Maybe you’ve never been into makeup. Maybe you weren’t allowed to use makeup until you’re a certain age. Maybe you’ve a job where you should put on some makeup, but haven’t ever done so before. No matter why, we’ve got you covered with some product recommendations that are easy to use and some pointers how to actually use them (and how to decide what product is for you). If you’re still wary of the whole makeup thing, don’t be – the following tips are for you turning into the very best version of yourself! Without further ado, here’re the best makeup products every girl needs!
Base
This depends on your taste and your skin, but whatever skin you have, don’t grab the full-coverage foundation. That’s a sure way on the road to a mask-like look, and we don’t want that. If you’re young and have smooth skin, go for a bit of powder or tinted moisturizer (if your skin isn’t that great, don’t worry – we’ll come to concealers later). If you’re older, beware of matte foundations and powders – they’ll settle in every line you didn’t know you had! Easy options are BB or CC Creams that don’t have as much coverage.
How to find the perfect colour for your skintone
To test a foundation shade, don’t go for that nonsense of matching the colour to your wrist or hand. You don’t want to wear it on your hand, but on your face, right? Apply a thin stripe at your jawbone, go outside, have a look at a mirror in the daylight. You can’t see where you applied it? Great! That’s your match.
Recommendations: L’Oreal foundations and powders are often products the huge L’Oreal company has invented for their other, high-end brands. They do both very well. Also good: Bourjois if you can find a match – I especially like their CC Cream and Healthy Mix foundation.
Eyes
First you need something to tame and maybe fill in your eyebrows. Surprised? You wouldn’t have thought to read that in a guide for makeup products every girl needs? Try it and see the difference – eyebrows truly frame the face, and it’s a quick and easy way to give some definition to your features. Eyebrows aren’t a huge thing for nothing right now!
Recommendations: Essence make me brow eyebrow mascara (clear or tinted, depending how dark and defined your brows are in their natural state, benefit gimme brow – same principle)
Eyeshadow primer
Yes, you need one. Eyeshadow will adhere much better to your lids and won’t crease. Splurge on the Urban Decay Primer Potion. You won’t regret it. (Plus, it absolutely lasts ages.) Apply a very thin layer to your lids before you apply eyeshadow.
Eyeshadow
Absolutely don’t go for a nude/neutral palette because somebody told you ‘everybody can wear those colours’. NO. There’s a big possibility that the colours will make you look washed out and do nothing for your look apart from telling the world that you’re wearing eyeshadow. You don’t need that. Plus, chances are high you don’t want to faff around with a palette anyway. What you need is what I call a one-wash-wonder, a single eyeshadow that flatters your eye colour.
How to find the perfect eyeshadow colour that’ll bring out your eyes
Blue-eyed girls – go for a bronze colour, hazel and green and brown-eyed girls look amazing with a taupe eye look. Don’t try to apply your shadow with the dinky foam applicator, though – it gives you little control of where you want your colour to go. I’d recommend you go for a cream eye shadow or eye shadow stick that you can apply easily and blend with your fingers. (If you start to like the whole makeup thing, go and invest into a MAC 217.) Apply to the moveable part of your lid and blend upwards through your crease. We don’t want any hard edges – that looks awkward.
Recommendations: L’Oreal Color Riche and Infallible Eyeshadows, Maybelline Color Tattoos, Clinique Chubby Sticks Eyeshadows, Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows, MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadows, MAC Paintpots, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows, Max Factor Excess Shimmer
Mascara
Nothing as eye-opening as mascara on a tired day. Do try it and see how it changes your whole eye area. And yes, I won’t make you try an eyeliner. Those things are hard to master, can get messy fast (*eyes her 14-year-old self*) and demand practise.
Recommendations: L’Oreal mascara depending your needs (volumizing? Lengthening?) or Maybelline/Cover Girl and Essence mascaras are great to start with and don’t break the bank
Concealer
If you’re a teenager and don’t suffer from dark circles, don’t apply concealer on you under eye area, of course. But everybody else will totally benefit from that. Also great for spot concealing and evening out your skintone. For dark under eye circles, don’t go lighter that your foundation shade. Go for a lightly peachy tone. Same with spot concealing, base of thumb is not to go lighter with your concealer, but match your skin tone as close as possible. Start with a miniscule amount and take it from there.
Recommendations: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer, Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, Clinique Airbrush Concealer
Lips
A little bit of colour to balance the eyes – if you’re a total beginner, go for a ‘my lips but better’ shade. Light pinks, peaches, and mauves are your best friend. Lips can make or break a look and are easy to play with – you can wash lipstick and gloss right off – so don’t be afraid! I also think every woman should rock a red lipstick from time to time, so if you feel comfortable with that, start experimenting with your reds and you’ll be astonished how much a red lip can change your look and outlook on life!
Recommendations: Catrice Beautifying Lip Smoother, Manhattan Good to Glow, Clinique Chubby Sticks, Mac Lipsticks with a lustre finish, Clarins Eclat Minute Embelliseur
The makeup newbie kit
So, what would be in my own makeup kit if I had to choose? (Accidentally, with some modification these are also the products I use for a lot of my daily makeup quickie looks or while I’m on vacation.)
For base, it would be Bourjois CC Cream in Light Ivory. Love everything about it – one of the best bases ever.
For brows, essence make me brow in 02 is so quick and convenient!
My trusty duo for a creasefree eye makeup – Urban Decay Primer Potion and either L’Oreal Infallible in Sahara Treasure or Bronzed Taupe. Love both shades to bits!
My favourite concealer for undereye shadows is Bourjois healthy mix Radiance & Anti-fatigue correcting concelealer in the shade 52 and Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer in 020 for spot concealing.
The one mascara that I always go back to is L’Oreal Miss Manga in Black Waterproof.
For lips, I’ll go with a nice neutral MAC lipglass or Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in 325 Rouge Kiss, a great everyday red.
There you have it – everything for an easy and quick makeup newbie look that’ll make you look fresh, rested, and polished.
