Over the last couple of years I've been asked by a number of people what my "must have" make up products are. Unfortunately I'm such a beauty junkie the list is endless however I was recently asked by a relative who wears very little make up what basics she should buy as a start of her make up collection. I thought I would share this with you!
The key to basic make up is making things simple.
Firstly a good base is imperative for evenning out the skin tone and creates a great canvass for the application of make up. To keep things really simple I suggest a BB cream. BB creams are fairly new to the market and originate from Asia where they were developed for women who had had laser surgery and couldn't wear make up but still wanted to have some coverage. Bb creams are described as being a multitasking product as they act as a moisturiser, primer, foundation and sunblock all in one. Since their introduction they have taken the country by storm. There are a number of BB creams readily available in high street stores, my favourite is the Garnier Miracle skin perfector which comes in two shades. I have had some clients say that even the light shade is a little dark for them so ensure that you check the shade is ok for you in the shop before you buy. Also available are L'oreal nude magique with is said to mimic the texture and glow of perfect bare skin and is available in two shades. No 7, Maybeline, and Clinique also have BB creams in their range. These products are great for those that are nervous of wearing make up and won't break the bank.
If you have a bit more money to spend it might be worth going to one of the make up counters to have a foundation formula and shade matched for you. I can recommend both Chanel and Lancôme foundations for their excellent formulations and shades.
Concealer is the next must have product. MAC do an excellent range of shades and formulations, my favourites are MAC Moisture Cover concealer which provides wonderfully moisturising cover with a light texture which works really well with a BB cream or tinted moisturiser. Sleek make up's Luminaire highlighting concealer is a good high street alternative. For those that feel that they need more coverage the MAC studio finish concealer has a thicker consistency and covers blemishes effectively. A cheaper alternative is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer.
Powder is an absolute must for those with an oily skin. I particularly like Sleek Make Up's luminous pressed powder and Yves Saint Laurent matte and radiant pressed powder. Despite having dry skin I always set the concealer under my eyes with a powder which stops mascara on the bottom lashes from running. I sometimes like to powder my foundation or BB cream if I want a matte finish.
Blusher - there are a number of different formulas on the market including powder, mousse, gels, creams and liquid. It's best to pick a colour that is close to your natural blush colour until you become more comfortable with using them. A little goes a long way so apply a little, blend and build up slowly.
Eyeshadows - when first starting your make up collection I think its most important to have a very basic set of shadows before going crazy with lots of colours. Sleek make up's oh so special pallette has a great selection of basic colours and is a great price at less than £7! Avon also have True Colour eyeshadow quads in a variety of colours to suit all eye colours. When buying your first Eyeshadows it is worth buying colours that will flatter your eye and hair colour grey eyes suit blues and blue greys, blue eyes look great with gold and brown shades, whilst those with brown eyes look amazing with lilacs. that doesn't mean to say that you must stick to these shades however. Have a play and decide what looks best on you!
Eyeliner - depending on your preference a brown or black eyeliner is a great addition to your make up bag. A pencil is the easiest to work with and will blend easily if you want a more subtle effect. I love Avon's glimmer sticks which come in a variety of colours and last well all day. Urban Decay's 24/7 liners are also amazing although a little on the pricy side.
Most importantly a good mascara! There are hundreds on the market so it can be confusing to decide which one to buy. It's important to decide what you want from your mascara, if you have shorter lashes you might want to look for a lengthening mascara like the Maybelline define-a-lash. Revlon's grow luscious is a also a good mascara and claims to have a conditioning formula to improve the growth of lashes. Whether it actually does improve the growth of the lashes remains to be seen! If you have long lashes but want more volume the Max Factor False Lash effect mascara is great and the waterproof formula is the best one I have used. Collection 2000s big fake lash mascara is great for the price but beware it dries out pretty fast and has a huge brush which can be difficult to work with. My favourite mascara at the moment however is bourjois fast and perfect volumising mascara.
Brushes - it might be tempting the buy very cheap brushes but it is best to spend a little more to get great results and if you look after them a good brush can last for years. I recommend Real Techniques brushes by Samantha Chapman which are reasonably priced and are amazing quality. They are available from selected boots stores and online. They offer two good basic sets for about £21 each which will give you a great starter collection.
I hope that you found this helpful!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Lauren
