First Time with Makeup? (Part 2)

Now that we know the basics of skin care, let’s move on to the exciting part which is makeup!

But first, you need a good sized makeup kit such as this:



Make sure everything fits!

Next, you need primers. Now, you may ask, “I’m just a makeup newbie so why do I need primers?” Primers make a good foundation for your makeup. They help make your makeup last longer and make the colors pop. Also, if you’re just starting, better start right.

Here I have Benefit’s That Gal Face Primer, the ever famous UDPP and Rosebud Salve for my chapped lips.

Now, let’s start with the eyebrows, down. You need a good eyebrow kit. For beginners, in2it’s eyebrow kit is very popular:

But I prefer Fanny Serrano’s Eyebrow Kit that can double as eyeshadows and great for smokey eye looks. The powders are highly pigmented and can easily be blended into your brows.

Next, we need correctors and concealers. If you’re just starting out, buy a good concealer. If you have oily skin, use a liquid concealer but keep in mind that this only gives you a light coverage. For other skin types, buy a cream based concealer.

Bobbi Brown Corrector

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic

For the eyes, I would suggest a palette. Actually, if it’s your first makeup purchase, I would suggest buying a complete palette as it is more economical and practical (as long as you are sure that you will use everything in that palette). Buy a palette that is in basic colors or colors that you normally wear such as browns, pinks, etc. 

May I suggest something like this:

Clinique Milly Palette

These colors are definitely wearable for day or night. You can also use this palette for special occasions. You can also try something like this:

NARS 15th Anniversary Palette

Everything that you need (blush, bronzer, eyeshadows, lipstick and lip gloss) are in here.

Find something that is in your budget range but make sure that you buy wisely. There are some makeup that are cheap for a reason. Invest in something that will last a long time.

If you’d like to try lining your eyes, buy a good eye liner that will not smudge especially if you have oily skin. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try gel liners.

I prefer gel and pencils over liquid liners as I have more control over them. Also, I hate waiting for liquid liners to dry.

Don’t forget to curl your lashes!

Even if you don’t line your eyes or wear mascara, curling your lashes instantly opens up your eyes so invest in a good eyelash curler. Also, if you’re going to buy a mascara, I would suggest that you buy a waterproof one especially now that it’s summer. You don’t want black tears/sweat running down your face. And you never know, you may be caught in an emotional situation. If you’re going to cry then at least cry and still look pretty. Well, that’s just me. If you prefer regular mascara, by all means, go ahead!

For the face, of course you need foundation:

Here’s a guide on choosing the type of foundation for your skin:

Normal – You can use anything! Liquid, Cream or Dual Finish
Oily – You can use a liquid foundation then set it with a dual finish powder but use it dry.
Combination/Dry – I use a liquid foundation first then set it with either a regular foundation or a dual finish powder. You can also use a loose powder. Ladies who have combination skin can also use a cream foundation.
Acidic -  I am acidic so I prefer a dual finish powder. I recently discovered that Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream works wonders for my skin. It slows down the oxidation process. After the BB Cream, set it with a dual finish powder.
Problem skin (acne, marks, etc.) – If you’re going to a special occasion, I would suggest using a liquid foundation first. See if it covers all the marks. If you still see some marks, try to cover them up with a cream foundation. After that, warm the dual finish powder with your hands then pat gently all over your face to set.

Cheat Sheet:

Liquid foundation – light coverage
Cream foundation – Medium to heavy coverage
Dual Finish – Heavy coverage

For cheek color, you can buy whatever you want!




Same goes for lip colors:



Here are some things that you may or may not have in your kit depending on your needs:

You need brushes. Period.

I would suggest that you invest in good quality brushes especially if you’re serious about makeup. For starters, buy a brush that can double as a powder and blush brush. If you can only buy one brush for your eyes, I would suggest a blending brush because you can make different eye looks with only this one brush. I will show you one eye look that uses this one brush in a future post. You can also opt to buy a foundation brush. If it’s not yet in your budget, use a sponge but in the long run, sponges are actually more expensive as you need to chuck them after every use.  Examples of good, affordable brushes are Ellana, Marionnaud, some ELF brushes.

It’s always a good idea to have oil blotting films in your kit especially during summer. A setting spray is also a good investment especially if you’re going to a special event. It keeps your makeup in place. Examples are MAC Fix and Urban Decay All Nighter.



Lastly, you need something to take your makeup off:

Water-based makeup removers are good for all skin types. Use an oil-based makeup remover for waterproof and hard to remove makeup. I use a cream makeup remover for the rest of my face. If you can find a water-based makeup remover for the whole face then go for it! It’s just more expensive than a cream makeup remover. A good water-based makeup remover is Bobbi Brown’s. For oily skinned ladies, try to avoid oil-based makeup removers.

So that’s it! I hope I was able to answer your question Anonymous! To all you ladies, feel free to ask me questions and make topic requests and I will do my best to answer all of them.

Makeup can make or break your look. Makeup is powerful. It can boost your confidence, make you feel beautiful and stand a little bit taller in a crowd.