Building a Great Makeup Kit

While most Makeup Schools provide students with start up kits, investing in a makeup kit is a key part of becoming a qualified Makeup Artist. It is impossible to advance in this field without a massive kit – but this takes time to build up. To see the I.A.T.S.E. Kit requirements, look here:
http://iatse.com/public/applications/MUPAPP.pdf (Kit requirements begin on the bottom of page 3).

Cleanliness:
Makeup kits should always be spotless and stocked – a makeup artist should never be in a position where they arrive to work and find that they are missing an essential tool or product! It is just as bad (or worse!) to open a kit and have something be smudged. Even if it is truly clean, any imperfections will give the appearance that the makeup artist is unhygienic and unprofessional, and they will not be rehired.

Product Recommendations:
While it is important to have all the basics of the kit covered, so that you are ready to do anything in a moments notice, it can advantageous to not over-stock –especially when just starting out. When I was a student at Makeup School, our teachers would constantly recommend products, and the keen students would rush out and buy those specific products every afternoon after class. While recommendations by industry professionals such as our teachers were great, I believe it to be a bit impractical to buy every product recommended. While it is important to have a well-rounded kit, it is also important to keep the product inside the kit fresh and new. For example, if a student graduates from makeup school with a kit stocked with Out of Kit FX products, but ends up working primarily in Bridal for the first few years, many of the products will have been expired and (hopefully) thrown out by the time they are needed. Instead, it is better to keep a list of all of the recommendations you receive, listed under what they are recommended for. If you get called for a job where you will need to do something new, you can pull out the list and go to the store and play with the recommended product. Compare it with other similar products and find the one you love the most.

Brushes:
While it can be tempting to save money and buy brushes from say, the Richmond Night Market, Good brushes are worth the investment. Unlike product, a well cared-for brush does not need to be replaced often. Proper care is essential, shampoo AND condition your brushes, clean immediately after use, don’t ever leave soaking bristles down with the cleaner above the ferrule, you know the drill. Good quality brushes will not only last longer, they will feel better on your clients skin. Clients with sensitive skin will not appreciate a synthetic brush made of scratchy fibers.

Colour:
Colour is the first place new artists invest in. It is important to keep in mind that having a good variety of matte shades is more important that having palette after palette of frosty glamour makeup – think versatility.

Building a great kit takes time and a lot of money, but it is essential to going far in this field! This article has only scratched the surface of what it takes to build a great kit – stay tuned for more!

- Kaitlin Blackwood