Building Your Makeup Kit: Must-Have Products for Aspiring Artists

As an aspiring makeup artist, it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of makeup and figure out what products you need to have in your kit. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your collection, having the right products is essential to achieving flawless looks. In this post, I will be sharing my top must-have products for aspiring artists to help you build a strong foundation for your makeup kit. From foundation to eyeshadow palettes, I'll cover everything you need to create a variety of makeup looks. So, let's dive in and get started!

The Makeup Case

First things first it’s super important that you have a good strong sturdy makeup case and I can categorically tell you I have not come across a makeup case that is strong enough to carry the weight. As a freelance makeup artist I have been through many cases in my time and found that the best thing that works for me, is a Samsonite suitcase - super robust, lightweight and on 4 wheels - you can’t beat it! I then separate all my products with clear toiletry bags from primark, this works for me perfectly, organised, clean, reliable, enough space, and you get to choose your compartments. For makeup artist work it’s so important you can easily transport your kit on trains, walking to locations and getting around with it, so being on wheels certainly takes the load off your back.

Here are my essential makeup items:

Brushes - buying sets instead of individual brushes is far more cost effective and my favourite brushes are Plouise and Morphe brushes.

Brows - brow gel by Plouise is a great product for the fluffy brow look. Top end brow products - Anastasia Beverley hills is the holy grail, for a high street option - Primark do a fabulous double ended brow pen / crayon.

Eye base - there is only one eye base in the world that outshines all the rest by a mile that every MUA should have in their kit - the Plouise eye base. Evens the skin tone on the eyelid, creates the perfect base for any eye look and keeps it on all day and night, this product completely changed the game as now the cut crease look is possible with this product!

Eyeshadow palettes - Plouise is amazing for colour her eyeshadow palettes are the best! I also love morphe!

Eye pigment - Inglot and Peaches and Cream do the best loose glitter eyeshadows, huge choice of colours and options. 

Mascara - I think L’Oréal takes some beating!

Lashes - Ardell and Red Cherry are amazing because they’re made of human hair making them super light weight and blend in with the lash line perfectly!

Lash glue - Black DuoGlue ONLY! 

Face primer - Bare Minerals is my go to! 

Concealer - tarte shape tape is an absolute winner! 

Foundation - I love Huda beauty faux filter, Laura Mercier flawless fusion, and their tinted moisturisers! I will always love the bare minerals original mineral foundations buildable, light weight, so versatile and kind to the skin!

Illuminators - iconic liquid Illuminator not only is the best on the market but also perfect for adding to foundation for a dewy finish. For a pressed powder option Morphes highlighter palette is my favourite.

Bronzer - Bare Minerals Warmth is a firm favourite of mine, very true to a sunkissed finish. 

Setting powder - I think Laura Mercier universal powder is the best! Bare minerals mineral veil is a close second. 

Blusher - I tend to use palettes and again Plouise and Morphe win my vote. 

Lip liners - Mac, Morphe and Plouise do great choices. 

Lip sticks - Charlotte Tilbury, Nars, Mac, Tom Ford do some of the best lip sticks. Definitely worth melting them all down in to a palette to save on space and weight. 

Lip glosses - I love a primark lip gloss, morphe, Plouise, Charlotte tilbury and Dior do fantastic glosses. 

Primark make-up wipes are always in my case along with hair clips, cotton buds and brush cleaner. 

My brushes get shampooed after one use, I use baby shampoo, massage each one in the palm of my hand, rinse and leave to dry over night. 

If you are starting out as a makeup artist and building your makeup artist kit. Online shopping is a great shout as there are often lots of discount codes available, many makeup artists sell their kits via eBay and other resale sites so often worth checking them out as these are great for beginner makeup artist kits, many brands also offer pro discounts if you can prove your makeup qualifications and apply to the brand they will often award you with a members discount card. Do your research, it doesn’t have to be as costly as you think! Make sure your makeup artist insurance covers you for your kit as they are timely and costly to replace, no one wants to pay twice.

Check out my other blogs on how to become a makeup artist, and all the answers to the many questions you may have! 

I hope I have helped at least one aspiring artist… stay tuned for more XOXO