For some time, I’ve received numerous inquiries about the art of crafting a personalized makeup kit. Navigating through the myriad of brands, techniques, and products can often feel like participating in a series of Olympic games. Fear not, for I am here to guide you through this process. I’ve curated a comprehensive guide to assist you in building a personalized makeup kit, with a keen focus on 3 fundamental areas : Face, Eyes and Lips.

FACE Products

1-Face Primer : It smooths the skin and turns it into a canvas. It allows your makeup to stay in longer. Choosing a face primer should be chosen based on your skin type. The formulas of face primers that mattifies, hydrates or brighten the surface of the skin. I use the Matte Putty Poreless face primer as my holy grail since my face tend to be oily. Or the NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filter for a soft and blurred finish touch. 

2-Foundation : Often applied after the face primer it creates an even uniform color to the skin complexion and covering some based on the covering level. Some foundation can be presented in several forms : Tinted moisturizer, Mineral Foundation, Stick Foundation ect… Personally, I’ve loved the Maybeline Fit Me Poreless Foundation it’s not only a good brand to start out with but it can easily fit into your budget. If you’re looking on the high end lane, my recommendations : Fenty Beauty, Nars Illuminator, Born This Way, Makeup Revolution.

3-Concealer : Similar to the usage of foundation except this product is a little thick. It helps by going in deeper into hiding dark circles, blemishes. Concealer is often used to hide blemishes and blend into a uniform and balanced color on the face. Personally I apply concealer under my eyes on top of my foundation. My favorite concealers are the following brands : L.A pro concealer, ELF Hydrating Camo concealer, on the drugstore side.

4-Blushes: Blush add a soft touch of color in the apples of the cheeks and cheeckbones. Often use for daywear, blush are heavy in pigmentation. It should be applied lightly and carefully. Blush comes in several hues of pink. One of my favorite blush is Milani Baked Blush in the 130 shade.

5-Bronzer : The usage of bronzer is similar to the way blushes are applied. If you ever hear the common phrase “Sun kissed” it’s probably based on the application of bronzer on the skin. While blushes do come in different pink colors, bronzers are typically brown or gold with a lot of shimmer as composition. Bronzer helps accentuate the architecture structure of the face while making you look like radiant and glowing goddess. Physician Formula is one of the many examples I can think to start with.

6 Face Powder : Powder is the makeup setting master, ensuring that your foundation, concealer, and other liquid or cream products stay in place. It locks in your makeup artistry, preventing it from melting or shifting throughout the day.

EYE Products

1-Eyes Shadow Primer : Eyeshadow primer is the prepping tool that will conveniently absorve the pigmentation from the eyeshadow colors. Once it dries out, the pigmentation from the eyeshadow will stand out and there will be durability. Some of my recommendations are NYX white base primer, Urban Decay Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion is another great favorite.

2-Eyeshadow : One of the main functions of eyeshadow is to add color to the eyelids, providing a vibrant and personalized look. Eyeshadow looks can go from a wide range of hues from neutral tones for a subtle effect to bold and vivid colors for a more dramatic appearance. With technology, I’ve noticed a lot of eyeshadow are now more pigmented than ever but for both neutral and bold look I often reach for : Juvia’s Place, Morphe, Danessa Myrics Beauty,

LIPS Products

1.Lip Liner: The purpose of the lip liner is to keep the lipstick (or lipgloss) in tack. It helps shape your lips by providing a polished looks. Think of the lip liner as an outlining tool that helps accentuate the contours and edges of your lips. The lip liners I’ve used ranges from drugstore to high end, my recommendations are with Wet n Wild and Charlotte Tillsbury.

2. Lipsticks: The primary purpose of lipstick is to add a burst of color to the lips, enhancing their natural beauty and providing a vibrant, finished appearance. Dare I add that Lipstick doesn’t finish a look but it also creatse a sense of sophistication. To explore your perfect shade of red, I can recommend NYX. For a touch of luxury, Fenty Beauty with her Velvet Liquid Lipstick. For a vegan and cruelty-free formulations I recommend the The Lip Bar. And of course, the classic MAC (yes, MAC) stands the test of time with an extensive collection of red lipsticks.

3. Lip Gloss:When you want options lip gloss, adds shine and dimension to the lips. There’s a lot of options lately, you can start with clear gloss then slowly add tinted options.

Remember, this guide is a starting point. Feel free to add or adjust items based on your preferences. Building your makeup kit is a personal journey, so have fun exploring new products and techniques.

Happy glamming!

Sophie