Essential Beginner Makeup Tools, Brushes, & Product Recommendations
After many requests, I decided to create this page as a resource for you, Beauties!! I know many of you are eager to get started building your beginner makeup kit and often just don’t have the time, let alone the energy, to do an elaborate search for the best items and supplies. So, I wanted to make it easy for you ladies and have compiled a list for quick access to some of the best & highly recommended tools and brushes you need to get started!!
Are you excited yet!!?? If you love makeup as much as I do, I’m guessing you probably are! 🙂 I’ve also included a few add-ons you should definitely consider as you expand your makeup arsenal!!
**Check this page from time to time, as I often update & add things when I find a new brush or tool that I feel works even better for makeup beginners.
The following recommended products are products that either I, colleagues (other makeup artists), or friends have used, know, and LOVE. These are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified with other artists, friends, and/or personally used myself.
Disclosure: The links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase using one of these links. If you do make a purchase, you have my sincere & heartfelt thanks! For more info, please see my Disclosure Policy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick PRO Tip: Most of these items come with FREE same-day, one-day, or 2-day shipping with an Amazon Prime membership. Don’t you just love Prime!??!! Not a member yet? You can always grab a FREE 30-day trial here!
Additional Beginner Makeup Resources
- Best Makeup For Beginners: Makeup Must-Haves + Budget-Friendly Picks
- For A Complete Makeup Guide For Beginners & Up, Check Out The Ultimate Makeup Bundle
- Basic Makeup Tips And Tricks: 30 Absolute Need-To-Knows For Beginners
- For An Extensive Makeup Guide For Women Over 40, Check Out The How To Look Younger Makeup Secrets Guide
Essential Makeup Tools:
Lash Curler – A lash curler is a perfect way to get those lashes poppin’, create instant length & volume, and open up the eye area!! Many women overlook curlers and skip straight to mascara, but using a curler will take your lashes to a whole other level with an added flirty lift!! This one is stainless steel, comes with refill pads (which you will need), and a little bag for storing it! As you can see, it has quite a lot of raving beauty lover fans on Amazon calling it the “best curler” they’ve ever used!
Wedged Sponges – You can go through these fast, so it’s always better to buy in bulk! Wedge sponges allow you to really get into those nooks and crannies and hard-to-reach areas of the face, like around the nose. They are great for both application & blending!! And they can serve as the perfect go-to option if you haven’t had time to wash your foundation and concealer brushes.
Makeup Wipes – These come in handy for those nights when you are just too tired to wash all the makeup off your face!! For sensitive skin, try these. They are my go-to wipes when I run out of my regular ones. I have semi-sensitive skin, BTW. I find they don’t dry my skin out or give me breakouts like other ones I’ve tried before.
Q-tips – Q-tips make your life so much easier when it comes to eye makeup; you can use them to smudge out your eyeliner for a softer line, to fix eyeliner mistakes, to remove mascara smudges, and to clean up tiny eyeshadow flecks that have fallen on your cheeks…
Possible Add-on Makeup Tools: Tweezers or Other Sponges
Optional – Sponges – BEAKEY 5 Piece Makeup Sponge Set
If you are looking for a beauty blender dupe that gives you all the perks with a cheaper price tag, this is your best bet!!
Here are a few options for tweezers…Personally, I prefer a pointy tip, but I do use both from time to time. A pointy tip makes it easier to grip individual hairs, which helps for more precision when shaping your eyebrows.
Essential Basic Makeup Brushes:
Powder Brush (large) – Two recommendations to choose from for this…
Sigma Beauty F30 Large Powder – For full-face setting powder or even a little bronzer, this is a superb option! Sigma brushes are top quality and will get you closer to a PRO-like finish than most other brushes on the market. The bristles on this brush are perfect for quickly sweeping, patting, or dusting on your powder, making it ideal for an everyday makeup brush (something beginners will appreciate if in a hurry while doing your makeup). The bristles help with lightly distributing powder for a more natural and diffused makeup finish. This one is incredibly soft and very easy to clean too!
Real Techniques Powder Brush – For a more economical option (if money is tight), this one is good. It has super soft, fluffy bristles and is lightweight, making it an easy choice for everyday powder application.
However, for better quality, I suggest the previous powder brush pick.
