1. Cleanser

An essential for any beauty routine is great skin. So, the number one product in any makeup kit is a quality facial cleanser. Use a mild cleanser twice a day — in the morning and at night to remove makeup, dirt and oils. As tempting as it might be to just splash the face with water or use your bar soap in the shower, try to avoid it. The skin of the face is thinner and more fragile than that of the body and needs a gentler product created specifically for it. Some great choices include: SkinCeuticals Foaming Cleanser and NeoStrata Facial Cleanser-PHA 4.

2. Moisturizer

Although there are dozens of specialized, highly sophisticated products addressing many skin concerns, for a basic beauty kit, keep it simple. Reach for a moisturizer that will hydrate and protect, such as Murad Energizing Pomegranate Moisture, SPF 15. Use it twice a day to protect the skin from environmental damage and dryness.

3. Eye makeup remover

Designed to gently, yet effectively, dissolve the intense pigments and waxes of eye shadow and mascara, makeup remover is the best way to remove eye makeup without irritating your eyes. And although soap, facial cleanser or water might remove your eye makeup, none of these are usually designed for use on the eyes, which means they’ll require harsh scrubbing or pulling on the eye to eliminate all of the makeup.

Save your eyes from irritation by stocking your kit with a gentle eye makeup remover like La Roche Toleriane Eye Make-Up Remover. And the best thing to use with your makeup remover? Your next tool: 100 percent cotton.

4. 100 percent cotton

Stronger than synthetic cotton and gentler to the skin, 100 percent pure cotton squares, rounds, puffs swabs or pads are essential tools that you can use in many ways, including: removing eye makeup or nail polish; applying toner; blending eye shadow, blush or foundation; and smoothing powder.

5. Blotting papers

Made from absorbent cotton or linen fiber, blotting papers will whisk away excess oil on the skin, leaving behind a smooth, matte finish and extending the life of your foundation without smearing or removing your makeup. Some even contain herbal extracts or fine powders to further benefit the skin, such as Boscia Fresh Blotting Linens.

6. Lip balm

A healing and repairing lip balm seems like an obvious addition to any beauty kit, yet many women still rely on their tired tubes of lipstick and deal with perpetually chapped lips. Packed with ingredients like olive oil, vitamins and fragrances, like mint or vanilla, lip balms can protect lips from environmental damage, dryness, sunburn and chapping.

Choose a formula that will hydrate and protect lips while offering sun protection. L’Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm Stick and NeoStrata Lip Conditioner-SPF 15 are loaded with nourishing ingredients, such as shea butter, olive oil and pomegranate. Plus, these lip products work great over lipstick to add shine and gloss.

7. Brushes

Many of us eschew investing in high-quality brushes, whether it’s because of cost or the convenience of simply using our fingers. But, brushes offer the finishing touch to any beauty routine. While using your fingers to apply makeup can seem like the easiest route, even clean hands can transfer oil, bacteria and germs to your skin, resulting in blemishes.

And those wedge-shaped foundation applicators? Forget about them; while easy to use, these applicators soak up your foundation quickly, wasting your pricey product.

Brushes are available in dozens of styles and shapes and designed to last a lifetime — so make sure you clean them periodically. To complete your beauty kit, you’ll need four basic brushes; each to apply powder, blush, eye shadow and lipstick.

8. Sunscreen

The final tool for your kit is hopefully one you’ve already got (and use regularly!). With formulas available to suit different skin types, budgets and situations, sunscreen is the most important part of your daily routine. Keep a lightweight formula on hand, such as Murad Oil-Free Sunblock For Face, SPF 15 Sheer Tint, for daily use under foundation and a beach-worthy formula, like SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30, for those days when you need extra protection. But, remember whether it’s an SPF of 15 or 30, you should always reapply every two hours.

See also:

Double-Duty Products That Ease Your Routine

Attention All Manly Men: Steps to Simple Skincare

Using Foundation the Right Way