Essential Makeup - Beginners Guide

All that a makeup beginner needs to unlock their artistry is the right tools – as well as a bit of guidance. This is our ultimate guide on how to apply makeup for beginners looking to create a seamless, obtainable beauty routine.   

What Makeup Products Do Beginners Actually Need to Get Started?

For a complete look, every makeup novice needs these tools in their arsenal: 

1. Primer
2. Foundation
3. Concealer
4. Eyebrow Pencil & Gel
5. Eyeshadow Palette
6. Mascara & Eyeliner
7. Bronzer & Highlighter
8. Blush
9. Lip Gloss & Liner

A little overwhelming? Let’s walk you through the process. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do makeup for beginners, using each of these products. 

Step 1: Primer

Skipping the priming step is one of the major sins of makeup application. A primer is essential – it creates a smooth base for your makeup to adhere to, ensuring it goes on seamlessly. It will also extend the life of your makeup look, helping it last throughout the day. 

How Do I Apply Primer the Right Way Before Putting On Makeup?

Start with well-moisturized skin. Dispense the primer onto your fingertips, and apply a thin, even layer all over the face. 

Step 2: Foundation

A high-quality foundation will blur imperfections and uneven skin tone, creating the ultimate base for the rest of your products. For beginners – especially those after that clean, your skin-but-better look – we suggest a cream or liquid foundation, as they are easy to work with and create a natural finish. 

Our Major Skin Crème Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo easily blend into the skin. Designed to soften pores and imperfections, it creates a dewy finish that looks and feels natural.

For those seeking a foundation that offers both coverage and skincare benefits, the Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation is a must-try. This lightweight formula provides a natural, radiant finish while hydrating the skin throughout the day. Infused with nourishing ingredients, it not only evens out your complexion but also improves the overall texture of your skin. Ideal for beginners, this foundation blends seamlessly, leaving your skin looking flawless and luminous without feeling heavy or cakey.

What's the Best Way to Apply Foundation for a Natural, Flawless Finish?

Using a foundation brush, buff the foundation into primed skin, creating an even layer. Continue to build until you’ve created the coverage you’re after. If desired, use a clean brush to apply the powder to any areas of the skin that are prone to oil – typically the nose and forehead. 

Step 3: Concealer

Whether you want to mask blemishes or brighten dark circles, a concealer will target any problem spots that foundation alone may not completely cover up. 

How Do I Apply Concealer to Cover Dark Circles and Blemishes?

To hide a blemish, dispense a small amount of concealer onto your hand. Pick up the product with a concealer brush, then gently dab it on top of the blemish, blending it into the skin. 

To target dark circles, apply three dots of concealer underneath each eye. Using a damp beauty sponge or a concealer brush, gently blend the concealer into the skin. 

Step 4: Eyebrow Pencil & Gel

Brows are often forgotten about, but they can truly make or break your look. They frame your eyes and balance your face – so honing in on the art of brows is a must. 

How Do I Fill In and Shape My Eyebrows for a Polished Look?

Achieving sleek brows that stay in place all day is easy with our Major Brow Defining Pencil and Major Brow Lamination Gel. Starting with the gel, brush the formula up through the brows, ensuring each hair is coated. Using the back of the applicator, press the brows into place to freeze them into your desired shape.

Allow the brows to dry for a couple of minutes, and then use the pencil to fill in any sparse areas. Draw short strokes in the same direction as your brow hairs. 

Step 5: Eyeshadow Palette

As a makeup beginner, you’ll want to first perfect the art of creating a beautifully blended neutral eye look. Your ultimate tool will be a versatile, nude-focused eyeshadow palette like Major Dimension III. Made with richly pigmented, blendable shades, the palette features matte eyeshadows in warm and cool nude hues for endless beauty looks. 

What's the Best Way to Apply Eyeshadow for Beginners?

