Essentials in a make up kit?

Oct 2, 2012

Sneha C.

Building my own vanity. Pls help me with product suggestions. Some critical products which would make or break a look - Premium brands suggestions and for others drugstore dupes.

I'm an Indian with good wheatish complexion.
I love pink, peach & nude tones.

1) Primer
2) Concealer
3) Eyes & Lips Concealer
4) Foundation
5) Compact/Pressed Powder
6) Eye Shadow (individual & palette)
7) Kajal
8) Eye Liner
9) Mascara
10) Lip Liner, Lipstick, Lip Gloss
11) Blush (Pink & Peach)
12) Contour & Highlighter
13) Bronzer

And most importantly essential & inexpensive brushes.

Oct 4, 2012

Sneha C.

No suggestions, yet :(

Oct 4, 2012

Andrea S.

Hi Sneha! I'd love to make some suggestions! Are you in India though? If so, I'll stick with things you can get on the Indian market or on urban touch

Oct 4, 2012

Sneha C.

I'm from India. My mom is coming to New York next month, so I'm making a list which she can buy there. She doesn't know much about cosmetics and I'm so confused to select by just browsing cause it all looks so appealing. Appreciate your help :) 

Oct 4, 2012

Andrea S.

Even better! I'm a native New Yorker and I just put together a list of spots for a makeup artist friend of mine! 

Oct 4, 2012

Sneha C.

I just checked your profile and saw your native is Brooklyn. That's where my family is. So it would be great if you could share the spots around NY, 11211. 

Oct 4, 2012

Andrea S.

If mom is going to Brooklyn, you're in luck. There is a MAC Store and a Macy's with almost every makeup counter at Kings Plaza Mall close by.
1) Primer- Massengill Chafing Cream (available at any drug store or Target in the feminine products aisle) Not technically a primer, but contains all the same ingredients as the best primers available at only $5.

2) Concealer (Is this for pimples or just imperfections?)

3) Eyes & Lips Concealer (Lancome Effacernes in one of the Intensity III or Intensity IV range of shades, almost any department store (i.e. Macy's )

4) Foundation: For a natural look, I recommend MAC Face and Body (very long wearing and water resistant, you are likely in the C4-C5 shade range

5) Compact/Pressed Powder MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (Probably Medium Plus Shade) MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (matte look)
6) Eye Shadow (individual & palette) MAC Retrospeck, Mulch, Embark, and Carbon are my essentials. You can have them make a palette for you.
7) Kajal -Never really caught on in the USA. I use Lakme', but I've heard raves about Maybelline Colossal Kajal :)
8) Eye Liner- MAC Gel Liner in Blacktrack or Penultimate Liner in RapidBlack
9) Mascara- Lancome makes the best, but it's very expensive. L'oreal's False Fibre Lashes is almost as good and available at any drug store or Target
10) Lip Liner, Lipstick, Lip Gloss MAC Lip Gloss in Oh Baby!
11) Blush (Pink & Peach) MAC Mineralize in Warm Soul (works on almost everyone, peachy shade) MAC Powder Blush in Dollymix
12) Contour & Highlighter Highlighter: Benefit Watts Up (for contour, I personally just do a powder 1-2 shades darker than normal)
13) Bronzer (MAC makes a great one in 4 different shades)

If you'd prefer to stay with less expensive brands, L'oreal and NYX has some really great shades. Are you just starting to wear makeup?

Oct 4, 2012

Sneha C.

Andrea, you are awesome. Thanks for the detailed suggestion. I love make up and have been wearing the basic for ages. Never tried an extremely bold look though, as yet. Earlier i never used to research on cosmetics before buying neither did I have anyone to advice. Also, the store staff are selfish. They just hard sell so I ended up buying a lot of wrong stuff :/

I am gonna consider your suggestions but I notice most of them being premium brands. My idea was to indulge in "the" product for premium and drugstore dupes for the rest.

Based on my research and opinions on beautylish, I had narrowed my list as below. Do let me know, if it's a good buy or not.

1) Hard Candy/ Elf
2) Hard Candy - Glamoglague
3) Elf eye concealer
4) Mac foundation
5) don't know yet
6) BH or Coastal Scents palette
7) currently using Mac
8) currently using Mac but the liquid one
9) Maybelline Colossal
10) Nyx lip liners
Revlon, Wet n Wild, Nyx & Rimmel lipsticks
Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss
Currently using Mac Lip Glass - Nymphette
11) don't know yet. Considering Mac sunbasque/peaches
Currently using Lakme Day blush
12) never used before
13) never used before

Ps: I have a clear wheatish complexion. Just a little bit of dark circles. Using a Loreal under eye cream. I tried the Revlon concealer at the store here & it did the magic.

Please recommend few drugstore brushes. I have never used one before. I use my fingers and I'm not getting the desired results in eyeshadows especially. I got a local applicator and it's a waste. 

Oct 4, 2012

Sneha C.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I love the camera, love being clicked. Is there a foundation without SPF cause I don't like the white cast in the pictures. 

Oct 4, 2012

Sneha C.

My profile picture is from a photo shoot. I love this bare minimum make up look. I went looking for a similar peach lipstick and got the Bourjois Sweet Kiss- Orange Apprete but sadly the color doesn't really show on my lips :/ Hence the idea of buying a concealer cause I read, that's the trick to get the true color. 