Foundation Brush
Sigma Beauty Foundation Brush – Flat-shaped, classic version foundation brush, ideal for liquid & cream makeup products.
This is another wonderful option if you are looking for an easy-to-use tool for a smooth foundation application without those annoying streaks! It’s another very soft, densely bristled, top-quality brush that should last you a long time.
If you like the angled one in the photo, shoot me a message at [email protected], and I’ll share how to get it… Also, for more info and suggestions of brushes to choose from, check out this post on how to get a flawless foundation makeup look!
Concealer Brush – Two recommendations to choose from…
IT Cosmetics -Heavenly Luxe Dual Concealer Brush – This dual-sided (2-in-1) brush is perfect for applying and blending out concealer under the eyes. The side with the tapered end allows for easy application when it comes to reaching small, difficult areas like around your nose and the inner corners of the eye.
Then the other end can be used for smoother-than-smooth blending. If you’re looking for convenience, an all-in-one tool is definitely the way to go!
Sigma F70 Concealer Brush – This brush has a flat, slightly tapered small head with synthetic bristles as well. It’s great for giving more precision when applying your concealer to dark spots, imperfections, blemishes, and scars, plus areas around the nose, around the eyes, and around the brows.
Also, great for blending out your product after the application process; however, it doesn’t give you as much of an airbrush finish as the other one.
Blush Brush – Three to pick and choose from…
Sigma F40 Brush – (Angled Shape) – I prefer an angled shape personally, as it works well with contouring and creating a more defined cheekbone. I think they work better for slimming the face shape. So, if you are looking to make your face more defined and thinner appearing, definitely go with this one. I recommend this brush shape if your face is oval, round, or long, and you want to try the techniques for blush mentioned in this article.
IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe French Boutique Blush Brush #4 – This angled blush brush has super soft synthetic bristles that work with cream and powder blush!
And the size makes it workable for bronzer or contour as well! You can use it for application and blending. And the bristles, in particular, are fabulous for flawless blending!
Eyeshadow Brush
Sigma Eye Shading Brush- E55- This is a great quick and easy-to-use application brush to start with as a beginner. It’s perfect for powder shadows and creams, too (for when you are ready to move on to those). The bristles are dense, making them ideal for getting even coverage without pigment fallout on your face.
And you’ll love how the density allows for a more concentrated application of color on your lids. You can also use this brush for highlighting the brow bone area.
Eyeshadow Blending Brush – Three options to pick from…
Sigma Blending Brush E25 – This rounded, tad bit firm brush is fabulous for a more controlled blending process. You may use it to effortlessly blend things out for a smooth, seamless makeup look. And best yet, you can use it for applying your eyeshadows too!!
Sigma Blending Brush E40– This rounded, very fluffy brush is awesome for creating a sheer, natural, softer blended look! Not only can you use it for blending, but like the E25, you can use it for application too!!
Use it for highlighter application at the brow bone area or applying color to the crease (for application, just use the tip).
Sigma E45 Blender Brush -A brush like this will give you more precision when you start delving into more techniques, particularly for defining your crease.
It’s also the perfect brush if you happen to have hooded eyes! The small tapered end will help with precise eyeshadow placement and blending in small areas.
Angled Brush For Brows / Eyes – Two options to choose from…
Ok, so I actually have one brush I use for my brows and a separate one that I use for my eyeliner application. I find this gives me more flexibility since I usually like black for my eyes and need a dark brown for my brows. When I’m in a rush, having two different brushes just makes it easier for me. While can certainly get away with one, I think you will enjoy the benefits of having one specific brush for each area.
I recommend these two the most for eyeliner application…
Sigma E65 – This small, slightly firm brush is a winner for a more controlled and precise application for eyeliner and eyebrow products. You can use it for creams, gels, & powders. If you struggle with lining your eyes, making a straight, smooth, and even line will be a piece of cake with this brush!! For more natural-looking brows, you can use it to create very thin strokes that mimic brow hairs. If you use it with powder (for eyeliner or your brows), make sure to slightly moisten the tip with a little water before dipping it into the powder.
Another great liner brush Sigma makes that is great for precision and crisp lines is this one (Sigma E06)!
