The Makeup Brushes and Tools You Need

If you have ever been to the brush aisle at a big beauty store chain, you know the selection of makeup tools and makeup brushes can seem endless, given the multitude of shapes and sizes. You only really need, however, a few items to create a flawless face.

Face
To start, you should have a concealer brush to cover any blemishes or dark under eye circles.

Next you'll need a makeup sponge to apply your foundation. A sponge will blend better than using your fingers alone and, if you are prone to breakouts, using your fingers can add extra oil to your skin that you really don't need. Choose a triangle shaped sponge and it will make it easier to get into spaces around your nose and eyes.

To complete your base, you should have a big fluffy powder brush. You can use this to apply loose powder, dust on a finishing power or even to apply bronzer. Though if you're a powder puff kind of girl, choose that tool instead. Some experts even feel it's the better option because the puff helps the powder stay on while a brush lets the powder fly around.

Eyes
To create a beautiful eye, start with an eye shadow brush. Unlike the tiny sponge applicators that may come with your shadows, a brush can allow you to get more depth and to blend colors.

If you're a fan of cream eye shadows, use a makeup sponge - not your fingers, which again can add extra oil to your makeup causing cakiness.

An eyelash curler, used before applying mascara, will help curve your lashes upward, making your eyes pop.

Don't forget a pair of tweezers, which you'll need to pluck stray eyebrows.