Tool time: face perfectors

17 Oct 2010 04:59 AM | Posted by Editor

How many times have you raved about your foundation? Or given snaps to the shadows that help accentuate your eyes on a daily basis? I’ve no doubt that when it comes to your beauty kits, your make-up is given superstar status.
But what about those oft forgotten items that help you get from beauty A to B on a daily basis? I’m talking tools beauties – the beauty bits we often take for granted, but if they ceased to exist, we’d be more than lost without them. Here are just a few of our fave face perfecting tools – and a couple of reasons why you won’t want to live without them…


Lash curlers

Any girl who wants her peepers to seriously pop won’t leave the house without first curling her lashes. It helps to lift them up from the roots while simultaneously providing a subtle curl, instantly making your lashes appear longer and more luscious. The heated versions are designed with an in-built heating element to curl your lashes faster, without causing crimping or bends. If you’d prefer the regular version, be sure to choose one with a rubberised or cushioned grip to prevent lash damage.

Try: 1000 Hour Eye Essentials Heated Eyelash Curler, Ardell Heated Eyelash Curler, glominerals gloLash Curler, and Revlon Beauty Tools Cushion Grip Lash Curler.

 

Tweezers

No beauty tool kit is complete without a good set of tweezers. They can get you out of all manner of beauty emergencies – instantly grooming neglected eyebrows before a big date, maintaining a manageable bikini line between waxes, keeping any stray facial/body hairs in check, assisting in the application of false lashes, and of course, helping to remove any splinters. Opt for slant tweezers for all shaping and general grooming needs, and point tweezers when you need to work with precision or grab hold of any very short, or fine hairs.

Try: Bobbi Brown Tweezers, Elite Black Angled Tweezers, Manicare Point Tweezers – Gold Tipped, and Revlon Beauty Tools Point Tip Ultimate Tweezer™.

 

Blotting papers

How many times have you looked in the mirror halfway through the day only to be confronted with an image of you sporting an afternoon oil slick? Did you really step out of the house like that? The answer is no, you didn’t – and nor should you have to suffer such an insult. So what’s the answer? Well it’s simple really. All you need is a pack of blotting papers in your handbag and, when you feel an oil slick coming on, simply whip one out and press it over your face. It’ll absorb any excess grease without moving your make-up, so your complexion will look as fresh and radiant as it did when you left the house!

Try: Bobbi Brown Blotting Papers and Blotting Papers Refill, and Bloom Facial Blotting Tissue.

 

Lash comb

Often overlooked, this nifty tool will have you saying ‘sayonara’ to stumpy, clumpy lashes in no time. Simply apply a light coat of mascara and, while it’s still wet, carefully (we don’t want you to poke yourself in the eye!) run the lash comb through your lashes from base to tip to eliminate any excess product. Repeat the process until you’ve achieved your desired mascara intensity.  Most lash combs come ‘dual ended’ with a brow brush on the other side, giving you immaculately groomed lashes and brows and more bang for your buck.

Try: Artiste Lash & Eyebrow Comb #41, and Cosmetica Lash & Eyebrow Comb.

 

Dual pencil sharpener

Ok, so this won’t exactly pretty up your face on its own accord, but how many times have you reached for your favourite eyeliner only to find it completely blunt and no sharpener in sight? Or perhaps you’ve bought a thick pencil and not considered that it won’t fit in your regular sharpener? Sounds like something I’ve done a million times – until I finally learned my lesson and got my hands on a dual sharpener that is! While I can’t guarantee it won’t go missing (sharpeners seem to have a knack for going MIA for weeks amongst your beauty supplies), I can promise that, when located, it’ll be the right fit for all of your eye and lip pencils, enabling a perfect, smudge and scratch free application.

Try: Adorn 2-Way Pencil Sharpener, Kryolan Combi Sharpener, and Maybelline New York Dual Sharpener.

 

Which face perfecting tools do you use on a daily basis?