Basic Makeup Kit For Beginners On A Budget

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Want to level up your look? Have you discovered the power of makeup? Those makeup tutorials on YouTube are amazing. There are endless beauty gurus that can teach you to apply makeup for beginners. 

But you’ll need a makeup kit! Most have been building their makeup kits for years. But with all the products available, finding the right basics can be complicated. And with a tight budget, you have to really choose carefully.

We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll help you build a basic makeup kit for beginners on a budget. We will discuss with you the essential products that you should include in your makeup kit.

Plus we’ll also give you ideas on what affordable brands to buy.


Contents

Basic Makeup Kit for Beginners on a Budget Include

Complete and comprehensive makeup kits can be costly. There are many different products that you think you need to buy. However, you can still build a basic makeup kit for beginners without breaking the bank.

You just have to know the essential items that you need to include in your kit.

Even beginner kits are highly customizable and personal.

We all have target areas in our faces that we wish to focus on. The beginner kit you build will depend on what products you want to use and what results you want to achieve.

How to Build a Makeup Kit For Beginners

For starters, here are some of the makeup products we recommend you to get to fill out a beginner makeup kit:

  • Primer
  • Concealer
  • Foundation
  • Blusher
  • Mascara
  • Eyebrow Pencil
  • Lip Product

Let’s break down each of these here.


Primer

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Primers are essential when it comes to makeup applications. No matter how great or expensive your makeup is, if it doesn’t stick to your face, or if it slides off at the end of the day, then it’s wasted. 

Primers help prepare your skin for whatever product you place on it. Think of it as a bridge between your skincare products and your makeup products.

It helps you have a good canvas for your makeup. 

Some may skip using primers because their makeup already looks good. But primers help make sure that your makeup lasts.

You don’t want your masterpiece to last for only a couple of hours! You also won’t be wasting time retouching so often.

Primers also help with the easier application of makeup.

Face primers like No products found. help minimize the appearance of pores. Such products will provide you with a smoother base. These improve the appearance of your skin once you apply your foundation.

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Apart from pores, some primers  can also help blur out other imperfections and even fine lines. This is great if you have more mature skin (you can tackle that in several other ways, too!). 

Face primers come in different formulations, some primers like the one from Rimmel  also helps mattify the face and prevent excess oils. There are also budget-friendly hydrating primers  that also provide moisture. Just perfect for those with dry skin.

Sale
Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer, 1 oz, Pack of 1
Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer, 1 oz, Pack of 1
Volume: 30 ml (1 fl oz); Skin perfecting; Ultra lightweight formula; Controls shine for up to 8 hours
$5.97 Amazon Prime

If you are concerned with your uneven skin tone, there are also color correcting primers  that can help with that. They help correct the redness of your skin. The primer you should select will also depend on the condition of your skin.

Sale
e.l.f. Tone Adjusting Face Primer, Makeup Primer For Neutralizing Uneven Skin Tones & Redness, Grips Makeup To Last, Vegan & Cruelty-free, Small
e.l.f. Tone Adjusting Face Primer, Makeup Primer For Neutralizing Uneven Skin Tones & Redness, Grips Makeup To Last, Vegan & Cruelty-free, Small
SKIN-SMOOTHING FORMULA: Skin-smoothing, silky formula.; FOR ALL SKIN TYPES: This primer is great for all skin types.
$5.99 Amazon Prime

See also:


Concealer

LA Girl Concealer

The concealer is the next important part of a beginner makeup kit. Some who have good-looking skin can live without it.

Most of us simply can’t.

A concealer can be used to help counter the discoloration or pigmentation marks on the face. If you have redness or dark circles, then you are will benefit will from using a concealer. 

Most concealers are budget-friendly, like those from LA Girl , NYX , Maybelline , and e.l.f, Hydrating Camo Concealer, Lightweight, Full Coverage, Long Lasting, Conceals, Corrects, Covers, Hydrates, Highlights, Light Sand, Satin Finish, 25 Shades, All-Day Wear, 0.20 Fl Oz .

NYX even offers a pallete that contains concealers in various shades to help out with various skin discoloration concerns.

See also:

 


Foundation

Wet n Wild Foundation

For smooth, even, and refreshed-looking skin, a foundation can greatly help. Some people are afraid to use a foundation because they think it feels uncomfortable. The truth is, foundation formulas have already greatly evolved and there are budget-friendly ones that feel comfortable on the skin. 

Foundation can’t be replaced by your concealer.

Concealer can help correct discoloration but foundation will help even out your skin. If you choose the right one, it will look natural on your face. 

When choosing a foundation, you have to make sure it is in the right shade. Sometimes, it would be best to go to a physical store to test them out. Also, remember that your skin could also change shades depending on the season. You might seem lighter or paler during the winter months and more sunkissed during the summer. Consider these too when purchasing your foundation. 

