Makeup Starter Kit | A Beginner's Guide

It kind of dawned on me today that perhaps some of my readers might be interested in makeup, but don't know where to start. A majority of my makeup posts so far have been looks that someone who doesn't like to wear a lot of makeup probably wouldn't wear. So today is a post for them. These are a group of products I would recommend to those just starting out with makeup, or people who prefer a more minimal look. None of these are too pricey either, which is perfect if you're a student (or about to become one again, like me).

The Base

Lets begin with our base. A foundation will even out your skin. The foundation you choose will depend on two things; your skin type and the coverage you are after. A foundation that I think most people would be okay with is Rimmel Match Perfection. It isn't a matte finish nor is it dewy. Its coverage is medium and the colour range is fairly good. My next recommendation is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. The purpose of this is to conceal darkness around the eyes or any redness on the face. This one is good for a beginner because it is not too warm or cool toned. You can use it both under your eyes and on spots and redness. It is really creamy and easy to blend but it also has really good coverage. If you wanted to you could even skip the foundation and just use a bit of concealer where it is needed. If your skin gets a little bit shiny through the day it could be a good idea to use a powder on top of your foundation. This will set it in place all day and you can touch up when you get a bit oily. A good one for a beginner is Rimmel Stay Matte in the shade transparent. It comes in other shades too, but I like transparent because it won't change the colour of your foundation. Then you don't have to worry about finding the correct shade either.

Injecting a Little Colour

Now that your base is finished, we can add onto it. Because we have evened everything out, your face may look a little bit flat and two dimensional now. Blusher is a great way to add back a little bit of life. I don't own any lower end (inexpensive) blushes, so I can't recommend one from experience. But for a beginner I would stick to powder and stay away from cream or liquid blush. I feel powder gives you more control so you're less likely to make a mistake. Stick to neutral pinks as well to begin with. Here's a tip, if you accidentally apply too much blush, take your foundation brush and blend it out. This will make it less obvious that you added a little too much. I also wouldn't worry about bronzer when you are just starting out with makeup because this can be a tricky one to master in terms of shades and application.

Eye Focus

Onto our eyes. Cream eyeshadows are perfect for a beginner because they are so easy! Just take a little bit on your finger, swipe it across your lid, and that is your eyeshadow done. Its not like a powder where you have to use several different shades for it to look nice, and you don't have to blend like crazy with a brush. My favourite cream eyeshadows are the Maybelline Colour Tattoos. I have several of these beauties but my current favourite is in the shade Bad to the Bronze. Its a shade that will compliment every eye colour so you don't have to worry about finding one to suit yours. In terms of eyeliner, skip it! It is one of the trickiest makeup techniques to master. Mascara on the other hand may also seem daunting, but it is super simple! My pick for a beginners kit would be Maybelline Illegal Lengths. Its not going to get clumpy and the wand is brilliant so it makes it super easy and quick to apply. For your eyebrows stick to a pencil that is a similar colour to your brows. Pencils are great if you're not overly skilled because they can be more precise than a powder of gel. The name of the one I use has rubbed off but it is a Rimmel one.

Lip Time

My biggest advice to a makeup beginner about lipstick and gloss is to stick to a colour very similar to your own. This means you can't go too wrong with application so it wont look messy. You also shouldn't have to touch up as much as say a red lipstick. My favourite lower end lipsticks are the Rimmel Kate Moss ones. A shade that I think would suit a lot of people is number 19. These lipsticks are just great because they are very pigmented (meaning they show up well) and so long lasting without being drying. If you're feeling brave they have a great selection of colours as well. These are just my fail safe lipsticks that everyone should try whether they are just starting, or full time makeup junkies. Let me know if you'd like to see a blog post on my collection of them.