Create a base with a light shade, using an eyeshadow brush to sweep it across the eyelid. To add dimension, bring in a darker shade. Start from the center of your lash line, and blend the shade towards the outer corner of your eye. 

Step 6: Eyeliner

For eyes that pop, mascara and liner are a must. Mascara adds volume and definition to the lashes, while a liner draws attention to the eyes and gives the lashes a fuller look. 

How Do I Apply Eyeliner for a Defined, Eye-Opening Look?

For a dramatic, defined look, using the Major Dimension Precision Gel Liner, draw a thin line on the outer third of your upper lash line. 

Step 7: Bronze & Highlight

A bronzer and highlighter: the ultimate pair for a sculpted, radiant look. The Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo is designed to add warmth while chiseling the face. Meanwhile, the Major Glow Highlighting Mist reimagines the traditional highlighter, making it easy to achieve a glamorous, glowy look. 

How Do I Contour and Highlight My Face for a Sculpted Glow?

Apply the cream contour with a contour brush, using a stamping motion to work it into the skin. Blend it along the cheekbones, under the jaw, along the sides of the nose, and on the temples. With a bronzer brush, apply the bronzer to the same areas for extra warmth. Finish by spraying the highlighting mist along the cheekbones and temples. 

Step 8: Blush

The next must-have in our makeup for beginners guide: is blush. The Major Headlines Double-Take Crème and Powder Blush Duo make it simple to unlock long-wearing blush that gives an energized glow to the skin. 

What's the Best Way to Apply Blush So It Looks Natural and Glowy?

Follow Patrick’s viral blush technique by applying cream over powder. Apply the powder with a fluffy blush brush, sweeping it across the apples of the cheeks. To add a dewy, natural glow, blend the cream blush on top of the powder with a denser blush brush. 

Step 9: Lip Gloss & Liner

Finish the look with your lips. A liner helps your lip gloss stay in place and adds definition to your pout, while a gloss adds color and shine. 

How Do I Apply Lip Liner and Gloss for a Finished, Defined Pout?

Choose a lip liner that matches the shade of your gloss. With the liner, use short strokes to line the outer edges of the upper and lower lips. Top with a gloss like the Major Volume Plumping gloss, which plumps and hydrates for soft and pouty lips. 

It’s time to elevate your beauty routine. With the help of these makeup essentials, it is possible to achieve the looks you are after with ease – even as a beginner. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I apply makeup products as a beginner to get the best results?

Always work in layers from thinnest to thickest texture: primer first, then liquid or cream foundation, concealer, cream contour and blush, powder products to set, and lip and eye products last so you can clean up any fallout before finishing your base.

Is cream or powder blush better for beginners who are just learning to blend?

Cream blush is more forgiving because it melts into the skin and is easy to sheer out with your fingers or a brush, and layering a powder blush on top, the way Patrick's technique recommends with the Major Headlines Double-Take Crème and Powder Blush Duo, locks in the color and extends wear without looking patchy.

How do I keep my makeup from looking cakey or heavy when I'm still learning how much product to use?

Build coverage in thin layers rather than applying a heavy amount at once, and use a damp beauty sponge to press and blend foundation and concealer into the skin so the product sits flush against your complexion instead of sitting on top of it.

What is the best makeup brush for beginners who can only buy one or two tools to start?

A foundation brush and a fluffy blush brush cover the most ground for a beginner, since they handle your base and your cheek color, which are the two steps that make the biggest impact on a finished look.

Can I wear a full beginner makeup routine if I have oily skin without it sliding off?

Yes, start with a primer to create a grip for your products, then use the finishing powder from the Major Skin Crème Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo on your nose and forehead to control shine and keep your base locked in throughout the day.

Do I need to use both a bronzer and a highlighter as a beginner, or can I start with just one?

Start with bronzer first since it adds warmth and dimension to the face in one step, then introduce a highlighter like the Major Glow Highlighting Mist once you feel comfortable with placement, as the mist format makes it nearly impossible to over-apply.