VIDEO: Makeup Kit Essentials
What's in your makeup bag? If all it has is five tubes of lipstick and an old blush brush, it's time to give your cosmetics kit a makeover. Charleen has the 411 on the must-have products that will help you build the perfect beauty kit.
By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina
Basic brushes
To start, I recommend having a good quality brush set. My favorite is Sigma's Essential Kit-Make Me Blush which contains all the necessary brushes for any makeup look. I suggest having at least a big fluffy powder brush, an angled blush brush, a foundation brush, a blending brush and a flat shader brush. You'll also need a brush cleansing spray like Sephora's Daily Brush Cleaner to keep your brushes clean and prevent bacteria from building up.
Watch my video to find out which are beauty must-haves:
Building a base
Next, get a foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out your complexion. For full coverage get a foundation like MAKE UP FOR EVER's HD Foundation. If you want lighter coverage instead, you can use a tinted moisturizer like theBalm's Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 18.
Always set your makeup with powder to increase the longevity of your foundation. MAC has a very popular full coverage powder called Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. If you'd rather use something lighter that will still keep your makeup looking matte, try theBalm's Sexy Mama Anti-Shine Translucent Powder. Moving on to concealer; I like having a lighter product for my under eye area like Revlon's PhotoReady Concealer in light, and a concealer that matches my skin tone to cover blemishes. I like using Revlon's Color Stay Blemish Concealer in light medium.
As for blush, you really don't need many products. I'd stick with a good, staple rosy blush like NYX's Powder Blush in Rose Garden. A matte bronzer is a must in my kit in order to expertly contour the face. I love Benefit's Hoola Bronzer.
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Kissable lips
Before putting on any lip products you need to use a lip balm. Lip balms from the EOS line come in a variety of flavors, and the shea butter provides long lasting moisture. If you aren't much of a lipstick kind of gal, I recommend having at least a pink and a nude lipstick that will match any occasion. Try Covergirl's LipPerfection LipColor in Darling (a flattering light pink color) and Rimmel London's Lasting Finish Lipstick in Crush (a wearable nude color).
I like to finish off my lips with lip gloss. Lately, I've been enjoying Secret Agent Beauty's Secret Lip Affair in Pink Provocateur, which doubles as a gloss and smoothing lip treatment.
Eye Beauty Essentials
The last few things you need are a lash curler, mascara and liquid eyeliner or pencil eyeliner. I like Tweezerman's Lash Curler and Maybelline's Volum' Express One by One Mascara. For a good basic liner, I'd go with MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Liner in 13 or Stila's Smudge Proof Waterproof Liner in Stingray.
A makeup kit is something you build up over time, so don't feel like you need to get everything at once. Experiment with different brands, and find makeup that speaks to your style!
See more of Charleen's beauty tutorials on her YouTube channel
