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If you are a complete beginner when it comes to beauty regimes, a makeup kit is a great place to start. The highest-rated makeup kits of 2024 have all the basics to achieve a specific look or a particular skin tone. There is nothing better than having everything you need to look fabulous in one place. If you are going on holiday or enjoy getting ready with your friends for a night out, a makeup kit is a must-have.
Makeup kits can save you hours of shopping around for specific items in order to achieve a certain look. If you buy a good makeup kit, you will have all the tools you need close at hand. Even if you want to buy a couple of extra items to add to the kit, you will still be saving time and, more importantly, money.
There are many options to choose from but we are here to help you choose the best quality and good value-for-money makeup kit on the market. Want to know which products you should be considering? Check out our list of the top makeup kits below.
Detailing Our Favorite Makeup Kits of 2024
SHANY Elevated Essentials Makeup Kit — Best Overall
Key Features
- Triangular-shaped carrying case
- Variety of colors
- Versatile lip and eye makeup
- Non-toxic and cruelty-free
If you’re still a beginner in the world of makeup, the SHANY Elevated Essentials Makeup Set is the ultimate introduction into applying daily or party makeup. This massive makeup set includes 72 highly pigmented eyeshadows in matte and shimmer styles, 4 makeup applicators, 27 lipstick and lip-gloss shades with shimmery finishes, a creamy concealer, 18 gel eyeliners, 10 pressed powders blushes, and eye primer. This set comes in a convenient, triangular-shaped case that’s perfect for travel and features a built-in mirror for easier makeup application. Made with skin-friendly, non-toxic ingredients and without testing on animals, this makeup set is cruelty-free and gives you peace of mind that your skin won’t break out from harsh chemicals.
Pros
- High-quality pressed powder eyeshadows
- Shimmering, opaque, and translucent finishes
Cons
- Smaller than consumers thought
COVERGIRL Perfect Eye Makeup Kit — Best Drugstore Brand
Key Features
- Kit includes: eyeshadow palette, mascara, and eyeliner
- Available in a variety of colors and tones
- Combination of matte and shimmer shadows
- Cruelty-free company
The COVERGIRL perfect eye makeup kit comes in a variety of dark shades and is perfect for anybody who favors those dusky, bold blacks and dark blues. Each kit includes a nude eyeshadow palette, mascara, and eyeliner, making it perfect if you need to stock up on makeup essentials, or as a gift to a loved one. The mascara, in particular, offers dramatic volume, while the eyeliner is constructed with versatility and control firmly in mind.
Pros
- Great for those who like bold looks and big lashes
- Cruelty-free products always get a thumbs up from us
Cons
- Eyeliner can crumble easily on occasion
Rimmel Crimson Makeup Kit — Classic Kit
Key Features
- Kit includes: eyeshadow, liner, mascara blusher, and lipgloss
- Multiple color schemes to choose from
- The Eyeshadow palette contains 12 high-shimmer, satin, and matte shades
- High-quality products
Like most makeup kits, the Rimmel Crimson makeup kit comes with an eyeshadow palette, mascara, and eyeliner. However, it also includes a high-quality lip gloss and blusher to complete the look. You can purchase the Rimmel makeup kits in a variety of shades and textures, though we do have a soft spot for their crimson collection.
The eyeshadow palette comes with a mix of 12 shimmers, satin and matte shades for countless eye looks, while the metallic liner can last up to 10 hours. The mascara is infused with argan, maracuja, marula, and camellia oils which are proven to be great for your lashes.
Pros
- You can achieve a huge variety of essential looks with one kit
- Rimmel makeup is always excellent quality
Cons
- Rimmel tests on animals
Luminess Airbrush Makeup Kit — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- Two-in-one device for makeup and skincare
- Paraben- and cruelty-free
- Easy-to-use application
- Uses ten times less makeup
The Luminess Airbrush Makeup Kit is a revolutionary way to apply makeup and skincare products. This 9-piece kit includes a Breeze Duo device with a charger, two foundations, a blush, a highlighter, a moisturizer primer, and a cleaning solution. With this product, users get ten times less makeup and three times more coverage than traditional methods, allowing them to quickly and easily conceal lines, wrinkles, and imperfections.
Pros
- Provides a smooth, even look quickly
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Needs to be charged after each use
Physicians Formula Eye Enhancing Kit — Most Notable
Key Features
- Nude look kit
- Includes: eyeshadow, liner, and mascara
- Water-resistant
- Smudge-resistant
- Complete hypoallergenic formula
Physicians Formula may not have instant recognition or reputation of Maybelline or Rimmel, but they do know how to serve incredible eye makeup for a reasonable price. These makeup kits cost around $17 and come with 9 eyeshadows, 2 eyeliners, and 2 mascaras. We recommend using the eyeshadow wet if you want to achieve an intense and vibrant look.
The makeup is both water and smudge-resistant, making it perfect for a variety of occasions. The brand has also gone out of its way to ensure all its products are hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin.
Pros
- Perfect for users with sensitive skin
- Vibrant nude looks available at the drop of the hat
Cons
- Would be nice to see more choice of color palettes
NUIBO All-in-One Makeup Kit — Most Reliable
Key Features
- Includes: eyeshadow, eyebrow powder, liquid eyeliner
- Safety-tested
- Water-based material
- Also includes makeup brushes and a makeup bag
The NUIBO all-in-one makeup kit is a great combination of easy-to-use makeup and elegant results. No matter your daily makeup needs, this kit should serve you well. The item comes with a 12-color eyeshadow palette, eyebrow powder, waterproof liquid eyeliner, plus a pro makeup fiber brush set and makeup bag.
You can create all sorts of styles and shades thanks to the wide range of colors available in the various makeup products. They are very friendly to your skin and free from synthetic dyes and harmful chemicals.
