I’ve been freelancing for some time now and over the years I’ve slowly managed to build up a kit I’m happy with. It took a lot of patience but I finally have a selection of products that I love and am confident in! For today’s post I thought I’d talk you through a few tips for putting together a good quality collection as well as compiling my favourite recommendations.
Do your research. Building a good-quality kit is time consuming and can be incredibly expensive, so it’s imperative that you do your research before you invest. I’m rarely let down by products because I spend so much time reading reviews/watching YouTube demos before I make a purchase. If I believe an item to be overrated or not really worth the money then I won’t buy it. Of course, disappointment is sometimes inevitable and it’s all part of trial and error, but more often than not a bit of digging online can save you a lot of time and cash!
Know your clientele. Of course, the contents of your collection largely depends on what sector you’re in and what services you’ll be providing. I mainly do weddings so a lot of my kit is tailored to bridal parties. I’m such a magpie when it comes to make-up and I’m tempted by anything and everything (the glitter pigment section at MAC especially!) so I often have to reign myself in otherwise I’ll end up with numerous products that just won’t get used.
Only buy what you need. This ties in with the above point slightly. When I first started freelancing I was obsessed with the idea of building an enormous, luxurious kit that looked super impressive at appointments. I got over excited and would buy things that would sit unused at the bottom of my case. Nowadays I’m really selective with what goes in my kit and will only pick out what I know I’ll get use out of. For example, I keep my skincare really minimal – Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream is my go to; it’s a moisturiser, primer and day cream all in one meaning it hydrates the skin and sits perfectly underneath foundation. Other than cleanser and the occasional face mask, I don’t really keep anything else to hand as I don’t believe I need it. Magic Cream isn’t the cheapest but it’s a truly incredible product that works for all skin types – I’d much rather invest in a pot of that for my ladies than ten near-identical nude lipsticks!
Quality over everything. We all know that just because a product is pricey it doesn’t necessarily mean it performs. I have lip liners from Primark and Barry M that are just as good (if not better) than ones from Chanel. The drugstore has some incredible make-up on the market but again, it’s all down to your research.
Of course, it’s nice to have a little luxury in your kit and in some cases you really do get what you pay for, but make sure you believe in your products and trust they will make your client look all the more amazing! Don’t sacrifice quality for brand names/pretty packaging.
Buy in bulk. They’re not the most glamorous or exciting things to invest in but hygiene products (such as disposable mascara wands, tissues, hand sanitizer, cotton buds/pads, wipes etc) are usually much cheaper when bought in bulk. I find Amazon the easiest and most affordable place to order from for all my bits – I sometimes like to get my lashes from there, too.
I know the products you select for your kit are very personal to every make-up artist, but I thought I’d list some of my top recommendations regardless. I wanted to talk more about a few favourites but I knew it would make for a never-ending post, so I’ll be publishing a ‘Part Two’ at some point next week where I’ll go into much more detail! Until then, I really hope you enjoyed these tips and that they prove helpful!
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