you don't really need a variety, though you'll end up with a variety sooner or later (you'll want to try this one and that one and that one and that one...). For the moment, you'll probably just want a pretty generic cream (tobs might be a good starter, just pick a scent that sounds interesting, or c.o. Bigelowe if there's a bath and body works in your area) and a cheap-but-good badger brush (like the shea moisture brush from target or a tweezerman). As the guy above me mentioned, don't go introducing more variables before you figure out the basic technique.