by C. A. Hargreaves

Created on: February 05, 2009

Get confused about what tool to use when you do your make up, this guide should help clarify this for you.

Below you will find a list of the tools that you will need to do your makeup. Never fear you do not need to spend $20 on a brush when you can go to a craft or art shop and get your brush for a fraction of that. Over time you will find the brushes that work for you, and like wise the ones that do not work for you.

ANGLED EYE SHADOW BRUSH

Because this brush has an angled cut off tip, it has the most control over placement of eye shadow on the lids and the socket area of the eye. Example of use: you can use this brush to apply eye shadow in place of eyeliner.

BLUSHER BRUSH

This brush is smaller in size to the powder' brush, it is used for applying blusher, blending and contouring. This brush can replace the contour' brush.

CONTOUR BRUSH

A lot like a blusher brush but with a shorter and thicker head, the hairs on this brush are straight. You can use this brush for shaping the face with shaders and highlighters, as well as blending.

COSMETIC SPONGES

This is another multipurpose tool, can be used for applying or blending foundation. Alternatively they can be used for removing skincare products. The sponges can be used wet or dry.

EYEBROW BRUSH

This brush is very similar to a toothbrush and is necessary to have in any women's cosmetic case. This brush is used for removing product from the brows as well as shaping them before filling them in with pencil or plucking.

EYELINER BRUSH

The purpose of this brush is to apply eyeliner around the eye. The eyeliner brush has a fine tapered end and is made from natural hair which holds its shape longer.

EYE SHADOW BRUSH

Most eye shadow brushes look like a small blusher brush, it is used for applying and blending eye shadow, it gives a light covering of color.

EYE SHADOW SPONGE

This applicator has a sponge tip, which gives better coverage and depth of color from eye shadows. Another good thing about this brush is that you can apply and blend your color with out the mess of a brush. The brush has been known to flick powder around the eye area.

FOUNDATION BRUSH

It looks like a big eye shadow brush; it is used paint on your foundation, which makes for a truly smooth controlled application. Because your foundation has been painted on, it will stay in place all day, due to the fact that it hasn't been blended.

LIPSTICK BRUSH

This brush is small short and moderately stiff and has a straight edge. It is used to paint on the lip color to either outline the lips or to correct your lip shape.

MAKEUP PALLET

You would use this to put your cosmetics on it for hygiene reasons, this way you don't contaminate your products.

ORANGE STICK

Used to scrap product form containers such as mascara where a spatula can not get in.

PENCIL SHARPENER

The sizes of pencil sharpeners vary depending on the pencil you are using. For sterilization purposes it is better to use a metal one which is specially designed for makeup pencils as they are better to sterilize.

SPATULAS

Another must have tool, these are very important for hygiene reasons. You would use them to remove product from their containers to your pallet hygienically.

TISSUES

Are used to protect the face so that you do not smudge the makeup that your have already applied.

TWEEZERS

Tweezers are normally used to remove unwanted eyebrow hair that could spoil the look of the eye makeup.

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