Understanding Beginner Needs
Starting your makeup journey can feel overwhelming with the plethora of products available. The key is to begin with essentials that suit your skin type and lifestyle.
A compact, customizable kit like a makeup stack offers a streamlined approach, allowing you to build a routine that fits your needs without the clutter.
How to Determine Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is crucial for selecting products that work best for you. Here's a simple method to help you identify your skin type at home:
The Bare-Faced Method
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry.
- Wait for about 30 minutes without applying any products.
- Observe how your skin feels and looks:
- Oily Skin: Your face appears shiny and may feel greasy.
- Dry Skin: Your skin feels tight, rough, or flaky.
- Combination Skin: Your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) is oily, while your cheeks are dry or normal.
- Normal Skin: Your skin feels balanced—not too oily or dry.
- Sensitive Skin: Your skin reacts with redness, itching, or burning sensations.
Essential Makeup Products
- Cream Concealer – Ideal for covering blemishes and under-eye circles; its creamy texture blends easily, making it suitable for dry to combination skin.
- Lip + Cheek – A versatile product that adds a natural flush to your cheeks and a hint of color to your lips; perfect for a quick, cohesive look.
- Bronzer – Adds warmth and dimension to your face; choose a shade that complements your skin tone for a sun-kissed effect.
- Highlighter – Enhances your features with a subtle glow; apply to the high points of your face for a radiant finish.
- Shine Control Powder – Helps set your makeup and control excess oil, especially beneficial for oily or combination skin types.
- Lip Balm – Provides hydration; great for everyday wear and suitable for all skin types.
Making Smart Purchases
As a beginner, it's wise to start with a few versatile products that can serve multiple purposes until you gain more confidence over time. SUBTL. offers an easy 5-in-1 Starter Makeup Kit of products that are multi-use and a perfect entry point into makeup.
Application Tips
- Start with a clean, moisturized face: Prepping your skin ensures smoother application and better product adherence.
- Use your fingers or a sponge: For beginners, using fingers can provide better control and blending, especially with cream products.
- Apply products in natural light: This helps you see the true colors and blending, preventing harsh lines.
- Build gradually: Start with a light hand and build intensity as needed.
Conclusion
Recap of Common Mistakes
When you're new to makeup, it’s easy to go overboard, buying too much, choosing the wrong formulas, or skipping skin prep altogether. We’ve all been there. The good news? These mistakes are easy to fix. Stick to a few beginner-friendly products, take time to learn your skin, and practice applying products with intention. Simplicity really is the secret sauce when you’re starting out.
Encouragement to Experiment
You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy makeup. In fact, the best looks often come from experimenting, messing up, and learning as you go. Give yourself space to explore—start with what feels fun or interesting. Whether you're trying a bold lip or just figuring out the difference between bronzer and blush, every step builds confidence.
And if you're ever unsure where to begin, the 5-in-1 Starter Stack makes it easy to keep things simple and stylish. It’s not about doing it all—it’s about doing what works for you.
So go ahead, try, tweak, and play around with your routine. You’ve got this.