What's In My Make-Up Kit?

Hello, I hope you are all well! I recently ran a poll on my Facebook and Instagram pages (both @eringrace.makeup) about what you would like my next blog post to be about and the majority of people voted for a 'what's in my make-up kit' post. I did intend to make this into two blog posts as there is so much to include but I've decided to put it all into one so that it is always easy to find. I have included a lot of information about products in this post so I hope you are able to take something away from it and that you find it useful. This post has taken a long time and a lot of effort to create but was a lot of fun to make and I have been enjoying editing all the photos!

Note: Any products from MAC Cosmetics were sent to me by my make-up school and are being used during my training. I have never paid for any MAC Cosmetics products as I don't agree with animal testing and I am striving to build a cruelty-free kit. More will be explained on this as you reach certain products.

This is a long one so grab a snack...and now, without any further ado, let's get started!

Case

This is the case I currently own; as you can see it is bulging at the seams with so many products! I only have a small kit at the moment but as I'm constantly expanding it, I'm already in need of a bigger case...I have my eye on a Zuca bag but as they are an investment, I'm holding off for now. I have taken images of the outside and of each of the interior sections of the case so you can see how it's typically set up when I'm working a job.

It is called the "Travelmall 3 Layer Professional Makeup Artist Case" from Amazon which retails at £29.99 (prices correct at time of writing) and it measures at 16.5" x 12.2" x 5.5". After an exhaustive amount of research, I'm so glad I chose this case for my first kit as it is the perfect size for someone who is just starting out in the industry. It is easy to transport with everything compact and easy to find. It fits a LOT of make-up in, even the more bulkier items can fit in, which is helped by the fact the fabric can expand slightly without putting any strain on it. This case can be carried by hand with a small handle on the side, on your shoulder with the long strap or it can be worn as a backpack as the long strap can be converted into two with clips in the corners of the bag. It can also be hooked over a suitcase handle with the thick band on the back of the case.

I like the fact you can customise the layout of the large, bottom compartment with partitions that can be changed to fit around the size of your products (I've removed some of the dividers and changed the sizes of the sections as you can see). In this section, I keep my skincare, foundations, small eyeshadow palettes, all of my disposable items, highlighters, bronzer, all of my pencils, mascaras, liners and so on (more on those in a minute). There is also a flap which covers pockets for your brushes (although I don't use these as I prefer using my brush belt). It also covers a zippered pocket which I put my make-up cape in so no fallout from powders get onto client's clothing.

In the top section, there is a mesh, zippered pocket which is where I keep the majority of my palettes and my eyelashes. On the inside of the lid, there are six elastic holders for hair styling tools or for more brushes; though I currently don't use this feature of my case.

Skin Care

I have taken all skin types into consideration when deciding which products to buy for my kit. Originally, my school sent me a few Dermalogica items to use but since then, they have run out and I have purchased all of the ones pictured. I have ensured that my products are suitable for sensitive skin with moisturisers for both oily and dry skin types (which work for sensitive skin as well), along with this I have a lip ointment for any dry lips. I do still need to purchase a lip scrub for any chapped lips to ensure an even application of lipstick by removing the flaking skin on the lips. I have included primer in with my skin care products although I am looking to buy a few more to target illuminating, mattifying and hydrating, along with a few others, so that the make-up is given a different finish depending on how the client wants it to look.

It is important to follow the cleanse, tone, moisturise (CTM) regime in the morning before you apply any make-up and at night as you remove your make-up to keep your skin clean and looking healthy. This also reduces the chance of you getting any spots or blackheads as your skin and your pores will be properly cleansed. Unless my client has already followed the CTM routine, I will use the following products to prepare their skin for make-up. By doing this, it will result in a far better make-up application than if you do not. You must also ensure you are using a moisturiser that is suitable for your skin type. For example, people with oily skin shouldn't be using an oil-based moisturiser as your make-up won't last as long and your skin will become more oily as a result. I have a more in-depth blog post coming soon on my current skin care routine, leave this post a like and a comment if that is something you are interested in!

