Building your first makeup tool kit collection can be overwhelming. It’s best to start simple and build up more products along the way as you discover the looks you enjoy creating.
This checklist will make sure you have everything you need to get started.
WANT TO KNOW THE BEST MAKEUP TOOL KIT ESSENTIALS EVERY MAKEUP WEARER SHOULD HAVE? THESE ARE THE FOUNDATION TOOLS EVERY MAKEUP BAG SHOULD HAVE.
We are giving you the top makeup tool kit essentials so you won’t miss a thing. These tools complement your favorite cosmetic products, making sure you have all the essentials you need for the best makeup looks.
You’re going to learn the essential makeup tools starting with a small makeup bag, a foundation brush, an eyebrow spoolie, an eye shadow brush, an eyelash curler, and more.
BONUS!!! We’re sharing a few pro tools we are obsessed with that you can add to your makeup tool kit down the road.
This post is all about the Makeup Tool Kit Essentials For Beginners
We do not make commissions on our recommendations
BEST MAKEUP TOOL KIT ESSENTIALS
1. Beginner Makeup Bag
The first thing to grab is a makeup bag to store your cosmetics and makeup tools. If you’re building a basic makeup kit on a budget, we’ve got you covered. You don’t need anything too expensive or large. You just want something cute and big enough to store your longest item. For example, your foundation brush.
Look for a bag with one or more of the following, separate areas for products and tools, pockets, a mirror, a waterproof exterior, and a carrying handle.
Best Places To Get a Makeup Bag:
- Amazon
- Target
- Ulta
We like the one below from Amazon because it’s under $20, checks off a lot of boxes, comes in 3 sizes, and has a 4 1/2-star rating. Amazon Makeup Bag with Mirror
2. Foundation Application Tool
If you’re just getting started using foundation, you’ll want to include a foundation applicator in your makeup tool set, either a foundation sponge or a foundation brush. Both of these applicators can be used for foundation blending of liquid and powder foundations. Our recommendation is to try both before you invest in anything expensive.
Typically a foundation sponge is best for a lighter application and a brush can be used for light and heavy. When looking for a brush, try to find one with tapered edges so you can reach into smaller spaces on the face.
We recommend a foundation brush fluffy enough to blend properly but many people like a flat foundation brush.
Foundation Application Tool Tip! If you are looking for a full-coverage foundation look and want to avoid wasting foundation products with natural fibers, choose an easy-to-clean foundation brush with synthetic bristles.
3. Eyebrow Spoolie Makeup Tool
You’ll want to pick up an eyebrow spoolie to shape your brows. These spoolies can be purchased on their own and are typically very inexpensive but pack a big punch when wanting to shape an arch or fill in sparse areas in the brow.
Try a spoolie and eyebrow application brush in one for more variety. To use, brush your brow hairs into the position you like, for example, brush upwards up with an arch.
4. Eye Shadow Application Makeup Tool
Since we are building our beginner makeup kit on a budget, we need to focus on one brush for eyeshadow.
In a more pro makeup tool kit, we have at least four different types. However, we recommend a shadow brush This allows us to blend and get into smaller areas like the corner of our eyes. Use the fluffy side for all-over lid blending and the smaller stiff side for drawing more definitive lines.
5. Eyelash Curler
Adding an eyelash curler to your makeup tool kit essentials is a must. This little gadget will open your eyes up immediately. Look for ones with comfy rubber handles and an extra rubber pad.
To use, center your lashes inside the top and bottom curler, and gently squeeze the handles together. Hold for 5 seconds, and release. Repeat if needed.
6. An Angled Contour Brush
You’ll use this brush as both your blush brush and contouring brush to start.
To use, keep the color high on your cheekbones, to use as a contouring brush, follow under your jawline, and around your hairline blending well.
7. Cotton Swabs
These are the best erasers for makeup mishaps or mascara that somehow lands on your eyelid. Cotton swabs are a perfect makeup tool kit essential. Don’t smudge residue makeup off with your fingers, instead, let these little tools softly pick up the product without leaving dark smudge marks. If possible keep a few cotton swabs in your makeup bag within their own compartment or in a ziplock so they stay clean.
To remove mascara flakes on the eyelid, close the lid and gently twirl the swab on the affected area to lift the mascara without smudging. Add a little more shadow to that area if needed.
8. Tweezers
Sometimes we have hairs in places we’d rather not. Having a small pair of tweezers can help with this problem and can also be used to hold false lashes. We recommend tweezers with scissor handles because they are easy to use.
To use for eyebrow shaping, make the shape you prefer with your eyebrow spoolie and pluck the outlier hairs you don’t like with your tweezers. Be easy though, sometimes hair doesn’t always grow back and you may want them one day.
9. Lip and Eyeliner Pencil Sharpener
Nothing is worse than going to apply your eyeliner only to find it needs to be sharpened. Especially when out of town. Go for the pencil sharpener that allows for large and small pencils and holds the shavings. You can use this for pencil lipliners as well.
That’s it, you are now on your way to having an awesome makeup kit for beginners. We added a few professional makeup tool kit essentials below that we think you’ll love too!
Makeup Tool Kit Pro Tip Bonus!
Now that you have your makeup tool kit essentials, you are good to go. But if you want to take things up a notch down the road, these are a few makeup tools the pros use and we love!
Pro Makeup Tool Bag
The pros like to grab exactly what they need quickly. If you want to go straight to a pro makeup bag, look for multiple areas to organize your makeup tools and cosmetics. These more professional makeup bags are a bit pricier but offer a ton more space and more ways to organize your makeup tool kit for quick easy use and travel.
Makeup Mixing Palette
If you haven’t started using a makeup mixing palette you’re in for a treat. These pro tools keep your hands clean and allow you to blend and mix foundations, eye shadows, cream products, and more. We like the Blendii Makeup Mixing Palette because the adjustable strap is comfortable and its smooth porcelain work surface is easy to clean and fits inside the palm perfectly. Another mixing palette is this stainless steel plate that you hold with your thumb or finger.
Eyebrow Stencil and Stamping Makeup Tool
If you’ve seen some of the perfect arched eyebrows on Tik Tok or IG, you may be wondering how they get them so perfect. While some of them have a steady hand, others use eyebrow stencils and eyebrow stamping kits to provide them with the brow arches they prefer.
Retractable Lip Liner Brush
This little tool is a lipstick game changer. A lip brush allows you to perfectly line your lips, fill in your lips and add a slightly different shape to your lips.
For example, apply a lighter shade to the middle of your lips to add a plumper look. Having a retractable tool helps keep lipstick residue off your other things and keeps it clean.
This post was all about the 9 must-have makeup tool kit essentials for beginners.
If you have these 9 tools in your makeup bag you’ll have everything you need to get started using your cosmetics. Check out the pro makeup tools when you’re ready to level up your game.
