There are two kinds of women in this world: those who love makeup and those who are intimidated by it. If you fall under the latter category, then chances are that you’re always overwhelmed by the sheer number of products available in the market, and are never really sure about which ones are the ‘must-have’ items. And if you’re a makeup junkie, then you’ve got your own problem—makeup hoarding. When you love makeup, you tend to buy a lot of it and end up with way too many products at your disposal, half of which you rarely, if ever, use. So whether you’re a makeup addict or a makeup newbie, we can all use some help in figuring out which are the absolute must-have beauty essentials that a woman should have in her makeup wardrobe.
Here are the top 15 things every woman needs in her makeup wardrobe!
1. Foundation
This is a no-brainer. When it comes to makeup, you’re the artist, your face is the canvas, and your foundation is the base coat that ultimately helps you achieve beautiful results. So with that in mind, you need to find your go-to foundation, one that matches your skin tone perfectly. And while you’re at it, it’s a good idea to get a foundation with SPF. Just experiment with different brands and textures till you find THE ONE for you. And yes, every girl has THE ONE foundation out there for her. You just have to be patient and persevere, waiting for the day you meet your one!
Tip: Remember that you might need a different foundation as the seasons change. What works for you in the summer might not necessarily work well in the winter. So you need to find out what your skin likes: liquid, cream, or powder foundation? Also, if your skin loses its tanned, summer-glow during winter, then you will have to move a shade or two lighter to match your winter skin tone. Your foundation should always match your skin tone. Unless you like looking like you’ve got face paint on, with your face and neck a different shade than the rest of your body. Ugh!
2. Concealer
If you’re prone to breakouts and/or dark circles under the eyes, then a concealer is a definite must-have product for you. Makeup is all about hiding imperfections and enhancing your looks, and a concealer helps you do just that. No amount of foundation can give quite the coverage and finish that a concealer can. And that is why a concealer is an indispensable product when it comes to makeup. Concealers come in various textures, from the heavy-coverage dense ones to the lighter-coverage liquid ones. Which one you pick depends on how much help you need from the concealer. If you have very bad dark circles and stubborn spots that need a lot of persuasion to remain hidden, then a full coverage concealer is the way to go. But if you feel that you want a more natural, not-too-done-up look, then a liquid concealer that can be dotted and blended will work well for you.
Tip: The best way to blend a concealer is to dab it with your ring finger. This method works better than using a brush as the warmth of your finger will make blending easier. Just remember that with concealers, less is more. Your aim should be to subtly camouflage any visible flaws, while ensuring that your skin does not look cakey.
3. Moisturizer
When it comes to makeup, a moisturizer is your holy grail product. Ask any makeup artist and they will confirm that the moisturizer is definitely one of the most important products when it comes to basic makeup essentials. Whether you have dry, normal, or oily skin, your makeup routine should always start with a moisturizer. This seems obvious when dealing with dry skin. After all, how can you put on makeup on dry, flaky skin? But what about normal to oily skin? Do they need moisturizer as well? Oh, yes, they do! Moisturizer helps smooth out and hydrate your skin, getting it ready for the makeup. So a moisturizer is basically prepping your skin, ensuring that your makeup goes on smoothly. While some people argue that a primer does exactly that, our point is that, between a primer and a moisturizer, a moisturizer wins hands down, simply because you can still manage without a primer, but managing without a moisturizer is a nightmare no girl wants to face. The fact is that makeup tends to dry out your skin. So if you skip the moisturizer, you are leaving yourself open to the dreaded ‘lizard skin’ scenario. You know, the one where your skin becomes scaly and patchy. We’ve nicknamed it the ‘Gecko look’. Clever, huh?
Tip: Dry skin needs an oil-based moisturizer; normal skin requires a water-based moisturizer; and oily skin will benefit from a gel-based moisturizer.
4. Mascara
If you’ve ever tried to cover up your hangover and sleepless nights with makeup, you know that the mascara is your knight in shining armor—or in this instance, your black knight. It instantly makes your eyes look more open and wakeful. The mascara has come to many a woman’s rescue by adding that little something to make the face look more bright and less tired. And it does it in a matter of seconds. Pretty impressive! That is why the mascara should have pride of place in your makeup wardrobe. Would you rather be fussing around with fake lashes, or be done with a few swipes of mascara? Less time spent on putting on your makeup means more time to enjoy that cup of morning coffee!
Tip: Even on the days that you’re opting for an au naturel look, it’s a good idea to swipe on a few coats of clear mascara. They define the lashes without being overly dramatic. Win-win situation, anyone?
