Nowadays there is an overwhelming amount of amazing makeup on the market and knowing where to start is a task in itself. I’ve picked out a few products that are hard to go wrong with that I reckon could be a great starting point if you don’t have a whole lot of practice with makeup.

1. Too Faced Natural Eyes palette

This was the first high-end eye shadow palette I had, and I still reach for it all the time. The shades are the ideal selection of neutrals, but with shimmers that pop, especially if you pack them on. I’ve also found that the mattes make perfect brow shades because they are nice and cool-toned; they’re the only shadow shades I have that double as brow colours. Bright colours are definitely trending at the moment, which can be hard to get to grips with if you’re new to eyeshadow, so this palette is the perfect starting point full of staple shades.

2. Olay Total Effects BB cream

This is a particular favourite of my Mum’s and she’s the one who got me hooked on it. It’s a hybrid of a foundation and moisturiser so I find it to be the perfect skin base for every day; it doesn’t feel as heavy as a foundation, but still gives a nice coverage to even out the skin. As a bonus, it also has a light SPF 15 and anti-ageing properties. On the downside, this doesn’t have a great shade range at all, but if you blend it in properly, the shades work for a wide range of skin tones.

3. Tarte Blush and Glow

Ideal for anyone, this Tarte blush is such a neutral, universal shade that gives a lovely natural colour. Blush is often overlooked, but I find that having glowing, flushed cheeks can look youthful and healthy. This product is a duo, meaning it has two pans, one of which is a blush and one is a highlight. I love this because you can mix them to achieve the amount of glow you feel like, and they’re very hard to overdo which is exactly what you want. It smells great too. Although expensive, the gorgeous packaging means this would make a lovely gift, and Tarte often do deals and discounts to keep an eye out for.

4. Maybelline Mascara

If you’ve ever used a Maybelline mascara before, I need not say more (apart from Great Lash which is not their best). They have clearly cracked the mascara secret, whatever it may be. The formulas strike the perfect balance in that they’re wet enough when you apply them but can easily be layered and dry down completely without getting crumbly. It also isn’t impossible to remove, like a waterproof mascara. The wands too are just the right size and fluffiness, so you get the ideal amount of volume and separation. At the drugstore price point too, you can’t go wrong. I’ve tried a bunch of high-end mascaras too which have been amazing, but Maybelline ones are equally as good, if not better.

5. Benefit High Beam

This is a classic, and something I’ve used for years, but often gets forgotten now there’s hundreds of liquid highlighters on the market. It’s perfect for light or no foundation days, or in combination with the Olay BB cream, to brighten up your complexion. It adds the perfect ‘glow-from-within’ and sinks into the skin really nicely, which is hard to achieve with a powder highlight. Again, it’s a bit pricey but lasts for a good few months, so it’s worth it for me.

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