Eight months ago, I was sent a brush that I’ve used almost daily since. Perhaps not the most remarkable statement, but given that I own in excess of 500 makeup brushes and have only been quite this devoted to a handful, I felt compelled to share the love (albeit belatedly; I’ve been sitting on my hands until it became available to buy on its own). Dual Airbrush Concealer Brush (£20) is by IT Cosmetics, a brand that, unless you’re a fan of shopping TV, you’ve probably never heard of (I hadn’t). It’s cruelty-free, and features the perfect flat concealer brush at one end with a soft, feathery buffer at the other. The former lays down cover-up without dragging skin or absorbing product, while the latter diffuses the joins without sweeping away the concealer (each end has a lid, so won’t work like flypaper to trap dirt and handbag debris). The upshot is superior coverage of spots, dark circles and broken veins (just ensure you lock it down with powder).
My deep love for it caused me to wonder which other brushes I truly deem indispensable. I love long, properly weighted tools at home (Charlotte Tilbury’s are glorious, but very much confined to my dressing table), but for day to day I like short handles that fit into my makeup bag without jutting out and jamming the zip with hair. I’d certainly go nowhere without Mac’s 217SH (£20), a compact, domed blending brush that’s especially good for sweeping colour over the eyelids or softening lines between shadows. Similarly wee is Mac’s 129SH (£28), on which I rely for applying face and cheek powders (I just smudge on creme blush with fingers).
Real Techniques’ Shading Brush (£6.99), is another must when travelling. It fits easily into small makeup bags and can do almost anything eye-related without backup. I use it to draw in a crease to define eyes (just hold firm in the socket line and move like a windscreen wiper), blend my liner on the upper and lower lids, and even apply lid colour at a push. It works as well with cremes as it does with powders, and the price means I don’t cry if I lose one.
For brows, I use Screenface’s tiny Retractable Mascara Wand (£7.95), the only one I’ve found with a lid. I haven’t carried a lip brush this decade. Life is finite.
