Anyone who’s shopped for makeup knows it can be brutal on your budget- this stuff doesn’t come cheap! When you’re first getting into beauty, it’s tempting to want a huge range of products right away so you can try out different looks, but unless you’ve got serious cash to spend it’s better to start with the essentials and build your collection over time. These are the basics I recommend for anyone just starting out. They’ll cover all the key areas, and you can add to them as you go.

A good primer smooths your skin and helps foundation last longer. It can blur pores and give you a more flawless base. If your makeup fades quickly, adding a primer to your routine is worth it. Examples: e.l.f. Power Grip Primer (around £10) or Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Primer (around £8).

Even if your skin is good, foundation evens tone and covers blemishes. Choose for your skin type — oily skin does best with oil-free formulas, dry skin prefers hydrating liquids or creams. For lighter coverage, try a BB cream. Examples: L’Oréal True Match Foundation (£10) or Garnier BB Cream (£8).

Powder sets foundation, keeps shine away, and makes makeup last longer. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is a budget favourite at about £5.

One concealer can work for both blemishes and under-eyes, but different formulas give better results. Use thicker, creamier ones for blemishes and lighter, illuminating ones for under eyes. Examples: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£5) or Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer (£9).

Adds warmth and definition to the face. Pick a shade that works with your skin tone — pale skin tones should avoid anything too orange. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (£13) is a safe choice for most.

A swipe of blush adds life to your face. If you have naturally rosy cheeks, peach tones can help balance it out. Milani Baked Blush (£12) is well-loved.

Use it on cheekbones for a healthy, dewy look and make your features like cheekbones stand out. Revolution Highlighter Reloaded is a bargain at around £4.

Healthy lips make every other lip product look better. Vaseline Lip Therapy or Carmex (£2-£3) are cheap and reliable.

Optional unless you wear bold shades often. Helps stop lipstick bleeding and makes the edges neat. NYX Slim Lip Pencil is under £4.

A basic starter set: one nude, one pink, one coral, and one red. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks (£7) and Revlon Super Lustrous (£9) are good budget-friendly options. Lip crayons like Revlon Balm Stain are easy to wear.

If you buy just one eye product, make it mascara. It instantly makes you look more awake. Maybelline Lash Sensational (£9) is a classic.

Brown or grey can be softer than black for everyday wear. Try Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl (£5).

A pencil or brow powder fills sparse areas and shapes your face. Choose two shades lighter than your natural colour for dark hair, or two shades darker for blonde. NYX Micro Brow Pencil (£10) is a solid pick.

A trio with light, medium, and dark shades covers the basics. Larger palettes let you experiment without overspending. Revolution Reloaded Palettes are around £5.

Stops creasing and makes colours pop. e.l.f. Shadow Lock Primer (£3) works well.

This was one of my favourites back in the day as the stuff is pretty good and so cheap. It's still going strong today and is available in Superdrug and online. Most products are under £5, with lipsticks from £1.50 and decent eyeshadow palettes for £4-£6.

This is an online shop for discounted makeup, fragrance, skincare, and haircare. You can often find big brands like L’Oréal, Rimmel, and Max Factor for half the high street price.

A bit hit-and-miss, but worth checking when you’re in store and can be fun to see what beauty bits they have on occasion. They sometimes stock well known brands at £1-£2 like Rimmel eyeshadows, OPI nail polishes and lots more. 

A huge range of affordable products online and in Superdrug. Prices start from £3, with brushes and tools also very budget-friendly.

What would you add to your beginner makeup kit?