What Is a Makeup Set? What It Covers and Who It's For
A makeup set is a ready-made combination that brings together products chosen to be used together under one title. The contents usually range from 4 to 9 products, and the products are matched so their formulas work with each other. This setup solves the compatibility problem that comes up most often when picking products one by one.
This page brings all the sets in the store together in one list. The sections below break down which set answers which need and what's inside. The first question to ask when starting with a set is: are you missing a single product, or a whole order from start to finish? In the first case, an area-focused set gives a better result; in the second, a broader combination.
What Are the Makeup Essentials? The Basic List
Basic makeup essentials fall into six groups: skin prep, complexion products, eye products, lip products, application tools and cleansing products. For someone starting from scratch, 8 to 10 pieces cover all everyday needs. The rest of the products are added on top of this core lineup over time.
- Skin prep: toner, moisturizer and primer.
- Complexion products: base product, concealer, powder.
- Eye products: eyeshadow, liner, mascara, brow product.
- Lip products: lip liner and a color product.
- Tools: a brush set and a sponge.
- Cleansing: an oil or balm cleanser and toner.
What Goes in a Bridal Makeup Gift Set?
A bridal makeup gift set usually consists of 6 to 10 pieces and is built from products that can be used both on the day of the ceremony and afterward. The standard contents are: a base product, concealer, powder, blush or highlighter, an eye product, a lip product and a brush set. Cohesive packaging is a deciding factor in the choice.
Long shelf life is also taken into account for the gift contents, because some of the pieces won't be used right away. Powder products stored in closed packaging are more flexible than cream formulas in this respect.
If the shade isn't known, pieces that don't require color are the safer choice: a brush set, setting spray, cleansing products and sheer-finish products work for everyone. That's why brush sets are the most popular group in bridal gift sets.
What Types of Makeup Sets Are There?
Makeup sets fall into four groups by scope and focus: area-focused sets, time-focused sets, travel sets and care-and-cleansing sets. Area-focused sets concentrate on a single area, while time-focused sets limit the number of products to shorten application time.
- Area-focused: base, eye, lip and brow sets.
- Time-focused: combinations with a limited number of pieces for everyday use and quick prep.
- Travel: carry-on size formats.
- Cleansing: makeup cleansing set.
How to Use Sets: Application Order
The products in a set are always used in the same order: skin prep, primer, complexion, eyes, lips and setting. Application starts at whichever part of this order the set covers. When the order is kept, products don't lift each other off and the total time stays between 5 and 10 minutes.
Cream products always come before powder products. This one rule noticeably extends the life of the products in a set. If time is tight in the morning, one of the eye and lip steps can be skipped entirely; but when the primer and setting steps are skipped, the staying power of all the other products drops, so shortening is always done at the ends.
When you start using a new set, spreading the products over two or three days instead of trying them all on the same day makes it easier to see which piece doesn't suit your skin. The same approach applies to shade matching: testing color products in daylight and on your own face is a much more reliable measure than the picture on the box.
What to Look for When Choosing a Makeup Set
Three criteria stand out when choosing a makeup set: that you'll actually use the products inside, that the pieces requiring a shade suit your skin, and that the pieces can also be bought individually. A single piece you won't use directly cancels out the advantage gained from the set.
If you're unsure about shade, starting with sets that don't include color is the safest way. Those who want to see the application order step by step can check the step list on the Flawless Skin Routine page.