living
B E A U T Y
Brush Up
Those plastic applicators and flimsy
sponges included in many makeup
compacts will never deliver the sheer,
precise magic that makeup tools do.
Forgo the basic freebie for a better
quality tool that will last a lifetime.
I f there is one tool that I truly can’t
live without, it’s a Q -T ip . They are
m y go-to for fixing migrated mascara
and removing makeup. Plus the
1 0 0
percent cotton ones are biodegradable.
— M E L IS S A M ILR A D G O L D S T E IN
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TO B LE N D LIQUID OR
C R E A M M A K E U P
U SE TH E B E S T
A sponge with rounded
edges that fits easily in
your hand will glide over
your facets contours,
allowing you to buff your
makeup to a smooth,
flawless finish. Lookfor
one that is latex-free (a
must if you have sensitive
skin) and is made o f quality
materials that will stand up
to daily washings,
c TRY: KashukTools
blending sponge, $10.
AVOID
Those basic latex makeup
wedges you buy in bulk
at the drugstore soak up,
and w aste, too much
foundation, and their shape
makes them harder to
work. Additionally, they fall
apart after a few washings.
AVOID
\
TO AD D A HINT
O F BLU SH
U SE TH E B E S T
A full, round head of
bristles m akes applying
blush a breeze. Don’t
brush in concentric
circles; a pop of oolor
on the cheekbones
is all you need fo r a
natural, flattering flush.
Rem em ber to w ash this
brush regularly.
■ TRY: Any medium-size
blush brush with a full-
bristle head, from $8.
AVOID
Discard any brush
that renders aflat
blush line that extends
from cheek to temple.
It’s an outdated look.
AVOID
To rinse away bacteria and product
buildup, wash brushes weekly with
water and a gentle soap or baby
shampoo. Swirl in the palm of your
hand under running water, until the
water rinses clear. Squeeze out
excess water and lay flat to dry.
150
SEPTEMBER2008 BETTER HOMES AND
GARDENS
BEST >
A P P L Y IN G
E Y E SH A D O W
U SE TH E B E S T
The m ost useful eye
shadow brush you can
own is a wide soft-
bristle one that will
sw eep color over the
entire lid without
irritating the delicate
eye area. To sm udge,
line, or contour your
eye shadow, buy a
brush designed for
that task,
c TRY: Maybelline
eye shadow brush, $9.
AVO ID
The free eye shadow
sw ab that com es in
your com pact works
fo r smudging shadow
along the lashline, but
the short handles can
make you feel like a
klutz. And you can’t
use the sw ab to apply
m ore than one color
without muddying
the hues.
TO A PPLY
FO UNDATIO N
LIKE A PRO
*
0
U SE TH E
B E S T
A foundation
brush sw eep s on
a thinner coating for more
natural, seam less-looking
foundation (no m atter how
heavy the coverage). It also slips
easily into tight spaces around
the nose and eyes. Wash this
brush weekly.
■ TRY: Ecotools bam boo
foundation brush, $6.
AVOID
Those foundation sponges that
com e with your makeup work
nicely at first, but they will
become grim y and bacteria-
ridden after a few uses, and
they’re difficult to get com pletely
clean. And they’re not as adept
at reaching into those nooks on
your face, or ensuring uniform
makeup application.
AVOID
