Starter Make-Up Kit For Beginner Make-Up Artists

After posting my guide to make-up courses, I thought I would put together a product guide for beginner make-up artists. I put together this guide for beginner make-up artists who may not have the means to buy so much at once. I am a firm believer in buying only what is necessary at the beginning and then you can expand and build up as you progress in your career. This is a way of safeguarding your initial investment in your career as you may find you don't want to continue with make-up artistry as your vocation. If you only buy a few products at the beginning and choose some great dupes and then decide it is not for you then you have will not be out of pocket too much. Also, it is better to learn with a few than be overwhelmed with a lot. I also believe dupes and alternatives are made in the same factory as the original or else the same number of factories that may share contracts with beauty and cosmetics brands. By having some well known make-up brands you will instill confidence in your client, but by also having dupes, it was a way for you to impart knowledge to your clients who may want to pick up the less expensive version of a particular product - meaning you as a make-up artist will be at the forefront of their mind when jobs become available - make-up artistry after all has it's biggest advertising in word of mouth. Although I love dupes, one thing you should invest more money in is skincare and foundation. These types of base products do tend to be better quality than cheaper alternatives but mid-range ones are a happy medium between luxury and drugstore brands when you first starting out. I purposely neglected to discuss skincare because - well, watch the video to find out why. 

This guide is mostly directed towards traveling make-up artists who find it more practical and efficient to work from palettes as the average woman will not see the value in using up and carrying around such bulky palettes. This is because it would be too heavy to carry all day everyday and also because the average woman is less likely to use up an entire palette of just highlight and contour shades (unless you are make-up addict like me then it is totally justifiable and reasonable to own 17 contour palettes). If you find this helpful, I could also do a guide on a starter kit for teens or just for those starting out and not include the larger face palettes but rather products that will fit in your make-up bag. 

Starter Make-Up Kit For Beginner Make-Up Artists

Products mentioned:

• Bobbi Brown brushes
• MAC brushes
• Makeup brushes from eBay - large fan brush and Sigma/Real Techniques dupes
• Real Techniques brushes
• Avon brushes
• Model's Own eyelash curler/teaspoon
• Revlon eyebrow scissors
• Active Cosmetics false lashes
• eBay false lashes
• Duo glue - clear and dark
• No. 7 Cosmetics instant radiance foundation - this is for dry skin but I recommend you picking up the one for oily skin too
• MAC face & body foundation
• Rimmel stay matte powder - 001 Transparent
• Boots surgical spirit decanted into spray bottle
• Plastic mixing wells
• Strictly Professional make-up brush cleaner
• Baby wipes
• Make-Up Revolution ultra cover & conceal palettes
• Make-Up Revolution highlighting palettes
• Make-Up Revolution ultra blush palettes
• Sleek contour kits
• Sleek blush by three palettes
• Imagic 12 color flash palette - MUFE flash dupe
• MAC cool and warm neutrals palette
• Make-Up Revolution iconic pro 1 and 2 palettes - Lorac pro dupes
• Urban Decay electric palette
• Make-Up Academy single eyeshadows 
• Gel liners - Inglot brown amc matte gel liner in 90 and Maybelline lasting black gel liner
• Eye pencils - Avon blackberry gel pencil, Urban Decay whiskey and perversion
• Glitters - MAC reflects antique gold and reflects pearl, Barry M glitter dusts
• Adhesives - Urban Decay, LA Splash, Lit Cosmetics, MAC
• Collection glam crystals glitter liners
• Duochrome eyeshadows like MAC's Club and Urban Decay's moondust in Solstice - see my blog post on dupes and alternatives
• Nyx eyebrow cake powder and eyebrow gel - harder to get ashier tones with cheaper brands such as Laval and Make-Up Gallery
• Make-Up Academy shade 1 clear mascara
• MAC lipsticks - Lovelorn and Lady Danger
• Liquid lipsticks - P.S Beauty liquid lipsticks, Make-Up Academy (Criminal and Reckless) and Make-Up Revolution velvet lacquers 
• Lipglosses - you could just get away with a clear gloss but the Tanya Burr ones are great quality 
• Lip pencils - MAC (Magenta and Entertain Me) Nyx (1000 Years, Chocolate, Rose Brown) and Barry M (shade 3 and 12)
• Nail varnishes - some brands I like include Sally Hansen, Barry M, Pure Ice, Wet N'Wild, Sinful Colors, Bourjois, Model's Own

Perfect Palette Tag

I really hope I am not the only girl in the world who would happily re-arrange my make-up palettes all day long without the onset of boredom. I love my eye palettes as they have either been gifts from someone special or been as a little treat to myself over the years. I suppose, they are reminders of contentment of having cosmetics wishes being fulfilled. I first noticed the Perfect Palette Tag making the rounds on YouTube just before Christmas and really enjoyed watching them. After four months of viewing palette picks from some of my favourite beauty enthusiasts and make-up artists I decided to do my own. Click here to watch my selection in motion. 

