Makeup Kit Must Haves

Makeup Kit Must Haves

As a freelance makeup artist, (mobile makeup artist) there are some very important must haves that I can’t live without in my kit. I have tried so many different products and experimented with different formulas but have always gone back to the same old tried, tested and true products which I have listed below. Now, I’m not going to go over every single product I have but I will go over my favorites that I find myself reaching for every time! There’s not many of them because I’m a picky, picky makeup artist and I’m hard to please but these are the best of the best I’ve found throughout the years. Products which get the job done while being affordable at the same time. I’m sure I could find a better foundation or lipstick for 10X’s the cost but it’s not practical for a freelancer so I don’t even bother with super high end stuff. I want my kit and my recommendations to be effective and affordable. I hope you find some useful information below that helps you as a new freelance makeup artist looking to build your kit or someone who’s been in the industry for years looking for something different to add to their kit. Read on and let me know what you think in the comments section!

MY GO TO FOUNDATIONvegan foundation

For years I was using Makeup Forever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation, which is a great foundation that beautifully for photography. But I found that it was causing some of my clients to breakout. And with my recent research into the toxic ingredients found in many products on the market I decided that it was time to switch to a safe, vegan and 100% non-toxic foundation. My favorite so far is Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation. This is a beautiful medium to high coverage foundation that works well with all skin types and skin tones. It glides on like a dream, , has a little glow and great wearability. I haven’t had any complaints about it causing skin irritation or breakouts so it’s my new go-to foundation. If you’re interested in switching to clean, vegan products I highly recommend this foundation.

 

 

PRIMER

The one and only primer I’ve been using is from Arbonne. It’s called Makeup Primer. I know…super simple name but don’t let that fool you. This stuff is incredible! It completely blurs out the pores and fine lines, makes the skin feel super smooth and flawless, like I’m talking buttery soft! Many of my clients with sensitive skin tell me that their skin usually breaks out after wearing makeup but not when I use this primer! Another thing I love about it is that it’s 100% cruelty free, never tested on animals, no harmful chemicals in the ingredients, it’s vegan and non-toxic. If you look at the ingredient list for other products out there, the same can’t be said for many so for me this is a major plus point. Can’t live without this stuff!! A definite ride-or-die product in my kit!

 

GEL LINER

I never use a pencil liner anymore. I am a true believer in gel liner these days because it’s just so versatile. This stuff is super blendable, goes on like a dream and you can get a beautiful smudged liner for a smokey-eye or a sleek winged liner or as a base for eye shadow when you want something super dark and glam. It’s totally budge proof and water proof, which is great for weddings! The best gel liner I’ve used is the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Blackest Black! This stuff is awesome! I find that no matter how good a pencil liner is it always smudges or irritates some clients eyes but not this stuff! A must have for sure!

 

POWDER

I haven’t used many different powders because I’ve been using MAC Mineralized Skinfinish powder and the MAC Studio Fix Powder and haven’t had the need to find something better. These 2 have been my ride-or-die powders for years! They work on every skin type, they both have a beautiful natural finish and last all day. If you’re oily around the T-Zone you will probably need to touch up at some point in the day just like ANY powder out there but I just find that there’s nothing better. The Mineralized Skinfinsh has a beautiful natural sheen that’s great for everyday use, weddings, photography and special events and the Studio Fix is great for film and television, but of course you can also use it for everything else as well. If you haven’t tried this powder and you’re looking for something that will do the job right every time get this stuff and you won’t be disappointed! But for those of you who want clean, non-toxic, vegan products, then this is not the brand to use. Try Arbonne Second Nature Pressed Powder, it’s a new addition to my kit that I’ve used a few times and it works great!

 

LIPS

It’s hard to say whether I have a go-to must have product for lips. There’s just so many products out there, and I’ve used so, so, so many different formulas and brands. But I will say that I don’t like using matte lipsticks or liquid lipstick on the majority of my clients. I find them too drying and quite honestly a pain to apply and remove. I tend to stick to lipsticks that are more moisturizing with a little sheen. Some of my favorite brands are MAC Cremesheen Lipstick, NYX Butter Lipstick and of course my all-time favorite is Arbonne Smoothed Over Lipstick. These are all great options for a beautiful, buttery soft lip.

 

That about wraps up my go-to kit products. I have tons of other products in my kit, some I like and use often and some I don’t like but these are the only products that when I run out I rush to the store to repurchase! They will forever be a part of my freelance kit no matter how many other products come out on the market! Let me know what you think of these products or if you have any suggestions of products I should try!