Want to apply your make-up like a pro? Upgrade your kit with these essential tools and learn how to use them for flawless results!
Size matters
A big, fluffy powder brush is a must-have. Great ones include the Natio Powder Brush or pro-style Natio Kabuki Brush, and the Diego Dalla Palma Powder Brush. Use it to dust on face powder lightly and evenly or to swirl bronzing powder over the apples of the cheeks, blending out towards the temples and hairline.
Save your blushes
The brushes which come with blusher compacts tend to be too small and fiddly for expert application, resulting in a less than seamless, often stripy look. The Diego Dalla Palma Blusher Brush 26 has a slanted tip for expert contouring, or try the classic Natio Blusher Brush. For a lightly sunkissed look, following your bronzing powder, use a blusher brush to apply a rose-coloured blush such as the Barbara Daly Velvet Blush in English Rose, directly onto the apples of your cheeks.
Cover up job
Concealing blemishes, dark circles and other imperfections is easy with a brush made for the task. Try the Diego Dalla Palma Blending Brush 08. To cover a blemish, apply the creamy Barbara Daly Concealer directly onto the spot using the brush, before using it to carefully blend around the area. Go one or two shades lighter than your skin tone.
Eyes right
For easy eyeshadow application and blending, reach for a classic eyeshadow brush such as the Natio Eyeshadow Brush, which has an expertly tapered shape. Shake off any excess powder before applying.
Draw the line
To apply eyeshadow as an eyeliner (dampen any eyeshadow with water for a liquid eyeliner effect), try an angled brush such as the Natio Angle Eyeshadow Brush. It can also be used to smudge eyeshadow, for a softer or smoky-eyed effect.
Pucker up
Whilst the lip brush has always been a mainstay in make-up brush collections, many make-up artists prefer to apply lipstick straight from the bullet or with fingertips for a more modern, less ‘finished’ look. The fabulous Barbara Daly Lipstick has a square tip to make direct application easier. For a more defined finish and to prevent colour ‘feathering’ into the fine lines around the mouth, try a lip pencil such as the Diego Dalla Palma Lip Pencil.
A clean sweep
Keep your make-up brushes clean by washing them from time to time with a mild liquid soap or baby shampoo. Rinse well, gently squeeze out the excess water and reshape the head of the brush before letting it dry naturally overnight (place them over the edge of a table or counter, if possible, so the bristles dry evenly). Look after your brushes and they should give you years of foolproof make-up service!
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