Five tools celebrity makeup artists swear by

We often say here in Project Vanity that having the right makeup tools is already half the battle. Sure, maybe you’re already satisfied with the mini applicators and sponges that came with your palettes and foundations. But if you really want to upgrade your FOTD, we searched the Internet high and low for the most recommended makeup tools that even celebrity makeup artists swear by.

Basic Powder Brushes

Tina Turnbow, makeup artist to Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, believes that the right kind of makeup brushes makes all the difference. Tina however shares that you don’t really need a brush for every single product. For her, the most important thing is to use brushes for powder applications: blushes, shadows, bronzers, and face products. Tina’s fave for brush and bronzer application is the MAC 168 Angled Contour Brush.

Nina Dobrev and Kirsten Stewart’s go-to makeup artist, Beau Nelson, on the other hand loves the MAC 159 Duo Fibre Blush Brush as a foundation and blush brush because of its versatility. He uses it flat like the traditional flat foundation brush, while he buffs the foundation using the ends of the fibers in small circular motions. To create more coverage, he uses a tapping motion to set the foundation. Now that’s a multitasker!

The Beauty Blender

Nick Barose (makeup artist for Lupita Nyong'o, Kate Mara, and Lena Dunham) and Fiona Stiles (Amy Adams, Anna Paquin, and Carrie Underwood) are dedicated to the Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge. Fiona says it allows her to apply foundation flawlessly by thinning it out and leaving more coverage for spots that need concealing. Barose shares that he uses the curved bottom for blending makeup into cheeks and the jawline. The tip is best for getting your foundation into tight spots such as under the eyes or the sides of the nose. If you’re not convinced yet, do check out Liz’s review! We heard even Jigs Mayuga loves it, too.

On a tight budget? You can try this dupe from Nippon Pro!

Oval Brush

While makeup artists still pledge allegiance to their Beauty Blenders, there’s a new trend that’s winning the hearts of beauty experts: the Oval Brushes. Julianne Kaye is a firm believer, and she’s got her client Kylie Jenner on board, too!

"The brushes have three to 10 times the amount of individual fibers as conventional brushes, which makes the foundation application almost magnetic," says Julianne. But the bristles are no less than “dreamy”, according to her; she affirms that every single one of her clients swoons over how it feels on their skin.

To use, just apply the product on your face and use circular motions just like a kabuki brush. Nippon and Suesh have their own version locally.

Eyelash Curler

If you are a Lazy Girl who relies on beauty hacks to get through the day, then you know nothing wakes up the eyes faster than curled lashes with the right coat of mascara. Jane Cohen knows this trick very well; it’s very evident in Rachel Bilson’s and Sophia Bush’s beautifully fanned eye lashes that stick up like doll lashes. Jane’s top pick is Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler because it does the perfect job of curling and separating the lashes without pinching. If you need more convincing, let Liz’s review do it for you!

Do you want to know more makeup artist-approved tools, tips, or tricks? Do let us know in the comments and we’ll look for them for you!

Sources: Stylecaster, Total Beauty, Elle, Essence, Shape, You Beauty, Brit.co, All Womens Talk, The Coveteur, E Online