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    I'm A Professional MUA – Here Are The Makeup Essentials I Think You Need In Your Kit

    From foundations to brush cleansers, these are some of my absolute must-haves!

    Hey, I'm Xavi! When I'm not recommending products for you guys, I'm working as a professional MUA and trying out new products on my TikTok and Instagram! Here's a selection of items I've put to the test and are now my ultimate tried-and-trues.

    SKIN PREP:

    1. This 3-in-1 hydrating lotion is a staple in every working makeup artist's kit! It's enriched with essential fatty acids and vitamins to help prime and perfect the skin.

    2. Another brilliant option you can try is this ultra-rich cream! It has a potent plant-extract formula that intensively nourishes dry skin.

    3. This Vitamin Enriched Face Base from Bobbi Brown is perfect for more mature skin, thanks to its ultra-rich hydrating properties! It's enriched with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and vitamin B5 to really prep the skin.

    4. I always tend to use a brightening vitamin C serum alongside my moisturiser. This one contains hyaluronic acid to really hydrate and prep the model's skin before makeup.

    5. This jelly primer from Huda Beauty is literally a tall glass of water for your skin! It smooths and quenches the skin, creating the perfect canvas for makeup application.

    6. If you're looking for makeup that'll last for the entire day, this All Nighter face primer from Urban Decay is a must-have. It helps makeup last for up to eight hours and reduces the look of fine lines and pores.

    BASE:

    7. Want photo-ready skin? This MAC Face and Body foundation has a sheer, buildable coverage that looks good on pretty much everyone, IMO!

    8. I'm obsessed with this NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation. It's suitable for all skin types and has buildable yet breathable coverage that caters to various skin tones.

    9. This colour correcting palette from NYX Professional Makeup has six versatile shades for you to choose from. It's perfect for evening out your skin tone and covering any imperfections.

    10. This full-coverage orange corrector from L.A. Girl is ideal for anyone who has darkness under the eyes, as well as redness and shadows around the beard and chin area.

    11. If you're looking for a concealer that'll have people saying how well-rested you look, then you need to try this Hourglass concealer. It's full-coverage, blendable, and waterproof!

    12. After a more affordable option? My absolute tried and true is this Revolution Pro CC Perfecting Skin Tint! It contains a shade-adapting formula that helps match the skin, so you can get the perfect foundation.

    13. Keep skin camera-ready thanks to this Airbrush Flawless Finish powder from Charlotte Tilbury. It's infused with nourishing rose wax and almond oil to help keep the skin looking flawless during touch-ups.

    14. Miss Robyn Rihanna Fenty really knew what she was doing when she released this Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder. Its finely-milled formula melts perfectly into the skin, all while effortlessly prolonging makeup wear.

    CONTOUR:

    15. I'm a huge fan of the Huda Beauty Tantour! This versatile, sweat-reistant product is easy to blend and can be used on a multitude of skin tones, making it perfect for a working MUA like me.

    16. If you're looking for a more affordable option, why not try this cream contour palette from Sleek MakeUP? It has a velvety smooth formula that easily chisels the face – and it doesn't look patchy either!

    17. This powder bronzer from XX Revolution is literally a must-have. It's super-blendable, has a satin matte finish, and can be used on both the face and body.

    18. This silky, watercolour blush from ICONIC LONDON has a buildable formula that looks gorgeous on a spectrum of skin tones! They're highly pigmented and are easy to blend too.

    19. This cult-classic blush from MAC comes in a variety of shades, and provides a fantastic colour pay-off every time I use it!

    20. If you're looking for a bargain, grab yourself a Born to Glow liquid illuminator from NYX Professional Makeup! They can be used on their own or mixed with foundation to create the most stunning dewy finish!

    21. Top tip: highlighters don't have to break the bank! This highlighting palette from Sleek MakeUP is highly pigmented, long-wearing, and looks brilliant on loads of skin tones.

    LIPS:

    22. I'm sorry, but I'm an avid believer in the fact that lip liners do not need to cost you an arm and a leg. This buttery, long-wearing formula from NYX glides on like a dream and stays put all day!

    23. This creamy Antimatter lipstick from Illamasqua has become one of my staples lately. It has a long-lasting, cushion-matte formula that doesn't dry out the lips!

    HYGIENE:

    24. This antibacterial brush cleanser from ISOCLEAN is a must-have for my kit. It kills 99.9% of bacteria and is fast-drying, so you can reuse your brushes without worry.

    25. Makeup products need to be sanitised after every use if you're using them on other people, so if you're a budding MUA yourself go ahead pop one of my favourites in your basket. This sanitiser contains 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and can be used on surfaces and tools as well.

    26. Thinking of becoming an MUA yourself? This artist essentials kit comes with a mixing palette for you to distribute makeup products, as well as 250 pieces of disposable applicators to help prevent cross-contamination.

    27. This empty palette has 24 sections for you to decant lipstick or cream foundation! It's so much easier than trying to remember where all your various different cream-based products are.