I’ve never been too big on makeup but have just started getting interested in it more now (I’m 30). I just bought a bobbi brown foundation (was using MAC earlier) and Makeup forever primer. I also recently bought the ‘Naked’ eye palette from Urban decay (I recently discovered Sephora!) and also a bronzer and ‘Orgasm’ from NARS. I already have an eye pencil, mascara, a few lipsticks and glosses. I have a few eye shadow colours too but smaller palettes, nothing too large. I have a few brushes for applying products.
I am considering getting the bobbi brown concealer and maybe the corrector too. Also, getting an illuminator from NARS to go on top of the blush I bought. Are these things necessary or only good to have? I have a concealer already but it’s a stick one from the body shop. I saw the Vice palette from Urban decay and that looks interesting also. I like the touche eclat from YSL also - not got it though. Any good palettes for eye shadows as mine have limited colours? Do I need an eyebrow pencil & brush (never used these)?
Any tips of any other make up essentials / good to have from the makeup experts?? Also, what are the best brands for lipsticks? Do I need lip pencils? I usually use either lipstick or gloss only.
Thanks for the info Reha. I'll try a YSL lipstick next time I'm buying one! I recently got a primer a friend recommended so covered there (I never used one before, always used moisturiser, foundation and then powder).
I only have a basic black eye pencil, I'm using the Dior one. Do I need any other colours?
So you already have a foundation and primer. Are you happy with the ones you have?
Here are some things that I believe are “must-haves” in addition to a foundation & face primer:
Powder to set your concealor/foundation: MAC Pressed Blot is good, and Bare Essentials Tinted Mineral Vel is good. MUFE HD Powder & Laura Mercier loose powder also gets great reviews. (I’m waiting on the LM Translucent powder in mail).
Eyeshadows: Get whatever colors you think you will actually use. I personally have the 15-pan palettes from MAC, and buy the eye shadows in Pro Pan form to put then in the palettes. This way I can make my own palettes.
Eye shadow primer: Helps colors last. I use MAC Paint Pots.
Blush: You have 1 already. I think you should get a few more just to have some diversity. NARS and MAC powder blushes are great. Illamasqua also gets great reviews.
You already have a bronzer. So you can use this to contour I assume. You need a highlighter. NARS Albatross is a great one. You can also watch some tutorials on YouTube and learn to contour/highlight using cream foundations (I watch the ones by Goss). Highlighting/contouring is really nice…especially for special occassions such as weddings, Eid etc.
You have 1 eye pencil already. I think you should get a few more..lol…just for variety. Dark brown, Dark Green, Dark purple…
You didn’t list the brushes you already own but yes, please make sure you have proper brushes for the products. (Wash them often so they stay clean and bacteria free).
Concealor: I have the BB Corrector and also the NYX Orange corrector. Big price difference between the two…and I find that they BOTH do a great job. Are you happy with the concealor you have? The BB concealor was too drying for me. I love MAC Select Moisture Cover and Laura Mercier Secret Concealor.
Eyebrow: I fill mine in with powder/brush. For me this is a MUST…lol. So whether or not you need this depends on what your brows look like. But again, for special occassions when you dress up, this will “add” to the look.
Lip Liners: Yes these are needed. They help keep the colors within the lips. I also fill in my entire lips with the liner, and THEN apply the lipstick. This helps the lipstick last longer.
Lipstick: Revlon Super Lustrous is my fav. right now.
Powder: I have a MAC pressed mineral powder I use which I like.
Eyeshadows: I was considering NARS's Vice palette. I don't have any large palette...but have seen the Sephora holiday collection with tons of cheek and eye stuff. Are those large palettes just for teens or they good generally too?
Blush - Any NARS colours you recommend?
Highlighter - I'll check NARS Albatross when I go to Sephora next!
Eye pencils - Do I need a special one if I want to learn how to do the smokey eye look?
Lip pencils - Should they match the lipsticks I buy? What do I match the lip pencil colours to?
Concealer - That's a hard one! I found the Bobbi brown one drying too when I tried it out at the store. It seemed to age the eye area rather than make it look better. I'll check out the Laura Mercier one. Any tips for this? Should the colour be one shade lighter than my skin colour?
Corrector - Do I need one? And how do you like the Bobbi brown one? How do you pick a colour for the corrector?
Brushes - I have a couple. One for face powder, one for blush. Do I need a special one for bronzer? I have one or two for the eye. I want to learn the smokey eye look. Which brushes do I need to help create that?
Powder: I have a MAC pressed mineral powder I use which I like. If you have something you like....then stick with it. :)
Eyeshadows: I was considering NARS's Vice palette. I don't have any large palette...but have seen the Sephora holiday collection with tons of cheek and eye stuff. Are those large palettes just for teens or they good generally too? When I started getting into Makeup years ago, I just got addicted to MAC and that's the only brand of shadow/pigments I buy. I have tried other brands over the years but kept going back to MAC. I have never bought NARS or Sephora's palettes (since I prefer choosing the individual colors and make my own) so can't really speak for the quality. But you can go to Makeupalley.com and read reviews there.
Blush - Any NARS colours you recommend? These are the ones I have: Torrid, Sin, Lovejoy, Taos, Taj Mahal, Gilda, Exhibit A, Angelika
Highlighter - I'll check NARS Albatross when I go to Sephora next!
Eye pencils - Do I need a special one if I want to learn how to do the smokey eye look? Will write more later.
Lip pencils - Should they match the lipsticks I buy? What do I match the lip pencil colours to? Yes, this should match the lipstick. It should blend in with the lipstick.
Concealer - That's a hard one! I found the Bobbi brown one drying too when I tried it out at the store. It seemed to age the eye area rather than make it look better. I'll check out the Laura Mercier one. Any tips for this? Should the colour be one shade lighter than my skin colour? My concealor is usually lighter b/c I like to have a lighter/glowy look beneath my eyes. Some people buy a concealor that matches their skin tone. So depends on what you prefer. Go to Sephora or LM counter and have them try 2-3 colors on your to see what tyou like best.
Corrector - Do I need one? And how do you like the Bobbi brown one? How do you pick a colour for the corrector? Depends on how bad your dark circles are and whether or not your concealor covers them. I would say find a concealor first.....then after a few weeks....see if you want a corrector. As mentioned earlier, I think the BB corrector performs just as well as the NYX corrector. I went to a BB counter and they tried 2-3 colors on me....and I like Bisque the best (for my skin tone).
Brushes - I have a couple. One for face powder, one for blush. Do I need a special one for bronzer? I have one or two for the eye. I want to learn the smokey eye look. Which brushes do I need to help create that? I will write more on this later. Can't remember specifics of what I own right now!
OMG such a useful thread...there should be one on how to learn to apply makeup and create different looks! I have lots and lots of makeup(specially blush and eyeshadows) and i feel im just wasting all the eyeshadows :(
I'm a Warm natural in Bobbi brown. I tried the same colour in their concealer and I don't know if it brightened up my eye really. Also, I tried the touce eclat (YSL) highlighter - at the make up counter at the Bay. And one girl suggested number 3 for me and another recommended 4.5 (I went two different times). So hard to decide the right colours in makeup when you're not so good at makeup yourself! Maybe next time I need to go with a girl friend when shopping. :-(
Wow! That’s great. I am searching for the same information unfortunately i found this site. The information provided is very useful to me. Thanks for sharing.
Also, what are the best brands for lipsticks? Do I need lip pencils? I usually use either lipstick or gloss only.