MAC 266 – A beauty cult favorite for years, this brush has a sharp angle that makes lining with precision effortless. Many use this one for brows, although I tend to stick with using it for lining my eyes, creating a cat-eye or winged look! The thin tip makes it perfect for defining the eyes. It’s actually quite versatile in that you can make a super crisp and fierce line or use it to blend out your eyeliner for a softer look.
Now for brows, I’m a HUGE Anastasia fan!!!! I consider her a master when it comes to everything brow-related!!! In fact, the first place I ever got my eyebrows done in California was at her salon years ago. And it was the only time I’ve ever had them done professionally where they looked amazing!! Believe me, I’ve gone to other places over the years and had brow mishaps, but her salon was absolutely top-notch!!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Duo Brush, #12 – This is the exact one I have and use daily!! It contains synthetic bristles that make it ideal for the application of a creamy eyebrow product (like pomade). The added perk is the spoolie brush on the opposite end, which makes blending out your brows easy breezy!!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Duo Brush, #14 – By contrast, this one uses natural hair bristles, making it a perfect option for powder brow products, as it will distribute the powder better and more evenly during application. This brush also features a spoolie brush on the other end for blending and brushing through your brows.
Spoolie Brush or Brow/Lash Comb
Japonesque Brow & Lash Shaper – You get all 3 in one!
- The spoolie side can be used to brush through your brows before grooming or filling them in. You can also use it to soften your eyebrows if you feel you were too heavy-handed with your brow products. Lastly, you can use it to gently brush through lash hairs, getting them in place before curling them.
- The side with bristles can also be used for brushing through your brows when shaping, grooming, or blending out eyebrow products.
- The comb side can be used to remove mascara clumps from your lashes.
Possible Add-on Makeup Brushes:
For more contouring brush recommendations, check out this article – How To Contour Your Face The Right Way: Get The Inside Scoop!
Face Contouring Brush -Tapered
- Sigma F23 – Great beginner brush when you start moving into powder contouring. You can use this brush to contour your jawline, around the hairline, and under the cheekbones.
- Sigma P84 – For contouring smaller areas like the sides of your nose and if you want to create a more defined contouring effect under your cheekbones.
Smudge Brush
- Sigma Smudge Brush E21
- Sigma E20 Brush – Small brush that’s used for more detailed eye makeup, like applying dark eyeshadow colors to small areas like the base of your eyelid or for contouring at the eye crease.
Fan Brush
Makeup Mirrors With Lighting:
The key to applying perfect makeup is having superb lighting and a vanity mirror! Here are some of the best options I’ve found on the market.
Floxite 10X Magnifying LED Lighted Vanity Mirror – I have this one currently at home in my bathroom. It’s my absolute favorite, and I don’t know that I’ll ever switch it out for a different one because it really is that GOOD!!
I use it for cleaning up my brows, tweezing any out-of-place brow hairs, and when I want to do a super-thin eyeliner application right up close to my lashline. The lighting is just the perfect amount of brightness, and the magnification allows you to see absolutely everything you need to get the job done and get it done like a PRO.
Whether you opt to shape your own brows or do the occasional “brow cleanup” between getting them professionally done, this mirror is definitely a lifesaver. For brows, this mirror helps you to see any of those annoying hairs your friends can see, but you, unfortunately, missed (don’t you just hate when that happens??!!). And if you are nervous about tweezing, this mirror will make the whole process easier and far less intimidating.
I’ve also known many a woman to apply eyeliner or fill in their brows with a regular bathroom mirror (I was once one of them). But without good lighting & magnification, you miss a whole heck of a lot of mistakes you’re making!! For eyeliner application, this mirror helps you to keep your lines even, smooth, & steady.
OPTION 2: Fancii 7x Magnifying Lighted Vanity Makeup Cordless Travel Mirror – This is the one I use when traveling. It’s great for doing your eyebrows when you aren’t at home in the comfort of your usual bathroom with your usual bathroom lighting.
OPTION 3: If you want a mirror without full magnification, this is a good option – Fanci LED 3 Light Setting Mirror. For more magnification, you can simply attach the 15x mirror to it. For basic makeup application with more lighting, this is a good option since it’s just 1x. But for grooming brows and lining the eyes with eyeliner, more magnification, 5x and up, can help.
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