What Products Do You Need For A Complete Makeup Bag?

It can be daunting to walk through the cosmetics aisle. I’ve created this guide to help take the confusion out of purchasing your makeup bag essentials.

Using the right products, the right way can take your makeup look from amateur to professional. You may be saying, “Tiffany I only wear concealer and mascara, I don’t need all of that stuff.” And my response would be, you’ve probably been stuck in that routine because you haven’t explored the process of applying makeup; so over time your two-step routine has just become a habit. Using specific products that work best for your skin is key; and having clean, exfoliated skin gives you a smooth canvas and therefore better results. Starting with the NXN Beauty System gives me the smoothest skin I’ve ever had.

Primer – Makeup primer is the first step of applying makeup. Using a quality primer, for your skin type, gives you a clear canvas to work with, longer lasting makeup, and depending on the type of primer it can also blur the appearances of pores. Dry Skin = hydrating primer. Oily Skin = mattifying primer. Selecting a foundation that has the same formula as the primer is very important. It’s simple if you use a water-based foundation use a water-based primer and if you just an oil-based foundation, use an oil-based primer. If you don’t properly match these two applications, the two will rebel each other.

Foundation – Is meant to even out skin allowing you to contour, highlight, and sculpt your face the way you like. Picking the wrong foundation can result is an embarrassing makeup crisis. I recommend keeping a few things in mind when purchasing foundation. One, make sure you select the right shade, sometimes this can be tricky. Some brands don’t have a large shade range, so you may have to mix colors to find your perfect shade. Some foundations can oxidize once applied; therefore, I recommend doing a quick search to see if the brand your interested in purchasing does or does not oxidize. Two, determine what level of coverage you’re seeking. You can select full coverage; meaning it will (with most brands) completely cover imperfections. Three, skin type. Just as we discussed in step one, it’s important to select either matte or dewy/hydrating.

Concealer – A great concealer will cover discoloration, lighten dark areas, disguise blemishes, and work seamlessly with foundation for a flawless look. It’s important to select a shade of concealer that’s no more than one or two shades lighter than your natural skin tone to avoid white undereye circles and flash backs.

Setting powder – Setting powder does exactly what it says, it sets your makeup and more specifically your undereye concealer in place, so it lasts longer and doesn’t crease. There are several great brands of setting powder on the market; but one factor most people don’t take into consideration is whether the sending powder they’re purchasing will cause flash back. I know you’ve seen photos of people and their undereye look very white, this is called flash back. The flash and/or light source is reflective the light off your under eyes. To set the flash back, apply some product under eyes, stand under or hear a light source and take a selfie. This little test is a quick way to test for flash back

Eye Brow product

Eye shadow palette – Finding a palette you like best is easy. There are literally thousands of great formulas to choose from. Do you like matte shadows? Metallics? Shimmer? Take your pick. Pro Tip- Select a palette to start with from Morphe cosmetics. Not only is Morphe extremely affordable but their shadows are fantastic with tons of variety.

Mascara – Whether you like the wispy or clumpy look, having a quality mascara that lasts and lengthens is an important element to wrap your look together. Mascara is one step that is based on personal preference more than the rest of the face.

Bronzer – I would say bronzer is one of the most under used products. When applied properly it brings dimension and shapes back to your face. Selecting the right shade and undertones for your face is important when deciding which bronzer to purchase. If you, a shade that is don’t match your undertones it can result in a very “muddy” look and can even look grey.

Lip product – Don’t forget your lips. Maybe you love a nude lip or a bright red statement. Glossy or matte? Your face is a masterpiece, select a shade that compliments your look. If you’re not experienced start with this rule of thumb; if you have a dramatic eye look, then keep the lip simple. If you have a simple eye look, go bold with the lip.

Setting spray – Set it and forget it! You don’t want your hard work to starting wearing off, you want to get the most out of it as possible! Find a great setting spray that locks your look it.

Stocking your makeup bag with these items can fit within any budget. Whether you’re sticking with drug store or luxury brands, you can fill your makeup bag with great products. If you’d like me to do a post on the best drugstore makeup products leave a comment below letting me know.