Perfect Palette Tag.

Perfect Palette Tag.

1.Best Packaging

Urban Decay 'Book of Shadows Volume 3/NYC' Palette

This was gifted to me in 2010 and I rarely use it simply because it was a gift and I want to cherish it forever. Bit of a silly reason to not use something, I may as well enjoy it. The Urban Decay NYC palette contains 16 eyeshadows in a variety of neutral and colour shades, all with shimmer and frost finishes. The shades are Perversion, Uzi, Loaded, Kush, Midnight Cowbuy Rides Again, Last Call, Rockstar, Money, Haight, Maui Wowie, Smog, Bordello, Radium, Snatch, Suspect, and Psychedelic Sister. It also comes with a tiny eyeshadow primer potion and two Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on pencils including the shades Zero and Ransom. The special aspect of of this palette is when you flip the lid, exposed is a motionless animation of an illuminated New York City scene. As it was limited edition for the Christmas season the year I received it, it is no longer available to buy via the usual places. If you do manage to find it for a reasonable price, it makes a great display addition to a vanity table. 

RRP £45/$54.

Number of Eyeshadows: 16.

Net Weight: Shipping weight is 2lbs. 

Individual Shadow Weight: 0.9g

Availability: Unknown.

Best Packaging: Urban Decay 'Book of Shadows Volume 3/NYC' palette.

2.Best Colour Payoff

Sugarpill 'Addicted To Pretty' Palettes

These Sugarpill palettes are beyond pigmented. I have two from the 'Addicted To Pretty' range which are 'Burning Heart' and 'Sweetheart.' Each palette contains four shadows and between them the colours are Love+, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Poison Plum, Dollipop, Tako, Afterparty and Midori. They are mostly matte shades but some do have a trace of shimmer, which is virtyually undetectable when applied to the lids. These shadows are rich and intense with a soft feel, making application and blending seamless. 

RRP £24.95/$34.

Number of Eyeshadows: 4 per palette. 

Net Weight: 3.5g per palette. 

Individual Shadow Weight: Just under 0.9g per shadow.

Availability: Cocktail Cosmetics,  Love Make-Up and Sugarpill.

Best Colour Payoff: Sugarpill 'Addicted To Pretty' palettes.

3.Most Versatile

ELF '144 Neutral' Palette

The ELF '144 Neutral' Palette contains every neutral colour you could imagine including cool and warm hues of brown, cream, bronze, gold, burgundy, cranberry, silver and black. This palette is versatile in texture as they range between matte, satin and shimmer finishes. When layered on top of an eyeshadow base these colours can last all day. It is a perfect palette to take your look from day to night making it an adaptable palette that will help you achieve any number of looks. For a full review click here. 

RRP £20/$30

Number of Eyeshadows: 144.

Net Weight: 86.4g.

Individual Shadow Weight: 0.6g.

Availability: EyesLipsFace USA and Amazon UK.

Most Versatile: ELF '144 Neutral' palette.

4.Best for Travelling

Coastal Scents 'Revealed' Palette

The Coastal Scents 'Revealed' palette is a more affordable version of the Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 palettes as it combines the colours of both with a wallet-friendly price. The neutral shadows range in finishes including matte, shimmer and satin as well as vary in colour from taupes and pewters to bronzes and golds, not forgetting creamy beiges, ochre nudes and a spectrum of browns. With the colour choices and Revealed's  stiff slimline cardboard packaging, it the perfect travelling cosmetics companion.

RRP £21.49/$19.95

Number of Eyeshadows: 20.

Net Weight: 30g.

Individual Shadow Weight: 1.5g.

Availability: Coastal Scents, Amazon UK and eBay.

Best for Travelling: Coastal Scents 'Revealed' palette.

5.Biggest Regret

Urban Decay 'Black' Palette

I don't have any make-up regrets as, I believe, with everything in life, it is all a learning curve. However, for me, a disappointing palette was the Urban Decay 'Black' palette. Not a recent release as such, just a late purchase from me. The downfall of this one is not because of the palette itself as the smoky colours are impressive, it is more to do with my own experience. I bought this from eBay and the seller listed it as 'new other' stating that it was barely used. The shadows themselves have hardly even scratched the surface and I disinfected it with surgical spirit as soon as I received it. I was just disheartened that the packaging was shabby as if it had been living in unkempt squalor. The silver lettering was not as pristinely intact as I'd have preferred. I think I was more annoyed with myself for buying a used palette, even though previously used (yet clean) products are part of the territory for make-up aficionados. My OCD brain just won't let me use it myself. I think once I actually wear it, I'll feel more encouraged to use it regularly. 

RRP £32/$39

Number of Eyeshadows: 6.

Net Weight: 6.8.

Individual Shadow Weight: Just over 1.1g each.

Availability: eBay.

Biggest Regret: Urban Decay 'Black' palette.

