12 Makeup Essentials That Every (College) Girl Should Own

This list is not only for college girls, but it is mostly aimed at that particular group. Whether you're a makeup novice or have been experimenting with cosmetics for years, it's crucial to have a collection with makeup essentials that will allow you to create a go-to everyday look. The following list is also great for those creating a "starter" set of makeup, which is perfect for beginners or those departing for their first year of college. The list is split into four categories: Face, Eyes, Lips and Tools.

Face: 1. Primer A primer minimises pores and created a smooth base perfect for the rest of your makeup application. This is a step you can skip if your skin is naturally flawless, but if you have any imperfections, it's a fabulous product that will make your skin look amazing. 2. Foundation There are so many different kinds of foundation on the market that everyone can find something their skin type and shade. If your don't have a favourite foundation already, it's easiest to start our with a line like True Match or Tru-Blend, because they have so many shades it will be a breeze to find your match. If you have acne-prone skin, consider Neutrogena's Skin Cleaning line and for sensitive skin, check our bareMinerals foundation. 3. Blush or Bronzer Some consider blush to be a non-negotiable makeup item. A swipe of colour on your cheeks is natural and created a healthy glow. In the middle of finals, a quick swipe of blush will leave you looking awake instead of like you just spent all night in the library. If your skin is naturally more tan, a bronzer during the warmer months gives you a sun-kissed look without the damages of tanning. It's best to apply bronzer (with a large, fluffy brush) where sun naturally hits your face - a curved "C" shape on each side of your face from your forehead to your cheek bone and just dab your nose. Eyes: 4. Mascara A black or dark brown mascara is essential for any everyday look. It's the quickest way to make your eyes pop. Popular ones include L'Oreal Voluminous, but Maybelline Great Lash and CoverGirl LashBlast are other CF reader faves. 5. Eyeliner Eyeliner can be applied in many ways to define your eyes. A classic black shade is a necessity for most skin tones; if your have fair skin, opt for a dark-brown. Also, light to medium skin tones should consider a dark nay, because the blue makes the whites of your eyes pop; therefore, making you look more awake. I suggest mechanical eyeliner pencils, because they are self sharpening, letting you skip a step. 6. Brow Pencil Unless you're blessed with dark, perfectly even eyebrows, you should seriously consider adding a brow pencil to your makeup collection. Brow liners can be used to define and fill-in-sparse eyebrows if you accidentally over-puck them. A defined eyebrow is necessary for anchoring a smokey-eye look and accentuates the natural features of your face. 7. Eyeshadow For your basic makeup collection, it's a good idea to have some natural tan, taupe and off-white eyeshadow shades. these shades are perfect for an everyday school as well as work, look. Nearly all drugstores beauty brands manufacture eyeshadow sets with multiple shades in them. There are perfect for a makeup novice, because it takes all the guess work out of finding complementary shades to highlight and define your eyes. Lips: 8. Lip Balm As most of you probably know, a great balm does wonders for keeping your lips smooth and healthy especially during those harsh winter months. Stock up on several lip balms so you can store them in your purse and backpack too, for easy reapplication. 9. Lip Gloss or Stain Glosses are the clear winner over lipsticks for college students. They have a sheer, natural look and are so much easier to apply than a lipstick. A swipe of gloss is the perfect finishing touch for any look. For longer-lasting wear, you might opt instead for a lip stain which will last through all your classes without touch-ups. Tools: 10. Brushes It's easiest and most cost-effective to stock up on brushes all at once by purchasing a brush set. Look for a set with a large powder brush, a slightly smaller brush for contouring and several brushes for shadow and liner application. It's a good idea to invest in some quality brushes, because as long as you clean them regularly, they will last you a long time. If you're not convinces, try applying some shadow with a cheap quality brush then again with one of higher quality - you will see an obvious difference. 11. Tweezers For all the obvious reasons. Common are the Tweezerman tweezers, which work the best. 12. Q-tips These are great for smudging eyeliner and soaking in makeup remover for quick touch ups. Even better, they're super inexpensive.