THE BEGINNER’S KIT

FOUNDAT ION B RUSH Artis Elite Oval 7, £62

Fingers or beauty blenders are fine, but if you want an airbrushed look (and to make things quicker), use a brush. This one is great for beginners because where most brushes are designed with use by make-up artists in mind, Artis tools have inverted handles, which make selfapplication easier.

POWDE R B RUSH Real Techniques Powder Brush 201, £9.99

Choose a powder brush with a densely bristled head. Real Techniques co-founder Samantha Chapman suggests a medium size, which can dust on blush or bronzer. Natural bristles lay down powder best, but for cream or liquid formulas, choose synthetic bristles.

E Y E SHADOW PAC K ING MyKitCo My Smoothing Shadow 1.6, £14.50

Step one in any eye look (the part where you’re applying the base colour) needs “something small and flat for building up product”, according to MyKitCo founder and MUA James Molloy. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with a heckload of fallout. The flatness helps place even amounts onto lids, patting it into place securely (and satisfyingly).

E Y E SHADOW B L ENDING Zoeva 228 Luxe Crease Brush, £10

To complement your packing brush, you’ll also need a fluffier number, designed to buff out shadow, creating a diffused look with no harsh lines. Flat brushes aren’t great for this, so Zoe Boikou of Zoeva recommends an eyelid-crease brush. It can double up to apply subtle contour in your sockets.

B ROWS & L INE R Spectrum Collections Brow Styler A24, £6.99

Choose multi-use, dualended brushes to maximise the potential of your basic kit. After using the spoolie to brush your eyebrow hairs upwards, Spectrum Collections co-founder Sophie Pycroft suggests using the angled edge “with a brow pomade or a powder – and feel free to use it later for any gel eyeliner too”. Just clean it after…