6.Best Colour Names

Urban Decay 'Deluxe Shadow Box' Palette

Urban Decay colour names always combine metropolitan glamour with an alluring hobo corrosion, making the brand appealing to make-up addicts similar to me who adore raw, idiosyncratic beauty. The 'Deluxe Shadow Bow' was the first Urban Decay palette I owned and so these were the first unconventional colour names I knew of, making this palette the most memorable. Subsequently, Urban Decay palettes contain some of my all time favourite eyeshadows and this love of the unorthodox influenced my interest in other brands that similarly promote individuality such as Illamasqua and Too Faced. The names of this palette include Fishnet, Honey, Ransom, Graffiti, Zero, Peace, Shag, Scratch, and Underground - all of which nod to Urban Decay's mission of edgy, feminine beauty. Could not possibly love them more. 

RRP £14.99/$21.99

Number of Eyeshadows: 9.

Net Weight: 10g.

Individual Shadow Weight: Just over 1g each.

Availability: eBay.

Best Colour Names: Urban Decay 'Deluxe Shadow Box' palette.

7.Least Used

Make-Up Academy 'Undress Me Too' Palette

Make-Up Academy is one of my favourite brands. This palette is a replica of the often copied Naked 2 - which I love so this is not a personal dislike. It is simply a matter of already owning Naked 2 AND W7's 'In The Buff and so now I  have triple the amount of these cool neutral eyeshadow palettes (and now coveting Make-Up Revolution's 'Iconic 2' - why?? ... because I have make-up mania). There really is no need for me to use this except as a means to save room in my make-up bag as I'd opt for this over the bulkier Naked 2 and In The Buff palettes. 

RRP £4/$10.99

Number of Eyeshadows: 12.

Net Weight: 9.6g.

Individual Shadow Weight: 0.8g.

Availability: Make-Up Academy and Superdrug. 

Least Used: MUA 'Undress Me Too' palette.

8.Most Used

Sleek 'Oh So Special' Palette

The Sleek 'Oh So Special' i-Divine palette is affordable, compact and contains exceptional quality pink and neutral shadows. This palette is essentially a condensed version of the Naked 3 and has a good mixture of matte and shimmer shades. These are Bow (matte white cream), Organza (pale iridescent pink),  Ribbon (matte pink), Gift Basket (pink bronze), Glitz (pewter mauve), Celebrate (blackened plum), Pamper (shimmering pale pink), Gateau (pale golden mauve), The Mail (matte beige), Boxed (matte chocolate brown), Wrapped Up (deep matte mauve), and Noir (matte black). This is perhaps one of my favourite ever palettes as these pink gold colours are most complementary to my skin tone and eye colour. 

RRP £7.99/$11.99

Number of Eyeshadows: 12.

Net Weight: 13g.

Individual Shadow Weight: 1.1g.

Availability: Sleek and Amazon.

Most Used: Sleek 'Oh So Special' palette.

9.Most Loved

Too Faced 'Chocolate Bar' Palette

This cocoa infused Too Faced Chocolate bar smells good enough to eat. This palette has a great mixture of matte, satin and shimmer shades, two of which have a larger pans for highlight colours. The shadows are Gilded Ganache, White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Black Forest Truffle, Triple Fudge, Salted Caramel, Marzipan, Semi-Sweet, Strawberry Bon Bon, Candied Violet, Armaretto, Hazelnut, Creme Brule, Haute Chocolate, Cherry Cordial, and Champagne Truffle. With these charming names, suggestive of luxurious sweet treats mixed with velvety soft, richly pigmented shadows, it's no wonder it is my most loved palette. Read a full review here. 

RRP £45/$49

Number of Eyeshadows: 14.

Net Weight: 13.3g

Individual Shadow Weight: Just over 0.8g per shadow and 1.6g per highlight shade. 

Availability: Debenhams, Sephora, Too Faced and Ulta.

Most Loved: Too Faced 'Chocolate Bar' palette.

10.Desert Island 

Urban Decay 'Naked 3' Palette

The Urban Decay Naked 3 is a much cherished Christmas gift from my fiancé who understands my immediate need for yet another eyeshadow palette. Naked 3 is the rosy hued sister of Naked, Naked 2 and Naked Basics. It comes with a dual ended synthetic brush perfect for laying down the product on one end and blending out with the other. Naked 3 does not disappoint with 12 blendable, never seen before velvety shades all centred around rose gold hues. There is a mixture of matte, shimmer and glitter shades. The colours are Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, and Blackheart which resemble the metallic cast of a certain infamous Michael Kors watch. Read a full review here. 

RRP £37/$52

Number of Eyeshadows: 12.

Net Weight: 15.6g.

Individual Shadow Weight: 1.3g.

Availability: Debenhams, House Of Fraser, Feel Unique, Urban Decay, Sephora and Ulta. 

Desert Island: Urban Decay Naked 3. 

I imagine that the way I talk about my make-up palettes is the way Miranda interacts with her fruit friends and vegetapals.

Now I want to put faces on my palettes.

I think I will do this tag again in another six months to see if I have found anything to replace my current selection. 

Perfect Palette Tag.