Basic Makeup Kit for Beginners on a Budget: Everything You Need to Get Started
Basic Makeup Kit for Beginners on a Budget: Stepping into the world of makeup can be exciting but also overwhelming—especially when you’re a beginner on a budget. With countless products, brands, tools, and trends out there, it’s easy to feel lost and overspend on items you may not even need. But the truth is, you don’t need a massive collection or high-end brands to look polished and put together.
Whether you’re just starting out, heading off to college, or building your first makeup kit from scratch, this guide will help you put together a basic makeup kit for beginners that’s affordable, effective, and easy to use.
🛒 Why Build a Basic Budget Makeup Kit?
A beginner’s makeup kit should:
- Be affordable
- Include multi-tasking products
- Focus on the essentials
- Suit your skin type and tone
- Offer products that are easy to use and blend
With drugstore brands like Maybelline, NYX, e.l.f., L’Oréal, Wet n Wild, and Milani, you can build a high-quality kit without spending a fortune.
🎒 The Ultimate Basic Makeup Kit for Beginners on a Budget
1. Primer
What it does: Preps the skin for foundation, smooths texture, and helps makeup last longer.
Best Budget Options:
- e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer – Smooths pores and holds makeup in place all day.
- NYX Marshmellow Primer (mini size) – Hydrating, blurring, and beginner-friendly.
💸 Price range: \$6–\$10
TIP: If you’re not wearing makeup daily, you can skip primer or use a moisturizer with a bit of grip (like gel moisturizers).
2. Foundation or Tinted Moisturizer
What it does: Evens out your skin tone and provides a base.
Choose based on your skin type:
- Oily skin: Go for a matte or oil-free foundation.
- Dry skin: Opt for hydrating or dewy formulas.
- Normal/combination: You can try a satin or natural finish.
Best Budget Options:
- Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless or Dewy + Smooth – Offers different finishes based on your skin.
- L’Oréal True Match – Blends beautifully and comes in many shades.
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter – Great for light coverage and glow.
💸 Price range: \$6–\$13
TIP: Don’t worry about full coverage. Go for light to medium—it’s easier to work with.
3. Concealer
What it does: Covers dark circles, blemishes, redness, or pigmentation.
Best Budget Options:
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser – Iconic under-eye brightener.
- e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer – Blendable, long-wearing, and affordable.
- Wet n Wild Megalast Incognito Concealer – Lightweight but buildable.
💸 Price range: \$5–\$9
TIP: Use a lighter shade for under-eyes and a closer match for blemishes.
4. Powder
What it does: Sets your makeup, controls shine, and keeps everything in place.
Best Budget Options:
- Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder – Classic oil-control powder.
- Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder – Light and airy texture.
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder – Adds a soft glow without looking greasy.
💸 Price range: \$5–\$8
TIP: Focus powder on the T-zone if you have combination skin.
5. Eyebrow Product
What it does: Frames your face and adds definition.
Best Budget Options:
- NYX Micro Brow Pencil – Fine tip for hair-like strokes.
- e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil – Great for beginners with built-in spoolie.
- Maybelline Brow Fast Sculpt Gel – Quick, tinted brow fix.
💸 Price range: \$3–\$10
TIP: If you’re in a rush, a tinted brow gel alone is enough!
6. Eyeshadow Palette (Neutral)
What it does: Adds depth and dimension to your eyes. Neutral tones are versatile for day or night.
Best Budget Options:
- Wet n Wild Color Icon 10-Pan Palettes (like “Nude Awakening”) – Blendable and pigmented.
- e.l.f. Bite Size Eyeshadow – \$3 quads that pack a punch.
- Milani Most Loved Mattes – All matte, neutral shades perfect for beginners.
💸 Price range: \$3–\$10
TIP: You don’t need 20 shades. A small quad with browns and golds is enough.
7. Eyeliner
What it does: Defines the eyes. Choose pencil for softness, liquid for sharp lines.
Best Budget Options:
- Essence Extreme Lasting Eye Pencil – Creamy and smudge-proof.
- NYX Epic Ink Liner – Great for wings and precision.
