Around the holiday season, I find myself wearing more makeup and getting dolled up more often. I love makeup and I truly enjoy creating different makeup looks depending on what I am wearing and where I am going. Makeup can be very intimidating though. Walking into Sephora or Ulta can be pretty scary because of the ridiculous amount of options and the unfamiliarity of products. With this in mind, I decided to compile a makeup starter kit which can hopefully be an aid next time you head to Sephora. Below are some of my makeup must-haves along with some tips and tricks I use to do my own makeup. Makeup should be fun and exciting, not something to be afraid of. WIth that in mind, let’s begin!
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1. Basic eyeshadow pallette
Eyeshadow may seem a bit intimidating but it can actually be such a fun product to use. Usually palettes are specifically designed with the purpose to be used alone to create multiple makeup looks with the colors provided. That means there are a range of possibilities to choose from and there is room to be creative. When applying eyeshadow there are a few things that I think are helpful and can really make a look pop. The first is applying an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay’s Primer potion to lids before applying shadow. Another option is also applying a matte base color all over the lid which not only helps other shadows being applied on top stay, but also help overlapping colors pop. Another tip is to focus darker colors in your outer crease instead of your inner crease which helps define the eye. Lastly, a trick I use to appear more awake is applying a small amount of a white or shimmery shade (can also be highlight!) into the inner corner of the eye.
http://www.ulta.com/brand/tarte?N=1z12lx1Z1z1410m#
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Blush
Blush adds a little color to the face and can really brighten up a look. There are so many different blush shades that it can be difficult to choose, but I suggest you go with a color that looks natural when swatched on your wrist. Blush does not have to appear extremely pigmented and a little goes a long way.
http://www.ulta.com/amazonian-clay-12-hour-blush?productId=xlsImpprod333…
Highlight
Highlight is easily one of my favorite makeup products. I love how highlight helps reflect light off of the face and makes you GLOW. I recommend applying highlight with a light hand and adding more as you see fit. Also, applying it in a well lit room can help you decide whether or not you actually do need to apply more because you will be able to see it better.
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/_/Ntt-watts%20up/Nty-1?Dy=1&ciSelector=search…
Bronzer
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Starting out, I would recommend purchasing a natural looking bronzer that goes with your skin tone. Do not be too intimidated by the dark color, but do apply bronzer with a light hand and add more if you want to intensify the look. For daytime/more natural look I would say apply very lightly following the shape of a “3” on each side of your face. For a more intense look I recommend starting with a light hand but instead of going in the shape of a three on your face, go from the top of your cheekbone towards the inside of your face and sharpen out the area by applying more color.
http://www.ulta.com/chocolate-soleil-matte-bronzer?productId=xlsImpprod5…
Mascara
The first mascara I ever owned is the Falsies by Maybelline which would not be a bad start if you’re just getting into makeup, but over the years I feel like I have drifted away from drugstore mascara. While many beauty bloggers swear by drugstore mascara, I do not mind splurging a bit and trying out higher-end mascaras to find my favorites. I would highly recommend the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara that came in the Her Campus survival kit this month. It makes my eyelashes look longer and fuller even when I do not curl my lashes beforehand. The Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara has definitely become my go to lately.
http://www.ulta.com/lights-camera-splashes-waterproof-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod2430023h
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Natural lipstick
Sometimes I’ll finish doing my makeup and I feel like something is missing. That’s when I turn to my lips. Adding a little swipe of color to your lips can really make a look feel complete and tie everything together. Matte lipsticks are my personal favorite because they stay on the lip for a while like liquid lipstick but are less drying and easier to apply.
https://www.target.com/p/nyx-professional-174-makeup-matte-lipstick-dark…
Brush set
Now that you have all your makeup products, you need something(s) to apply them with! I suggest getting a small makeup brush set that has one or two eyeshadow brushes, a blush brush, a smaller brush for highlight, and some type of angled brush for contouring. If there isn’t a kit that satisfies your tastes, elf and NYX sell iinexpensive individual brushes which you can use to design your own kit!
http://www.bhcosmetics.com/brushes/brush-sets/itsmyrayeraye-9-piece-brush-set
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**All images taken from Google Images**