I'm A Low-Maintenance Beauty Editor—This Is My Hack for Doing My Makeup in 10 Minutes and Under
Makeup kits are the key to streamlining your getting-ready routine, as well as saving you time and money on your makeup bag.
If you're anything like me, you want two things from your makeup products: they need to work well, and they need to work fast. Many of us don't have an unlimited amount of time to spend on our makeup, so products that can streamline our routines can make all the difference, which is why makeup kits should be on your radar.
These curated edits often feature a brand's hero products (i.e., the bestselling products that actually deliver) that are designed so that you can pull together a look with ease, whether you go for a "no makeup" makeup look or a perfect smoky eye. They offer an uncomplicated routine of curated products that are not only a great way to build out your makeup bag and try new beauty products, but more often than not, they also come with savings when compared to buying the products individually.
Whether you want a kit that will offer a full face of makeup or a handy makeup travel kit that you can throw in your carry-on for holidays, these clever makeup kits will see you through an array of makeup looks (and save you time in the morning!).
Best Makeup Kits, Tried & Tested
- Best Overall: Merit Beauty Five Minute Morning (£156)
- Best Eye Makeup Set: Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wardrobe Edit (£124)
- Best Natural Makeup Set: Ilia Beauty The Complexion + Color Set (£162)
- Best Full Face Makeup Set: Refy Signature Sculpt Collection (£120)
- Best Luxury Makeup Set: Westman Atelier Petite Petal Makeup Gift Set (£70)
1. Merit Beauty Five Minute Morning
If there's one makeup brand that has absolutely perfected the art of the makeup set, it's Merit Beauty. The whole brand's ethos is centred around effortless and quick makeup that you can swipe on and go, and its sets are a brilliant way to discover its hero products. There are several curated sets to choose from, but the Five Minute Morning includes everything you need for a full face of natural-looking makeup. It includes the coveted Flush Balm blush, The Minimalist complexion stick, the Brush Brush No.1, Day Glow highlighter, Clean Lash mascara, Brow 1980 brow gel and Shade Slick tinted lip oil. Plus, you can choose the exact shades to suit your preferences, and you also get The Signature Bag to house it all in with your first order—so chic.
Pros
- Everything you need for quick, minimal makeup
- First order comes with a free makeup bag
- Great formulas and luxe packaging
- You can choose your shades
Cons
- Not for those who prefer full glam makeup
2. Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wardrobe Edit
Victoria Beauty Beauty has so many brilliant products, but as a beauty editor, I consider its eye makeup products to be elite, which makes this kit really special. It includes the iconic Satin Kajal Liner, Eye Wardrobe eyeshadow palette and the Future Lash Mascara. You can mix and match the shades to curate your personalised edit (and save 10% in the process), but if you want a recommendation, go for the Cocoa Satin Kajal Liner. It's the perfect everyday brown eyeliner pencil that works just as well for smoky eyes as it does for everyday definition.
Pros
- Customisable choice of shades for eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara
- You get a saving on buying each product individually
Cons
- Luxury price tag
3. Ilia Beauty The Complexion + Color Set
If natural "no makeup" makeup is your thing, you'll be in good company with this makeup set from Ilia Beauty, which has everything you could need for a natural look. In this customisable set, you get the universally-loved Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30 (one of the best skin tints created), the Skin Blur Serum Concealer, the Soft Focus Blurring Blush, the Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon and the iconic Limitless Lash Mascara, which is one of the best mascaras I've tried. You can select your favourite shade across each product, and the set saves you over £30 compared to buying them individually.
Pros
- Everything you need for base, eyes and lips
- Customisable shades
- You get a saving on buying each product individually
Cons
- Leans natural and dewy, so not for those who want full glam
4. Jones Road Beauty The Hero Kit
If there's anyone I trust to put together a makeup kit, it's legendary makeup artist Bobbi Brown. For her makeup brand Jones Road, she's collated this brilliant edit of essentials that allow you to create an effortless makeup look in minutes. I'm thrilled to see not one, but two Miracle Balms in here. These multi-purpose balms can be used in multiple ways as a blush, bronzer, highlighter or even all over to create a luminous complexion, and you can choose between two sets of colours. Also inside the kit is The Best Pencil in brown, The Mascara and Eye Cream to pull your look together.