So there you have it. These are the tried and tested (by me) items that I would recommend to someone just starting out with makeup. They are pretty much fail proof and inexpensive so what more could you want. You don't have to use all of these either. Or you could even add to it. Makeup doesn't have to be scary, just stick to the basics and go for a very natural look to begin with. And practice makes perfect! I know its an overused saying but in terms of makeup, it is so true. I hope I've been able to help you in some way, shape or form. Have a lovely day, or night, whenever you are reading this!

The Warehouse Products Price List
Rimmel Match Perfection- $20.50
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer- $19,99
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- $15.50
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil- $10.50
Maybelline Colour Tattoo- $13.99
Maybelline Ilegal Lengths Mascara- $24.99
Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick- $14.99

New Hair | Courtney Grace

Guys, I just couldn't help it. I went even shorter. And I LOVE IT. I'm one of those people that will just decide one day out of the blue that I feel like cutting my hair, and then do it the next. A few times this has lead to absolute disaster, but the last two times have left me so incredibly happy. What's changed you ask? Well the answer to that is I have learnt that finding a good salon is key, not just which ever is nearest or most convenient.

Firstly I would just like to make a disclaimer. I have made a promise to myself that everything I write on this blog will be truthful. If I'm asked to review something, I will give you my honest opinion. I'm not about to tell you that something is absolutely worth your money if it is in fact, not. I chose to book at the salon I got my cut at, and I want to share my amazing experience with you, for you!

At the beginning of the year my hair was long and damaged and I needed a change. I booked in at Hillcrest Hair Design because my mother and my best friend both get their hair done there. I had had short hair a few times in the past, and decided I wanted to try it again. The problem I faced each time though at other salons is that the stylist never really listened to what I wanted. They tried to encourage me to keep it longer just in case I didn't like it short. I always ended up leaving with hair longer than I had envisioned. At Hillcrest Hair Design I booked in with Karina the for my first appointment, not really knowing what to expect.

I arrived and she sat me down and she took a look at my hair, and we talked about what I wanted for a good few minutes. I could tell she was really trying to get a good understanding of the style I wanted. I showed her pictures as well just to make sure which she took a good look at. From the beginning I told her I was not afraid to take a lot of hair off, and she listened! This was such a first for me. Another thing I liked was that she really took her time. Nothing about the cut was rushed. I was honestly so happy with how it turned out. It was exactly how I had imagined it. The best part was that it was so manageable that I could still style it myself at home and have it look decent. The reason I'm talking so passionately was because this was probably the first time in 18 years that I have been truly happy with a haircut.

Then last week I decided once again I needed a change. I called Hillcrest Hair Design again, asking especially for Karina to do my cut. When I arrived she remembered who I was and the cut I had last time which was comforting. I told her I was happy with how it turned out last time so I wanted to go shorter. Once again she listened, and took another look at my hair, though she knew it already. She made sure I understood the certain things that come with having hair above your shoulder, like the ends flicking, but in no way was she trying to discourage me. She asked for my opinion the whole way through the cut which was very comforting. I've had experiences where the stylist has done her own things from start to finish, and I've been to shy too tell her that I don't like it, like a lot of us are. The cut I have at the moment is easily my favourite cut I've had so far. I said that about the last one, but they just keep getting better. I don't know how she does it? My hair takes me less than ten minutes to completely style with heat and all. I am obsessed with short hair. I think it suits me so much better.

If you've gotten to this point, thank you. I had some reservations thinking that perhaps people would not appreciate this post thinking I had been paid or pushed into doing it. And that may be the case for some people. But I hope not. I just had a really great experience and am so grateful to Hillcrest Hair Design for it. I want others to be able to have the same experience. Of course I also want Hillcrest Hair Design to get the attention they deserve. If you like, pop in to book an appointment. Brenda and the team would love to see you. Let them know you heard about them from this post! They are all so friendly and the atmosphere in the salon is the same. I'll leave a link to their website below. They also have a Facebook and Instagram as well. Even though I am moving cities in 2 months, they will still be my salon of choice because I have gotten to know and trust them. I may just have to wait until I come home for visits!


hillcresthairdesign.co.nz (Their website)