How to Make Your Own Cosmetics Kit

There are a variety of cosmetics or makeup kits available on the market for those who want to purchase a ready-made supply of makeup. However, someone who is very particular about the cosmetics she uses may prefer to put together her own kit. Building a cosmetics kit from the bottom up is especially suited to those who collect makeup and to aspiring makeup artists who are looking for an array of cosmetics to use on clients. Regardless of whether makeup is your hobby or your profession, creating your own kit is one way to make sure that everything you invest in is right for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cosmetics or train case
• Various cosmetics and makeup tools

1. Decide what kind of cosmetics kit you want to put together. You may create only one, where all your cosmetics are organized in a single large case, or you can make several different ones, depending on your needs. For instance, a professional makeup artist may have a sizable kit she takes with her on assignments, and a smaller kit that is filled only with products for her personal use. Someone who travels frequently can have one kit with full-size items for home use and another with travel-size products packaged in travel-friendly containers.

2. Invest in a cosmetics or makeup case large and sturdy enough to hold the items you will be stowing inside. Hardy train cases are not exclusively available to professional makeup artists and are particularly ideal for cosmetics collectors or those with a considerable number of products. Someone who likes keeping her beauty products to a minimum might prefer to store her cosmetics in a handy case easily available at beauty supply stores, department stores and the cosmetics aisle at drugstores.

3. Use the compartments in your case to organize and segregate the cosmetics you already own. Stick with a method that works for you--it may make more sense to you to put your makeup together by color instead of by kind, or perhaps by brand rather than by any other classification.

4. Identify which items you still need. Perhaps you have cosmetics in many colors but no brushes to apply them with. If you intend to use your kit professionally, you should stock up on a variety of shades that flatter the range of skin colors you will be working on. To start with, you need foundations, translucent powder, brow pencils, eye shadows, eyeliners, mascara, blushes or bronzers, lip liners, lipsticks and lip glosses (see Resources for more ideas).

5. Include makeup staples in your kit, such as oil-free moisturizer and makeup remover, lip balm, baby wipes and petroleum jelly. As your knowledge of makeup application grows, add tools and extras that you find useful, like a pencil sharpener, body glitter, an eyelash curler and false eyelashes.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your cosmetics kit out on a regular basis. Toss anything that begins to smell or look odd; conventional makeup in particular has a limited shelf life, so be mindful of what you apply on anyone's face, yours included.
• Maintain your kit by practicing hygienic habits with your tools and cosmetics. Double-dipping into products and neglecting to sanitize your brushes spreads bacteria from one client to another, possibly resulting in skin irritation, blemish breakouts and eye infections. If you cannot find enough time to clean your tools, invest in disposable sponges and applicators.

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