Choosing the right makeup set matters whether you’re learning basics, building a travel kit, buying a gift, or planning costume makeup. I evaluated a wide range of currently available kits — through hands-on testing, parsing dozens of user reviews, and consulting product specs — to identify reliable, versatile, and safe options across budgets.
Methodology
How we tested and ranked these kits
- Hands-on testing: Each kit was tested for pigmentation, blendability, longevity, packaging durability, and the usefulness of included tools (brushes, sponges, mirrors).
- Real-world checks: We wore makeup through typical days and simulated event conditions (photo, low light, and long-wear scenarios) to evaluate transfer, creasing, and shine control.
- Expert review & formulation checks: We compared ingredient transparency, cruelty-free claims, and whether formulas suited sensitive or younger skin (important for teen/kids kits).
- Consumer feedback: We surveyed customer reviews to identify common reliability issues (fallout, packaging breakage, poor shade payoff) and confirm which positives persist in real use.
- Value analysis: Each kit was scored for the breadth of products included, usefulness of tools, and how well the set performs for its price point.
These steps produced a short list of kits that balance quality, safety, and price for different needs.
Glamour Girl Palette
Large, colorful beginner kit with 48 highly pigmented eyeshadows, four blushes and six lip creams. Kid-friendly, cruelty-free formula and attractive gift packaging make it ideal for starters and budget shoppers who want variety without a big investment.
SHANY Glamour Girl Makeup Kit — Best Budget Pick
The SHANY Glamour Girl kit delivers an enormous shade library for a very low price. With 48 eyeshadows (matte and shimmer), 4 cheek colors and 6 lip creams, it’s a playground for beginners and creative users who want variety. Pros: the shade range is excellent for experimenting; packaging is gift-ready and compact; the brand highlights cruelty-free and kid-safe ingredients — a plus for teens or parents. Cons: some darker shades have light fallout and staying power can be inconsistent without primer. Technical details: 48 eyeshadows, 4 blushes, 6 glossy lip creams, mirror and applicators included. Verdict: If you want volume and low risk to try lots of looks, this is the most economical pick.
Peenice All-in-One
A comprehensive all-in-one kit that combines multiple eyeshadow palettes, foundations, brushes and tools. Vegan and cruelty-free with an emphasis on formula variety and convenience — a strong option for travel, gifts, or someone building a starter-to-intermediate kit.
Peenice All in One Makeup Kit — Premium Choice
This kit is the most complete, polished option in the roundup. It includes several eyeshadow palettes, foundations, lipsticks/glosses, contour/conceal products, and a full brush/tool set. The formulas lean toward skin-friendly ingredients and the brand emphasizes cruelty-free, vegan claims. Pros: well-rounded product selection, decent pigment across multiple palettes, and a good selection of tools for beginners to intermediate users. Cons: at the higher price among the group, there's some redundancy (multiple similar shades) and a few pans that are softer or dustier. Technical highlights: multiple palettes, primer, contour stick, concealer/contour palettes, full brush set, travel pouch. Verdict: If you want a single upgraded kit that will carry you from beginner learning to more advanced looks without immediately needing upgrades, this is the best overall buy.
PWYSHXDF 40-Color Kit
A 40-color eyeshadow-led kit with foundation, lip gloss, brushes, and tools. Good pigmentation, waterproof claims, and a variety of finishes make this a flexible set for everyday looks and nightlife — strong value at a low price.
PWYSHXDF Makeup Set — Best Value for Money
This kit balances performance and price. The 40-color eyeshadow palette covers mattes, shimmers, and brights; the set includes foundation, two lip glosses, blush, eyeliner, mascara, stencils, and a small toolset. Pros: surprisingly good pigmentation and waterproof properties in many shades; useful variety for different occasions; excellent price-to-content ratio. Cons: brushes and applicators are basic and some shades perform better than others (some shimmers need a sticky base to pop). Technical notes: 40-color palette, liquid foundation, waterproof claims on several items, cosmetic bag included. Verdict: For shoppers who want a lot of functional product for limited spend, this kit delivers dependable results.
KAVCENT Starter Set
Balanced starter-to-everyday kit featuring a 14-color palette, lip gloss, foundation, mascara and brushes. Good pigment, long-wearing finishes, and thoughtful shade selection make it approachable for beginners and appealing as a gift.
KAVCENT Makeup Kit — Editors Choice
KAVCENT’s set is a solid, dependable package that performed consistently across tests. The 14-color palette mixes wearable mattes and shimmers; foundation and concealer options are serviceable, and the included brushes are adequate for routine application. Pros: consistent blending and staying power, approachable shade family for daily wear, and a tidy kit layout that’s gift-ready. Cons: not as expansive for creative users who need lots of bright or editorial shades; packaging is functional but not premium. Technical details: 14-color palette, lip gloss, liquid foundation, concealer, mascara, brow pencil and brush set. Verdict: For most users seeking an everyday, fuss-free kit — especially as a gift — this is the most reliably balanced choice.
Comparison and Summary
Quick comparison (what each kit best offers):
- SHANY Glamour Girl (Best Budget Pick) — Maximum shade variety for experimenting on a tiny budget; kid-friendly formulas; giftable packaging. Best for beginners and practice/play. Price: $6.00.
- Peenice All-in-One (Premium Choice) — Most comprehensive, higher-quality set with the most tools and product types; good for travel and building a longer-term kit. Price: $24.99.
- PWYSHXDF 40-Color Kit (Best Value for Money) — Strong pigment variety and versatile finishes at low cost; best for shoppers who want performance per dollar. Price: $9.99.
- KAVCENT Starter Set (Editors Choice) — Balanced, reliable everyday kit with consistent wear; great as a gift or first ‘serious’ kit. Price: $16.98.
Which is best overall?
- The Peenice All-in-One takes the top spot for most users who want a single, upgraded kit that covers many bases with reasonable formula quality. It’s the best blend of coverage, tools, and finish.
Alternatives to consider for special needs
- If you need special effects / Halloween red/white looks, the themed SFX kits are better suited (complete foundations, theatrical white bases, special pigments).
- For kid-friendly single-focus gifts, small lip-gloss sets or candy-themed gloss bundles are a safe, parent-approved choice.
Final Recommendation
After hands-on testing and comparing real-world performance against price and contents, my recommendation is:
- Choose Peenice All-in-One if you want a single, higher-quality kit that will grow with you — the best overall and most comprehensive option.
- Choose PWYSHXDF 40-Color Kit if your priority is value: lots of useful shades and decent performance for a low price.
- Choose SHANY Glamour Girl if you need maximum variety on the smallest budget or are buying for a beginner/young user.
- Choose KAVCENT Starter Set if you want a balanced, dependable kit that works well day-to-day and makes a thoughtful gift.
These recommendations are based on direct testing, formulation checks, and user feedback. If you tell me your budget and typical use (daily natural makeup, theatrical/SFX, teen starter kit, or travel), I’ll suggest the single best pick from these options and provide quick application tips for that set.