4 Make Up Brushes You'll Find in The Experts' Bathrooms

Katie Holmes - Face of Bobbi Brown cosmetics

For anyone that skimps on tools to spend more money on actual make up, be warned: The correct make up brush maketh the look.

Ask any make up artist and they’ll confirm that a good brush is the key to getting a professional finish that not only looks better – but also stays put longer. So here’s the lowdown on the brushes that are most loved by the experts.

1. THE EYE ESSENTIAL:

The secret to replicating the soft, blown-out smoky eye that was showcased on the Anne Valerie Hash and Gianfranco Ferre SS13 catwalks is blending, blending and more blending. With its long handle, The Body Shop’s Smudger Brush gives you greater control over your blending than the average stubby applicator included in many eye palettes, allowing you to seamlessly fuse two or more shades over your lids and perfect that professional finish. £9 (www.thebodyshop.co.uk).

2. THE FACE FUNDAMENTAL:

If you've ever wondered how celebrities such as Gywnnie, Natalie Portman and Emma Stone get their glow, look no further than Manhattan make up guru, Gucci Westman – and her trusty, skin-perfecting brush. She uses Revlon’s Foundation Brush to gently sweep a liquid or cream formula over the face, starting from the centre and working her way outwards. By two and you can use your spare for Gucci’s other go-to trick: Painting on a pre-bedtime, hydrating face mask to ensure even coverage and maximum, skin-boosting results when you wake up the next morning. £8.99 (www.superdrug.com).

3. THE BROW BEATER:

Nothing beats a good brow for adding strength to the face without having to go OTT on the rest of your make up. Having recently signed queen of bushy brows, Katie Holmes as the face of her cosmetics range, Bobbi Brown has a nifty tip for replicating the look back home. The angled edge of her Eye Brow Brush allows you to gently apply an eye shadow that matches the colour of your brows in small, hair-like strokes. The result is soft, subtle – and never appears so obviously drawn on that you look permanently surprised. £21 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk).

4. THE SCULPTING SUPERHERO:

Find us a woman who wouldn’t like to keep Tom Ford in her bathroom and we’ll eat our mascara. In the absence of the man himself, his Bronzer Brush is the deluxe of all make up tools. The natural hair of its bristles means it can pick up just the right amount of product, allowing you to wash tan and coppery shades onto the face and make your cheekbones stand to attention. Use it to buff a light-reflecting primer over the top of day-old make up before you leave work and it also has magic powers in reviving crusty cosmetics. So you’re good-to-go for the rest of the night. £80 (www.houseoffraser.co.uk). 

Bella Blissett