ahh i wanna do a yt video on this but here is like the gist i guess! here are some of my fave products/tips. most of this stuff is inexpensive/drugstore bc i know like when i started getting into makeup i was reluctant to spend like $30 on one brush and $50 on some eyeshadow lol and before someone say somethin im just basing this off MY PERSONAL experience with makeup
brushes/applicators:
in my opinion you need at least an angled brush, kabuki brush, eyeshadow brushes, contour/blush brush, and foundation or stippling brush/sponge applicator. i dont have much experience with high end brushes so i wont list any.
angled brush for eyebrows/eyeliner
kabuki brush for buffing/apply powders
eyeshadow brushes (a lot tbh…i have a lot lol) so your colors dont get muddy. I also used to use fluffy eyeshadow brushes to apply highlights on my face but you can get a fan brush for that if you like powder highlighters vs liquid
contour/blush brush–you can use a blush brush for your contour as well but i have different brush for each
if a sponge isnt for you a flat foundation brush or stippling brush is good to have you can like buff/blend with your kabuki. I prefer stippling tbh but I use a sponge
Ecotools–i used these in high school and i actually still have some. They are realluy great quality and obviously last a very long time. You can get them at Wal-Mart, Ulta, and Target I believe. I dont think a set runs over $15!!
RealTechniques–you can get these brushes off Amazon and ffromTarget. They’re a bit more pricey than the EcoTools brushes but they are still very affordable! Their Miracle Complexion sponge is what I use to apply and blend my foundation/concealer and its basically a dupe for the BeautyBlender which is like 3 times more expensive.
Morphe Brushes–They are online based only. I have a few brushes from Morphe and they are really sturdy and soft and last a really long time. They are more expensive than Ecotools and Real Techniques BUT they always have super good sales al the time and if you get a set you really are getting your money’s worth because high end brushes run for WAAAAY more
BH Cosmetics–Online based. Their brushes and brush sets are super cheap and cute but really great quality in my opinion. Very soft and sturdy and last a really long time.
Foundation/Concealer
Drugstore–most of these dont exceed $10
Maybelline Liquid Dream Mousse Foundation–if you want full coverage, this is really good and probs my fave drugstore foundation. It’s buildable as well
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation–they have options for a matte or dewy finish and its medium coverage but I find it to be buildable.
Loreal Paris True Match Foundation–medium/buildable.
LA Girl concealer–These are so cheap I dont think they exceed $5 but its good coverage and I used to use them to highlight
Maybelline Master Concealer–super great coverage tbh. The formula is a bit thick but I like that idk about you tho lol
Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer–this is very popular tbh and worth the hype. I used to use it to highlight as well.
HIghend–$30-$50
I recommend getting matched at Sephora and MAC when it c omes to buying high end foundation. High end foundation offers more shades and also more shades that match your undertone. When you get matched at MAC they the shade they tell you you are, usually starts with the letters NW or NC. NW means you have a warm undertone and NC means you have a cool one. For example I am an NW44. Sephora matches you in the same way but they are more color specific. For example I am a 1y13 because my undertone is yellow and its even better to get matched with Sephora because if you are a beauty insider, they send the match results to your account and list all the foundations/concealers that match your exact shade so its sooooo much easier to buy online.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid ($27)–If you wanna enter high end but don’t know where to start MAC is a good place to kind test the waters. They are pretty inexpensive for high end makeup and also when it comes to concealer/foundation you are more likely to find your exact shade.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation ($39)–not a personal fave tbh bc its a bit TOO thick for my liking and it feels like a mask but it has great coverage and a lot of people love it so I figured I’d put it on here. I recommend testing it out in person before buying since, imo, the formula is a bit weird to me
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation ($38)–OKAY!! This is like my holy grail foundation so far. Like I’ve tried MUFE, MAC, TARTE, and so much other shit and was never satisfied but I love this foundation. Like it doesnt/hardly transfers and it says it last 15 hours and lemme tell you honey, IT DOES! It looks like I just applied it when I wear it all day. I literally look like a porcelain doll when I wear it. I dont have to worry about getting oily, having to powder or dab my voice, or reapply anything bc once this shit dries and is set, it is SET!!!!