Pros
- Multi-purpose products
- Two choices of shades to choose from
Cons
- You can only customise the shades of the Miracle Balms
5. Westman Atelier Petite Petal Make-Up Gift Set
This is another MUA-curated kit from celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman, founder of Westman Atelier. The brand has some of my favourite makeup products of all time, and in this set, they come in covetable travel sizes, including the iconic Petite Baby Cheeks Blush in the shade Petal, one of the brand's most-loved shades. The hue spans the rest of the collection too, featuring the Petite Lit Up Stick, Petite Lipstick and Petite Lip Liner in the same shade for a cohesive makeup look. It's a great way to try the heroes from the brand in miniature form (they're perfect for travelling, too).
Pros
- Blush, lipstick, liner and highlighter in the best-selling shade
- Mini sizes are ideal for travel or trying the brand
Cons
- Not full-sized products
6. Violette_FR Kiss of Couleur Set
Violette_FR is the brand you'll find in every French woman's makeup brand, and this duo set contains two of the best products from the chic brand: Bisou Balm and Bisou Blush. The former is a sheer matte lip balm inspired by the "bouche mordue" look (which translates as "just bitten lips") and imparts a blurred wash of colour that's so effortlessly beautiful. The blush stick imparts a natural-looking flush of colour to the cheeks and comes with a removable brush on the other end, making it great for on-the-go touch-ups. You can select your favourite shade from each to create your own Parisian-inspired makeup look.
Pros
- Customisable lip and blush combo
- Effortless-looking and easy to wear
Cons
- Only two products
7. Dior Dior Addict Lip Ritual Gift Set
Trust me, Dior has some of the best makeup sets around. But if you want to update your lip wardrobe, then this set is a no-brainer. Bridging lip colour and lip care, you'll find the icon that is the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil, as well as the Dior Addict Lip Glow, a tinted lip balm that reacts to your lips' pH to develop into the perfect shade for your lips. Alongside the full-sized product is a mini Dior Addict Lip Maximizer, a plumping lip gloss. They all come in the universally flattering 001 Pink shade, which is a sheer, glassy pink.
Pros
- Includes a full-sized lip oil and lip balm, as well as a mini lip plumper
- Sheer translucent shade suits everyone
Cons
- Not customisible
8. Refy Signature Sculpt Collection
Aside from foundation or concealer, this Refy Beauty set really does have everything else you could need for your makeup bag. It includes the Glow and Sculpt Face Primer, Cream Blush, Cream Bronzer (one of the best cream bronzers I've tried—it's so good), Lip Gloss, Lash Sculpt mascara, as well as Brow Sculpt and the dual-ended Duo Brush. These essentials are a great way to try some of the best products from Refy, and it also comes with a £40 saving versus buying them all individually. A great one to go for if you need a makeup bag reset.
Pros
- Customisable shades
- Almost everything you need for a full face of makeup
- Great value
Cons
- Doesn't include foundation or concealer
9. By Terry try Me Love Me Set
Need a travel set that you can grab and go? By Terry's edit won't disappoint. It's worth £210 on its own and contains all the hero products from the cult makeup brand in miniature form, neatly housed in a beautiful makeup bag. The set includes minis of the Hyaluronic Global Face Cream and Hydra-Primer to prep the skin, alongside the iconic Tea To Tan Face & Body tint that delivers a healthy glow to the skin. You also get minis of the Mascara Terrybly and Ombre Blackstar to perfect your eyes, the Baume De Rose Le Stick Levres Lip Care and Brightening CC Serum. If that wasn't enough, you also get a Retractable Tool-Expert Kabuki brush and mini Pressed Hydra-Powder to set your makeup in place.
Pros
- A great travel kit for holidays
- Comes with a makeup bag
Cons
- Not customisable
- Only travel-sized products
10. Hourglass Vegan Travel Brush Set
If it's a makeup brush kit that you're after, then you cannot go wrong with Hourglass's makeup brushes. It's an investment, but this makeup brush kit has everything you need to apply base and eye makeup, and the quality of these brushes is second to none. They're silky soft and expertly apply everything from cream to powder formulations. I own multiple brushes from Hourglass—I've had them for years and use them almost every day, and they are still just as good as when I first used them.
Pros
- A great range of makeup brushes for complexion and eyes
- High quality brushes
Cons
- It's an investment purchase
11. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Check-In Kit
You'll find lots of great Charlotte Tilbury makeup kits, but, in my opinion, this contains all the cult classics in miniature form that are deserving of a spot in your makeup bag. Firstly, you have the Hollywood Flawless Filter (the ultimate glowy skin tint) alongside both the Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder and Setting Spray, which are some of the only products that keep my makeup in place all day long. You also get another two of Charlotte Tilbury's icons, including the Pillow Talk Lipstick and Lip Cheat lip liner.
Pros
- Customisable
- Has the hero products from Charlotte Tilbury
Cons
- Travel-sized only
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including some skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.
With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.
Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.