Essential make-up tools

Check out our top picks of the best tools with which to apply your make-up.

Autumn/winter make-up trends always demand more products, applied with a heavier hand. When it's cold and dark outside you can get away with wearing more highly pigmented colour and fuller coverage bases, unlike in summer when you'd look like a cast member of a West End show.

Whether you feel like channelling the neon brights of the '80s as seen on the models at Marc Jacobs or complementing your new fierce girl fashion buys with statement black eye liner and lashings of mascara then you're going to need the right tools in your kit to recreate the looks seen on the catwalk.

With three working make-up artists we chose the two tools we simply couldn't put our make-up on without. Tell us your own tool of choice and you could win a goody bag of the tools featured here, plus some lovely extras!

Kelly Cornwell, make-up artist at Premier Beauty Workshop, premierbeautyworkshop.com

SPACE NK eye lash curlers
"I love the tightness of the grip when they curl around the lashes. They give them the most amazing curl without breaking them, even if they are used after mascara."
£14.69, spacenk.co.uk

MAC small duo fibre face brush
"It's a new discovery I will not now leave home without. Great for applying anything from foundation to concealer and even cream blush, it glides the products across the face without feeling scratchy and does not leave any brush marks in the application, which is very important."
£24.50, maccosmetics.co.uk


Mary Greenwell, make-up artist

Brushes
"Armani brushes generally are fabulous, as are Laura Mercier. The size of the brush depends on what I am working on: eyes, cheeks etc. It is important to choose a brush that suits your style and way of application depending on the look you want to achieve."

Ardell lashes
"I wouldn't travel without false lashes. Ardell are my number one favourites as they are 100 per cent natural and divine. They have become an essential in my make-up kit."
From £4.95, lookfantastic.com


Veronica Kirby, Beauty assistant handbag.com

Jemma Kidd I-Conic Eyes Brow Pencil
"A defined brow is a must and this new three-in-one pencil, tweezer and brush from Jemma Kidd is the new go-to tool in my make-up bag for autumn. I just love the mini tweezers on the end of the pencil, how cute, and handy, is that?"
£10, asos.com

Ruby & Millie Folding Brow And Lash Separator
"This season I'll be piling on at least three layers of mascara for the ultimate in fierce girl chic. But clumpy lashes are still a no-no but this foldaway metal lash comb is perfect for brushing out my lashes for a full on flutter."

£7.50, boots.com

 

Katie Corcoran, Beauty editor handbag.com

Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep brush
"I love, love, love this super soft eye shadow brush, it's perfect for applying a base shadow all over the lid but is shaped just right to blend into the eye crease to create a gorgeous smoky eye effect too."
£23.50, bobbibrown.co.uk

 

Clinique Large Powder Brush
"I can't apply my daily make-up without using this large, soft make-up brush that's perfect for applying loose powder, pressed powder or blusher. It never aggravates my skin and the brush is big enough to sweep powder over my T-zone in one go. Every woman should splash the cash on a good finishing brush like this."
£20, clinique.co.uk

John Gustafson, handbag.com's resident beauty expert

Revlon Professional Eye Liner Brush
"My favourite and most indispensable brush is a flat, straight, eye liner brush. The beauty of them is that you get a much more subtle line than you do with a pencil. There is no dragging on the eye area and any eye shadow you own can become a liner. And since so many companies have them, you can choose from completely straight or angled, and from widths anywhere from ¼ to ¾ of an inch."
£6.86, exclusively to Superdrug

"Strange as it may sound, my favourite make-up tool is my hands! I have complete control over them and constant washing makes them the perfect hygienic blending tool. Foundations always go on best for me when I apply them with my hands. Shadows can be blended with the lightest of touches. And the same goes for blushers. Mistakes can be fixed and application is nearly effortless. I know them like, well, like the back of my hands!"

Leave us a comment telling us your own tool of choice and you could win a goody bag of the tools featured here, plus some lovely extras!

Beauty trends autumn/winter 2009.

Top 10 autumn/winter make-up collections.

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