Which makeup tools do you need and which can you toss, now that is the question.
Let's take it down to the nitty gritty and see what tools are necessities and what are just excess for the everyday gal.
Face brushes: Used to apply foundation, concealer, powder, and blush
• Sponges: Sponges are a great end all be all. They can be used to apply just about anything and are inexpensive enough that they can be tossed after every use. Heck, an entire bag of them can be purchased "cotton ball style" at the drugstore for less than $10.
• Kabuki brush: If you're more of a powder girl, a large, soft Kabuki brush can be your best friend. It swirls makeup on and distributes evenly, covering large areas at once and saving you time. It can be used for any face product.
Eye brushes: Used to on and around eye area to apply shadows, liners, and brow products.
• Brow brush: Though these are sort of necessary to get your brows in place, you don't even need to spend extra dough on them. Just clean off an old mascara wand and viola, brow brush at your service.
• Shadow brush: There are tons of different shadow brushes... one for shadow... one for crease... one for blending. Ugh! Who has the time?! Choose one brush that is small enough to fit into the crease and overall eye area. Make sure it soft so it doesn't tug at this delicate area. A clean finger can also do the trick according to top makeup artist Pat McGrath.
• Liner brush: Liner brushes are rigid so that you can apply precisely. Nothing else will work quite the same. Or just uses pencils.
Lip brushes:
• A lip brush is a necessity for an absolutely perfect lip. Or skip the brush, apply a lip liner all over, dab on lipstick with your finger, blot a handful of times and call it a day. A clean finger will work similarly to a brush.
So what do you absolutely needed for your bag? A big ol' bag of sponges, a kabuki brush, a brow brush and a shadow brush. And if you want to take the time to go there, an eyeliner brush and lip brush too. The end.
Oh and always remember to blend, blend, blend darlings!