How to Build Your Makeup Kit from Scratch Pt. 1

Let’s explore the dreaded task of rebuilding your makeup kit from scratch. Whether you’re a fresh-faced newbie or have faced the heartbreaking loss of your beloved kit, this episode is here to help you get back on your feet.
So grab your brushes, take a deep breath, and let’s explore how to build your makeup kit from the ground up.

how to build your makeup kit from scratch pt. 1

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In This Episode We Cover:

• The one place you should never leave your makeup kit overnight.
• Tips for building your makeup kit from scratch with clarity and purpose.
• Recommendations for makeup palettes, including foundation palettes, concealer palettes, and setting powder palettes.

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click here to read the transcript!

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Episode 30: Show notes

Today, we’re diving into the world of makeup kit building.

Whether you’re a fresh-faced makeup artist ready to take on the industry or someone who’s experienced the heartache of losing their beloved makeup kit, this episode is for you.

So, let’s jump right in!

I wanted to start at the beginning, so let’s take a look at how to build a very simple skincare kit from scratch, with just a few key items.

Skincare: Keep it Simple

When rebuilding your makeup kit, it’s important to start with a solid skincare routine.

However, skincare can be expensive, so I recommend keeping it simple.

Start with a toner or astringent and a moisturizer. These staple products will help you feel prepared without breaking the bank. If you’re unsure where to start, consider picking up a travel set from your favorite skincare range.
I personally love the Dr. Hauschka and e.l.f. travel sets for their affordability and quality.

For those with a bit more to invest, I highly recommend Paula’s Choice, Biossance, or Augustinus Bader. Check out online stores like Dermstore and Skin Store for great deals and membership boxes that introduce you to new products each month.

Makeup: The Versatility of Palettes

Now, let’s talk makeup.

Some people believe that makeup palettes are dead, but as a professional makeup artist, I assure you they are very much alive.

Palettes offer versatility, flexibility, and creativity.

When starting from scratch, I suggest investing in a solid foundation palette. Graftobian, Mac Pro, and Bobbi Brown all offer great options. If you’re looking for a comprehensive palette that covers foundations, concealers, and correctors, Bobbi Brown’s pro face palette is a game-changer.

For concealer palettes, Mac’s selection is top-notch. Sleek, compact, and high-quality, they are a must-have in any makeup kit. And let’s not forget setting powders. The Ben Nye Media Pro Mojave and Bella Poudre palettes are personal favorites of mine. They come in handy for setting makeup and creating flawless finishes.

One Stop Shops: Sephora and Ulta

When it comes to shopping for makeup, Sephora and Ulta are my go-to stores.

Not only do they offer a wide range of products, but their rewards programs and freebies are an added bonus. Sephora’s Beauty Insider points and gifts often make me feel like a kid in a candy store.

Ulta is another great option, especially for those who prefer their range of products. Both stores carry the brands and products we’ve discussed, making them convenient one-stop shops for building your makeup kit.

Rebuilding your makeup kit can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can also be an exciting opportunity to curate a collection that suits your style and needs.

Remember to start with a solid skincare routine using affordable yet effective products.

Palettes are a makeup artist’s best friend, offering versatility and convenience. Invest in foundation, concealer, and setting powder palettes for a comprehensive kit.

Lastly, Sephora and Ulta are the places to be for all your makeup needs. Take advantage of their rewards programs and explore the vast selection of brands and products they of

I hope this episode has given you some quick fixes, affordable options, and inspiration to begin the journey of building or rebuilding your precious makeup kit.

Don’t forget to join me next time on 5 Minute Face Talk, where we’ll continue our exploration into the world of beauty.

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Click here to listen to this episode!

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Episode Transcript

[00:00:00]: “My car got broken into, and I left my makeup kit in it overnight, and now it’s all gone.” If I had a dollar for every time I heard those words, well, I’d have a lot of dollars.
So before we even get started, there’s your first lesson of the episode right there. If you work as a pro makeup artist of any type, do not leave your makeup kit in your car overnight. Ever. End of Story. No matter how long your day was that you just worked, or no matter how late it is that you get home, if you live up five flights of stairs, no matter how little you want to lug that thing back into your home, just do it.

[00:00:42]: The amount of heartache and strain that the trip or trips that it takes to get your kit inside your house is far smaller than what you’re about to go through that next day when you have to begin to recoup the years of growing and developing your kit, your brushes, and your tools, all of these really special things that also have memories, they become really special to us.
All of these things that have helped build your kit. And now you have to start again from scratch. Just get it in the house.

