Your Brush Drawer, Edited: The Only Tools You Really Need

Somewhere in most bathrooms lies a drawer of mystery brushes: the fan you used once, the angled thing you never figured out, the dense kabuki that has seen better days. Good tools genuinely make makeup easier, but you need far fewer than you think.

The essential six

1. A dense, flat-top foundation brush buffs liquid and cream bases into skin for an airbrushed finish.
2. A small, tapered concealer brush lets you place coverage precisely over spots and around the nose.
3. A fluffy powder brush sweeps setting powder only where you need it, without caking.
4. A soft, rounded blush brush diffuses colour into a believable flush.
5. A fluffy blending brush for the eyes softens shadow edges so they melt into the skin.
6. A spoolie and angled brow brush — the double-ended kind — keeps brows groomed and defined.

Add one sponge

A damp makeup sponge is unbeatable for pressing concealer under the eyes and lifting away excess foundation. Always use it damp; dry sponges soak up product and leave streaks.

A clean brush applies makeup more smoothly, more evenly and more kindly to your skin.

The weekly cleaning ritual

Brushes collect oil, product and bacteria that can lead to breakouts and patchy application. Once a week, swirl each brush in a bowl of lukewarm water with a drop of gentle shampoo or brush cleanser. Rinse with the bristles pointing down so water never seeps into the handle, squeeze gently with a towel and lay flat to dry, with the heads hanging over the edge of a counter.

Edit tip: Rinse your sponge after every use and replace it every three months. It is the most hardworking — and most germ-prone — tool you own.

When to invest

If you buy one premium brush, make it the foundation brush: dense, soft synthetic fibres make the biggest visible difference to your base. Everything else can be wonderfully affordable. Synthetic bristles are now excellent, easy to clean and cruelty-free.