In your kit you will need ....
Foundation (in a variety of shades and undertones)
Don't expect everyone to be ghostly pale just because you live in England- get a variety of foundations varying from light porcelain to dark. I like Rimmel Match perfection because it works well on every skin type as well as colour, it's not too dewy or too matte so you can alter it to your preferences and it's cheap so you can afford to buy a few different shades at a time.
Another favourite is MAC face and body, this is a very lightweight liquid foundation that can be built up and works on all skin, as well as being available in many shades and tones. It's also a great versatile product, it can be used on the body to cover up anything as well as being a great foundation.
MAC Studio Fix is another good one if you plan to create full coverage, special occasion make-up.
Foundation is something you should invest in, a bad base will ruin the whole face so it's important to get it right
Concealer
Conceal and correct pallets are great and provide a few different colour shades to work on different people, they are also more hygienic than your standard sponge applicator as you can use them straight from the pallet with a brush. I like the MAC conceal and correct pallet and I would recommend either buying the light or medium version.
For a more affordable alternative, you can buy great cheap pallets on Amazon (Link here) or simply buy a new version of your favourite affordable concealer that you can use with a brush.
Powder
Go for the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in transparent- a fantastic cheap powder that mattifies and locks make-up into place
Lipstick & Liner
Don't go crazy and buy 'on trend' colours just yet, make sure you have a good nude and red lipstick- you will use these the most and they will look great on everyone. I love MAC Russian Red and MAC Shy girl. Get matching lip liners for your red and nude, I like MAC Cherry and MAC Spice.
MAC Lipstick and liners are brilliant- spend your money here
Eye shadow
Invest in an large empty eye shadow pallet (MAC do the best) and gradually fill in with shades you know will be used. Start with nude colours that you know could create a simple look, my first MAC eye shadows in my pallet were Brun, Charcoal Brown, Satin Taupe, Embark and Shroom.
I would highly recommend Satin Taupe, Cranberry, Naked Lunch, Carbon, Red Brick and Deep Damson.
Creating your own pallet is expensive however it's custom made by yourself and you've picked each shade therefore you're less likely to not use certain colours due to not liking them
Eye liner & Mascara
Don't mess around with liquid liner pens- get yourself a small pot of gel liner and use a brush, MAC Fluid line in Blacktrack is great
Mascara is a tricky one, your main priority is hygiene therefore you're going to have to use disposable mascara wands for every application. Don't spend much money here, mascaras don't last long and you won't be benefiting from the fancy brush that comes with it
Brows
Simple, get two matte brown eye shadow shades, one light brown and the other dark brown- perfect for everyone. Apply the colour with a small angled brush and get yourself a cheap clear mascara to help keep colour and hairs in place
Cleanser & Moisturiser
If your client is wearing makeup when they arrive, you're going to have to remove it. Make-up wipes don't do the job and look un-professional. Pick up a bottle of Micellear cleansing water next time you're in Boots and keep it in your kit to be there for gentle and quick make-up application.
I have a big tub of Nivea cream to use on everyone before applying make-up, it works on all skin types and absorbs quickly- don't spend a lot here
Tools
Brushes! every make-up artist needs them and quantity is important.
I found a super cheap set on amazon that includes nearly everything you will need, including eye and face brushes. They're fantastic for beginners and I really like them - they may not last long but for the price you can't complain! (Link here)
Real Technique brushes are also brilliant for beginners and are very accessible being able to pick up in Boots and Superdrug for a great price.
In your brush collection, you will need at least one of the following
- Foundation brush, either classic or buffing
-Small concealer brush
-Powder brush
-Flat top eye brush
-Buffing eye brush
-Crease eye brush
-Brow brush/ disposable mascara wands (Link here)
-Small angled brush
-Small lip brush
Other Essentials
Mixing pallets are used instead of putting foundation on the back of your hand (gross!) and to mix together different shades. They're cheap and essential for any make-up artist
(Link Here)
Spatulas. Never scoop your hands inside a product- always use a spatula to get your product then use it from that. Hygiene is important
Clear carry bags- I get mine from amazon, they're great for transporting make-up and seeing what you've got inside
(Link here)
Hand gel. Clean hands are essential- hygiene must be your number one priority when applying make-up on others. Keep a mini hand gel in your kit to thoroughly clean hands
My top tips for building your make-up kit
Here's a run down of my top tips for building your make-up kit.....
-It's an investment. You may be suffering from a shortage of cash right now but try and keep your spirits high, put lots of effort in and you should get the money back and more in the future from clients and jobs. Remember, these products will help you become successful, without success money will never come.
-Versatility. Try and pick products that you know will be able to be used for more than one thing, for example an eye shadow for both brows and eyes or a foundation that can be used on the body
-Do your research. I never buy make-up without doing my research- look up reviews online, makeupalley.com is fantastic to read reviews from other beauty fanatics and professionals and I also love watching Youtube review videos
-Don't feel pressured to buy anything. Counter staff can be a right pain sometimes, don't let them pressure you with their un-realistic facts and bossiness. Don't be afraid to say no, if they're rude, walk away, they don't deserve your custom. Ask for samples, be polite, tell them what you want but do not be scared to say no- they're only doing their job and shouldn't get offended
-It's un- realistic to expect to go out and buy your whole kit in one go, these things take time and even the best make-up artists are still expanding their kits. One tip I have is to only allow yourself to buy one or two items per month, make yourself a list to make things easier and save yourself money
-Take a course in make-up. You may already have the skill, however achieving a qualification looks great and you're more likely to be employed into the industry. You will also receive amazing opportunities like visits to make-up shows/events and discounts at big brands like MAC (I once received a one off 35% discount at MAC... amazing!)
-Make sure this is what you want to do. Nothing annoys me more than seeing people waste away their money on tons of professional equipment to then decide a year later that they aren't interested anymore and want to do something else. Have a long think about it, this industry is tough, make sure you're prepared for what's ahead of you and most importantly. make the most of it
I hope you've found this post useful, let me know what you're kit staples are in the comments below! :)
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