9 Must-Have Beauty Tools

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What’s in your makeup bag? I’m not talking about makeup, or even skincare products, but the actual tools you need to master everything from Kardashian contour to the taming of unruly brows. Far too often I find myself digging around my drawers in hopes of finding the right brush for my illuminating powder or an on-the-go fix for smudged mascara. Sound familiar? I asked New York basked makeup artist Lisa Aharon to give me a list of the beauty tools you should keep stocked in your bag at all times.

Eyelash Curler, Kevyn Aucoin ($21)

Don’t underestimate the value of a good eyelash curler. “An eyelash curler is a must! Make sure which ever one you buy uses a rounded silicone pad to ensure a soft bend to the lashes,” she says.

Eye Shadow Brush, MAC ($24)

“A soft fluffy eye shadow brush makes it easy to blend your eye makeup,” says Aharon. Even if you don’t wear a lot of shadow, this brush expertly delivers translucent powder under your eyes and around your nose.

Related: 5 Multitasking Products That Do It All

Foundation Brush, Make Up For Ever ($35)

It’s time to consider using a brush to apply your foundation or tinted moisturizer. “It doesn’t suck up product the way a sponge does, and it gives you more control with the distribution,” she says.

Tweezer, Tweezerman Slant Tweezer ($22)

“They make grooming your brows so easy and painless. Plus, you can send them in to be sharpened for free,” says Aharon. The key with a tweezers is to look for something sharp and slanted to make your job as easy as possible.

Brow Gel, Benefit Gimme Brow ($22)

“Take your spooly brush one step further and invest in a brow gel,” says Aharon. “This way you brush your brows in place in the morning and they’ll last all day.” Available in two colors, this fiber-based gel will help to fill in and tame unruly brows.

Cotton Swabs, Almay ($6)

“You can use them for touch ups as well as blending your eye shadow at the outer edges,” says Aharon. She also recommends Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks, the built-in makeup remover cleans up mascara and shapes a defined lip line.

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Kabuki Brush, Sephora ($24)

A short-handled Kabuki brush is an easy to store essential. “You can use it for blush, bronzer, highlighter or powder,” she says.

Pencil Sharpener, Prestige ($4)

There are few worse things than a dull eyeliner or flat lip pencil. Aharon recommends a dual pencil sharpener. “This one comes with a cleaning stick and a reservoir to catch the mess,” she says.

Compact Mirror, Revlon ($7)

Of course, you can’t do your makeup without a mirror and a compact is perfect to use on the go. “I’m happy with any mirror that has two sides, one regular view and one magnified,” says Aharon.