How to put together a basic makeup artist case: a word from a professional

You have completed makeup artist courses (or maybe even several), you know the techniques of applying products and the features of working with color. The next step before you go free is to collect a basic set of tools and cosmetic products that you will need to create your makeup. What products you can’t do without, which ones you can hold off on, which shades and textures to give preference to at first and what you can save on - all these questions are spinning in your head, and it’s important to find the right answers to them. That’s what we did, talking about the basic case of a makeup artist with professional makeup artist & stylist Evgenia Elisova .

Evgenia Elisova , professional makeup artist & stylist, works with such stars as Jamala, Laura Marti, Yasya Minochkina, Yulia Magdych, Mira, Maria Yastremskaya

What products should you purchase first? First of all, I recommend purchasing this set of the most necessary cosmetic products and tools for a basic case for makeup artists:

• Set of brushes
• Tweezers
• Sterillium, Bacillol
• Brush Cleaning Liquid
• Sharpener
• Cotton sponges and buds
• Micellar water
• Moisturizing cream
• Foundation with a lifting effect and medium coverage
• Adjuster: light and dark
• Concealer
• Oil corrector palette
• Liquid highlighter
• Transparent powder
• Dry corrector for face sculpting
• Baked blush in a soft pink shade
• Eyebrow shadows 2 shades
• Transparent gel for fixing eyebrows
• Eyeshadow palette in natural shades
• Black gel eyeliner
• Eyeliner: brown, black, bronze
• Long-lasting lipsticks: red, nude, peach
• Lip pencils: coffee, soft pink, burgundy

What beauty products can you buy later?

Over time, it is worth supplementing your professional makeup artist case with such tools as:

• Full coverage foundation
• Dry highlighter palette
• Cream blush
• Cream eyeshadow
• Bronzer
• Eyeshadow palette with vibrant and duochrome shades
• Eyebrow shadow palette
• Colored eyebrow gel
• Pigments
• Glitters
• Adjuster green and peach
• Base makeup
• Colored pencils and eyeliners
• Small mirror for client

What can you save on and what should you not?

The skin plays a major role in makeup, so it is important to use only high-quality care and decorative products that we will apply to the clients’ skin. We do not skimp on makeup remover, care and toning products: tone, concealer, corrector, powder, makeup bases. Everything else - mascara, pencils, dry and cream shadows, dry highlighters, lipsticks, glosses - can be easily selected in different price segments. For example, pencils made in Germany are generally of high quality, and this does not depend on the price. Baked cosmetics: bronzers, shadows, blushes, highlighters, made in Italy, will also delight you with quality.

What about shades of foundations, lipsticks, eye shadows?

A makeup artist, having completed the course, should have knowledge about color and mixing shades. Professional foundations differ in coverage and texture. Therefore, it is enough to have a water-based adjuster to change the lightness and shade of a suitable tone. Of course, every professional brand has universal shades of foundation - just ask a consultant about them, and he will quickly select the tone for you. It is very convenient for beginners to use such tools.

It's even easier with shadows. First, I recommend purchasing a palette with natural beige-brown eyeshadow shades. After that, depending on the place of work and tasks, purchase other products. To create images on television, long-lasting dry and creamy, pigmented, pure eyeshadow colors are suitable. Client and wedding makeup are shades of pure color, delicate, slightly dusty. Satin, matte, pearlescent, with shimmer - all these options are relevant for commercial makeup. And in the fashion industry you will need all of the above plus in different textures.

Lipsticks. Pay attention to the mini lipstick sets. Large stores like Sephora often release products in this format from different brands.

What multifunctional products should be in a makeup artist's bag?

Pay attention to Duraline - this product turns dry textures into liquid ones, gives makeup durability and even revives dried mousse shadows and mascara. Also buy a makeup fixative - it refreshes the skin, fixes makeup, and when mixed with dry shadows, adds brightness and durability to the product.

What about brushes?

I advise you to purchase brushes as a set, and then add to it as you work. At the moment, the most popular brushes are those made from goat hair and synthetic ones. Synthetic ones are convenient for distributing oily textures. But it’s convenient to apply shadows, powder and highlighters with natural goat brushes.

If you want the most delicate transitions on the eyelid and illuminated skin on the cheekbones, buy squirrel brushes - they apply the product with a veil and do not move the tone and powder. Brushes for arrows and lips can even be bought at an art store.

And I want to emphasize – high-quality brushes are worth the money! They last longer, apply the product efficiently and easily, and the client gets great pleasure from the process of creating makeup.