Pro Tools

October 10, 2019 3 min read

If there’s one thing us makeup artists know, it’s what works and the serious short cuts to make things happen. We have to use tools and products that get the job done, get it done right and get it done fast. There’s no time for faffing about when you’re doing a celebs makeup, you’re under the gun, time-wise and you need to know that the tools you reach for will serve you well. So that said, these are my kit essentials, ones I reach for every time I work and ones that will serve you well too!

Slice Pencil Sharpener: Reaching into a makeup bag and getting bits of eyeliner/lipliner on you from a messy pencil sharpener is a major pet peeve. Those little flakes of pigment get everywhere and make a mighty mess. This sharpener (which, PS, was designed by an architect) collects all of the shavings in a contained unit so you can keep your makeup bag spotless and your pencil shavings in check. Plus it accommodates 3 sizes of pencils to meet all of your pencil needs, chubby or slim, and has a cute little cleaning stick built in so you can keep the blades clean.

Beautyblender: Us makeup artists wax poetic about the beautyblender for good reason, there are many imitators but only one we all reach for. That’s because the shape and density of the foam is perfect, giving it just the right bounce for blending and setting products. Nothing blends foundation like it, and it’s perfect for making cream blush look seamless, feathering out the edges of eyeshadow and building up product on trouble areas, like rosacea or breakouts. I have about 10 in my kit, just in case, but one will last you for years. And once you have one you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Rubis Tweezers: I don’t like cheap tools for one reason, they are ineffective. Little hurts my heart like drugstore tweezers (I’m talking to you, Revlon). How is anyone supposed to get the job done if the tool is subpar? It’s like giving crappy art supplies to a kid; they just get mad and frustrated and frankly, discouraged. I like my tweezers like I like my friends, SHARP. You cannot get those pesky hairs if the tweezers aren’t the right shape and sharpness and nothing gives me anxiety like not being able to effectively pull out an errant brow hair (you know those pesky ones that are just popping out and are desperate to evade the tweezers? They make me nuts!) These ones from Rubis are thin enough at the tip, and the sides meet together perfectly, that you can get those annoying hairs that otherwise mock you.

Surratt Lash Curler: Remember in the last paragraph where I talked about ineffective tools? Same goes for a lash curler. This stunner is a multiple time winner of the Allure Beauty Awards *mic drop* and it's as beautiful as it is effective. The curl it gives is gentle, no cranked, 90 degree lashes here, opening up the eyes to let your pretty peepers shine. I promise you’ll get the best curl ever from this little guy, and you’ll never look back.

Takeda Brush Purely Soap: Last but not least is the best brush cleaner you’ll ever use. Makeup artists b-e-g anyone and everyone they know who’s headed to Tokyo to bring this back for them. It cleans your brushes gently, but seriously gets the job done. Also, if you’ve ever tried to clean your beautyblender with dish soap or shampoo, you know that it’s almost impossible to get all of the suds out. This soap keeps your sponge as clean as the first time you used it, with the sudsy drama. Those brushes of your will last you a life time if you care for them properly, and this soap is like an insurance policy.