Top makeup artists and skin care experts reveal their favourite beauty tools

By Anjan Sachar24 February 2020

Use the right skin and makeup tools, and that’s half your battle won. We got the experts to dig into their beauty kits and tell us about the products they would always place their bet on

Using the right beauty tools can truly make a difference in your routine, and the people at the forefront of the industry—makeup artists and dermatologists who use these products daily in their personal and professional capacities—agree. “I believe fantastic tools make your job easier,” says Deepa Verma, a Mumbai-based celebrity makeup artist. “The final looks well blended and seamless. For example, good brushes are an investment—even if they are pricey it's better to buy the best ones as they make your work look flawless.”

Here, makeup artists and dermatologists talk to us about the beauty tools they always keep on hand:

1. An under-eye roller

Puffy eyes can make you look tired, so you'll want to flatten the skin out before applying eye cream and concealer. “I use an under-eye rolling applicator with my serum. This way, I don’t end up rubbing my eyes. It keeps my under-eye skin smooth, helps in better application and soothes the area due to the gentle massaging effect," shares Dr Jaishree Sharad, a Mumbai-based dermatologist.

2. A gua sha stone

Gua sha is a practice that involves massaging the skin with a shaped stone to enhance circulation, with benefits including lymphatic drainage, sculpting and de-puffing. “This is my favourite tool to reduce inflammation, improve lymphatic drainage, reduce rosacea, and also tone the face. Start to use it for a few minutes a day and results will start to show in just a few days," shares Dr Kiran Sethi, a dermatologist and founder of Delhi-based Isyaderm. "“This ancient Chinese medicine tool really works to de-puff skin and smooth out fine lines. For me, it's more than a trend—it’s a new staple for healthy skin," shares Belinda Hughes, a facialist from Melbourne. But when she wants to take it up a notch, she likes the NuFACE Trinity Facial Toning Device as well. "Being a real microcurrent handheld device, it gives a great lift and sculpt to the face at home and can be used daily, if needed," she says.

3. Ice globes

Another quick-fix for exhausted, stressed-out or hungover skin, these include the soothing and constricting effects of the cold as well. "Get red glass or crystal globes, put them in the fridge, wet them a little and use them all over your face when you’re very tired or if your face feels very puffy. It helps reduce water retention and instantly calm the skin down," confirms Dr Rashmi Shetty, a Mumbai- and Hyderabad-based dermatologist.

4. An eyelash curler

Pros tell us that the eyelash curler is one of the oft-overlooked makeup tools. However, they can draw the eye upward and create length and volume, making them a must-have. "It instantly opens your eyes so you don't have to use a million coats of mascara," says Puneet Saini, a celebrity makeup artist. "It's a great way to prep your lashes before the next steps," says Mallika Bhat, a Mumbai-based makeup artist.

5. Eyeshadow shields

There's nothing more annoying than having your eyeshadow all over your face when you're done working a cut-crease. “When working with intensely pigmented eyeshadows, this is something I definitely use on my clients. I stick it one before starting on a smoky eye makeup look to avoid fallout. It’s hands-free and so convenient—also saves a lot of my time that would’ve gone towards cleaning up," shares Shraddha Mehta, a Mumbai-based makeup artist.

6. A makeup sponge

Made most popular by the beauty blender, makeup sponges help to apply base makeup without causing streaks or heavy patches. "I especially like using it to apply concealer. It distributes the product evenly and sets it in place," says Saini. Mitesh Rajani, a Mumbai-based makeup artist agrees. "It is perfect to blend base makeup, and works to dab off the excess too," he says. "I can apply foundation, powder, blend the look, do face baking and even apply blush and eyeshadow with it," says Bhatt about the multi-purpose tool.

7. A spoolie

“I’m obsessed with a spoolie; I feel like it’s a very underrated beauty tool, it can help you in multiple ways. I always run the spoolie brush over the brows after using product for a natural look. It also helps you comb your lashes and avoid mascara clumps. In fact, you can also use any clear soap with a spoolie brush and brush your brow hair to get a fuller, bushier look," says Mehta on her must-have.

8. Makeup brush cleaner

If you're using brushes, making sure to clean them is top priority. While it might be the case of soap and water, a high-tech approach might be faster and easier. “My electric makeup brush cleaner machine is the best thing that someone gifted to me recently. All I have to do is put my brushes and sponges in and switch on the machine for it to do its job," says Dr Sharad.

The 6 makeup brushes you should add to your kit, ASAP

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

“This brush blends every kind of foundation effortlessly—I’ve never seen a single bristle fall out. Absolutely no shedding even after hundreds of washes. It’s an absolute game changer for me—all that I do is blend with it and it performs exceptionally well," says Mehta.

Smith Cosmetics 203 Brush

"I think this is the perfect brush for lips. It’s angular with rounded edges and not too sharp and helps me to create the right kind of not-so-sharp edged lips," shares Rajani.

M.A.C 211 and 209 Brushes

“The 211 eyeshadow blending brush by M.A.C offers an even application of eyeshadow resulting in a well-blended look. Also, I use the 209 pencil brush to smoke out eyeshadow pencils for a softer, more smoky effect,” confirms Saini.

Shiseido Eyebrow Brush

“This is one of my favourite brushes—it’s just like a toothbrush and the bristles are so well made that it manages to brush every strand of brow hair,” says Rajani.