You don't need 47 products to start doing makeup. Here are the 5 essentials for a beginner makeup kit, what to spend on vs save, and what to skip entirely.
You Don't Need 47 Makeup Products
I know what your TikTok feed looks like. Shelfies with 200 products. Makeup hauls that cost more than rent. Routines with steps I can't even pronounce.
Here's the truth: when I started doing makeup professionally, my kit had maybe 15 things in it. You can build a solid beginner makeup kit with even less.
Essential Makeup for Beginners (In Order of Priority)
If I could only buy 5 makeup products, these are the beginner essentials I'd grab:
1. A good mascara - This one makeup product makes the biggest difference. Doesn't need to be expensive. Maybelline Lash Sensational is like $8 and works better than some of my $30 mascaras.
2. Tinted lip balm or sheer lipstick - Something easy that you'll actually wear. A bright lipstick looks great but if you're intimidated by it, you won't reach for it. Start with a your-lips-but-better nude shade.
3. Cream blush or multi-stick - Cream blush formulas are more forgiving than powder blush for beginners. Plus you can use them on lips too. One product, two uses.
4. Brow gel or brow pencil - Filled-in brows frame your face. A clear brow gel is the least effort, a brow pencil gives more definition. Pick based on how much time you want to spend.
5. Concealer - Not foundation, just concealer. Spot-cover what you want to cover, leave the rest of your skin alone. Your skin is allowed to look like skin.
Building Your Makeup Collection: What to Add Next
Once you have those 5 essentials, here's where I'd expand your makeup kit:
- Skin tint or BB cream - More coverage than bare skin, less than full foundation
- Setting powder - Just for your T-zone if you get oily
- Neutral eyeshadow palette - Start with matte neutral eyeshadow shades, not glitter. You can do more with less.
- Bronzer - Adds warmth, makes you look like you went outside this week
- Lip liner - Makes lipstick last longer, prevents feathering
Makeup Products You Can Skip as a Beginner
- Primer (your moisturizer can work fine as a base)
- Highlighter (your skin has natural highlights)
- Contour (not a beginner-friendly makeup technique, honestly)
- Setting spray (nice to have but not essential)
- Eyelash curler (buy one eventually, but not urgent)
Where to Spend vs Save on Makeup
Worth spending more on:
- Foundation/concealer - Shade match matters, sits on your skin all day
- Eyeshadow palettes - Cheap eyeshadow can be chalky and hard to blend
Drugstore makeup that works great:
- Mascara - Seriously, drugstore mascaras are amazing
- Lip products - Especially lip gloss and lip balm
- Brow gel - It's just... gel
- Makeup brushes - Real Techniques and ELF brushes work great for beginners
Beginner Makeup Tips: A Reality Check
Your makeup won't look like the Instagram posts at first. That's normal. Those people have been doing this for years, they have professional lighting, and half of it is filters anyway.
You're going to buy some products that don't work for you. That's also normal. I have a drawer of makeup I'll never use again. It's part of figuring out what works for your face, your skin, your style.
Start small. Learn what you actually enjoy wearing. Build your makeup collection from there.
The best beginner makeup kit is one you'll actually use. Start with 5 products, master them, then add more.
Build Your Starter Kit
Not sure where to start? Our bestsellers are a good place - they're the products people keep coming back for. The cream blushes double as lip color (one less thing to buy), and everything's designed to be beginner-friendly. No complicated techniques required.
