10 Basic Makeup Items for Beginners (Essentials Only)

Do you need help choosing the right makeup items as a beginner?

I’ve been there. I didn’t get into the makeup game until my mid-20s (so yeah – I was late to the makeup party 🥹)

What do I need? Should I buy this product? These questions were always on my mind.

I had no clue where to start.

But after viewing hundreds of YouTube videos, receiving tips from my lovely cousins, and months of trial and error, I was able to compile a list of basic makeup items that I needed to do a full face of makeup.

So, if you’ve been struggling to figure out what makeup essentials you need, no worries!

I’ve created a list of 10 items just for you, and I’ve also included some of my favorite holy grail products just in case you want to try them out.

Table of Contents

• 1. Moisturizer
• 2. Primer
• 3. Foundation
• 4. Concealer
• 5. Eye Shadow
• 6. Eyeliner
• 7. Brow Pencil/Pomade
• 8. Mascara
• 9. Lipstick
• 10. Setting Spray/Powder

Basic Makeup Items For Beginners

1. Moisturizer

First up, moisturizer. Moisturizing your skin is so important. You want your base (the skin on your face) to be as smooth as possible.

Imagine beautifully applied makeup over patchy dry skin. Your whole look will be ruined!

When choosing a moisturizer for your skin, pay attention to your skin type. For example, you should stick to an oil-free moisturizer if you have oily skin.

My favorite moisturizer is the Clean and Clear Dual Action Face Moisturizer.

Beginner Tip for Use: Use witch hazel/toner before applying your moisturizer. This will help reduce the amount of oil on your skin.

2. Primer

Where are my oily friends?! If you have oily skin a good primer will be a godsend. Trust me.

Primer is a product applied prior to applying your foundation. It allows your foundation to be applied uniformly across your skin.

Your primer is just as important as your moisturizer. You’ll also want to pay special attention to your skin type when choosing a primer. There are primers for large pores, oily skin, dry skin, and much more.

Beginner Tip for Use: your primer to sit on your face for a few minutes before applying foundation.

3. Foundation

And again, when picking a foundation, you have to pay attention to your skin type.

If you have oily skin, stick to matte foundations. For dry or combination skin, try using a dewy foundation.

Foundation also needs to match your skin tone. This is super important if you want a flawless look. When trying to match your shade, I recommend putting it directly onto your face and not on the top of your hand or inside of your wrist. 

The color of your hand and wrist can differ from the color of your face.

So apply the foundation directly to your face and check it in 10 minutes. Check it in natural lighting. How does it look? Does it look orange? Ashy? Or is it perfect?!

Sometimes we do a shade test and don’t let the makeup sit for a few minutes. Then you get home and apply your makeup only to realize you look like a carrot.That is not what you want.

This has happened to me, unfortunately. But now you don’t have to suffer the same fate!

Beginner Tip for Use: Always do foundation matching in natural light.

4. Concealer

Do you suffer from acne scars? Redness? Or skin discoloration? This is where concealer saves the day. Concealer can cover any less-than-perfect areas of your skin.

This ensures that when you apply your foundation it will look uniform.

Concealer can also be used over your foundation to highlight the areas under your eyes. It can also be used to clean up and sharpen your eyebrows.

Beginner Tip for Use: Your concealer should be 1 to 2 shades lighter than your skin.

5. Eye Shadow

Eye shadows come in all different colors. For beginners, start out with neutral colors first. They’re easier to work with and mistakes are less noticeable.

Once you’re comfortable with neutral colors, try out some super colorful shadows.

Beginner Tip for Use: Use an eye primer to help your eye shadow show up vibrantly. If you don’t have an eye primer, you can also use concealer.

6. Eyeliner

Eyeliner comes in many forms – pencil, liquid, and cream. It also comes in different colors. Try different brands and forms until you find one that you really like.

I personally prefer liquid liner. It is easier to use and glides on effortlessly. My favorite eyeliner is by Physician’s Formula in the color black. It stays on all day.

Beginner Tip for Use: Applying eyeliner is an art. So take your time and apply it slowly.

7. Brow Pencil/Pomade

Brows are one of your most important facial features. Brows can make or break you. Use a pencil or pomade to keep your brows looking neat. When I was a beginner, I used the NYX eyebrow pencil. It worked great for me.

Now I use the Ardell Brow Dip Pomade in dark brown. It’s amazing and my brows stay on all day. They look neat, natural, and full.

If you’re wondering about the role your eyebrows play in your overall appearance, check out my article on 10 Ways to Always Look Your Best.

Beginner Tip for Use: Don’t go too dark with the brow color, and apply lightly when filling in brows.

8. Mascara

Don’t you love long and beautiful eyelashes? Invest in a good mascara that makes your lashes look full and elongated. Please make sure you use waterproof mascara!

If not, you run the risk of having black streaks under your eyes at the end of the day.

Beginner Tip for Use: Apply mascara to your outer lashes first then work your way into the corners.

9. Lipstick/Gloss

Add some color to your lips using gloss or lipstick. This will add the finishing touch to your overall look.

There is an endless supply of lipsticks and glosses in every color you could possibly imagine. There are lip stains, matte lipstick, and glossy lipstick. Really, the options are endless.

I love matte lipsticks! Even in the winter.

Beginner Tip for Use: If you’re going to wear matte lipstick, be sure to exfoliate your lips regularly.

10. Setting Powder/Setting Spray

You’ve made it! Your foundation is flawless and your lashes look fly. It would be a shame if all your hard work melted off in a couple of hours, right?

So we need to make sure your makeup stays on all day! You want to finish off your makeup application with a setting powder or a setting spray. I prefer a setting spray over setting powder.

If you want extra staying power, use both a setting powder and spray. Just set your face with the powder and spray the setting spray afterward.

Beginner Tip for Use: Go easy on the powder. Sometimes it can get cakey.

What Makeup Essentials Will You Use?

So, I’ve given you a list of makeup products for beginners. Are you ready to incorporate these items into your makeup routine? Do you already use some of these items?

I want to see your beautiful faces!

Need more ideas and tips to help you elevate your looks? Read these posts:

• 10 Ways to Always Look Your Best
• How to Make Press-On Nails Last for Two Weeks