5. Eyeliner
Who doesn’t love eyeliner? If you love playing up your eyes, then the eyeliner is for sure the magic wand that you need to be wielding. There are so many different looks that you can create with this one little item. If you find black eyeliner to be a little too stark and dramatic for everyday wear, you can use a brown or grey liner instead for a softer, subtler look. There are so many options to choose from. There is the liquid eye liner, the gel liner and of course the pencil liner. Which one of these you opt for totally depends on which medium you are comfortable with. For some women liquid liners are a breeze, while some others swear by the gel liner. Pick your favorite and add it to your makeup arsenal.
Tip: Cut down on your makeup time by mastering the cat-eye look. Use craft tape to help you create neat, clean, sharp lines.
6. Lip Scrub
Very often, the lip scrub is overlooked when talking about beauty essentials. And that is flabbergasting, especially when you consider just how useful it is. Exfoliating the lips before putting on lipstick should be a beauty routine that every woman follows. By using a lip scrub prior to applying lipstick, you are ensuring that your lips are prepped and ready for the lipstick. Doing this is particularly useful if you have dry, chapped lips. And the best part is that you can make your own DIY lip scrub at home. Simply mix a few drops of olive oil with sugar and rub it on your lips. While the sugar granules will exfoliate, the olive oil will help moisturize the lips.
Tip: If you’re in the habit of licking your lips whenever they feel dry, then you need to stop doing that ASAP. Saliva actually makes your lips drier, making them feel even more chapped. So refrain from licking your lips!
7. Lipstick
Lipstick is many a woman’s favorite makeup item. No makeup wardrobe is complete without a fabulous lipstick in it. Now, if you have a huge collection of lipsticks, then you need to narrow it down to one or two shades that are your BFFs. Oh come on, we’ve all got those shades. Those lipsticks that we keep wearing all the time, even after buying so many other shades. New lipsticks may come and go, but our BFF shades remain the same. So pick your favorite lipstick, preferably a color that works well both for daytime and evening.
Tip: If you want to create a nice pout, use a lip pencil before applying your lipstick. It’ll give your lips more dimension, giving you a pout that rivals’ Angelina Jolie’s (okay, that’s total exaggeration, but you get the gist).
8. Makeup Wipes
If there’s one item that you need to stock up on, it is makeup wipes. Makeup wipes are lifesavers and every woman should have a pack in her handbag at all times. You never know when they’ll come in handy. From cleaning your face of all the stubborn makeup after a crazy night out to helping you erase and fix any makeup errors (read eyeliner mishap), makeup wipes are your go-to fixers. They are easy to use and super convenient. And if you’re guilty of going to bed without taking your makeup off because you’re ‘too tired’, then makeup wipes will get the job done for you in under a minute. In an ideal life, you will cleanse, tone, and moisturize religiously every night. But alas, our lives are fun, spontaneous, and anything but ideal. So makeup wipes are the way to go!
Tip: When using a makeup wipe, be sure to wipe the rest of your face before tackling your eyes. This way you’ll avoid streaking mascara and eyeliner all over your face as you wipe makeup off.
9. Tweezers
Every woman needs a little help from her trusty little tweezers once in a while. Even if your brow-game is on point, thanks to your meticulous brow-maintenance routines, every now and then, you’ll spot a stray hair peeking out. Cue tweezers to the rescue. So always make sure that you have a pair of tweezers in your makeup kit, especially when you travel (because close-up travel selfies, duh!). So stay calm and tweeze out those strays!
Tip: Never get overzealous and let yourself get carried away while tweezing. We’ve seen, and heard, too many horror stories of women over-plucking their brows. Don’t do that to your poor brows or you might end up with a perpetually surprised expression. Not a likable look, that.
10. Eye Shadow Palette
An eye shadow palette is a very versatile product. Apart from using it for the obvious reasons—to add depth and color to the eyes—you can also use the eyeshadows to contour and highlight your face, as an eyebrow powder to fill in and define your eyebrows, and even as a blush. With so many different ways to use it, an eye shadow palette is definitely one of the travel beauty essentials that every woman ought to own.
Tip: Try to pick a palette that contains shades that work well with your skin tone. In general, nudes and browns work well on pretty much all skin tones.
11. Bronzer
The easiest way to give your face a sun-kissed look is to use a bronzer. If your face is too pale, needing some color, or if you just want to add a little subtle sheen to it, then a good bronzer will do the trick. Invest in one that has a warm tone to it with just a hint of shine. You can try using a bronzer with a pink or gold undertone and see which one works well with your skin tone. The best part about a bronzer is that it can also be used to contour your face. So if contouring is your thing, then a good bronzer is a definite must-have item in your makeup wardrobe, for sure!
