Level Up Your Makeup Look With These High-Performance Tools (2024)

Learning pro-level makeup techniques is no small feat. Though one can always tap products in with their fingers, it is the best makeup tools that offer customizable and long-wear enhancements. “I think we often forget how important the tools actually are,” says makeup artist Ash K. Holm. “The right tools should feel soft against your skin and allow for the most flawless application and wear.” In fact, she considers proper tools a worthwhile investment for any makeup arsenal.

For beginners, she dubs the following as necessities: a brush to contour and sculpt, a flawless foundation brush, a tool to blend eyeshadow, as well as brushes for brows and eyeliner. “When you’re just getting acquainted with brushes, the trick is to start with a few tools that are multifunctional so you can use them for [various] features of the face,” she instructs, and pro makeup artist Jen Tioseco agrees. “Most of my brushes I use for four different things; you don’t have to break the bank!”

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be surprised how the right tools will elevate your makeup wear. Read on to discover the makeup tools worth adding to cart.

At A Glance

• The Complete Set: Hourglass Vegan Brush Collection, $650
• The All-Over Blender: Merit Brush No.1, $30
• The Blush Brush: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Blush Brush, $22
• The Eyeshadow Brush: Chanel Retractable Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Brush N°200, $42
• The LED Mirror: Simplehuman 8-Inch Sensor Mirror, $200
• The Oil-Reducer: Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers, $12

For the Face

The Complete Set: Hourglass Vegan Brush Collection

Those in search of a complete makeup set should look no further than Hourglass’s collection. Crafted from vegan Taklon bristles and housed in a leather case, this features every brush a makeup regimen could hope for.

The Sponge: Beautyblender Original Beautyblender

“I’ve always loved the original Beautyblender,” says Holm. “The material is extremely soft and bouncy.” The sponge boasts unmatched versatility for its ability to blend without streaks. Remember: a little product goes a long way!

The All-Over Blender: Merit Brush No.1

Merit’s brush is the multitasker your makeup bag has been craving. Made with densely packed, soft vegan bristles, this masters complexion product blending—from foundation to bronzer.

The Powder Brush: Saie The Fluffy Brush

The Saie Fluffy Brush was made with beginners in mind. It features a soft pinpointed tip to lightly tap loose powders to targeted areas of the face like under the eyes or to your T-zone. Just use a bouncing motion rather than sweeping.

The Cream Brush: MAC 130S Synthetic Short Duo Fibre Brush

MAC’s flat top brush is loved for liquid and cream product application. Crafted from short synthetic bristles, this is known to blend in products like a dream. The brand recommends using a swirling motion for best results.

The Concealer Brush: Rose Inc Number 1 Concealer Brush

Dense and soft are two words to describe Rose Inc’s concealer brush. Its vegan, synthetic bristles have a curved design to expertly blend in your liquid concealer to the undereye contour.

The Blush Brush: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Blush Brush

With the success of Rare beauty’s liquid blush, it’s no surprise the brand offers a great blush brush too—created specifically to handle ultra-pigmented formulas. Simply buff your chosen product in for a soft, diffused finish.

The Powder Puff: Laura Mercier Velour Puff

Applying setting powder is a seamless process with a powder puff. Laura Mercier’s is a classic model, known to deposit loose powder wherever you’d like.

The Kabuki Brush: Charlotte Tilbury Kabuki Brush

Kabuki brushes can come in handy to dust powders around the face. This option by Charlotte Tilbury promises an airbrushed finish when applying product with a sweeping motion. Not to mention it’s retractable for easy storage.

For the Eyes & Brows

The Eyeshadow Brush: Chanel Retractable Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Brush N°200

“Everyone needs a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend a quick and seamless eyeshadow application,” Holm says. Luckily, Chanel’s tool comes with two retractable brush options (a flat and rounded end) to buff in cream or powders.

The Eyeliner Brush: Shiseido Katana Fude Eye Lining Brush

A super thin brush to apply eyeliner is a must, per Holm. Shiseido’s is made with densely packed synthetic bristles to etch graphic lines with ease—suitable for liquid, cream, gel, and powder formulas.

The Brow Brush: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Dual-Ended Applicator

Anastasia Beverly Hills really knows a thing or two about brows; just take a look at its beloved Brow Wiz or Brow Freeze as proof. This dual-ended brush makes applying either product simple, featuring both a spoolie and spatula end to groom your arches with ease.

The Eyelash Curler: Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler

Kate Moss, Lila Moss, and Isabela Merced are just three of the stars who pulled out Kevyn Aucoin’s curler to achieve larger-than-life lashes ahead of mascara in their Beauty Secrets. Even celebrity makeup artist Alexx Mayo previously shared his penchant for it, as its design flatters any eye shape.

The Tweezer: Tweezerman Ultra Precision Slant Tweezer

Shape your brows or get rid of rogue hairs with a great tweezer. Featuring a protective coating, Tweezerman’s thin slanted model looks to reduce friction and remove hairs with precision.

For Makeup Prep & Touch-Ups

The LED Mirror: Simplehuman 8-Inch Sensor Mirror

Say you want to see your skin up close, whether you’re checking out rouge zits or want to apply your liner with precision. If so, a ring-lit mirror makes all the difference. Through multiple light settings and 5x magnification, you can adjust the mirror to your liking.

The Makeup Bag Mirror: Chanel Mirroir Double Facettes Mirror Duo

Vogue editors have long been fans of this sleek Chanel mirror. Thank you, TikTok! With a standard mirror on one side and a magnifying mirror on the other, this is surely a makeup bag essential for touch-ups and lipstick checks on the go.

The Oil-Reducer: Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers

Tioseco is fond of Tatcha’s blotting papers because these “don’t disturb the product or leave any residue.” So if your skin gets progressively oilier throughout makeup wear, you’ll want to always have a few of these absorbent sheets on hand.

The Makeup Organizer: Joseph Joseph Viva Makeup Cosmetic Storage Organizer

So you have the makeup essentials, from expertly designed tools to high-performance formulas. Don’t you need somewhere to put them? Of the best makeup organizers, this option by Joseph Joseph rises to the top.

The Cosmetics Bag: Everlane The Renew Transit Catch-All Case

But what about keeping your makeup salves organized during travel? Everlane’s catch-all will do the trick. With six different compartments and a collapsible build, you’ll have a place to store your goodies.

The Facial Steamer: Dr. Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer

A facial steamer is also a lovely supplement; along with the skin benefits of steam (softening the top layer of skin and temporarily increasing blood flow), the process feels luxurious. Think of it as an at-home facial to prep skin ahead of makeup. With Dr. Dennis Gross’s model, you can treat the skin in just 9 minutes.

The Makeup Cleaner: Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner

Ever wondered what the pros use to swiftly clean their brushes between clients? Many, like Tioseco, rely on this Cinema Secrets cleaner that’s quick-drying and formulated with a 99.99% antimicrobial disinfectant.