I’ve gotten a couple of messages on my personal Instagram account (@dayangatul) on how and where does a gal start when she’s still new to makeup? Should she give in to peer pressure and try to emulate this?
Or should she just stick to the basics and build up skill and looks from there?
The latter obviously!
If I had a 14-year-old sister asking me about makeup, the first thing I’d do is bring up old stories of my makeup past and how I only started wearing lipstick when I was 19. After I’ve given her a major throwback on how much better kids were back in my day, only then I’d suggest to her a couple of things to have in her first ever makeup bag. If you’re a makeup beginner (even if you’re not 14), give this a little listen.
Do not spend too much on things you might not even wear at the end of the day!
Here’s a list consisting of less than 10 products you might find useful if you’re a makeup newbie. Makeup can be intimidating and I disagree with the whole “The Internet Made Me Buy It” culture. You don’t need a blinding highlighter just because a pink-haired Youtuber told you so. When you’re ready to pop your makeup cherry, what you should think of getting are easy, obtainable and straight to the point items. None of those Instagram makeup hanky pankies.
1. Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer
If you need coverage, you need concealer. Not. More. Foundation. Foundation, or your base as people call it, should be kept as thin and light as possible. Your skin ought to still look like skin, so you might want to consider getting a lightweight foundation or a tinted moisturiser. A good lightweight foundation I’ve tried and tested is the MAC Face and Body Foundation – it’s as light as foundation should go with just enough sheer coverage. Be careful of “sheer foundation” labelling as some brands who’ve only got money on their minds are cruel enough to sell skin-colored water and claim it as “foundation”.
*Just a side note, foundation is where you should invest in compared to other products. Foundation goes all over your face, so stick to a trustworthy brand that doesn’t have any harmful or illegal ingredients. You only have one face, take care of it’s skin.
2. Concealer
One with a wand, preferably. Pots are nice but wands are more convenient. Get a concealer with coverage according to your skin type. Always remember, concealer is meant for concealing – not covering your face. Spot concealing is always the way to go. Got a zit on your nose? Cover just your nose with a bit of concealer. Got a blemish on your forehead? Cover that up with the right amount of concealer. A little goes a long way. Just because some Instagrammers or YouTubers insist on piling up concealer on their T-Zone and covering their undereyes using the upside down triangle method doesn’t mean you should too. When you’re ready for thick, full-faced makeup, maybe.
But you’re still a beginner so stick to simplicity for now.
A mere suggestion: If you’re on a budget, Catrice actually makes pretty decent wand concealers. Try checking their counter out at any Guardian pharmacy.
3. Powder
I recommend loose powder, although loose powders tend to cost more than regular ones. Laura Mercier and Make Up Forever are excellent and so is Kat Von D, but these brands are a bit on the pricier side. The good news though, is that there are some dupes you might be able to find at your local drugstore. Revlon has a good loose powder I’ve heard, but I haven’t personally tried it so I can’t really recommend. If you’re on a budget, another brand worth trying is Innisfree.
Something to note – loose powder has a more natural finish as opposed to compact powder. I’m all about looking natural hence the loose powder obsession.
4. Eyebrow pencil
No need to spend too much on eyebrow pencil. Silky Girl has great products to offer to be honest. Be sure it matches or is two times lighter than your hair color. Fill in the sparse areas of your eyebrows, do not go overboard with changing its shape.
5. Eye makeup?
If you’re new to makeup you might want to stick with a simple liner (pencil or liquid) and mascara. I don’t wear eyeliner that much to be honest but mascaras are (now surprisingly) a big deal to me. My current favorite is Diorshow but drugstore brands like Sendayu Tinggi (are you for real?!) are surprisingly good too.
If you’re going to wear eyeshadow start off with one or two shades to play with for starters. No need to buy a whole palette as that might hurt your pocket. Individual eyeshadows are perfect for this. Try Elianto or Innsifree.
6. Healthy flush
You can actually use lipstick for your lips – and for your cheeks. The traditional tube lipsticks of course. Don’t think about spreading some liquid lipstick on your cheeks to substitute blush. Of course, I didn’t have to tell you that now did I?
Now that we’ve got the basics covered – good luck with your new makeup adventure! You’ll be surprised by how much fun makeup can get. Slowly build up your makeup application skills. You may be basic today but tomorrow you might be able to give Kathleen Lights a run for her money, who knows?
MY LIPSTICK STAIN 