It is definitely overwhelming trying to figure out what items are good to have in your makeup kit, so I have provided a list of items that I think are key in creating different bridal looks. Now I realize everyone’s budget is different, and wears different makeup products, so use this list simply as a guide, not the makeup bible 
Face Primer:
- Benefit POREfessional Face Primer (Amazon)
- Palladio Face Primer (inexpensive alternative) (Makeup Geek Store)
Concealer:
- Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer (for under eye circles) (Makeup Geek Store)
- Coastal Scents Camouflage Concealer Palette (for blemishes) (Amazon) (eBay)
Foundation:
- Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation (you need lightest shade, darkest, and 2 in between)*You need to ask the bride what foundation she normally wears- if she likes her foundation, you may want to use hers just to prevent any chance of breakouts (Amazon) (eBay)
Powder:
- Makeup Forever HD Powder (Amazon) (eBay)
- Palladio Rice Powder (inexpensive alternative) (Makeup Geek Store)
Contour Powder:
- MAC Contour Powders or any pressed face powders in 4 different shades
Here’s the shades I have:- Strada
- Harmony
- Garb
- Prism
Blush:
- Blush Palette (Makeup Geek Store)
*You want a variety of shades including: Peach, Pink, Rose, Plum
Cheek Highlighter:
- MAC Cream Color Base in “Pearl” (eBay)
*Any cheek highlighter will do- you need a champagne colored one for light skin, and a golden color for medium to dark skin
Eyeshadow Primer:
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance (Amazon) (Sephora)
- Palladio Eye Primer (inexpensive alternative) (Makeup Geek Store)
Eyeshadows:
- MAC Eyeshadow Palettes- here’s my MAC eyeshadows so you can pick which colors you like: How to Organize your MAC Eyeshadows
- 28 Neautral Palette (inexpensive alternative) (Makeup Geek Store)
- MAC Pigment in
- Naked (Makeup Geek Store)
- Tan (Makeup Geek Store)
- Gold Mode
- Melon (Makeup Geek Store)
- See additional colors in Makeup Geek Store
Eyebrow Pencil:
- MAC Eyebrow Pencil (eBay)
You need 3 different colors: Lingering, Strut, and Spiked (basically a taupe, brown, and dark brown color) - Rimmel Brow Pencil (inexpensive alternative) (Amazon)
Eyeliner:
- Coastal Scents Gel Liner in black and brown (Makeup Geek Store) (Makeup Geek Store)
- Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in “Corrupt” and “Rockstar” (Amazon) (eBay)
- MAC Chromagraphic Pencil – Pure White (Amazon) (eBay)
- Stila Kajal Eyeliner – Topaz (Amazon)
- Palladio Eye Ink – Brown (Makeup Geek Store)
- Palladio Eye Ink – Black (Makeup Geek Store)
Mascara:
- Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara (Amazon) (Sephora)
- Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black (inexpensive alternative) (Amazon)
*Make sure to bring disposable mascara wands!
False Lashes:
- Ardell False Lashes:
- Sweeties- great for more natural bridal makeup (Makeup Geek Store)
- 305′s – half lashes that are easy to apply (Makeup Geek Store)
- Demi Wispies – great for more dramatic bridal makeup (Makeup Geek Store)
- Single Lashes
- Duo Lash Adhesive (Makeup Geek Store)
Lipliner Pencil:
- NYX or Palladio Lipliner Pencils
- NYX Fuschia or Palladio Pink Frost
- NYX Plum (Makeup Geek Store)
- NYX Coral (Makeup Geek Store)
- NYX Rose or Palladio Pink Ice
- NYX Plush Red (Makeup Geek Store)
- NYX Mauve or Palladio Vermouth
- See additional colors in Makeup Geek Store
Lipstick:
- Bobbi Brown Artist Palette for Lips
*You can bring different lipsticks, but you need 5-6 different colors: pink, nude, peach, red, rose, plum. You can then custom mix if needed
Lipgloss:
- NYX Lipgloss – I like these as they are inexpensive and aren’t too sticky
- Candy Shop (Makeup Geek Store)
- Baby Rose (Makeup Geek Store)
- Tea Rose (Makeup Geek Store)
- Beige (Makeup Geek Store)
- Dolly Pink (Makeup Geek Store)
- Perfect Red (Makeup Geek Store)
Brushes:
- MAC 217 or MUG Stiff Dome (Makeup Geek Store)(MAC)
- MAC 239 (MAC)
- MAC 219 (MAC)
- Sonia Kashuk Angled Liner Brush (Makeup Geek Store)
- MUG Blush Brush (Makeup Geek Store)
- MUG Cheek Highlighter Brush (Makeup Geek Store)
- MUG Deluxe Outer V Brush (Makeup Geek Store)
- MUG Soft Dome Brush (Makeup Geek Store)
Setting Sprays:
- MAC Fix+ Spray (Amazon) (eBay)
This is for getting rid of cakey look - Model in a Bottle Makeup Setting Spray (Amazon) (eBay)
This is for making the makeup last all day
Accessories:
- Cotton Wool
- Q-Tips
- Hand Sanitizer
- Powder Puff (Makeup Geek Store)
- Disposable Applicators
- Tweezers
- Eyelash Curlers (Makeup Geek Store)
- Nail Scissors
- Makeup Pencil Sharpener (Makeup Geek Store)
- Makeup Remover
- Brush Cleaner
- Rubbing Alcohol
Loved it
i really loved what u did
but can u let me know
i have oily skin and im using revlon color stay is it good??
