Build Your Pro Makeup Kit
Building a makeup kit can get overwhelming fast—that’s where we come in. This guide breaks down the essentials by category, with tips from our expert Customer Experience team to help you figure out what’s worth carrying, what can wait, and how to build a kit that actually works for you and your clients.
Organization
A professional kit has to be practical. You want enough room for everything you need, but you also need to be able to find things quickly.
Vueset
Mango
$17
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Tips from Our Beauty Advisors
Look for Functionality
“When choosing a professional makeup bag or organizer, the best thing to look for is functionality. Take into consideration the space needed for your full kit and look into an organizer or two that will fit all of your needs and will also provide comfort when carrying it around.”
—Monica O.
Simplify and condense!
“Don't be afraid to depot products and throw them into a Vueset case or Z-palette. When you can reduce the amount of things you have to carry (and repack at the end) you save energy, spend less time looking for items and have more time to perfect the look.”
—Jazmine W.
Brushes & Tools
You don’t need every single brush for every project.
A reliable core set that can handle complexion, eyes, and detail work will get you much further than a drawer full of shapes you rarely use.
Pro tip: Start with versatile brushes, then add more specific shapes as you figure out what kinds of work you do most.
“Every makeup artist needs the right tools such as brushes, and brush cleaner to keep them sanitized between clients. My favorite brushes to recommend are the MYKITCO brushes.”
—Tonya M., Beauty Advisor
Cleanse & Sanitize
Clean tools are non-negotiable when you’re working on clients. Keep an effective brush cleanser in your kit so you can clean and sanitize brushes between appointments.
Pro tip: Make brush cleaning part of your setup and breakdown routine. It’s much easier than playing catch-up later.
“Every kit is required to include products for your SMA (Sanitary Maintenance Area), so some non-negotiables would include alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, towels, and a good brush cleaner.”
—Monica O.
Skin Prep
Cleansing and moisturizing are two of the most useful steps in your kit. Starting with clean skin gives you a better read on the client’s skin.
"Cleansing is the most important step of a skin prep followed very closely by moisturizing. Starting off your session with a clean canvas, free of any makeup, oil or residue, allows you to control the application without having to battle unknowns."
—Jazmine W.
Peter Thomas Roth
Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer
$23 - $55
2 Sizes Available
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Makeup
This is where it’s easy to overpack. A well-edited kit can give you plenty of flexibility without requiring a full-size product for every possible client.
Foundation palettes are especially useful: they take up less space, make custom shade matching easier, and help you get more comfortable working with undertones and color theory.
Pro tip: Look for products that work across multiple clients and can be mixed or adapted as needed. Your kit—and your back—will thank you.
“When I first started, I did the whole 30 bottles of foundation in my kit, carrying around a bag that weighed a million pounds. When I finally invested in a foundation palette with a variety of shades, I kicked myself for not doing it sooner. It saved me time and money and gave me the freedom to give each client the perfect match.”
—Jazmine W.
“It's important to have multi-use products. This can cut down on the amount of products you have to pick up and make the application easier and fast. A good quality foundation like the RCMA Color Process Foundations can also be used as concealers or contour shades. Another good multi-use product is the Danessa Myricks Beauty Color Fix.”
—Tonya M.
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable Blurring & Setting Powder
$50
4 Shades Available
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Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Hydrating & Waterproof Setting Spray
$25 - $59
3 Sizes Available
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