5 Makeup Essentials for Every Beginner
If you're new to makeup and not sure where to start, don't worry—you don’t need a huge collection of products to create beautiful looks.
With just a few key items, you can build a solid makeup routine that’s simple, effective, and perfect for everyday wear. Whether you’re heading to work, school, or a casual night out, these five essentials will help you feel confident and put together.
Though we make some suggestions for the most popular “Top 5” makeup products to have in your makeup bag, none of them are essential if they don’t work for you! That’s the beauty of makeup - you can create your own routine based on your personal preferences and what you have time for in the morning!
Let’s break it down!
1. Primer
Starting with a good primer is like prepping a canvas before painting. It smooths your skin, minimizes pores, and helps your makeup last longer. If you have oily skin, opt for a silicone-based, mattifying primer; if you have dry skin, a water-based, hydrating primer will work wonders.
Primer creates the perfect base for your foundation and prevents your makeup from sliding off throughout the day.
Pro Tip: To ensure your foundation will blend seamlessly, choose a water-based moisturizer with water-based primer or a silicone-based moisturizer with a silicone-based primer, for example.
2. Foundation or BB Cream
Foundation evens out your skin tone and gives you a flawless base. If you prefer something lighter, a BB cream or tinted moisturizer is a great alternative, offering light coverage with added skincare benefits.
Foundations are also available as hydrating, mattifying, water-based or silicone based. Choose a shade that matches your skin tone and a formula that suits your skin type, or skin finish you’re trying to achieve.
Pro Tip: Always blend well using a damp beauty sponge or foundation brush for a natural, smooth finish.
3. Mascara
Mascara is a quick and easy way to open up your eyes and make them pop. It adds length, volume, and definition to your lashes, making you look more awake—even on those sleepy mornings.
Pro Tip: To avoid getting mascara on your eyelids, try looking downwards into a hand-held mirror, then wiggle the wand at the base of your lashes before pulling through to avoid clumping and to coat every lash.
4. Blush
A swipe of blush can bring life to your complexion, giving your cheeks a healthy, natural flush. Powder blushes are great for a soft, buildable look, while cream blushes offer a dewy, fresh finish. Pick a shade that complements your skin tone, like peach or soft pink for fair skin and deeper berry or bright coral tones for darker skin.
Pro Tip: Apply blush to your cheekbones and blend upward toward your temples for a lifted look.
5. Lip Gloss or Lipstick
No look is complete without a little something on the lips.
For beginners, a versatile tinted lip gloss or lipstick that is close to your natural lip colour is a perfect starting point. Lip gloss adds shine and fullness, while lipstick provides longer-lasting colour. Even a waterproof lip liner with a gloss or balm over top can go a long way to helping you feel put together!
Pro Tip: To make your lipstick last longer, blot your lips with a tissue after applying the first layer and then apply a second layer.
Ready to Elevate Your Makeup Routine?
Now that you know the five essentials, you're well on your way to mastering your daily makeup look! But if you're ready to take it a step further and truly explore what works for you, our Makeup Essentials Digital Workbook is here to guide you through every step of the process.
With easy-to-follow lessons and tips drawn from over 20 years of professional experience, our workbook makes makeup simple and fun—whether you're a beginner, looking to brush up on the basics, or learning something new!
