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By Sophie Joaman • June 13, 2024 • 9 mins read
Stepping into the world of makeup for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming. With countless products and techniques to wrap your head around, it’s common to feel a bit confused initially.
Here’s the thing: makeup should always be joyful, especially as you embark on your journey with it. Once you grasp the basics, the process becomes just that—fun.
Whether you’re keen to experiment with new looks, accentuate your natural features, or simply find your groove with makeup, mastering the basics is the key.
Nail the essentials, and the rest will seamlessly fall into place. Luckily, it really is easy to do so once you’ve worked out exactly what products you need and a little know-how into how they work.
So if you’re starting out with makeup, then we’d be honoured to help you embark on this journey of self-discovery. Check out our guide to all of the products you need to start out—Get ready, set, go.
To learn makeup at home, you can easily access helpful resources online. Social media is flooded with content showcasing how to do just about everything and anything related to makeup.
Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are great first ports of call for learning the basics and will undoubtedly become your best friends when you are starting out with makeup.
Additionally, don’t hesitate to seek advice and tips from close family or friends who might be pros at makeup. Their insight can help you achieve the best results.
Before you start applying any makeup to your face, begin with a thorough skincare routine. Start by cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser to remove any impurities from the skin and create a smooth surface for your makeup application.
Then, apply a moisturizer and let it absorb into the skin. Don’t forget to apply SPF to your face, even on cloudy days, to ensure proper protection and reduce your risk of UV damage.
Each of these steps is crucial for keeping your skin healthy and happy, so don’t skip out on them!
We’ve laid out the basics in the order that you’re likely to use them, making things even easier for you.
Primer is a crucial first step in any makeup routine and is a must-have in your beginner’s collection. Essentially, it works to even out the skin surface, creating a smooth base for your makeup to glide over by filling in fine lines and blurring pores.
Additionally, primer helps your makeup stay put throughout the day. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, there is a primer out there to address specific skin concerns and improve the longevity of your makeup.
For example, you can opt for hydrating formulas for dry skin or a mattifying one to combat oily skin. Flawless makeup starts at the very beginning, even before your foundation.
Investing in a good foundation tailored to your specific skin type and concerns is one of the best additions you can make to your makeup collection. Foundation lays the groundwork for the rest of your makeup by creating a stable base.
It covers imperfections, evens out areas of uneven skin tone, and creates a uniform complexion. When choosing a foundation, there are a couple of things to consider to ensure you select the right one for you.
Firstly, consider choosing the right shade. Make sure to select a shade that complements your natural skin tone, as this sets the stage for the rest of your makeup.
Additionally, consider the type of formula you might need. For dry skin, opt for a hydrating formula that maintains a dewy and fresh look throughout the day while avoiding caking or settling into fine lines.
Conversely, oily skin types may benefit from mattifying formulas to combat oil, shine, and prevent makeup from slipping, melting, or transferring. Foundations are an indispensable part of your makeup routine and are worth giving serious thought to.
A concealer functions similarly to foundation in that it helps cover up imperfections; however, unlike foundation, it is not applied all over the face.
Instead, it is used for additional coverage in specific areas where needed, such as dark under-eye circles, blemishes, hyperpigmentation, and areas of redness. Concealer works to camouflage problem areas of your skin and brighten it for radiant results when applied strategically.
Like foundation, concealers also come in various shades. However, you will likely want to choose a concealer that is the same shade as or slightly lighter than your foundation for a brightening effect.
Once you’ve applied the base of your makeup (primer, foundation, concealer), you need to lock it into place and ensure that it stays there. After all, you put a lot of effort into your makeup and deserve long-lasting results.
The best way to do this? Choose a setting powder or setting spray. These two products work in very similar ways to keep your makeup looking fresher and radiant for much longer.
The only difference is, one is a powder and the other is a liquid spray. Some people might even decide to use both. Most likely, if you have combination skin, then using a setting powder and spray can be a great way to get the best out of your makeup.
For those with dry skin, a setting spray might be a better option. This is because setting sprays work to keep the skin hydrated and prevent your foundation from cracking or caking, giving you smoother skin for longer.
All you need to do is spritz your spray all over your face, and your makeup is likely to stay in place when you need it the most. For those with oily skin, a setting powder option might be more suitable.
Powders are great at removing excess oils on the skin and keeping your makeup in place without it slipping or melting away.
Eyebrow pencils, pomades, and gels are all designed to shape and define your brows, making them perfect solutions for thin or sparse brows, helping to fill in gaps and achieve a polished finish.
Pencils are great for creating more natural and understated looks, making them an excellent choice if you need to fill in sparse areas or require precision. On the other hand, if you’re aiming to enhance and deepen your brows, pomades offer fantastic results, providing a well-defined look.
Additionally, gels are ideal for creating that trendy fluffy eyebrow appearance while also providing a means to tame thicker brows.
Eyeshadow is often considered to be one of the most fun aspects of makeup and a wonderful way to experiment with different looks. When you’re new to makeup, the wide array of colours and shades can be overwhelming, so starting with a natural shadow palette is the best approach.
These palettes typically contain a range of neutral shades, such as creams, beiges, browns, peaches, and soft pinks, providing you with the essentials to create both daytime and evening looks.
With a natural palette in hand, you can gradually explore and incorporate more adventurous colours as you gain confidence with eyeshadow techniques.
Mascara is undoubtedly one of those wonder products that we just couldn’t do without in our beauty collection. Whether for day-to-day elegance or for crafting more dramatic looks, mascara performs the essential task of lengthening and volumizing lashes, giving them an instant boost.
When starting out, it’s essential to consider your desired outcome from a mascara. Are you seeking one that curls your lashes? Or perhaps one that adds thickness? Even the sparsest and lightest lashes can achieve a significantly fuller and longer appearance with just a touch of mascara, making it a worthwhile addition to your basic collection.
Once you’ve got all your base products down, you will notice that your face has a good coverage but might be missing that something extra. That’s where bronzers, blush and highlighters come into play.
These products are extremely versatile and really bring your makeup to life and tying it all together seamlessly. They add dimension, warmth and a healthy glow to the skin.
All three of these products come in powder, cream and liquid to give you ultimate control over your makeup. You can also find them in palettes, just to make your life even easier.
Whether you’re aiming for a sun-kissed glow, a rosy flush, or a radiant highlight, these complexion enhancers work wonders in enhancing your natural beauty and adding depth to your makeup.
Lip liners and gloss typically serve as the finishing touches to any makeup routine, completing your look with a touch of glamour. Of course, if you prefer a more minimalistic approach, you can opt to wear lip liner or gloss alone, sans other products. Whatever your vibe, combining both lip liner and gloss is truly transformative.
Lip liners work wonders in defining the shape of your lips, while glosses add a plump, voluminous appearance. You have the option to fill in your entire lip with liner or concentrate on outlining the edges before applying gloss.
Whichever technique you choose, incorporating both a lip liner pencil and a clear or tinted gloss can elevate your lip game to the next level, leaving you with a beautifully polished pout.
With an abundance of resources available (including this handy guide), there has never been a better time to embark on your makeup journey and explore the endless possibilities.
Makeup is all about experimenting and learning what works best for you and starting with the basics allows you to build your makeup expertise gradually and uncover your personal preferences. So here’s to new beginnings- got this!