i have acne too, but i need something not too expensive
i want flawless skin but i dont use powder, and i wanna buy some powder but i dont know which will be good? loose powder? or pressed powder?
i wanna buy brushes but i dont neeeeeed something expensive
what do u recommend???
pls answer my questions, and where can i ask and get answers???
You should really check out ELF products. They make an HD powder just like the makeupforever one and they brushes as well. The studio brushes are great and very affordable. I love everything I have tried from ELF.
Revlon Colorstay has two formulations — one for combination/oily skin, one for normal/dry skin. You’d want the former.
I like Colorstay (I have combo/oily skin), but their lightest shades are too dark for me (I am extremely fair), and it has a tendency to oxidize. If you’re not super fair, you may want to get a shade lighter than you are.
Loose or pressed powder… IMO, it doesn’t matter. You can use either/or. I like e.l.f.’s High Definition Powder ($6), and NYC Color has a great loose powder, too (~$3).
Brushes… The ones in the MUG shop aren’t very expensive. Sonia Kashuk (available at Target) is good, EcoTools is good, Sigma has some good ones, and yeah, e.l.f.’s Studio line has some fab brushes as well.
Agree with the ladies above, and I love EcoTools brushes, they can be washed with the MAC Brush Cleanser really well. :•}
For powder, I always go with loose because it won’t cake up on yuh too fast. Marlenas mentioned it a couple of times, I use the Palladio Rice Powder. You can find it at Sallys Beauty Supply, I’m extremely fair and I use the translucent color.
-Shelly – I feel your pain haha ! I use the Revlon Colorstay for dry skin and it’s always too dark !
thank you thank you THANK YOU for providing us with this information. the 4 foundation tip is amazing and i appreciate it!
I hope she answers your question. I find it impossible for her to reply or get back to people, its one of the reasons I don’t follow as much as I did before. That is what got us to stick with her and follow her. Not to mention the many purchases to her store. Sorry for the vent, its really been bugging me.
Marlena doesn’t have the time to sit on the computer all day and answer everyone’s questions. She’s hard at work and busy traveling. Try to step in her shoes before you make a comment like that. She’s doing the best that she can while trying to run a business
Marlena!
Very helpful tips… you know I have been lucky to have where to wash my hands but I think I’ll go and buy a hand sanitizer!
I’m so jealous of your Bobbi Brown Palette, hehehe, looks great and very helpful.
And I know this is more a guide but I would add the naked palette if you have it, I think it works really good for bridal makeup too.
<3
that’s true
I love that palette!
Hey Marlena, do you remember the cost of the bobbi brown palette? They have one at a CCO about 4 hours from me, but they won’t tell me the price!
Thanks!
hi , this was a great video and thanks for listing all the products and info we need.
Please coloud you make this a mini series and iclude other videos like what make up to take on a shoot for a magazine cover, a catwalk show , televishion make up for film or tv , ect … thanks lil x
I’ll see what I can do!
I have been trying to put a Train case together for a long time but really didn’t know what to put in it… Thank you so much for making this video… XOXO
I do have one question: What would you use for applying foundation on a client? Somehow I doubt you’re a fan of latex sponges, and you said in a different video you wouldn’t use a stippling brush on someone other than yourself. So would you prefer the beautyblender or a standard flat foundation brush?
She said in an earlier video that she keeps a beautyblender in her case to use on clients… HTH
If the bride needs a lot of coverage, I will start with a flat foundation brush then blend out with the beauty blender
Otherwise I just use the beauty blender
THANK YOU FOR THE LIST OF PRODUCTS! I REEEAAALLLYYY WANT THAT BOBBI BROWN LIPSTICK PALETTE! LOL LIKE REEEEEAAALLLY WANT IT! HAHA Now what shades do you have from the Revlon Colorstay range exactly? Just to make it easier for us to choose from the wide selection
THANK YOU HUN!
xoxo
Glad I’ve fianlly found something I agree with!
Great video, lovely! Love the shirt, you look sexey
I really wanted to get the BB palette but it was sold out so fast…
Btw, would you say that UD Naked palette would look nice on brides as it really helps to save money?
