Starter makeup kits for a 17 year old girl?
starlancerii
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So my adorable younger sister (17 years old) asked me to buy her some makeup & cosmetics for her upcoming birthday. As a single guy, I've got no frigging idea. Anybody have any ideas? My family is rather conservative, so I'd like to go with a starter kit of some kind, nothing too heavy. Anybody have recommendations?
starlancerii on
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This, take her to sephora or nordstrom and ask one of the nice salespeople for help. I wouldnt get a kit, just try to find some light make-up that compliments her features! Something simple like mascara, eyeliner, maybe a little concealer
Make-up is pretty different from person to person, and there's some stuff in a kit that she might not need (like she might have great skin and not really foundation or concealer, or she might have naturally rosy cheeks and not need blush, you get the picture) plus its always more fun to go to the store and have the people there doll you up! =D
Its also better to go to the store, so they can show you how to actually apply the stuff you're getting. Make up takes practice!!
Going to the store is great for instruction. There are also a bunch of youtube videos that show step by step how to do different looks, even very simple ones.
... my girlfriend is big into makeup.
but they're listening to every word I say
but they're listening to every word I say
Ulta beauty supply store offers a number of value kits. You can order online or take her into a store (if one is near you) to let a sales associate test out some of the cosmetics. If you order online, your only issue is matching her shade if the kit includes foundation. Ulta has a good return policy, so you're safe if it isn't quite what she wants. Sephora's also a pretty common mall store that you could check out too. Just stay away from big name department stores like Macy's. You'll be spending way more than you need to.
Both Ulta and Sephora sell gift cards that you could load up for her.
Here's a link to Ulta's value kits.
$39 Lorac's a solid starter for soft eyes, cheeks, and lips. It also comes with a tutorial booklet and guidelines for applying makeup that she can stick to her mirror. This would probably be your best value for the cost.
$39 Pur Minerals has a great starter with foundation and comes with a good brush.
$17.99 Eco Tools has a pretty cheap brush starter kit that's decent quality.
$18 Urban Decay eyeliner. Only if she specifically requested eyeliner. It can be tricky for girls to learn how to use and Urban Decay is the easiest I've seen.
I've personally tried all of these products and have been pretty happy with them.
If she wants eye make- up, I recommend pushing her towards a neutral palette that just has a creamy color and some light golds/browns. You can pick up an affordable eyeshadow quad at any drugstore for $4-10. Those will keep her in pretty safe territory. The big cosmetic kits with 20 different colors are overwhelming and tend to not be very good quality. Although at 17, I imagine she knows her way around cosmetics at least a bit.
Lastly, if she *isn't* already well-versed in cosmetics, consider teaming up with her mom or another female relative to also get her a face cleanser/make-up remover and moisturizer with SPF. Makeup isn't kind to your skin and can cause breakouts if she uses too much (especially at 17). Years later she'll be grateful for skincare products as much as cosmetics.
And one final tidbit: for any older brothers or sisters wanting to treat a female sibling that they don't find as adorable, paying for a brow wax is one of the best gifts I ever gave my little sister. I got to see her in brief hilarious agony and then she thanked me for it. Win-win.