What should your kit contain for Bridal Makeup?

My students often ask me what their kit should contain if they want to do only bridal makeup as a career......

Whether you will only do brides or party makeup, your kit needs to contain items that is appropriate for all skin and colour.

I have divided the kit shopping into specific areas so that it is easy to understand. The brands that I have recommended are the ones that I have personally used over the years and recommend but there are several out there that are affordable and probably so the same job.

Tools:

Makeup brushes (various sizes and shapes) - needs a separate blog!

Slanted Tweezers (Tweezerman)

Eyelash curler (Shu Uemura)

Cotton buds (normal, pointed and extra fine)

Cotton pads

Tissues

Wipes

Disposable sponges

Disposable mascara wands

Disposable lip brushes

Disposable eyeliner brushes

A plastic plate / tile  to decant products out on for your client

small water spray

Prepping the face:

Cleanser and toner or something that can do the job in one (Bioderma, Avene or Lancome)

Moisturisers (for normal or dry skin) - Embryolisse, Lancome, Guerlain, Chanel, Vichy, Garnier

Primers (for normal / young / mature skin) - Gosh, Smashbox, MAC, Guerlain, Laura Mercier, Nars

Primer and Moisturiser in one - Laura Mercier, MAC

Eye shadow primer (Too faced, nyx, Lime crime, Nars)

Lip balm (Carmex or Vaseline)

Foundations:

Tinted moisturisers (Laura Mercier, MAC's Face and Body, Clinique)

Medium to thick coverage (MAC, Nars, Illamasqua)

Full Coverage (Estee, MAC, Illamasqua. Makeup Forever)

Powder Foundations (Chanel, MAC)

Powders:

Translucent (MAC, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Cornsilk)

Tinted (Chanel, MAC, Bobbi Brown)

Lipsticks

Some of the brands I have used are: Tom Ford, Chanel, Dior, YSL, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Benefit, Maybelline, Rimmel, L'Oreal and many more

Lip Glosses

same as above or make your own by buying a good quality clear gloss

Eyebrow pencils / powders / mascara (clear or coloured)

Rimmel, MAC, Bobbi Brown

Eye shadows

MAC (matt and shimmer - a variety), Bobbi Brown, Nars, Shu Uemura, Illamasqua (highly pigmented and matt ones)

You can buy unbranded matt and shimmer ones on ebay

Mascara (Black / Brown)

Lancome (Hypnose Drama), Clinique, Maybelline, L'Oreal

Eyelashes

Shu Uemura, MAC, Ardell and there are too many out there now, some are amazing bargains

Gel Eyeliners

Makeup Atelier (my first choice), MAC (my second choice), Clinique (if you are not that fast and want to take your time, does not dry that fast so easier to use)

Cake eyeliners

Kryolan, Laura Mercier,

Blushers

Sleek, MUA, MAC, Bobbi, Estee, Chanel, YSL

Bronzers

Guerlain, Chanel, MAC

Pigments (highly versatile) 

MAC Cosmetics

If you are a on a budget, most high street shops are a good option to stock up. The only things I would advise to spend money on is good moisturisers / primers, foundations and eyeshadows for your clients. Cheaper high street makeup lacks the spectrum of colours for all skin tones. Cheaper shadows also tend to look too shimmery and have a lot of fall out.