Not everyone can afford high-end makeup products and
sometimes you really don’t need them! My own makeup box is incredibly small and
simple so I thought I’d put together a little guide on where you can save your
pennies and what you should be spending them on. I rely on my makeup lasting
all day as I’m up early in the morning and don’t get a chance to reapply so
I’ve tried and tested a lot!
There are so many different products out there and it’s
really what works best for you. I often get asked why I don’t use a certain
brand in my kit; firstly there are so many brands on the market, I can’t have
them all in my kit and secondly; I may not find they work that well on clients
but that doesn’t mean its bad if it works for you, that’s fine!
The Important Ones
Foundation primer
If I were to forget to put my primer on, I would honestly
take my makeup off and start again… In fact I’ve actually done this!
A primer smooth’s out pores and wrinkles creating a smooth
base for your foundation; most importantly it forms a barrier between your
foundation and skin which stops it sinking into the skin throughout the day
and therefore helps it last longer.
My favorites:
For Normal Skin: MAC Prep + Prime Skin.
For Oily Skin: Lancôme La Base Pro
For Dry or Older Skin: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face
Base
Foundation
If you get your base right, then you’re onto a winner. I
really don’t recommend buying foundations off the shelf as it’s so important to
get your colour matched up correctly by a professional and for them to check
the foundation is right for your skin…otherwise you’re just wasting your money!
Whenever I do somebody’s foundation, I will colour match
first and after application, if I’m not happy with the foundation and skin type
compatibility, then I’ll remove it.
It really is so important to get the right foundation for
your skin type and to try it before you buy it!
My favorites:
Normal Skin: Illamasqua Skin Base. Creates a beautiful matte
coverage without being too heavy
Oily Skin: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Powder. Can be used on
it’s own but for increased coverage, press on top of foundation to help absorb
oil.
Dry or Older Skin: Lancome Teint Vissonnaire. Creates a
beautiful dewy finish that helps brighten skin, also comes with a concealer on
the lid for areas that require more coverage.
Under-Eye Corrector
Don’t use foundation or concealer under your eyes, it’s just
too heavy and can make the area look worse. It’s important to neutralize the
dark areas under your eye rather than just covering them up. YSL Touche Eclat is nice yes but with it's "illuminating particles" it doesn't work in photography and also doesn't really get rid of the problem as it's not high enough coverage.
My favorites:
Illamasqua Crème Pigment in Emerge…I won’t use anything
else…ever
Eye primer
If you wear eyeshadow then a primer is a must, without a
nice eye primer, you won't get the most out of your eyeshadows. A primer enhances
the appearance of eyeshadow and also stops it creasing or moving.
My favourites:
MAC Paint Pot
Where to Save
Mascara
As long as it stays put, use whichever Mascara you like,
after all it’s more about the brush that comes with it. If you really want to
save pennies and time applying mascara, then why not get your eyelashes tinted
and lifted? I do and I don’t have to wear mascara anymore!
My favorites:
Rimmel Scandaleye
Maybeline Colossal Lash
Powder
Crucial in makeup application as it sets your foundation,
but it really doesn’t need to be pricey. I use MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in my kit as it comes in a large
sized compact. I love the finish but at £22, it’s quite pricey for a powder.
My favorites:
Maxfactor Facefinity Compact
Lip color, Eyeshadows and Blush
The lip colours you can buy on the high street are just as
good as high end products. As long as you use a lip liner first as an all over
lip base, it will last much longer.
Eyeshadows from the high street are great too, you may find
the pigment isn’t quite as bold as it looks in the pot though.
As long as you’ve got your base right and used that all
important primer, any blusher will sit perfectly on the skin.
Brushes
Professional brushes are built to last and to withstand daily
washing and sterilizing. Nice brushes are a lovely thing to have but not a
necessity, cheap brushes will get the job done for every day makeup
application.
My favorites:
Topshop Brushes
Ecotools from Boots
Eyebrows
I tint, thread and wax my own eyebrows so I no longer have
to do these on a daily basis, hurrah! Eyebrow shape is so important as they
frame your face and can really change your appearance, Be sure to get a
professional to shape them for you so you have a good start shape. However, I use
eyeshadow in my kit to shape eyebrows and a clear mascara to fix them with if
they’re slightly unruly. The more expensive kits you can buy for eyebrows don't make much difference to an eyeshadow, you may find that they have a slightly more waxy texture.