There are different brands that offer foundation. They also come in different forms. Some of them are in liquid form like those from Wet n Wild  and Maybelline .

Those that come in powder form can be more expensive than those from bareMinerals  but there are also more affordable ones like those from NYX .

All work great in providing even and smooth skin. 


Blusher

Blush Palette

You don’t have to pinch your cheeks to make them rosy, a blusher works just as well. Blush is a must-have for any makeup kit because it can instantly make you look fresh if you apply it correctly. It can help take away the paleness of your skin. 

Don’t be afraid of using blushers. We understand the fear of looking like a clown. However, that can be avoided by choosing the right shade plus the amount you apply to your skin. The key here is to apply a small amount and build it up if you don’t think it is enough.

Powdered blush like those from Wet n Wild  are very affordable and come in a variety of shades. If you want to try out different shades, you can try out this blush palette . It comes in 6 shades so you can change up your look by simply changing the blush you use each day. 

Apart from powdered blushes, there are also blush in cream  form. Then there are also those that are in liquid form and are known as tints . These could also double as a tint for your lips. 

Some find they can use bronzer in place of blush, but it doesn’t always work.


Mascara

Volumizing Mascara

After making your skin look even, smooth, glowing, and radiant, let’s now focus on your eyes. If you are to have only one makeup product for your eyes, mascara would be an ideal choice.

A mascara can instantly help your eyes look refreshed and awake. Even if you don’t apply any eyeshadow or eyeliner to your eyes, using mascara can drastically improve its appearance. 

Just like other makeup products, mascaras are also available in a variety of formulations. Some help lengthen  your eyelashes while others focus on adding volume  to them.

One of the crowd favorites when it comes to budget-friendly mascara is this one from Maybelline .


Eyebrow Pencil

Brow Pencil

There were times when ultra-thin eyebrows were a thing. Nowadays, on-fleek eyebrows are the current makeup trend. Instead of thinning it down to a fine line, it is now being well-defined. Fixing your eyebrows with makeup can help frame your whole face. It doesn’t only improve the appearance of your eyes but your entire face as well. 

The simplest makeup you can use for your eyebrows is an eyebrow pencil . You can even skip this if you go for eyebrow microblading, which provides a semi-permanent result. In that way, you don’t have to do your eyebrows every day. 


Lip Makeup

Lipstick

Whether it is red lipstick or a nude one, makeup for your lips can help complete your look. You don’t have to have all the shades of lipsticks . You can choose a classy red  one. Some beginners may think that a red one is too vibrant for their taste. In this case, a “my lips but better” shade will be perfect. 

If you think lipstick is not that comfortable, you can try butter glosses . They are lightweight and similar to clear lip glosses but have a shade to them.

Many of them are highly pigmented so they are great for lipstick substitutes. Keep in mind that they will eventually expire, though.

Remember that not all lip makeup products are transfer-proof. At this time when we are mostly required to wear a mask, a transfer-proof lip product will also be great. There are expensive ones but there are also more affordable  ones that work just as great. 


Extra Items For Your Makeup Kit

The seven makeup products mentioned above are the most essential of all. However, if you still have some extra in your budget, it wouldn’t hurt to get a few extras. One of the things you could get is a makeup pouch. It helps keep your products safe and it makes it easier to find them in case you need to retouch. 

Eyeshadow is another good product to add to your beginner makeup kit. There are different palettes available. Depending on the palette you choose, you can also use it as a blush or an eyebrow powder. 

Skincare Is Important Too!

Makeup can make you look better but it can only do so much especially if you are only using a basic kit. Remember that makeup can look better when the base is already good. That’s where the primer comes to help but having healthy and great skin underneath is better. 

Skincare products are just as important as your basic makeup kit. In fact, the better your skin is, the more you can get away with less makeup. However, that will still depend on how much makeup you want to put on your face. 

Skincare products will help you improve your skin and remedy any issues you have. However, you should have the persistence and patience to do it regularly. Also, it is very important to make sure that you don’t sleep with makeup. That can irritate your skin and cause a variety of skin problems. 


Final Thoughts

Building our basic makeup kit on a budget shouldn’t be as confusing as you think. Although there are plenty of products out there and there are plenty of suggestions for a beginner kit, it should still be based on what you want and need. 

We know that there are plenty of products out there and it can be confusing for beginners. So if you don’t have any idea what to get, here is a list of our suggested products:

  • Primer
  • Concealer
  • Foundation
  • Blusher
  • Mascara
  • Eyebrow Pencil
  • Lip Product

Each of those products is available in great varieties. It is up to you to figure out which works well for your skin, technique, and available time. As you start using your kit, you’d be able to identify which products you want to stick with and which ones you don’t really need.

The above items are simply suggestions but your final makeup kit will still be up to you. 

Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).