Highlighting/Contouring
Tbh, it is so easy to highlight/contour. You really dont need to buy anything. I used to use a dark brown matte eyeshadow to contour my cheekbones and nose and then use drugstore concealer 1-2 shades lighter than my natural skintone to highlight. Then I would ad like a shimmery gold or bronze eyeshadow to the highpoints of my face to add more highlight (I still do that tbh).
Drugstore
NYX Illuminator ($7)–AMAZING! You can mix it with your foundations to add a more natural all over glow, or use it as a regular highlighter and apply a buit to the high points of your face.
Colourpop Highlighters ($8)–the formula for these are sooo amazing. They are so smooth and easy to blend. It’s like a cream formula and they just melt into your skin. The colors are so pretty omfg.
High End
tbh I dont have much experience with high end highlighters and still need to try a lot more but I really like these out of the ones I’ve tried
ABH Cream Contour Kit ($48)–I prefer cream/liquid bc my skin gets a bit dry. This palette is worth the money tbh. It blends nicely and is great for warm undertones.
Benefit Sunbeam Highlighter ($23)–tbh im not super in LOVE with this highlighter but I like it a lot and its what I usually use. I go over it with a golden eyeshadow to make myself even more highlighted
Sephora Collection Radiant Luminizing Drops ($14)–the colors these come in are sooo pretty and they come with this drop applicator in the bottle which is really cute and fun. Such pretty colors and nice glow and pretty inexpensive for high end.
Setting Powders/Sprays
Tbh I use both setting powders and spray lol. I recommend a spray on top of a power so your makeup lasts longer and you don’t have to reapply that much and so it doesn’t like slide off your face lol
Drugstore
NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray ($8)–idk if yall can tell from my selfies but I obvs love a dewy finish and this keeps my makeup lookin fresh and dewy without lookin like im a big sweat/greaseball. They also have a Stay Matte spray as well.
Elf Makeup Mist & Set Spray ($3)–very good and very affordable. You can get it at target
Loreal Paris Infallible Pro Spray & Set ($17)--honestly can go toe to toe with high end setting sprays. Gurl ya makeup will not move!!
NYX HD Finishing Powder in Translucent ($10_ –basically the drugstore dupe for MUFE HD Microfinish powder which is my fave powder
High End
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray ($30)-GUUUUUUUUUUURL!!! *CLAP* LEMME *CLAP* TELL *CLAP* YOU *CLAP*!!! THIS ONE TOP OF MY ESTEE LAUDER FOUNDATION AND MUFE HD MICROFINISH POWDER IS HONESTLY INDESTRUCTABLE!! ONCE YOU SPRAY THIS SHIT ON YA FACE BITCH YOU LAID TO REST!! YOU DONT GOTTA WORRY ABOUT BRINGING NOTHIN TO TOUCH YA FACE UP, HONEY YOU ARE GOOOOOOD! LIKE MY MAKEUP DONT BE MOVIN, SLIPPIN OR SLIDING!! MY FACE REMAIN BEAT FOR AS LONG AS I NEED IT TO BE!! SO WORTH THE MONEY!! They also have a De-Slicker one and Chill one which are equally as good but if you are like me and are super busy and live in a big city then All Nighter is for you
Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Powder in Translucent ($34)–the powder is so fine and adds to the ***flawless finish you want. It’s great for baking as well and blends really easily.
MAC Fix+ Spray ($20)–tbh you can actually use this for soooo many different things! You can use as a primer and a setting spray. When used as a setting spray it adds a really pretty dewy finish. I use it when I wanna do my “no makeup” makeup look. I get a lot of compliments. You can also use it when using like lower quality eyeshadows–it gives them stronger color and staying power. Just put the color on your brush, spray it, then apply.
