The Top Must-Have Makeup Products for Beginners

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I recently started becoming interested in makeup. I’m not a professional, but I’ve learned a lot in my spare time from watching tutorials and asking friends what the best makeup products for beginners are.

When you shop for makeup online or in-store, I’m pretty sure you’d be overwhelmed! There are many products and you may wonder if you need all of them. Well, I‘m here to tell you that you don’t! It doesn’t take a lot to give you a natural, fresh look.

In this post, we’re going to discuss the must-have makeup products for beginners. I found that having these particular products is best for anyone starting their makeup journey.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Makeup Products for Beginners

Foundation

Foundation is the base of the makeup look you’re going for. Here are some reasons for wearing it:

• Covers imperfections
• Provides an even skin tone
• Blurs your pores
• Provides a matte or dewy finish for your look

It can get confusing when looking for the perfect foundation for your skin tone and type. There are a few things to consider before purchasing one. What type of coverage are you trying to achieve? Do you know your skin type? Knowing this will help you pick the right foundation.

There are a variety of foundations to choose from such as:

• Liquid: Provides heavy coverage and is best for dry skin
• Cream to Powder: Best for oily skin
• Foundation Sticks

My favorite is Josie Maran’s Vibrancy Foundation. It contains 100% pure Argan Oil and provides medium-to-full coverage. This is perfect if you have dry skin as I do, Argan Oil has been the perfect moisturizer for me!

Concealer/Color Correcting

Concealer is used for the following reasons:

• It covers dark spots/circles
• Brightens a tired complexion
• Neutralizes skin discoloration
• Sculpts your face

It’s important to choose the best shade of concealer for your makeup to look flawless. Concealer can be used alone or in combination with your foundation. Most women purchase concealers that are one or two shades lighter than their skin tone.

There are also color–correcting concealers you can add to your routine. Color-correcting concealers come in peach, green, and purple tones to cancel out discoloration. Here are what the different colors are used for:

• Peach cancels out dark circles/hyperpigmentation
• Green is used to cancel out redness/inflammation
• Purple cancels out yellow spots

When using color-correcting concealers, it’s important to apply them BEFORE your foundation. You can find one of my favorites below on Amazon:

Lipsticks

I went years thinking I couldn’t wear lipstick because it wouldn’t “fit” me, however, now I enjoy trying out different shades and feel more confident while wearing it. There are many types of lipstick to choose from such as:

• Satin/Sheer Lipstick
• Matte Lipstick
• Cream Lipstick
• Glossy Lipstick
• Stain Lipstick

I enjoy wearing matte which is a shine-free alternative to a glossy lipstick. They tend to last longer and have a drying effect on your lips.

One thing I love doing before applying my matte lipsticks is to exfoliate and moisturize my lips. If you do that, you won’t have to worry about your lips feeling uncomfortable or dry while wearing it.

Related Post: The Best Black-Owned Lipsticks for Women of Color

Mascara

Wearing mascara can lengthen and provide volume for your eyelashes. This is the perfect makeup product for beginners since it’s easy to use! If your lashes aren’t as long or bold as you’d want them to be, then wearing mascara will help you achieve that look.

You have the option of waterproof or non-waterproof mascara when choosing the best one. I love it when my mascara is non-waterproof because I’m able to remove my makeup easily at the end of the day.

Here are some of my favorite mascara’s:

• RollerLash Curling Mascara
• BADgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara
• They’re Real Lengthening Mascara

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is applied to your upper and/or lower lash line and it helps to define your eyes by making them stand out more. There are different ones to choose from:

• Liquid Eyeliner
• Pencil Eyeliner
• Gel/Cream Eyeliner

Liquid eyeliner, in my opinion, isn’t beginner-friendly. If you don’t have a steady hand then this may not be the best option. Applying a pencil eyeliner is easier and I love using this for my eyes. Using pencil eyeliner is perfect if you want to achieve a smoky eye or “smudged” look.

Gel eyeliner is new to me. After doing more research, gel liner makes the best smoky eye looks and is easy to blend.

If you’re new to makeup like I am, having these products are great if you’re not sure where to begin. Learning how to apply makeup will take time, patience, and most importantly, practice!

Don’t waste money on products that you’ll barely wear or don’t know how to use. Many online and in-stores are affordable but still good quality. Many women rave about drugstore makeup, so consider that before investing in products!