Tip: Use a good quality brush to blend the bronzer well. And do not forget to dust some onto your neck and collar bone. The last thing you need is to be sporting a nice, bronze-tinted face with pale neck and shoulders.
12. Blush
Give your cheeks a nice flush of color with a powder blush. Most woman find it easier to work with a powder blush, but if you’re more comfortable with a cream blush or a cheek stain, then go on and add those to your makeup kit. Whichever one you opt for, the trick is to blend and blend and blend to ensure that the blush looks seamlessly integrated and does not stand out. The aim is to give your cheeks a nice flush of color, not have streaks of pink across your cheeks.
Again, when picking a blush, be aware of what suits your skin tone. Warmer skin tones would benefit from blushes with an orange/brown undertone, while pale skin tones work well with pink/peach shades.
Tip: If you have acne, then you might want to steer clear of blushes as they tend to make acne and other flaws look more pronounced, thereby drawing attention to them.
13. Makeup Setting Spray
Another Holy Grail item that every woman should own is a makeup setting spray. When you go to all that trouble to contour and highlight your face, you want the results to last long without smudging or fading away. And that is what a makeup setting spray helps you do. It sets your makeup, ensuring that you look fresh all day long. A makeup setting spray is a must-have item in the summer, when the hot weather can lead to a lot of sweating, which in turn could melt your makeup. So seal it all with a spritz or two of your setting spray and look fabulous for those Instagram shots!
Tip: Hydrating mist and makeup setting sprays are two totally different things. Be careful to not mix them up!
14. Compact Powder
Of course you need your compact powder with you at all times. Not only do you need to blot out any oil and shine and give your face a touch up every now and then, but the handy mirror that most compacts come with is the perfect tool to touch up lipstick and make sure your eye makeup hasn’t smudged. While your compact powder likely comes with a makeup sponge to apply it, it’s a good idea to use a nice buff makeup brush instead. Makeup sponges tend to deposit more product, resulting in a heavily made-up look. On contrary, makeup brushes are good at distributing minimal product and giving you a light, even coverage. Loose powder has been gaining popularity in recent times. While it’s true that they give a more natural coverage with minimal effort, the problem with loose powder is that they are more susceptible to spills. Anything that might make a huge mess is a definite no-no. When you’re rushing to get to work, the last thing you need to worry about is cleaning up your dresser that’s covered in powder!
Tip: Invest in a good compact powder that comes in a sturdy little box. There’s nothing worse than having your compact crack and make a mess in your makeup bag!
15. Makeup Brushes
You will need a couple of good makeup brushes to take care of all your makeup needs. Investing in a double-ended makeup brush kit will save you space, and all you will need is a couple of brushes to do your eye makeup, contouring, and blending. Don’t be stingy when it comes to your makeup brushes. Invest in good-quality ones that will last for a very long time and help you achieve desired results. Cheap makeup brushes will in turn provide cheap results. So splurge on a nice makeup brush kit. Just get one that’s compact and does not have too many brushes in it. Honestly, you don’t need ten different brushes to do your makeup! So unless you’re a makeup artist, a small brush kit with four to five brushes should be just right for you. Be sure to clean your makeup brushes regularly! You don’t want to end up with rashes from using unclean makeup brushes.
Tip: Use synthetic brushes instead of natural ones as synthetic brushes are easy maintenance and are also long lasting.
So there you have it; fifteen items every woman needs to have in her makeup kit. Of course, this is a general list that can be customized to suit your personal preferences. So if you’re not someone who uses foundation on a daily basis, then you might want to switch that out for a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream. Likewise, if you’re not too keen on lipstick, then a neutral lip gloss or moisturizing lip balm should work better for you. Some women also swear by loose pigments. Loose pigments are quite versatile They can be used as an eye shadow, a blush, and can even be mixed with your lip gloss to create some interesting lip colors. If that sounds like something you’d like to experiment with, you should get yourself a couple of shades of loose pigment. The idea here is to have free reign to pick and choose, deciding which of these makeup items are the absolute must-haves, according to you. When it comes to makeup, there is just so many different options to choose from that it can get a little too overwhelming. This article aims to be a guide to help you build the perfect makeup wardrobe, providing you with a list of all the beauty essentials that a woman might need. But feel free to go ahead and customize it to your liking. After all, nobody knows your beauty routine better than you!