- e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen – Beginner-friendly and waterproof.
💸 Price range: \$3–\$9
TIP: Start with brown eyeliner—it’s more forgiving than black.
8. Mascara
What it does: Lifts and lengthens lashes to open up your eyes.
Best Budget Options:
- Maybelline Lash Sensational – Great for volume and curl.
- Essence Lash Princess Mascara – Viral for a reason (and only \$5!).
- Covergirl Lash Blast Volume – Long-time favorite with buildable volume.
💸 Price range: \$4–\$10
TIP: Replace your mascara every 3–4 months to avoid bacteria buildup.
9. Blush
What it does: Adds color and life back to your face.
Best Budget Options:
- Milani Baked Blush in “Luminoso” – Peachy glow, suits most skin tones.
- e.l.f. Putty Blush – Creamy, easy to blend, and natural-looking.
- Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush – Affordable and pigmented.
💸 Price range: \$3–\$8
TIP: Smile and apply blush on the apples of your cheeks for a natural flush.
10. Highlighter (Optional but Fun!)
What it does: Adds a glow to high points of the face (cheekbones, nose, brow bone).
Best Budget Options:
- e.l.f. Baked Highlighter – Subtle sheen, not glittery.
- Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighter – Intense but blendable.
- Makeup Revolution Reloaded Highlighter – Large pan, great payoff.
💸 Price range: \$4–\$7
TIP: Use highlighter sparingly for a natural glow.
11. Lipstick or Lip Gloss
What it does: Completes your look and adds personality.
Best Budget Options:
- Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks – Creamy and classic.
- NYX Butter Gloss – Glossy, non-sticky, beginner favorite.
- e.l.f. Hydrating Core Lip Shine – Tinted balm with hydration.
💸 Price range: \$3–\$9
TIP: Start with a nude-pink or rose shade—it flatters most skin tones.
12. Setting Spray (Optional)
What it does: Locks your makeup in place and adds a finish (matte, natural, or dewy).
Best Budget Options:
- e.l.f. Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist – Fine mist and long-lasting.
- NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray – Great for dry skin or glowy looks.
- Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Spray – Affordable and effective.
💸 Price range: \$5–\$8
🧼 Bonus: Makeup Tools for Beginners
Don’t forget the tools! You don’t need an expensive brush set—just a few reliable tools to get started.
Must-Have Tools:
- Makeup Sponge (e.l.f. Total Face Sponge or Real Techniques): For foundation and concealer
- Blush Brush: For blush or bronzer
- Eyeshadow Brush Set: Look for small sets with a crease brush, shader, and blender
- Eyebrow Spoolie: Usually comes with brow pencils
💸 Tool Budget: \$10–\$20 total
💄 Full Beginner Budget Makeup Kit: Estimated Cost
| Product Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Primer | \$6–\$10 |
| Foundation | \$6–\$13 |
| Concealer | \$5–\$9 |
| Powder | \$5–\$8 |
| Brow Product | \$3–\$10 |
| Eyeshadow Palette | \$3–\$10 |
| Eyeliner | \$3–\$9 |
| Mascara | \$4–\$10 |
| Blush | \$3–\$8 |
| Lip Product | \$3–\$9 |
| Setting Spray (Optional) | \$5–\$8 |
| Tools | \$10–\$20 |
🧾 Total Estimate: \$56–\$114
(You can build a very functional kit on the lower end!)
🎯 Makeup Kit Building Tips for Beginners
- Start small: You don’t need everything at once.
- Buy multi-use products: Like cream blush you can also use on lips.
- Focus on face basics first: Base, brows, mascara, lip.
- Practice makes perfect: The more you use your products, the better you’ll get at application.
- Watch tutorials: YouTube and Pinterest are goldmines for beginner-friendly looks.
💬 Final Thoughts: Build Your Kit, Your Way
Your beginner makeup kit should be as unique as your face. Don’t feel pressured to follow every trend or own 10 lipsticks right away. The key is to start with a core collection of budget-friendly products that enhance your natural beauty and fit your lifestyle.
With smart choices and the right brands, your budget makeup kit can rival luxury-level results.
