7 Tips for Buying Quality Makeup Products

There is nothing worse than spending a lot of money on a makeup product only to feel somewhat dissatisfied with it a few days later. Luckily, you can avoid experiencing this letdown again in the future by brushing up on your knowledge regarding how to select the best quality makeup products right from the get-go.

Choose suppliers wisely

Do your research before shopping for quality hair and makeup products, especially if you plan to do so online. After all, there are countless online stores out there that claim to be selling the real deal when, in fact, they are shipping you cheap knock-offs that could end up negatively impacting your skin.

Ask for advice

If you don’t consider yourself to be an expert on makeup just yet, don’t hesitate to ask someone more experienced for guidance. You could do this by approaching a makeup-loving friend, a professional makeup artist, or perhaps posting a question in a makeup-focused group on social media.

Don’t judge a makeup product by its packaging

Don’t allow yourself to be deceived by makeup wrapped up in a particularly glamorous box and, simultaneously, don’t turn away from seemingly simple packaging either. Often, suppliers will go over the top with their packaging design when they feel the need to distract from what is inside it! In many cases, the best makeup products come in the most fuss-free, straightforward packaging. This is especially true for brands that prioritize sustainability.

Investigate the ingredients

By now, you will know that it is better to select makeup products with natural ingredients. These products are generally better for your skin and for the environment. Some of the ingredients you should avoid include parabens, polyethylene, and retinyl acetate, to name just a few.

Look at reviews

There are thousands of reviews online for the vast majority of makeup products, so you would be doing yourself a disservice if you neglected to read at least a handful of them before swiping that credit card. Be sure to access reviews on at least two different respected websites for the most accurate and honest take-away.

Take shelf-life into consideration

There is no point in you buying expensive makeup if it is only going to last for six months. Always inspect the rear part of the product’s label to examine the shelf-life. Remember that quality concealer and eyeshadow should last for at least one year, and a quality eyeliner pencil and powder blush should last for a minimum of two years. Keep in mind that certain types of makeup products have shorter shelf-lives than others, like liquid eyeliner and mascara.

Find out the return policy

Always make sure that it is possible to return a hair and makeup product if you are not completely satisfied with it. Familiarize yourself with the supplier’s return policy before buying, as some will set a specific time limit for the return – such as ten days from the date of purchase or delivery.

Now that you know how to make better choices surrounding the makeup products in which you invest, you are sure to optimize your purchases and look flawless every single day.

We all remember our firsts—and if you’re new to the world of makeup, that includes the first time you tentatively applied foundation while wondering if it was really your skin’s perfect shade-match, or if you should ditch the brush and go for a beauty sponge instead (we’ll get to that later). Fact is, while trying on makeup for the first time can definitely be exciting, finding the right makeup products can also be a challenge. 

With so many brands and formulas to choose from, it’s fairly easy for any beauty novice to get overwhelmed. So to help get you started, we enlisted the expert advice of Jessica Kendall—hairstylist, makeup artist and owner of Beauty Asylum—to give us the dos, don’ts, hows and whys in our guide to the ultimate makeup essentials for beginners. 

Which Makeup Products Should a Beginner Buy?

 

While you may be tempted to fill your shopping carts with the beauty world’s latest obsessions, any seasoned pro will tell you that the road to makeup mastery starts with a good understanding of the basics and knowing what each product can actually do for you. Below, we list down the absolute makeup must-haves for beginners.