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As a Makeup Artist, building your professional kit can be one of the most challenging aspects of your job. My kit is constantly evolving. I've tested different carrying cases, switched out product lines, condensed certain items, restocked my favorite products, etc. Out of all the products I've tested throughout the years, these are my top Amazon 10 finds!
Relavel Professional Makeup Backpack I switched to this case at the beginning of the year and have been absolutely loving it. It saves me so much time with setup. Instead of having to dig everything out, I can simply place the backpack on the table, lift the top of the case, and have access to all of my makeup. It even comes with movable panels so that you can organize your products however you'd like.
I previously used the Zuca bag. It is another great option that is more similar to a suitcase. It has individual pouches that you can purchase which are easy to clean and help to organize your kit.
AOA Studio Paw Paw Wonder Blender These are some of the best sponges on the market. I typically go through 1 to 2 packs a week and use a sponge on nearly every client. They are soft, easy to use, and just as good as the original Beauty Blender.
A 6 pack of these sponges costs $9.99, which breaks down to $1.67 per sponge. That is much more cost-effective compared to alternatives that range from $5.00 - $20.00 a sponge.
I used to carry all of my makeup brushes in canisters. They worked well but I started running out of room as my brush collection grew. I would also panic every time I left my house for a job because I was paranoid that I had forgotten to put them in my kit.
I have really been loving this brush case. It has a velcro strap on the back that allows me to attach it to the side of my backpack. It also comes with a strap if you prefer that option. The dividers allow me to organize my brushes by category and separate the clean from the dirty.
As a makeup artist, you absolutely need to be using disposable mascara and lip wands, liner brushes, etc. on each of your clients. I like this set because it gives you a divided case that you can refill, along with a variety of disposables to get you started. The case is compact and easy to fit into the front of my backpack.
I hope that this is obvious to everyone... But in case it's not, you need to be washing and sanitizing your hands before and after working on each client. Hand sanitizer should also be used after disposing of items in the trash can, touching your hair or face, touching your phone, or any surface that could potentially pass harmful germs to your client. Additionally, you should frequently be sanitizing makeup cases, lip pencils, eye pencils, brushes, etc. with isopropyl alcohol in order to maintain proper levels of sanitation.
These hair clips are an inexpensive, cute addition to any makeup kit. Obviously, you are going to want to keep the client's hair out of their face during the makeup application. These are a great alternative to other clips because they prevent the hair from creasing. No one wants their freshly styled hair to be ruined by placing a dent in the front. Plus, they are aesthetically pleasing and look nice in photos!
You will not catch me working without a brush belt. It is an affordable way to make your workday so much easier. It allows me to keep my most used brushes on me at all times and grants me the mobility to move around my client as needed. It also prevents me from putting dirty brushes back into my brush case before I have had a chance to clean and sanitize them. After I'm done, it is easy to wipe down and throw into my backpack.
This is my favorite foundation palette that I've ever used. It gives me everything that I need to mix and match the perfect shade for any skin tone. I have found the row of adjusters at the bottom to be very helpful. This palette is compact and can be used on anyone. Just keep in mind that you will need to use a palette and palette knife during the application. You should never dip a sponge into the palette, especially if you're double-dipping.
This item may seem a little strange but it comes in handy more than you would think. It is great for keeping track of tweezers when applying false lashes. If you are a hairstylist, it keeps all of your bobby pins in one place. It is so much easy than having to dig around in your kit and individually pull the pins off of their cardboard as you go.
I keep 2 to 3 Z palettes in my kit at all times. They are cases that have a magnetic backing. This allows you to take pans from other palettes and create your own. I have created my own blush and bronzer palettes, along with several eyeshadow palettes. This helps me keep all of my most used shades in one place.
Those are my top 10 favorite items that I have used to build and condense my professional makeup kit. You can find a full list of items here!