Our 7 Essential Makeup Tools For The Best Application!
The truth is, you can use the best high-end makeup, but if you’re applying it wrong then it will never look right.
Start by choosing the vital tools to keep in your makeup kit. Ones that are essential to application and high-quality.
To help you navigate this world of makeup a little bit easier, we’ve compiled our top seven ride-or-die makeup tools that we can’t live without!
Our top 3 picks
Top 7 Picks - Tested by Our editors!
1. BeautyBlender Sponge
The BeautyBlender Sponge was a revolutionary makeup tool when it came out and has since become a staple for professional makeup artists. It’s the most essential makeup tool in your kit, needed for applying excess makeup and blending your base, as well as picking up powders for extra intensity.
Read moreThere are tons of other affordable beauty sponges on the market such as the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Beauty Sponge. Keeping budget in mind is important, but the real thing is a cult favorite for a reason.
The BeautyBlender Sponge is a teardrop-shaped sponge that absorbs water to help give you a blended, impactful base. If you dampen your beauty blender first, it will absorb less product.
The bouncing technique is most commonly used for application using this tool. You simply bounce the base of the sponge on your face, spreading and blending the base flawlessly. The tip of the teardrop is crucial for getting into all those crevices such as around your nose and applying your undereye concealer. You can also use a damp beauty blender for picking up powder.
This is great for baking so that you can pack on that powder. You can also use it to grab glitters for an intense eye look.
2. Concealer Brush
A concealer brush is a vital part of your makeup brush collection. It’s usually flatter and denser, with firm bristles that can pack on the product well. This type of brush isn’t just for applying concealer. It’s actually great for applying cream eye shadows as well.
Read moreSince it picks up a good amount of product, it’s great for any cream product being applied to a smaller area of the face. This can also be used for nose highlight where the application needs to be more precise.
The Real Techniques Expert Concealer Makeup Brush is the best budget buy we’ve come across. It has great reviews and it’s under $5! It’s effective and cost-efficient. The Ulta Flat Concealer Brush #30 is also a great low-cost option.
These two are awesome picks that won’t break the bank but will give you that classic concealer brush that lends itself very useful in your makeup routine.
3. Angled Contour Brush
The angled contour brush may be controversial. Some will argue that it’s not necessary and can be applied with other brushes that you have. While this can be true, here are a few reasons why we suggest investing in an angled contour brush.
Read moreFirstly, contour colors are made to create shadow in your face, and muddying up that color with pink blushes or warm bronzers from using the same brush will not give you the same chiseled effect.
Also, applying contour needs to be precise as it created shadows in a very specific place on your face. Using a fluffy and large brush to apply your contour won’t work to carve out the details of your face.
The NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation Brush is actually a good option for applying your contour. While it may be meant for foundation, the packed bristles and angled head make it great for precise contour application and optimal blending.
The Real Techniques Blend + Blur Contour Brush is very reminiscent of the Artis Brushes that went viral a few years ago. It’s a densely packed brush with an oval head that makes applying contour a smooth and easy process.
4. Powder Brush
A Powder Brush is essential for anyone planning on setting their entire face. It’s a very large, fluffy brush with bristles that are not packed tightly together. This allows the product to be swept on lightly instead of packed on.
Read moreThis is great for setting your face as a whole. If you’re planning on baking, using a damp beauty sponge is the best way to go. You can also apply your bronzer with a powder brush.
The Milani Powder/Bronzer Brush is a high-quality, under $20 pick that will get the job done without leaving stubborn bristles behind on the skin.
E.L.F Cosmetics Beautifully Precise Powder Brush is also a very good option and retails for only $12.
5. Angled Liner/Spoolie Brush
The angled liner and spoolie brush combo are a definite must-have. The angled brush side can be used to apply eyeliner or fill in your brows while the spoolie on the other end can help with brushing through your lashes or eyebrow hairs.
Read moreIt’s a versatile, but very useful tool. The double-ended brushes like this are convenient for anyone who travels often as it’s a two-in-one tool, but it’s also more cost-efficient as you’re getting two brushes for the price of one.
The Morphe M158 Angle Liner/Spoolie Brush is only $6. Morphe is known for its brushes, so you know that the quality is going to be there.
The Tweezerman Angled Brow Brush & Spoolie is more expensive, but just as great quality. The spoolie is slightly smaller than the Morphe one.
6. Soft Crease Brush
Crease brushes are very important when applying eyeshadow. This is your go-to blending brush and can also be an all-purpose eyeshadow brush. When creating stunning eye looks, the most important thing is to blend, blend, blend.
Read moreJust when you think you’re done blending, blend some more. There’s nothing worse than a harsh eyeshadow transition. This brush will help you achieve that airbrushed result.
The Morphe M44 Pro Firm Blending Crease Brush is under $10 and is a great quality brush. This is an awesome choice as the firm brush head will deposit colors intensely and blend them seamlessly.
The Wet N Wild Crease Brush takes budget buying into new extremes. This brush is only $2, but with the 4.5-star review on Ulta, we’re convinced this brush is sent straight from heaven!
7. Blush Brush
You might be wondering by a blush brush is necessary if you’ve got a powder brush. While you can mix face powder and bronzer in the same brush, it’s more complicated once it picks up blush.
Read moreBlush is often quite pigmented and if used with the same powder brush that you apply bronzer or setting powder, it can turn your face pink. This is why we suggest using a separate blush brush for your rosy applications.
Blush brushes are also usually different in composition. The bristles are packed slightly tighter than a powder brush so you can get a more precise application. Blush brushes work on both powder or cream blush, but you can also try using a beauty blender when blending out any cream face products blush and contour included.
The E.L.F Cosmetics Blush Brush is a steal at only $4. It’s a soft and absorbent brush that allows precise color application.
On the high-end scale, we’ve got the Clinique Blush Brush. It has a slight taper and a perfect medium-sized body for peak blush application.
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