Building your makeup kit: 5 foundation essentials

Skin is a crucial element of any ALL make up looks and relevant to every job in your career. Foundation is a good place to invest in your makeup kit, due to the quality of pigment in a product. There are so many products available on the market, however, I’m going to guide you through the top items for your kit for different skin types finishes, textures and coverages. 

A great tip for when you are building your foundation wardrobe is to buy a total of 6 shades in a variety of tones,  neutral and golden base, its also worth carrying a white. You can easily mix colours to shade match, your shade palette should have an option for every skin tone. Another consideration to keep things cost-effective is to split the cost with fellow artists and decant them. I did this when starting out and apply for makeup artist discounts where you can. Alternatively, get samples where you can for tones that you might not use as often if you don’t ask you don’t get. 

1 MAC Face & Body 

This is a cult classic and has a fantastic shade range. It looks great in person and photographs beautifully. 

The texture reads like a second skin and there’s a real secret to using this effectively. When you squeeze this out it is a watery texture, with the heat this emulsifies. Pop it in your fingertips and rub, the consistency transforms and looks like satin. The formula is easy to build and layer from sheer coverage to medium and is long-wearing. As the name suggests, this works as body makeup for flawless leg or arms. 

2 Estée Lauder- Double Wear. Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup

Formulated with a high pigment, it can cover most things due to its high coverage, super long wear and matte finish. Due to its matte texture, it is a great product as you can achieve any finish by mixing and it’s the best to know to mix with something like cold cream or moisturiser to sheer out. This will lighten the coverage and give a radiant finish. This was one of Charlotte Tilbury’s favourite blends before creating her own brand. This is a great option for oily skin and comes in a limited shade range. 

3 Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturisers Oil-Free 

A demi-matte skin formula that gives a skin-like look whilst blurs skin texture. The formula helps to control oil with sheer buildable coverage, it enhances the skin rather than hide it. It comes in a generous shade range and the formula works well on a normal to oily or combination skin.  

4 Deciem the ordinary serum foundation

Aside from its affordable price tag and luxury payoff. Serum skincare like texture that blurs the skin making it look smooth with medium coverage. This foundation is easy to blend with its water-like feel and a semi-matte finish. It comes in a wide variety of shades and they're free of parabens, sulfates, and they're cruelty-free.

5 Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Ideal for red carpet which looks flawless in person and in photographs. Inspired by charmeuse silk and it delivers on that, with a luminous refined texture and lightweight, buildable coverage. The formula works on all skin types, any age and skin tone. It applies and blends effortlessly on to the skin.

You do not require all these formulas in your kit! One fuller coverage and sheer will get you off to a good start. There is my breakdown of go to’s, obviously, skin prep plays hand in hand to the end results you get with the foundation, have a read of my skincare kits favourites. Let me know what your favourites are in the comments below. 

Love.

Lisa x