I have received many emails from you girls, asking me about beauty tips and
what kind of products you should get as a makeup beginner. So it got me thinking: why not answer all of your questions in a blogpost?
With soooo many beauty products available in the market, sometimes it is really hard to decide which product you should buy as a makeup beginner. Well fret not, because I'm here to to share my honest opinions with you, as a fellow consumer myself.
For those who are new to makeup, here are the 10 MUST-HAVE cosmetics you need in your makeup bag. (Not including skin care products, because that isn't considered as makeup products)
1) BB Cushion
BB Cushion is the best for beginners. All BB cushions come with a sponge applicator, so you don't have to buy a foundation brush or a beauty blender with it. There are numerous brands that introduced amazing BB cushions to the beauty world, but my favourites are from
Clinique, Laneige and
Lancome. The one from Laneige has more of a dewy finish (perfect for those who want to achieve a Korean-inspired look) while the ones from Clinique and Lancome provide more coverage. While Clinique's cushion has a semi-matte finish and is suitable for sensitive skin as it is fragrance-free, Lancome's has a subtle glow finish. All three are by far my favourites and I really can't decide which is the best haha! Of course, you technically only need one, so go for the kind of finish you desire!
2) Concealer
Fun fact: the concealer is the FIRST makeup product I've ever bought HAHA.
Recapping to my early days of putting on makeup feels really nostalgic - I used to know nothing about makeup a few years back. And one fine day, I realised that I desperately needed to cover my dark circles, so I went ahead to buy a concealer. I even remember which brand my first concealer was lolol. It's from The Skin Food, and it costed me around RM20++. Well, for those who have great skin, you may skip the BB cushion step because a concealer is actually all you need to look flawless. Some of the concealers that I recommend are the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer(it works just as its name suggests, and it's extremely affordable!) and M.A.C Mineralize Concealer(long-lasting, and non-cakey).
3) Loose Powder / Pressed Powder
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Many people would ask: "What's the use of loose powder or compact powder and what's the difference between both of them?" Well, generally they are the same, as they have the same important function - to set your makeup and keep your makeup in place all day. Pressed powder may feel heavier if applied with a sponge, but you can definitely sweep them across your face with a powder brush for a more natural look. Also, it easier to carry a pressed powder on the go to do some touch-ups when necessary.
There are different types of loose powder/ pressed powder in the market, and each offer different effects. While some render a matte finish, others create a dewy and glowy finish. Again, it all depends on what you prefer. For those who prefer a matte finish, I personally think that IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder is by far the best pressed powder I've ever used. For a natural, soft and glowy finish, the best that I've used is Jill Stuart's loose powder - it even contains some shimmer, which makes your face appear even brighter and smoother. IT Cosmetics and Jill Stuart are more to the high-end side, but I believe there are also a lot of drugstore products that could also do the same! If you have any affordable loose powder/ pressed powder suggestions, feel free to leave a comment and let me know!
4) Eyebrow Pencil
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I believe that there is no need to go over how important our eyebrows are in giving a soul to our faces. I just can't stress enough how important my eyebrows are to me! It just feels like without them being perfect, the entire look just doesn't feel right.
Anyway, for makeup beginners, it's okay to not have mastered the skills of drawing your brows yet. In fact, I'm still far from being an expert when it comes to drawing my brows, as I'm still learning and experimenting with brows to seek out the ones that suit me the best! Before working on your brows an eyebrow pencil, it is highly recommended to actually go and have your brows trimmed. Don't be afraid to get them shaped in a brow bar such as the Benefit Brow Waxing Bar, or EMPRO. You can tell the brow artists what kind of brows you would like to have, and they will do the rest. Shaping your brows is very important, simply because trust me - it is just so much easier to use your eyebrow pencil with them!
On the other hand, I think eyebrow pencils are easier to use compared to brow cream. There are actually many good eyebrow pencils in Watsons that you can try out: Cyber Colorand Maybellineare pretty affordable, and they deliver great results. Innisfree's eyebrow pencil is also another cheap yet awesome alternative. My favourites are from Innisfree, Clinique, Shu Uemura's Brow Sword and Benefit's Goof Proof Brow Pencil!
5) Gel Eyeliner
I know there are many types of eyeliners out there in the market: gel, liquid, pencil, etc. Well, I have tried using all types of eyeliners, and I personally find that gel eyeliner is probably the BEST and the EASIEST to use for beginners. Why? It's because gel eyeliner is the easiest to work with, and it gives you more control as compared to liquid and pencil eyeliners. However, it does take quite a while for one to learn how to work out the perfect eyeliner. I used to be really bad in drawing eyeliners because my hand would tremble and my eyeliner always ended up looking wobbly. So, the best way to start learning how to apply eyeliner is to use a gel eyeliner with an eyeliner brush. The one that I am using right now is from Bobbi Brown, including the eyeliner brush. Drawing a wing or a normal eyeliner with the brush and the gel eyeliner from Bobbi Brown just can't be any easier. Makeup beginners, you should totally give them a try!
