June 09, 2022 Assuming brushes are obvious makeup tools, I wanted to talk to you about the other tools I have in my professional makeup kit that I can’t live without. I use these gadgets on the regular and in ways that maybe you haven’t considered. It’s time for you to level up. Go grab your makeup bag and check if you have all of my 8 Must-Have Makeup Tools.

1. Tweezer Even if you get your eyebrows waxed or threaded, you should have tweezers to remove obvious new growth before spending any time trying to recreate that cute eye look you recently pinned. And if you still aren’t convinced that you need tweezers for stray eyebrow hairs or any other unwanted facial hair for that matter, you should have them for applying false lashes. Tweezers make placing false lashes on your lash line so much easier than using your fingers. My Favorite! Tweezerman Slant Tweezer

2. Spoolie What the heck is that? you ask. You definitely know what it is but probably didn’t know that it had a name. A spoolie is the brush on the end of a mascara wand. You should always use a spoolie to brush your eyebrow hairs in an upward motion before trimming or filling them in. You can also use a clean spoolie to brush away any mascara you may get on your eyelids (just give it time to fully dry first) and to brush out any clumps your mascara leaves on your eyelashes (again, wait until the mascara is fully dry). My Favorite! Morphe M158 Brush

3. Magnifying Mirror I always thought a magnifying mirror was just for tweezing. Boy, I underestimated my little mirror. Use your magnifier to apply your false lashes and to curl your natural lashes. Seeing your lash line up close will allow you to place the false lashes and curler exactly where they should be. My Favorite! Tweezerman 10X Lighted Magnifying Mirror

4. Eyelash Curler Don’t spend your money on eyelash extensions until you try a good lash serum and eyelash curler. Curling straight lashes can give you a very dramatic result when done correctly. First, warm your curler with your hair dryer (please test the temperature with your hand before putting it to your eye). With your eye halfway closed while looking into your magnifying mirror, put the lash curler around your lashes at the base. Then, clamp down for 5-10 seconds with light pulses. My Favorite! Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

5. Scissors At the very least, you should have a pair of facial scissors to trim your eyebrow hairs and dare I say any other facial hair you might need to cut. They also are a necessity for the application of false lashes. Nope, falsies are not one size fits all. Measure them to your eye, cut the excess first and then apply. My Favorite! Tweezerman Cuticle Scissors

6. Baby Q-Tips We’re human. We make mistakes! And these smaller, more compact q-tips are perfect for fixes. Wet the end of a baby q-tip with micellar water to fix or sharpen your wing liner. And take a damp one to wipe out any eyeliner or shadow that ends up in your water line or tear duct. My Favorite! Precision Tip Cotton Swabs

7. Pencil Sharpener Stop it right now! Do not apply your lip and eye liner with dull pencils. Use a freshly sharpened pencil to achieve crisp, even lines. A good quality sharpener will give you a nice point without chewing up your expensive pencil. My Favorite! NARS Pencil Sharpener

8. Beauty Sponge If you don’t have one of these in your bag, where have you been since the invention of the Beautyblender? I’ve listened to a ton of makeup artists make the brush vs. sponge argument. They both have their places, but I personally feel the sponge is superior when it comes to blending foundation, contour cremes and concealer. Always use it damp and with light tapping motions to press the product on your skin for an airbrushed, skin-like finish. My Favorite! Beautyblender Pro