Primer
Tbh I dont have much experience with drugstore primers so all these are high end but never the less GIRL!!!! DO NOT!! DO NOT!!! LEAVE PRIMER OUT THE EQUASION! It keeps ya makup from slippin and sliding and keeps you from lookin greasy!! Also moisturize before you prime your face. Dont think doing one cancels out the other!!
If you have drier skin like me, try primers that kinda have formulas similar to lotion or moisturizer.
Tarte Clean Slate Flawless ($31)–this comes out like a moisturizer tbh which is why I like it so much. I found it’s probablt the best primer I have tried. Like this with my other holy grail products literally leaves me looking amazing and, again, I NEVER have to reapply anything other than lipstick to my face! They have a Poreless primer which is probably just as good but I have yet to try it.
MAC Fix+ Spray ($20)–If you forget to moisturize spray this on like before, during, after or whatever when you’re doing your makeup it’s a life saver.
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer ($32)–this comes out like a moisturizer as well. Tbh im attracted to primers like that. I dont like it as much as the Tarte primer but its still really good and smells sooooo good. It feels so good and cool on my face. It contributes to the dewy finish I love and because my skin gets dry, its good for keeping it hydrated.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer ($36)–This primer is good for ppl not struggling with dry skin. It puts a layer between your skin and the makeup so you dont have to worry about your pores getting clogged. It goes on really smooth and easily. They also have different colors for color correction.
Eye Primer
OKAY–when it comes to priming the eye for shadows, I usually use concealer which does its job for a good amount of time. So if you’re not looking to spend a lot of money, you can use the concealers I listed before as eyeshadow primers. They work just fine. In regards to primers actually used for eyes, I had trouble with drugstore primers bc my eyeshadow would end up creasing and stuff and I found concealer did a better job so the only primer I tried that has worked for me is
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($20)–AMAZING staying power and color payoff!!
Eye Shadow/Eyeliner/Mascara
When it comes to begginners and eyeshadows, I always recommend getting palettes with a good mix of matte and shimmer eyeshadows, with a majority neutral colors so you can create everyday looks as well as glam looks without having to go out and buy a lot more eyeshadows.
Drugstore
Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palettes($5)–these eyeshadow pallettes are exactly the ones that I started out with. They are actually super godo quality and awhen paired with a good primer last all day and the color payoff without primer is really good. This palette is very earthy–browns and beautiful greens. I used to use this palette all the time. Someone on youtube a while back compared them to MAC shadows but I havent really tried MAC eyeshadows to say I agree. You can get these at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS etc.
Wet n Wild Downtown Browns Palettes ($5)–these colors actually remind me so much of my LORAC Pro palette which is actually $50. They are like browns and also purply browns. I believe some of them are matte but I think a good majority are shimmery. The highlight colors are actually super pretty. These eyeshadow palettes also like list which colors to use where (like which color yo use on your brow bone or whatever_ but tbh you can ignore that and jsut use them how you want. You can create so many beautiful looks with both these palettes and you’re only spending $5-10. Like you can create a nice everyday look or like 30 different glam looks. Listen, when I was a broke high schooler, I lived off these palettes lol.
elf Cosmetics Gel Liner ($3)–it’s very good for the price. Very fluid and black
Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner ($9)–honestly really fuckin good
Maybelline Lash Sensational ($6)–LISTEN! This is probs one of the best drugstore mascaras I have tried. Its the Better Than Sex by Too Faced dupe tbh and I LOOOOVE the BTS mascara soo much. So this is the closest youre gonna get if you dont wanna spend the extra $$
Loreal Voluminous Power Volume ($7)–if you love super big dark lashes, get this!! 2 coats and youre set!
High End
LORAC Pro Palette ($49)–my fave palette tbh. If you are just getting into makeup I recommend investing in this if you have a little extra cash. Its half matte shadows and half shimmer shadows. A lot of pretty nudes/browns and i use this palette for my everyday look. The lighter colors are really beautiful to use as highlight colors. And you can create a lot of glam looks with this palette. Just look up a tutorial on youtube featuring this palette and you’ll see such a variety!