6) Eyeshadow with Earthy Tones
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Many beginners are afraid to apply eyeshadows because they are afraid they might screw up and end up looking like someone who just got punched in the eyes. Well, my advice is that you can first get an affordable eyeshadow palette and practice applying it as often as necessary! As to what colours should you choose: well, I think
nude and
browny shades are the best for beginners, as they are easier to handle compared to other shades. That being said,
NYX's Natural eyeshadow palette and
Maybelline's Nude eyeshadow palette are some of the good palettes that you can play around with.
However, if your budget allows, I would definitely recommend the
Urban Decay NAKED 2 palette (the first eyeshadow palette I've ever bought for myself!),
Too Faced Chocolate Bar eyeshadow palette and
Tartelette in Bloom eyeshadow palette! Blending is really important when it comes to applying eyeshadows, because you want to make sure your eyeshadows don't look cakey and messy! If you are new to this business, you should definitely check out my
Youtube channel for some beginner-level makeup tutorials! *
shameless self-promotion aha*
7) Mascara
Compared to eyeliner and eyeshadow, I think mascara is the EASIEST to apply. It requires no blending and no drawing - you simply brush it on your lashes! However, it doesn't mean that applying mascara will always be smooth-sailing too. Sometimes, your mascara would smudge and transfer annoying black ink onto your upper eyelid if you open your eyes too quickly after application. So the tip here is to close your eyes and let it dry and settle for a few minutes after application to avoid smudging. Due to the oily nature of my eyelids, mascara of various brands always tend to smudge all over my eyes, especially after a long day. After numerous trial-and-error's, I have finally discovered my holy grail - Pony Effect Double Glam Mascara. This baby has never failed me and it always gives my eyelashes a great and beautiful lift. My second favourite mascara would be the Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara, which I personally think is perfect for Asian eyes, and it also hardly smudges!
8) Eyelash Curler
With mascara comes eyelash curlers. They are best friends and a great combo that is inseparable. It literally takes only 10 minutes to learn how to curl your lashes with an eyelash curler - it's really just that simple! The curler that works perfectly on my lashes are Shu Uemura's eyelash curler. It lifts up my lashes beautifully and opens up my eyes instantly!
9) Blush
Fun fact #2, a blusher is the 2nd makeup product that I owned after a concealer. I believe I have already stressed enough how much of a blusher fanatic I am in my blog a few years back hahah! The blusher remains just as much a necessity to me now as before because not only does it add some flush and vivacity to my complexion, it also amplifies and brings out my facial structure. For those who know nothing about blusher, it's the (usually pinkish) makeup product that you should apply on the apple of your cheeks. Be sure not to apply too much, or else your face would end up like a monkey's butt cheeks lolol! I have a lot of blusher in my makeup collection, and my ultimate favourite would be Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush, NARS Orgasm Blush and Clinique Cheek Pop in Pink Pop.
10) Lipstick
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Yes, the final and ultimate must-have is - without a doubt - a lipstick!! To me, lipsticks, concealer and eyebrow pencils are the top 3 necessities that I couldn't live without. My love for lipstick is perpetual.
If you have never put on lipstick before, I believe you will fall in love with them once you start picking one up. I have all kinds of shades in my makeup collection, from bright to dark. For makeup beginners, I would say it's safe to go for coral shades, as they are not too bright (like pink) and not too dark as well. Some coral-color lipsticks that I recommend getting are Pony x Memebox's and Shu Uemura's Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine. Another advantage of coral shades is that they are always perfect for your everyday, natural look.
Apart from that, you can also try a warm nude brown shade for a natural, sultry look!! My personal favourites are M.A.C's Velvet Teddy and 3CE x Lilymaymac's #908 Warm and Sweet. THEY ARE BY FAR MY FAVOURITE LIPSTICKS IN THE WORLD OMG. Ok...here's a warning for you, once you started applying lipsticks, there's no turning back. You will only convince yourself to buying more, and more, and more...(just like your fellow lipstick addict, yours truly lol.)
ALRIGHT FOLKS! So, these are the top 10 makeup items that I feel like you must have as a makeup beginner. I hope this list helps in guiding you on your hunt for makeup products! Feel free to share with me which is the FIRST makeup product that you've ever bought in your life hahaha!