Pros
- Makeup blends well and is very easy to apply
- Great for sensitive skin
Cons
- Packaging is sometimes compromised when delivered
Estee Lauder Travel Makeup Kit — Contender
Key Features
- Varied nude palette
- Kit includes: blush, eyeshadow, highlighter, lip gloss, and primer
- Contains makeup brushes
- Compact enough to fit in a travel bag or purse
These Estee Lauder travel exclusive makeup kits are a handy option for anybody who values nude tones. Each kit comes with a blush, eyeshadow palette, highlighter, lip gloss, primer, and brushes, all of which come in a handy pack that can fit in either your travel bag or purse. Compared to other recommendations on our list, you certainly get a lot of makeup for one price with this item.
Pros
- Lots of individual items included
- Good quality for a convenient price
Cons
- Estee Lauder is not a cruelty-free brand
jane iredale Makeup Kit — Most Convenient
Key Features
- This makeup kit includes: blush, foundation, eye shadow, and lip and cheek stain
- Paraben and wheat-free
- Contains skin-nourishing antioxidants
- Vegan
The Jane Iredale pure & simple makeup kit comes in 5 different varieties, ranging from light to dark. Each face palette comes with a mineral foundation, eye shadow, blush, and a lip and cheek stain. This kit brings you some of the best products available in the Jane Iredale collection for an affordable price. Every single item is wheat-free, paraben-free, and certified vegan. If you are looking for natural colors and makeup that are great for your appearance and your skin, we think you have just found it!
Pros
- Excellent makeup that actually takes care of your skin
- Good quality natural colors
Cons
- No mascara or eyeliner included
ELF Assorted Makeup Kit — Also Consider
Key Features
- 11 items in total
- Makeup bag included
- Items are selected based on your skin tone
- Products are chosen at random
The best thing about these ELF assorted makeup kits is that you get an individual makeup kit that is tailored to your chosen skin tone. The company matches the makeup to your tone, making it a unique, personalized gift idea. Each kit comes with 10 pieces + 1 makeup bag. ELF also assures customers that they won’t receive any duplicate products in their makeup lot.
Pros
- Makeup is always good quality
- It’s fun to see what items you will receive
Cons
- The concept is cool, but it would be nice to know what you are getting ahead of time
Buyer's Guide: Makeup Kits
We have done a lot of research to give you our top makeup kit recommendations. However, we understand that despite our best efforts, you are entitled to your own opinion and tastes. To help you find a more compatible makeup kit, we have come up with a list of things to consider. We have also collated some information on how much you should expect to pay for a makeup kit.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Makeup Kit
There are so many different types of makeup kits available out there. Where do you start? To save yourself some time, consider the following factors:
Mirror
Many makeup kits have a built-in mirror, which is handy for makeup touch-ups when you are out and about. A lot of makeup kits are designed to be taken on trips. It is useful to have the mirror included so you are not fumbling in your bag for multiple items. Even so, a compact makeup mirror is still a great item to have, so we recommend getting one of those as well.
Colors
You can buy large makeup kits with a variety of different colored eyeshadows and highlighters. These large makeup kits allow you to get creative with your look. You can create a variety of different looks with your kit. If you desire a palette that is suitable for multiple occasions, look for a makeup kit that comes with a variety of bold and neutral colors. If a makeup kit has a smaller amount of eyeshadow, it is usually to create a particular look, such as smokey eyes.
If you have brown eyes, we recommend that you look for a makeup kit with green, bronze, and gold colors to make your pupils pop. Eyeshadow with reddish tones will also bring out the warmth of your eyes. To contrast brown eyes, opt for purple eyeshadows. If you want to compliment blue eyes, opt for warm tones like peach and brown. For a smokey contrast, try dark purple and dark bronze. Green eyes match well with neutral colors that are slightly lighter or darker than the shade of your skin. Forest green looks great with green eyes, but if you want to make the green of your eyes stand out, opt for plums and golds. Hazel eyes are a mix of brown and green colors. Choose warm bronze and gold to bring out your natural warmth. Purple and green colors will accentuate the green of your eye.
What Makeup Items Do You Need?
Most makeup kits are predominantly made up of eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner. If you need lipstick, lip gloss, highlighter, and contouring products, there are many makeup kits that offer those very things. However, you will usually need to pay more for them. These kits often come with brushes included. If you are a complete beginner with makeup, we suggest buying a makeup kit that contains a bit of everything you need. Once an item runs out, you can easily top it up with something similar.
If you are only looking for eyeshadow, you will find plenty of options readily available. Most makeup kits contain an eyeshadow applicator.
Types of eyeshadow
Do you want to create a variety of looks with one makeup kit? Be sure to choose a kit with shimmer, matte, and satin eyeshadows.
Makeup artist recommended
You know you are getting a high-quality product if it is widely used by makeup artists. These products usually contain high pigmentation. These sorts of products require a steady hand as their boldness makes any slip-ups more noticeable.
Magnetic case
If you have the option to buy a makeup kit with a magnetic case, you should do so. If you are clumsy (like this ham-handed reviewer), a magnetic case will prevent any unnecessary spills if you drop it on your carpet.
Cruelty-free and vegan
A product that is labeled as cruelty-free means it has not been tested on animals. If you have the choice between two products that you love, why not choose the kinder option?
Makeup Kits Price Range
Decent beginner makeup kits will cost somewhere in the region of $35. A beginner makeup kit for the eyes costs an average of about $10. However, if you want a substantial-high-quality makeup kit, you will probably end up paying anywhere up to $280.
How We Chose Our Makeup Kits
When making our recommendations, we consult customer reviews and look at which products give you the best value for your money. We also consider what those kits include and how long they last.
