The Best Affordable Makeup Kit For Beginners In Australia

As far as makeup recommendations go, we’ve loved the products celebrity makeup artists use, just as much as their A-list clientele.

So when the opportunity arose for beautyheaven to absorb some of Ash K Holm‘s wisdom — and subsequently pass it on to our readers — we jumped at it. She paints the familiar faces of Shay Mitchell, Megan Fox, Hailee Steinfeld, and Penelope Cruz, and she’s the makeup artist responsible for Lindsay Lohan’s glow up after all.

Although there are obviously a handful of luxury items that hold their own (Tom Ford, we’re looking at you), as it turns out, even glam experts have makeup dupes in their kit. Ash always recommends Got2B Glued 4 Brows & Edges 2 in 1 Gel ($25 from Priceline) and Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara ($25.99 from Priceline) to her celebrity clients for example. But her penchant for budget-friendly beauty doesn’t end there — keep reading to glean her tips for building an affordable makeup kit.

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1/ Some products don’t have an affordable equivalent

“Skin prep is everything, so invest in a great moisturiser and primer to get that flawless base,” Ash advises. We suggest killing two birds with one stone and investing in a jar of Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base ($104 from MECCA).

“Luxury eyeshadow formulas cannot be duped — Tom Ford eyeshadow ($160 from MECCA) formulas for example,” Ash explains to beautyheaven. “Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Contour Duo ($160 from MECCA) — this contour and cream highlight melts into the skin and becomes one with your skin — this could be different in a few years, but I believe right now it’s not doable.”

2/ Don’t be afraid of dupes

Mix drugstore dupes with a few high-end essentials — especially when it comes to skincare and foundation, she says.

Here are some solid drugstore dupes for popular high-end beauty products, from skincare to makeup, that perform really well for the price: e.l.f’s Poreless Putty Primer ($22 from Priceline) is a dupe for Tatcha’s The Silk Canvas Primer ($89 from MECCA). COTY’s Airspun Loose Face Powder ($18.43 from iHerb) is very similar to Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($77 from MECCA). Milani’s Baked Blush in ‘Luminoso’ ($21.99 from Priceline) is the closest shade match you’ll find to NARS Blush in ‘Orgasm’ ($56 from MECCA). And NYX’s Micro Brow Pencil ($19.99 from Priceline) will give you similar results to Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Brow Wiz ($45 from Sephora).

3/ Create custom foundation shades

“Instead of buying every foundation shade, get four versatile tones (light, medium, tan, and deep) to mix your own custom shades,’ Ash explains. “You can adjust undertones with correctors or concealers and get pro-level results without the full range.”

The makeup artist typically reaches for L’Oréal’s Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation ($38.99 from Priceline), because it has a similar finish to Estée Lauder’s Double Wear ($79 from Sephora), and Maybelline’s Fit Me! Concealer ($19.99 from Priceline), which looks nearly identical to the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($52 from MECCA).

4/ A makeup product can perform more than one task

“Get creative with multitaskers,” says Ash. “Turn any lipstick into blush, or mix matte lipsticks with Vaseline ($5.99 from Chemist Warehouse) or Aquaphor ($11.66 from iHerb) for a creamy or glossy finish.”

Need to find the perfect pinky nude shade for the job? The makeup artist rates Maybelline’s Colour Sensational The Creams Lipstick in ‘Nude Lust’ ($20.99 from Priceline) for it’s similarity to M.A.C Cosmetics’ Lipstick in ‘Velvet Teddy’ ($40 from M.A.C Cosmetics).