Tool kit to brush up your makeup

Bring out the makeup artist in you with a good collection of makeup brushes, sponges and curlers. Even the most expensive and quality makeup in the world won’t look particularly great without the correct makeup tools. For a professional finish you need the right tools. This means investing in a set of good brushes and applicators. Here’s your basic cosmetics tool kit .

1. Makeup Sponge

It is best to have a wedge-shaped makeup sponge, so you can use the finer edges to help blend in foundation round your nose and jaw line, while the flatter edges are great for the cheeks, forehead and chin. However, if you prefer not to use a synthetic sponge try the small, natural ones instead.

2. Powder Brush

Get used to using a powder brush each time you put makeup on. To prevent a caked or clogged finish to your face powder, use a large, soft brush to dust away any excess.

3. Blusher Brush

Use to add a pretty glow to your skin with a light dusting of powder blusher. A blusher brush is slightly smaller than a powder brush to make it easier to control.

4. Eyeshadow Brush

Smooth on any shade of eyeshadow with this brush.

5. Eyebrow Tweezers

It is essential to have a good pair of tweezers for regularly tidying up the eyebrows.

6. Eyeshadow Sponge

An sponge applicator is great for applying a sweep of pale eyeshadow that does not need much blending or applying high lighter to your brow bones.

7. All-in-one eyelash brush/comb

Great for combing through your lashes between coats of mascara for a clump-free finish. Flip the comb over and use the brush side to seep your eyebrows into shape, or soften penciled-in brows.

8. Lip brush

Use to create a perfect outline for your lips and then use to fill in the shape with your lipstick.

9. Eyelash curlers

Once used, they’ll soon become a beauty essential! Curlier eyelashes help open up your eyes and make a huge difference to the way you look.

Makeup Drawings

MAC Cosmetics has some great looks displayed in drawings. They have a portfolio at MAC counters or you can find them online. Watch out you may end up buying a ton of products to get the exact look!

Here are my favorite looks:

EYES
Fill in brows with Saddle Eye Shadow using a 208 Brush. Highlight the browbone by sweeping Forgery Eye Shadow right under the brow. Lightly dust a layer of Frozen White Pigment on the whole lid for a little rock ‘n’ roll glamour. Blend Saddle and Black Tied Eye Shadows together and apply it in the lower crease, close to the top lashline. Using a 275 Brush, apply Saddle Eye Shadow in the inner corner of the eyelid. This will create a contour that will change the look of your eyes. Line the whole eye with Blacktrack Fluidline and run a 266 Brush dipped into Carbon Eye Shadow over the Fluidline. Curl lashes and brush on a coat of Noisy Black Loud Lash.

CHEEKS
Sweep Sincere Powder Blush from on the apples of your cheeks up towards the temples.

LIPS
Line and fill in lips with Oak Lip Pencil. In true spirit of VIVA GLAM VI, apply VIVA GLAM VI Lipstick and a liberal coat of VIVA GLAM VI Tinted Lipglass.

EYES
Shape up eyebrows and fill them in with Charcoal Brown Eye Shadow and Clear Brow Set. Highlight browbone with Soft Ochre Paint Pot using a 213 Brush. Fill in lids with Quite Natural Paint Pot and Remotely Grey Eye Shadow and a 252 Brush. Blend Quite Natural Paint Pot and Modest Tone Eye Shadow to the crease of the eye with a 217 Brush. Apply Graphblack Technakohl Liner to upperlashline using a 266 Brush. Using a 217 Brush apply Quite Natural Paint Pot and with a 266 Brush apply Graphblack Technakohl Liner to the inner corner of the lower lashline. Coat Coal Black Pro Lash on your lashes.

CHEEKS
Sweep Tenderling Powder Blush with a 129 Brush to cheekbones.

LIPS
Line lips with Oak Lip Pencil and apply 2N Lipstick with a 318 Brush. Finish off by smoothing 1N Tinted Lipglass all over lips.