I would say you probably want something with a wider variety of matte shades. As there are only 2 matte shades in the UD naked. There is no light matte highlighter, matte black. You can still get a lot of good looks with that palette though! I use it daily!
You can get the costal scents 28 palette for pretty cheap. I have the UD naked, and I still think I will eventually get the 28 neutral palette.
You could also take the UD naked, but supplement with a Z palette with some matte shades in it.
I agree
Hey Marlena, wanted to let you know how much I love your work…and you are so sweet! Anyway, you pack the Makeup or is it Model in a Bottle I think it is called to keep your makeup lasting longer…what happenend to Mac Fix spray? You used to say you you couldnt do without it..just was wondering why you chose one over the other. Thanks mam
MAC Fix+ makes the skin look dewy, while Model in a Bottle makes your makeup stay in place for long periods… I think Fix+ is great for day to day use, but for a wedding you’d really want everything to stay put for hours
thanks
Hey Marlena, I just wanted to ask which foundation shades you have in your kit. Thank you
I have Ivory, Mahogany, Golden Caramel, and Natural Beige
That’s a mold-breaker. Great tihnikng!
Loved the video! Thank you for doing it!
Thanks a lot for this, Marlena! I’m still toying with the idea of becoming a MUA, but need much more practice at this point! But I would love to be able to do makeup for friends getting married, so this was really helpful to know how to get started!
Thank u thank u thank u marlena! I’m a new makeup artist and have to do bridal makeup in few months for and ur tips were very helpful…ur an amazing person with a beautiful personality..
Hi Marlena,
Thank you so much for this video…I just started as a freelance makeup artist and a lot of the products you mentioned in your video, are the same that I have in my makeup kit…Can you please let me know, how many sets of brushes do you take with you if you have several people to do in one day…? And for the revlon colorstay foundations, did you choose the same shades from the Oily/Combo and Dry/Normal sking formulations?
Very true! Makes a change to see seomone spell it out like that.
Thanks Marlena what a great help… Just wondering if you could give some makeup points for women over 40yrs. Maybe an article or something????
what highlighter specifically be good for medium and dark skin tones? Also, what high end foundations and primers would be good with oily skin ? thanks
Hi Marlena,
you literally saved my life with this video. Im starting really slowly as a makeup artist and I am supposed to do the bridal makeup in September and I was really thinking about the foundation, what is the best label and especially what color so I dont have to spend money for all the colors..I love your videos and really really thank you. You are a big inspiration and motivation…
Could you also do a tutorial for ladies in years? What foundation, colors and other stuff?Would be really helpfull.Thank you again and be just the you are:-)
Marlena what lipstick are you wearing in this video im in love with it!
Hi Marlena,
Thank you so much for this video. I am starting my makeup artist training this weekend (it’s weekend training so I can work full time as a teacher during the week) so it’s perfect timing. I have been slowly building up my kit so that I can have it fully stocked when I finish. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into this video. It has really helped me to see that I am on the right track and buying the right products. I have a lot of what you have already so I’m happy.
Thanks again!
P.S. – My traincase is pink too!
Oh, and I meant to ask if you could possibly do a tutorial on disposable products and when and how to use them to keep the germs out of our products please? Maybe you could demonstrate on someone? Just a thought.
I second Christy’s request for a tutorial on using disposable products. I also would request that you include using your palette & palette knife for cream products. Also, how to sanitize your makeup and clean your brushes, etc. between makeup applications ASAP. I have found it somewhat difficult to maneuver using all of those pieces and keeping everything perfectly clean in a quick makeup application. You know those weddings that have 8 or 9 bridesmaids, mothers, grandmothers and the bride all need to have makeup application ASAP. How do you handle those situations?
Your answer was just what I neeedd. It?s made my day!
Hi,Marlena.I love your tutorials.I need your help. Two questions for you:
1. what is your favorite black gel eyeliner now?
2.I’m Mac NW 20/25. Is it medium tone skin?
THANK YOU
very detailed an duseful videos for new make up artists like me!!!!
thanks a lot!!
xxxx
Hey Marlena,
I am a big fan of yours I sell mary kay for a living and I was wondering if you wanted buy some mary kay for yourself or to sell in the makeup geek store?
Where did you get your train case? I like the pink!
Were did you purchased your MAC CONTOURING POWDERS ?? THANKS
thank you so much for this video marlena…you have no idea how helpful it is! I started doing makeup on others just this past year and have been on youtube for just almost a year now and I’ve been saving to build my kit for more work and I’ve been so worried that the foundations and amount of things I am going to need are going to be expensive…after watching your video i have a more reasonable idea of what I need.
where’d you get your train case? I have been using a caboodles one but it is just too small.
i just wanted to say how amazing MUGS are. honestly, i was reading down through all the comments and its wonderful to see people asking questions… then other people answering in a nice and helpful manner. great people.. all of u!