Currently in my kit, pictured from left to right, I have:

Demalogica Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover (this is more gentle on the delicate eye area than an ordinary cleanser and can also be used to remove heavy lip products without tugging)

Demalogica Ultracalming Cleanser (used to remove face makeup)

Dermalogica Multi Active Toner (removes any residue left from the cleanser and helps with oily skin)

Lucas Papaw Ointment (moisturises lips but can also be for everyday uses)

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream (moisturiser for dry skin)

Dermalogica Active Moist (moisturiser for oily skin)

Sainsbury's Non-Oily Day Cream (a more inexpensive moisturiser for oily skin, great for sensitive skin too)

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery Factor 50 (for mature skin or just for sun protection)

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm (this is an eye cream which can be used to prep this area. It can also be used to moisturise the lips as the skin on your lips is similar to that of your eye area and both are more delicate than the rest of your face so try not to tug at them)

Nyx Pore Filler Primer (primes the skin for make-up and reduces the appearance of pores)

Colour Correcting

Next up, it's all about that base! To begin with: correctors. Correctors are used to neutralise unwanted colours in the skin to create an even skin tone. For example, dark purple under the eyes can show through under your make-up so a colour corrector would be used to neutralise the purple and reduce the appearance of it so that your skin would look even. Colour correctors are used after skin care and primers but before concealers or foundation. I have listed the colours I have below but if you are interested in me doing a separate blog post about what each of the colours is used for, let me know in the comments section.

In my kit, I have:

Make-up Revolution Ultra Base Corrector Palette (this includes eight shades: pink, lavender, green, orange, white highlight, peach, cream and brown)

NYX Full Coverage Concealer (green)

Cover FX Correct Click (brick red)

LA Girl Pro Conceal (orange - this is pictured with the concealers)

Concealers

The image in this section, shows my concealers along with my correcting products. Concealers are used to cover any blemishes a client may have that they want covered. They are also used after colour correctors for an even complexion, to prime the eyes for eyeshadow or as a part of an eyeshadow or lipstick look. They can be a very versatile product.

In my kit, I currently use the LA Girl Pro Conceal concealers (including one corrector shade) and I have a NYX one which I like to use to create cut creases and halo eyeshadow looks. I was sent some MAC concealer palettes from my make-up school but I've tried them a few times on different people and I, personally, do not like the formula so I've removed them from my kit.

I now use:

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (fair)

LA Girl Pro Conceal (mahogany, espresso, almond, medium bisque, porcelain, warm honey, creamy beige - note: these colours appear lighter on camera than they actually are in reality)

Foundation

I was sent MAC Face and Body by my school which does give a nice finish to the skin and it's lightweight as it's a water-based foundation which means it doesn't have a lot of coverage.

I wasn't sent a very wide shade range but I am continuing to use these during my training although I won't be replenishing them once they run out as I don't agree with MAC's animal testing policy. If they become a cruelty free brand, I would reconsider but for now it will have to wait. Instead, I will be replacing them with The Ordinary Serum Foundation from Deciem. I have the Coverage Foundation in my kit and I currently have the Serum Foundation in the shade "Very Fair" for my own personal use and I love it, plus it's less than £6 per bottle! I will be adding these to my kit in the near future, with a wide variety of shades. To begin with, I haven't bought every shade in the collection as I can mix the shades I have to create the desired, custom shade so I bought every other shade or so, ensuring I had the darkest and lightest in the collection.

The foundations I carry are:

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation (very fair 1.0NS, very deep 3.3N, medium 2.1P, light 1.2N, dark 3.1R, medium dark 3.0R)

Bronze, Blush, Contour and Highlight

I have decided to group this products together as they all work together and they are all in powder form. I do use the MAC blushes I was sent but once they have run out, I will buy cruelty free blushes. I will continue to use the palette the blushes come in as it is customisable (you can see in the photo that the palette isn't full) and I can fill it with brands I love; the pan holder inside the palette can be removed so I could even use the palette for single

eyeshadows if I didn't want to use it for blushes. I will expand my kit with cream contour and blushes in the future but for now, I am happy working with powders as I find them easy to work with. I have been using concealers as cream contour for dark complexions so I am on the look out for a good contour palette for dark skin tones; if you have any recommendations, please let me know in the comments!

I am currently using:

Nip and Fab Contour Palette (light)

Boutique Bronzer (chock-a-block)

MAC Blushes (harmony, melba, fever, fluer power)

NYX High Definition Blush (crimson)

Revolution Vivid Shimmer Brick (radient, rose gold)

Revolution Baked Highlighter (pink lights)

Setting

The final products I use on the face are setting powder and setting spray. I was sent the MAC loose powder which does work well but a lot of reviews say it can leave an ashy finish on darker complexions. I have since bought the RCMA powder and, having used it on every skin tone, I can safely say, it's amazing and doesn't leave any ashiness or give off any flashbacks from cameras. I also prefer the consistency of the RCMA powder.

