​Welcome to The Beautified Guide to Cosmetic Tools & Accessories

Here is a complete Guide made to help you identify the many different types of Cosmetic Tools and Accessories as well as their uses. 
There are so many tools and accessories out there so if you're confused about where to start and what exactly you need, hopefully this guide will make it easier for you!

I’m never without my trustee eyelash curlers as I find it makes a huge difference in the look of our lashes. You use them before applying your mascara to help open up the shape of your eyes. Using an eyelash curler directly after applying mascara on wet or sticky lashes can lead to you pulling your lashes out. If you are like me you’ll cherish every lash you have and will do anything to avoid loosing them. Hence why I use the curler before and not after. Get the curler as close to your lash roots as possible being careful not to touch the skin. Gently squeeze the lash curlers down to ensure a comfortable fit, when you are confident with your application only then should you tightly squeeze the lash curlers down and hold for a few seconds. The amount of time you press down for really depends on how straight your lashes are to begin with. Remember to clean your curlers regularly to remove any buildup of product and keep an eye on the rubber cushion or silicone insert on your curlers as these often need to be replaced as they wear down from frequent use. Lash Curlers are safe to use for everyday and won't cause any excess fall out.

My favourite brands for lash curlers are Shu Uemura, Charlotte Tilbury, Tweezerman and Shiseido.

   Great for maintaining your brows in between appointments. There are are many different types of tweezers including Slanted, Point Tipped, Point Slant, Round Tip, Flat Tip or Wide Gripped. My favourite would be a Slanted Tweezer but it’s definitely a personal preference. I also use tweezers when applying false lashes to the eye as for me it’s far more precise and makes the entire process easier. 


My favourite brands for Tweezers would be  Tweezerman, Anastasia, Bobbi Brown, Benefit  and for a budget friendly option Brush Works.

A product I overlooked for many years. Until recently I always used whatever I had to hand but would get frustrated when I was loosing expensive products blaming them and not the sharpener for breaking and crumbling . Once i switched to a better quality sharpener I noticed a huge difference and find I loose far less product than before. 

My favourite is The Charlotte Tilbury Pencil Sharpener and Urban Decay Grind house.

My personal favourite organisers are Acrylic Storage Drawers. The one I currently use is from Her Clutter Box and I have it years!

There are so many fantastic acrylic storage options out there. If you're a Lipstick Lover I'd also recommend looking at some of the Lip Storage solutions because there are so many to choose from. Lastly I use a nice acrylic brush holder from Zoeva to store my brushes neatly on my vanity.

I love an illuminated mirror. My favourite is the Rose Gold one from No 7. It’s double sided featuring one magnified side and one regular.

My favourite makeup bags are from Scamp and Dude! They recently did a collection called Scamp and Dude with a Purpose  where the profits from a Swag Bag purchase went to a charity close to each of the collaborators’ hearts.

A spoolie can be used to comb through, blend and shape your brows and lashes. This is a must have in a Makeup Artists Kit. We tend to have a lot of spoolies to use as disposable mascara wands. You’ll often find a spoolie on the end of a double sided brow brush. 

My favourite is The West Barn Co brow brush, Anastasia Beverly Hills in number 12 and The BH Cosmetics Studio Pro 13 brush. 

Shadow shields are great! They prevent eyeshadow from falling down on your cheek and ruining your makeup base. The also work as a great guide for winged eyeliner! You can buy multipacks from most Beauty Supply Stores.

A Spatula is a small, thin tool usually with a silicone tip designed to reach the far corners and bottoms of bottles, jars, and more. These are also perfect for Makeup Artists Kits to avoid double dipping your brushes into your products. Steel ones are perfect for your kit and easy to clean. These can usually be bought in bulk at any Beauty Supply Store.

I love Mixing Palettes and Plates. Perfect for decanting Foundations, Concealers and most cream and liquid products without having to use the back of your hand. It can also be used for mixing colours together. This is a great addition to any kit because it’s reusable and cleans so easily.

​I recommend the Natasha Denona Mixing Palette which can be bought online at Cult Beauty or Look Fantastic, but you pick these palettes up anywhere, even Primark!

These are perfect for those of you who struggle with transferring your mascara during application. It helps create a flawless look with zero smudges.
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I recommend the Elf Cosmetics Mascara and Shadow shield.

These reusable cloths are created to remove makeup effectively using only water, the super soft cloths are gentle on the skin to avoid irritation and redness. With one smooth side and one with fibres that are slightly longer, the cloth can also be used to exfoliate your skin when needed. I really love these cloths and highly rate them.

​I recommend the Vintage Cosmetic Company Makeup Removing Cloths which can be bought from the company directly as well as on Look Fantastic and in Dunnes Stores.

These are custom designed applicators for applying false lashes. 

​I recommend either the Eylure Lash Applicator which can be found online at Boots or the Brush Works Lash Applicator which can be bought from Beauty Bay or Look Fantastic.

These are perfect storage solutions for single eyeshadows or any single pan powder products you wish to condense in to one place. 

​I recommend the Mac Pro Palettes, Inglot Flexi Palettes or the Z Palettes. 

You can also buy containers which can be used to decant bulkier products such as lipsticks or concealers.

​I recommend the Japonesque 35 Well Pro Palette.

Perfect accommodation for a Makeup Artist’s Brush Collection. It can be conveniently worn around the waist and is perfect if you work on the go.

I recommend The Zoeva Brush Belt which can be bought online from the Zoeva Website

Expandable Makeup Cases are perfect for keeping all your essentials in. They usually contain multiple compartments and a handle on the top for easy transportation.

​So many brands and places sell these Cosmetic Train Cases. For cheaper alternatives you can usually find them in Primark or Argos. For a more expensive case Inglot do fab ones. I also really like the Zoeva Zoe Tote Bag, which has a huge amount of storage inside with many compartments.

I highly recommend the ZÜCA bag. The one I had lasted me years. The ZÜCA make up bags are especially designed for beauty professionals, who require organization, style, and perfection in their suitcase. They are made using high-quality materials and come in an array of colour and designs. They can be wheeled around for easy transportation and are very easy to clean.

​Thanks for reading The Beautified Guide to Cosmetic Tools & Accessories