[00:01:49]: And that’s exactly what we’re going to explore today. Building your kit from scratch.
Now, if you’re a brand spanking new makeup artist, fresh out of college and ready to take on the world, then this episode is for you.
Or if you absolutely know that awful feeling that I described in the intro of losing the sum of your years as a professional makeup artist in a single night of loss, then I’m truly sorry.
I hope that I can help you with some quick fixes, some affordable options, and to help you begin the massive task of building or rebuilding your precious makeup kit.
So let’s get straight into it. I like to systematize just the way my brain works. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it can be a bit boring.

[00:02:37]: So let’s approach this conundrum in the same way.
So, by systematizing, let’s start with skincare.
And I think building from scratch, that you should just keep it simple. So, I suggest just adding a few staple products that are quite generic in use. I would honestly just keep it to an astringent or a toner and a moisturizer.
For the most part, skincare is really expensive, so by limiting yourself to just a few key products, it will help you get back in the game and help you to show up without feeling empty-handed. And that’s really hard because I know as makeup artists, we want to have the solution to every problem that our people face. You want to help them and you want to be able to solve their skincare issues, or at least help them feel better about those issues.

[00:03:25]: But something is better than nothing, right?
You could even try starting out with a little travel set of your favorite skincare range if you wanted to. I’ve always loved and relied on the Dr. Hauska travel sets, and Elf has a super affordable travel set which is a fantastic starter kit to get you back on your feet again. And if you’ve got a little bit more to invest, I recommend Paula’s choice, my favorite Biossance, the moisturizing set.
And from the top shelf, the one and only Augustinus Bader, the essential kit. Swoon. Oh, that’s awful. I don’t say that in real life.

[00:04:05]: I don’t know why I had to throw that in, but I did. I’m sorry.
And for me, I can’t go past shopping at places like Dermstore or Skin Store online for skincare.
They both have such a massive array of fantastic beauty products and also membership boxes that are worth a look at.
If you love subscription boxes and you like a good deal, they’re really great. And they can also expose you to a whole slew of new products each month. We’ll get into that another day. I’m going to try and keep the focus.

[00:04:39]: My mind does wander.
So yes, back onto the kit building, and for makeup these days, I always come back to Sephora as my one stop shop.
And I’m also a bit of a sucker for earning my beauty insider points and also getting the odd freebie or gift from the kind folks of Sephora here and there.
So thanks, Sephora.

And if you’re more of an Ulta fan, then you should get on board the Ultimate system as well and start racking up your points over there with the fine folks at Ulta too. Now, there’s going to be a lot of products that we’re going to discuss today, and most of them are available at either or both of those stores.
So if you want to take a look at them after, remember, you can find all the products we’re about to go through at my show notes inside The Makeup Refinery.
But let’s get through this episode first. Now, there’s quite a bit of debate going on right now on the interwebs about makeup palettes, would you believe? And the question of whether or not the humble makeup palette is dead.

[00:05:43]: And while I think this probably applies more to the retail world and the everyday consumer, as opposed to the professional makeup artist, I happen to hold the unpopular belief that they are very much alive. I love using makeup palettes.
Aside from giving you versatility, flexibility, and also creativity. Look how smart I just sounded. All the big words. Wowzers. Kerrin.
Where was I? I think the makeup palette is very much alive for the professional makeup artists these days.

[00:06:18]: And if you’re building your kit from scratch, I suggest that your very first stop is to consider investing in some solid foundation palettes, or even just one. That’s right, one single palette.

The Graftobian foundation palettes are a perfect entry point for beginners and advanced makeup artists alike.
I also love the Mac Pro foundation palette, although I would like to see some of those middle of the range shades that are in the palette replaced with way more deeper tones, to be honest.
And I also have to mention the one and only Bobbi Brown pro face palette. It’s kind of phenomenal. And if you only had one complexion product in your kit, it could probably just be that palette. It contains such a comprehensive range of cream foundations, as well as concealers and correctors.

[00:07:13]: And speaking of concealer palettes, I should just mention the Mac concealer palettes, which I love. Yes, I love, love, love, and have bought them repeatedly. They’re super high quality and high coverage, actually. And they’re sleek and compact.
They just look really professional, and I use them all the time.
Now, while we’re loving on palettes, let’s carry on with setting powders, would you believe, for palettes? Yes. The Ben Nye Media Pro Mojave and Bella Poudre palettes are palettes that I carry in both my tiny but oh so mighty BG beauty kit. And I’ve got to do an episode on this alone because it just gets me so excited.

[00:07:58]: Honestly, my BG Kit is like a lunchbox. It is tiny, but it has everything I need in it to rely on. I’m really proud of it. It’s like something I created, and I will use it always when I’m in the world of BG. It’s super handy. But again, coming back to it, stay focused, Kerrin. Ah. We will talk about that at some point.

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