Too Faced Chocolate Bar/Semisweet Palette ($49)–these two Too Faced Palettes, I actually do not own but my sister does. They also have a good balance of shimmer and matte shadows and a lot of beautiful nude colors. They are very smooth and pigmented and look really lovely on brown skin. They are very similar to the LORAC pro palette so if you have one of these you don’t need to the other.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($23)–so worth the money. Honestly one coat is enough to transform your lashes but two coats and GURL YASS! I love this mascara so much like its sooooooo worth the hype. Like it does a lot for your lashes like it makes you think “I had no idea my lashes could look that long/thick” I was honestly sooo impressed when I first used it. It’s my fave mascara so far.
Lipstick/Lip Liners/Lip Gloss
Tbh, I always recommend lining your lips esp if you want a nice even color/look. It also makes the color stay longer and look stronger. After apply liptick, I always take a small concealer brush and kinda brush around the outline of my lips so it looks cleaner and more /perfect/.
A lot of these lipsticks are matte bc im not a fan of the other stuff lol.
Drugstore
NYX Butter Lipstick--these are great matte colors and really pigmented. They go one super smooth and they’re only like $5
NYX Lipliner ($4)–very smooth and good color variety
Colourpop Lippie Stix ($6)–not the ultramattes, just the regular mattes. They are very smooth and honestly soo cheap for the quality like honestly they could sell them for $15+ of they wanted. Very smooth application and bold/strong color payoff.
Colourpop Lipliners ($5)–the best thing about Colourpop is the fact that thy have lipliners for all their lipshades so you dont have to worry about matching anything. These are super smooth and go on super easily.
Colourpop Ultramatte Liquid Lipsticks ($6)–tbh these are hit/miss. Some of them are super patchy but my faves are Tulle, Limbo, and Avenue. The closest highend formula to these are the LimeCrime velvetines which run for about $20.
Maybelline Color Blur Lipliners ($9)–these are comparable to the NARS lipliners imo which run for $26. They go on super smooth and the color is so bold and even like honestly, when I first tried them I was so suprised at how amazing the quality was. Like you can wear these as matte lipsticks themselves (which I do lol). They are so pretty and they have a lot of color options. Probs my favorite drugstore liners/lipsticks next to the NYX Butter Lipsticks
NYX Butter Gloss ($5)–I actually really hate lipgloss but I love these. They smell so nice, the color is so pigmented and you dont even need more than one layer. It’s not super sticky or annoying.
High End
MAC ($15)–MAC is known for lipstick and tbh their lipsticks are on the cheaper side when it comes to high end. If you want a really nice red, they have a lot of beautiful options. The quality of the lipsticks is super amazing and worth it. My fave shade is Taupe which is a pretty nudish color that looks wonderful on brown skin. They have so many shades of every color to pick from tbh
NARS ($20-$32)–I really LOVE NARS’s lip products. The pencils can be used alone as lipsticks and not look like lip pencils if that makes sense. The Audacious Lipsticks are super smooth and the color is so bold you dont really need to go over your lips so much. The colors IMO look super good on dark skin
Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks ($21)–tbh this woman knows how to make stuff that suits alllll shades of skin. Like Ive swatched all her colors on myself and not one looked bad on me. I really like the formula for these. They dont dry my lips out too much and they go on really smoothly for the most part. My favorite shade is Lolita which is a dusty rose pink color. Very beautiful on brown skin.
Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Tint ($24)–these are very pretty and the application is so smooth and the color pay off is really lovely and you dont need to apply more than one coat
Eyebrows
tbh I dont do anything special I just use a dark brown eyeshadow lol. But before I do that I put concealer of my brows then blend it out and then /draw/ an outline and fill them in. the concealer allows them to look more clean and stay longer.
BUt yeah, this is really long but I hope it helps! Again, this is just what I think based on my personal experience