Value Sets

As any expert will tell you, all great makeup looks start with a good base—which means foundation should definitely be part of your collection. But since some days call for more coverage and others for less, you want a foundation that’s flexible. Enter: Total Control Pro Drop Foundation, the star of our Vegan Longwear Complexion set. This customizable foundation offers buildable coverage with color that stays true and lasts up to 12 hours. It’s available in 30 shades and can be further customized with our Total Control Pro Drop Foundation Hue Shifters for a your-skin-but-better look. The aforementioned makeup kit also includes our Honey Dew Me Up gel face primer to ensure your foundation goes on smoothly, as well as our best-selling Matte Setting Spray to help keep your base looking fresh and matte.

When it comes to makeup, “need” is subjective—some people like to keep their bathroom shelf stocked to the brim with different products, while for others, it’s all about sticking to some tried-and-true favorites. For those looking to build a beginner kit, there are some products we’d recommend, including a buildable foundation, concealer, blush, mascara, and eyeliner (opt for a pencil liner if you’re not used to lining your lids yet). You can use cream products, powder products, or a mix of the two—choose whatever feels best to you. One of the best ways to build a makeup kit to call your own is with value sets. That way, you don’t need to purchase everything individually and can save some money.

If you’re looking to build a professional kit, the sky is the limit. Stock your kit full of eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes, and highlighters so you can create endless looks and unleash your creativity. If you’ll be applying makeup for people other than yourself, it’s important to have products in a range of shades to complement different skin tones. Don’t forget to nab the brushes you’ll need to apply all of your products, too: Using the right makeup tools is essential if you want a pro-level look.

Your preferences are what matter most where makeup is concerned. That said, some products work better for certain skin types than others. If you have dry skin, for example, you may find that powder products emphasize the dryness. Instead, we suggest looking for cream and liquid products with hydrating formulas that help minimize dryness. The opposite is true for those with oily skin: When you’re prone to shine, mattifying formulas (including powders) may provide a more fresh-faced finish. And if you’re blemish-prone, we recommend using products that are non-comedogenic.

It would be impossible to boil down all of our best makeup tips for beginners into a single paragraph—advice varies depending on what makeup you’re using, what the occasion is, and what you’re trying to achieve. One thing that we will say is applicable across the board, though, is that if you want your makeup to last, setting spray is key. Get two with our Spray & Lock Bundle, which includes our iconic Matte Setting Spray as well as our Dewy Setting Spray for more glowy, fresh-faced makeup looks.