Whether you're new to makeup or have been dabbling in it for years, having a collection of beauty staples to create a go-to everyday look is vital. In addition, it's a lot easier to add fun or contemporary makeup to your collection and incorporate it into your beauty looks once you've mastered the basics.
In this article, we will walk you through the essential cosmetic items for young women, whether you're a makeup newbie who enjoys the no-makeup look or a seasoned pro trying to round out your collection.
1. Face Primer
While some people believe that face primer isn't necessary, I consider it an essential part of my makeup procedure. Face primers have a variety of impacts on your face and makeup, but their main goal is to keep your skin smooth and your makeup appearing fresh all day.
Whether you're searching for a product to regulate oil and acne, hydrate, smooth out uneven texture, color correct, or anything else, there's a primer for you.
2. Foundation
Getting the appropriate foundation is perhaps the most challenging element of your makeup regimen because you must consider the amount of coverage you want (sheer/natural, medium, or whole) and your skin type and undertones.
Suppose you're new to foundation or aren't sure which type of shade is best for you. In that case, I recommend visiting your local Sephora, MAC, or department store and having a makeup artist assist you in selecting one that matches your skin tone and meets your coverage requirements. Requesting a sample is also a brilliant idea to check how a formula feels on your skin before purchasing it.
Even if you prefer to buy foundation at a drugstore, I recommend that you be matched at a higher-end store first. It will help you figure out which colors to look for.
3. CC Cream
I prefer CC cream to the ordinary foundation since it gives me a more natural appearance. This is a beautiful choice if you're looking for something with skincare advantages like moisturizing or priming (some CC creams have a built-in primer).
Furthermore, if you're new to makeup, a decent BB or CC cream, rather than a foundation, is a great place to start because it feels lighter on the skin, is difficult to overdo, and can be applied with your fingertips.
BB and CC creams mainly come in narrow shade ranges and don't cater to darker skin tones is a huge disadvantage.
4. Concealer
Concealer is a must-have if you have acne, dark circles, or any other type of discoloration.
Concealers are available in full-coverage, and sheerer-coverage formulations, and which one you should use depends on how much you want to hide.
Choose a concealer for acne and discoloration as close to your foundation/BB cream hue as possible for the most natural effect.
Dark circles are a little trickier to conceal because of the wide range of hues and how they appear on different skin tones, but in general, a peach or pink-toned concealer will do the trick.
5. Blush
Blush can make a tremendous difference in your overall appearance, and I never skip it in my makeup process. Blush is essential if you're wearing a foundation with a higher level of opaque coverage, which can leave your skin looking flat.
Blush is available in powder, gel, and cream forms, with powder being the most widely used. Cream and gel blushes, on the other hand, have recently become highly fashionable.
Pick a blush hue that will give you a natural glow when picking a blush. Regardless of your skin tone, avoid going too bright or using a heavy hand while applying makeup, as both might make you look clownish.
Pink and peach tones are excellent for fair-to-medium skin tones, while mauve, purple, and maroon tones are better for deeper skin tones.
Applying blush on the apples of your cheeks and diagonally up towards your hairline is something I recommend attempting, regardless of your facial shape. This will not only give your face a healthy glow but will also draw attention to your cheekbones and enhance your face's natural contours. As long as you blend effectively, it also looks more natural than simply applying blush on the apples of your cheeks.
6. Highlighter
Like many other beauty products, the highlighter comes in powder, cream, liquid, stick, and powder/cream hybrid forms. Each of these forms has its own set of advantages, but I prefer powder or stick for novices because they are the easiest to work with.
Apply a highlighter sparingly around the bridge of your nose, the tips of your cheekbones, your cupid's bow, and just below your brows for a foolproof look.
You may even use your highlighter as an eyeshadow if you want to be extra creative.
Finally, just like selecting the proper foundation shade, finding the right highlighter shade depends on your unique skin tone and undertones. Hence, it's a good idea to try on several colors in person if possible.
7. Bronzer
I recommend going one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone and lightly dusting it all over your face for a healthy glow, or just in the hollows of your cheeks (below where you'd place your blush) for a more chiseled effect.
In any case, make sure to blend properly and use a light hand!
It all depends on the rest of your ensemble: If you want to add some brightness to your face and all of your other products are matte, try something with a hint of sparkle. On the other hand, opt for a matte finish to avoid a shine overdose if you're currently wearing glittery makeup.
8. Setting Powder/Spray
Setting spray/powder, like face primer, serves to keep your makeup in place all day.
There are varying formulations based on the type of finish you want (matte, radiant, etc.) and whether or not you want any skincare advantages from your setting spray/powder (e.g. moisturizing, oil-absorbing, etc.). But don't skip this step if you want your makeup to last!