One of the questions I get asked most, at the Academy and in the chair, is what actually lives inside a professional makeup kit. So today I am opening mine up. Not every product, or we would be here all week, but the thinking behind it, because the way a kit is built says a lot about the way an artist works.
Skin comes first, always
The biggest section of my kit is not makeup at all. It is skin preparation: gentle cleansers, hydrating mists, lightweight moisturisers and primers for different skin types. My training at The French Beauty Academy drilled in that makeup only ever looks as good as the skin underneath, so a proper prep shelf earns its place before a single eyeshadow does.
Chosen for how they wear, not how they trend
Every base, concealer and setting product in my kit is there because it survives real life: heat, humidity, happy tears and twelve hour days. Some are prestige, some are brilliant budget finds, because price has never been the thing that decides whether a product performs. If you want proof, some of my favourite long-wear tricks are in my Brisbane humidity guide.
A shade for every single face
A professional kit has to welcome everyone who sits in the chair. That means foundation shades from the fairest to the deepest, undertone correctors, and brow and lash products that suit every colouring. It is one of the quiet things that separates a considered kit from a personal makeup bag.
Hygiene is non-negotiable
Disposable wands, sanitised palettes, brush cleanser between every client, and products decanted rather than double-dipped. It is not glamorous, but it is professional, and it is a standard I would encourage you to look for from any artist you book.
Want to build your own?
You do not need a professional kit to look wonderful, you need the right ten products for your face. That is exactly what we work out together in a one to one makeup lesson, using either my kit or yours. Or simply say hello and ask, I love talking products.
