you’ll surely level up your makeup skills too.
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