Oct 4, 2012

Andrea S.

I personally have no Hard Candy makeup at all since it's exclusive to Walmart and I rarely venture into that store in my area since they tend to be dirty.

L'oreal makes a great drugstore foundation called True Match and Revlon Colorstay (both good for medium/tan skin tones)

E.L.F. is mostly sold at Target (there are 3 stores in Brooklyn if you're sending mom) and has a great brush set $12 for 12 brushes and it includes everything you could possibly need for starters. Be sure to get brush cleaner as well though. Once you figure out which brushes you like or don't like, you can invest in something a little better made that will last you forever.

Can't really speak to Rimmel lipsticks since I don't own any. I actually only have one lippie that I use consistently and it's MAC Brave.

Maybelline Colossal Mascara is nice, might as well stick with it.

I can't say I've been impressed with any of the Revlon eye products or powder shadows and blushes, but I do really like the new Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows that have just come out. They have a very nice texture to them to work with.

E.L.F. also has really nice gel eyeliners and a highlighter called Shimmering Face Whip. Most of their products only cost $1...I think the most expensive is $3. The only thing I haven't been impressed with even for the low price is their powder eyeshadows and blushes. I buy a lot of their stuff for my 11 year old who is just starting to wear makeup though.

Wet n Wild has a great lip pencil #666...matches anything and again, only $1

NYX is a bit hard to find in stores, but everything of theirs I've tried is good.

Hope this helps!

Oct 4, 2012

Niecey S.

I really love bh cosmetics eyeshadow pallets. I have 4 of the 88 pallets, and they are excellent for the price you pay. They have a lot of different colors and they show up really well as long as you use a primer. I also love nyx cosmetics, they are very affordable. I recommend their lip glosses, lip liners, and jumbo eye pencils (milk is a must)! I have heard a lot about e.l.f. products, but I haven't personally used any.

Oct 5, 2012

Sneha C.

Andrea, thanks a ton! Very nice and helpful of you. xoxo

I am currently using Loreal True Match & Revlon custom creation foundation. The store staff sold the wrong shade to me in Loreal. It's one shade brighter. In those bright mall lights & impulsive buying, I got it and regretted after first application.
I'd go with Mac this time. I have noticed that MAC foundation tends to look pale (yellowish) on the Indian skin, true?

Will buy the ELF brush set. The 12 brushes include eyes, lips & face brushes, right?
My current blush brush is very harsh on skin. So this time I want to ensure I get some good ones if not the best.

Maybelline Color Tattoo is on my list.

Will get the ELF gel liners & highlighter. I'm loving this brand already. It seems good and so affordable. It satiates my greed :P

Yes, I'm looking for a neutral, pink & peach lip liner cause I'd be wearing those lip shades mostly. I've heard good reviews of NYX pencil, I'd get that online.

I'm gonna bother u a little bit more. My current obsession is lipsticks! Based on my study, I have a list of 50+ lipsticks to buy. Is try to get the maximum I could in my budget. Cause these brands/shades aren't available in India, yet. In my list, many shades are similar. I don't know how it would look on me but the swatches look amazing. So if you could help short list my wish list to must buy, it would be very kind of you.

Ps: since the list is big, could I mail it to u? 

Oct 5, 2012

Sneha C.

@Niecey: BH is on my list. But I was contemplating the 120 palette 1st edition. It looks colorful. And if I get a good deal, I can also get a palette for smokey eye. Would u recommend their lip/blush palette?

NYX lip liners & Milk are on my list. Will look at the lip gloss.

Thanks. 

Oct 5, 2012

Andrea S.

Sure! I love the photo shoot pic! Was it for a special occasion?

Oct 5, 2012

Sneha C.

Thank you! Just a portfolio shot by my friend.

Your email id, pls? 

Oct 6, 2012

Sneha C.

She's gonna be in Brooklyn. Will check online if there is a ULTA around. I definitely want few NYX products. 

Oct 6, 2012

Sneha C.

Yes, m hoping for a good deal during Black Friday. 

Oct 9, 2012

Andrea S.

Hi Sneha! If you'd like, you can e-mail me at prettiestbydefault@gmail.com. I think there's an Ulta in Queens where mom can pick up some NYX. They also have a great website. I picked up their HD Foundation over the weekend...love it!

Oct 9, 2012

Alexandria C.

Concealer: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector AND Hard Candy Glamoflauge
Foundation: Revlon Colourstay Whipped
Eye Shadow: anything MAC, Urban Decay and TooFaced
Eye Liner: CoverGirl Liquiline Blast
Mascara: CoverGirl LashPerfection
Lips: NYX gloss, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain
Blush: Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush
Bronzer: MAC 

Oct 9, 2012

Sneha C.

I will email u the list soon, Andrea. 

Oct 11, 2012

Cally W.

Primer, foundation, powder, blush cream, bronzer, eyebrow pencil/brush, neutral eyeshadows, liquid/gel eyeliner. 3-5 mascara's hahha. Pretty much my daily makeup routine. 

Oct 11, 2012

Cally W.

Oh god and my lip balms. Can't live without those

Oct 12, 2012

Siongwei C.

Benefit's Watt's Up will help give your face a healthy glow. It makes your face look complete. Aweseme product!