Since removing the MAC powder from my kit, I now use:

RCMA No-Colour Powder

Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Setting Spray (I will later buy a dewy finish setting spray but this works for all occasions for now)

Eyebrows

I have separated eyebrows from the rest of the eye products as there are only four products in my kit that I use.

They are:

Ofra Eyebrow Quintet Signature Palette

Gosh Brow Kit

Milani Brow Shaping Clear Wax Pencil

NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel

Eyes

As you can see from the photo above, I have two mascaras in my kit: a MAC one and Boutique one. I have shown both because the MAC one has nearly run out so I am replacing it with the Boutique one.

I have also taken a photo of the mascara without the cap on to show that I cut the wand off the mascara. This is to ensure there is no contamination by accidentally using the wand then dipping it back in to the tube; this way, you must use disposable wands every time. This is especially useful if you work with other make-up artists and they ask to borrow a piece of your equipment, you will always know your products are clean after.

For eyes, I use:

MAC False Lash Extreme Black Mascara (soon to be removed once finished)

Boutique Mascara

NYX Eyeshadow Base (skin tone)

Revolution Eye Pencil (glory)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (black bean)

LA Girl Semi-Permanent Endless Eyeliner (very black, neon blue)

MAC Fluidline Gel Liner (blacktrack) - to be replaced by an Illamasqua liner once used up

NARS Duo Eyeshdaow (pandora) -purchased in early June 2017 before the company announced it was no longer cruelty free so will not be replacing unless the company revoke their selling in China

Juvia's Place Eyeshadow Palettes (Nubian 2, Zulu)

Revolution Salvation Eyeshadow Palette (give them nightmares)

MAC Time Nine Palettes (semi sweet, amber, burgundy) - will not be replacing once used up

NYX Glitter Primer

NYX Face and Body Glitter (rose, violet)

Too Faced Glittery Dust (glitterally)

Duo Glue (white to clear)

Eyelure Individual Eyelashes (mixed lengths)

Luscious Lashes False Eyelashes (mixed styles)

Lips

Lip products next! I was sent the MAC Editorial Red Lip Palette but I've only used it twice to create looks for my make-up course so I haven't included it as a part of my kit. I won't be using it once my training is over which is why I've left it out. I am on the hunt for some great red lipsticks, a clear gloss and some more lip liner shades, do you have any recommendations? Let me know!

I use:

BH Cosmetics Lipstick Palette

NYX Lip Liner (disco rage)

Boutique Lip Liner (chinese whispers, seal one's fate, lip service)

Boutique Lip Gloss (dusk 'til dawn)

Tools and Disposables

I haven't included my brushes or brush belt in this section as I'm going to do that as a separate blog post so I can go into more detail on them. This section is mainly for my disposable products and any miscellaneous items I have in my kit that didn't fit into any of the 'make-up' categories.

These items are:

Hand Sanitizer (a must!! You don't want to be working on a client with dirty hands! Even if you've washed your hands before going to meet the client, use hand sanitzer in front of them so they can see you're putting hygiene first)

Isopropyl Alcohol

Water

Brush Cleaner and Sanitizer

Tweezers

Scissors

Eyelash Curlers

Powder Puff (used to hook onto your little finger so you don't smudge the make-up on a clients face)

Mixing Palettes and Spatulas

Make-up Shoulder Cape

Disposable Mascara Wands

Disposable Doe Foot Applicators

Disposable Wedges

Cotton Pads

Cotton Buds

Make-up Wipes

Tissues

Towel (to keep surface clean)

Mirror

Small Box of Sanitary Bags (yes, that's right, I have a box of sanitary towel bags in my kit! They're the perfect size to keep in your kit to put used disposables in to keep your work space clean and sanitary...pardon the pun! Of course, any small bags will do, it doesn't have to be these ones haha)

...and that, I think, is just about everything! I hope you enjoyed this blog post, it was so much fun to put together! Let me know if you like the longer posts or you prefer reading posts that are short and sweet! What else would you like to see? Would you like to see what's in my personal make-up collection? Feel free to ask any questions down below and I'll answer them as best I can for you. Comment down below and leave this post a like if you made it to the end! Don't forget to subscribe (at the bottom of this page) to be the first to know about all new blog posts and special offers!

Thank you for being a part of my journey,

Erin Grace x