Im trying to become a makeup artist so I was woundering what are the steps on becoming one and what do I need to start off with!!
Hi! I love this video! Can you PLEASE PLEASE tell me what 4 shades of the Colorstay Foundation you keep in your kit? thanks!
This is what she said in an earlier comment
I have Ivory, Mahogany, Golden Caramel, and Natural Beige
Hi Marlena! I’m in california and was wondering how I could get you to do bridal make-up for my best friend? and if your not available do you have anyone else you would suggest? thanks!
OMG Marlena this was perfect for me. I have slowly built my freelance kit over the last 3 months, been a bit tricky being unemployed but i’ve done it and im happy with what i have. Im so glad you have made this how to video. As once i get more work freelancing there are a few other things i’ll need to add, but for now im all set for my next wedding in 2 weeks. My boyfriends brother is getting married. His fiance booked me in advance over a year ago to do her and her 4 bridesmaids makeups. Im so looking forward to it, it will be a very exciting day
Great video and like myself im sure you’ve answered alot of question for us.
THANKS Marlena ?
hi marlena!! hello from GREECE!! you are adorable!! love-love-love your videos..! i wanted to ask you about the foundations and powders… is colorstay (spf 6-15) good for camera- photos for brides or will they appear white? i noticed you said we only need four shades right?.. So should i try mac or no?? too expensive right? is there something i need to know before buying my makeup bridal collection? the weather here especially in the summer is really hot and humid! i really trust your opinion so please help me out here! thanks alot!!
Hi MArlena, I love all you videos!! you are great!! but when can you do a makeup for mature skin?? and if you have some trick how to do it and share with us… thank you beatifull.
I thought MUFE HD powder shouldnt be used for photography as it can leave white splothes on the face in pics.
Omg! I would love to get that Bobbi Brown Artist Palette for Lips for my personal makeup collection, but I can’t find it anywhere! Does anyone know if it’s still available (since it was limited edition) and exactly where can I get it and how much?!
Also, is that a yazmo pink traincase Marlena? I saw a similar one like it at yazmo.com but ended up getting the sephora one instead (which i am really loving!)
Excellent guide! Marlena, you have no idea how much you have taught me! Thank you!
Thank you thank you thnk you!! I have my first job doing make up for a wedding in a couple of weeks and this video just calmed abunch of my nerves!!! I have gotten together with the bride to be a couple of times to do some trial runs, feeling pretty good about everything but just a tad nervous! But thanks to this amazing video, I feel like I am going to be fully prepared for the big day! Thank you soooo much Marlena, you have always been inspiring to me, and you are still doing such a great job at it!
hi can you tell me where i can get a great traincase?..
look your videos
))
M
hi marlene , so can i use all this stuff on darker skin too like the eyeshadows, and also so will their makeup stay put if they cry shoul i go for a waterproof mascara and eyeliners thank you sonia
I love your train case. Where did you get it?
Thank you for your great videos!!! They have really made a difference in the way I do my make-up and the way I feel about myself.
M
Superior thinking dmenostrated above. Thanks!
great video!you should do these videosfor other occations like prom ..ect
what are the specific shade you have by revlon colorstay foundation and skin type?
amazing videoo again <3 thank you
This is so great Marlena! We need more beneficial videos like this one. Thanks!
Which four Revlon foundation colors should I get id im just getting started?
Woooow you really posted this right when I needed it. THANK YOU!
What train case are you using? How much does it cost?
Hi Marlena, I adore ur videos…..see ur fan following has reached India..he he he……Ur work has inspired me to take my love for make up to next level and become a professional MUA. I’ll be joining a makeup academy soon….will always follow ur work…..Great Job…………….Love u alot …………keep smiling. God bless u!
Pooja
Marlena, thank you very much for all the Info you provide, the shades of the 4 foundations really helped me because I’m barely starting…. buying tons of foundation would have been a bad Idea since they go bad after a while. Hey one more thing….. I get the Mac Pro discount so I’m not sure witch foundations to buy the Mac Pro Longwear or Revlon color stay? Which 4 shades would you carry in the Mac Pro Longwear foundation?
Thank you very much & God bless you : )
Hey Marlena! I watch your videos religiously and I just have a quick question. I’ve been doing freelance work for a while now, but the train case I have just isn’t working out so well anymore. What are some good ones that you recommend getting?
Marlena,
could you do a video on an everyday makeup traincase?
Thanks, Rebeca
I married last week and thanks to your tips, I could makeup by myself without the need of a professional (really expensive in France). Thanks for helping people who are not a makeup expert like me
I’m a big fan of you!!!! Cheers from la France!!
hi!,,, u look so gorg! please tell me where u got ur top?… i love it! please telll me!!! thanks!,,,
Very informative. Thanks Marlena