February 3, 2020

The HG Edit: My All-Time Favourite Beauty Tools

The best tools that I always forget to mention round these parts…

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Seeing as I’ve given both makeup and skincare the HG edit treatment, I thought it was about time that I shone a spotlight on my favourite beauty tools. It’s not a category that I find myself talking about too much on here as it’s not particularly sexy – WOOOO TWEEZERS AND BIKINI LINE TRIMMERS! – but most of the things I’ve mentioned below I use everyday, so even more reason to dedicate a whole post to them, right? From the bits I keep in my bathroom to give a helping hand to my skincare, to my hair removal must-haves that I quite frankly do not want to live without, here are the beauty tools that are on hand that I don’t ever want to be out of it…

MAKEUP TOOLS

I use the same brushes on repeat. A lot of them have been kindly gifted by ZOEVA*, but I’ve topped up my brush stash with my own pennies throughout the years too. By far my most used and most highly recommended brush is the ZOEVA 228 Luxe Crease Brush*, it’s basically all I use to do eyeshadow no matter the texture. The ZOEVA 104 Buffer Brush* is brilliant for foundations, the 114 Luxe Face Focus Brush* is what I use to apply concealer and the the 090 Luxe Grand Powder Brush* is the best pal for bronzers, whether it’s a cream or powder formula. I could very easily apply a whole face with just those four brushes. My other most used brush though is the Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush* which is just fab for contouring. The Surratt Eyelash Curlers* round up my makeup tool stash and are just the best ones I’ve found for hugging the lash line and creating curl with minimal tugging or pulling required – they truly are quite magical.

SHOP THE MAKEUP TOOLS EDIT*

SKINCARE TOOLS

In terms of basic skincare tools that I use every single day, I have to point you in the direction of the Emma Hardie Dual Action Cleansing Cloths* which are perfectly soft, yet lightly buffing at the same time and these Bamboo Cotton Pads* that I’ve been using for well over half a year now and work just like their cotton counterparts, washing up well too. For facial massage I do love a good ol’ roll with the Yu Ling Jade Facial Roller* which helps to de-puff and just feels nice and soothing on the skin (I’ve used other brands but I find that this one rolls the smoothest), or if you fancy taking your facial massage to the next level the White Lotus Rose Quartz Gua Sha* does the job once you get a hang of the movements. I purchased the Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectaLite FaceWare Pro* – an at-home L.E.D mask – last year and use it as often as I remember too. I’m always hasten to recommend it because it costs SO MUCH DARN MONEY and the in-salon treatments are just way more powerful, but have a read of the reviews on Cult Beauty if you’re interested in incorporating L.E.D into your life more frequently. Then finally I have to tip my hat to the Tweezerman Skincare Tool* which his basically a blackhead’s worst nightmare. Love it.

SHOP THE SKINCARE TOOLS EDIT*

BODY CARE TOOLS

I don’t use much in the way of body care tools really, just giving myself a good scrub down in the bath from time to time with one of those scratchy mitt things and occasionally using a dry body brush and thinking ‘THIS HURTS’ before stopping two seconds later. But, if you’re partial to the odd self tanning moment then invest in a proper glove with a thumb bit and thank me later. I can’t find the exact one that I have online, but this one* is similar. I’ve also used the Tweezerman Foot File for years and it’s brilliant (they no longer sell the double sided one that I have, but this one* is similar). Whilst we’re on the subject of feet, let’s talk nails. I invested in a mini at-home mani/pedi kit a few years ago and it’s still going strong; the Tweezerman Cuticle Nipper*, the Elegant Touch Push Back Tool*, the Tweezerman Scissors* and the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File* are all I use.

SHOP THE BODY CARE TOOLS EDIT*

HAIR REMOVAL TOOLS

Let’s start the top and work our way down here, shall we? For brows there is no better set of tweezers in the world than the Rubis Slanted Tweezers*. They are so sharp and precise, I never miss a hair and can even get those ones that tend to slip away. Well worth the investment in my eyes. Then for my moustache I use the Finishing Touch Flawless*; it looks like a vibrator but it actually mows down any stray hairs on any part of your body. I love it for anything on my face because I find that it never aggravates my sensitive skin around my mouth or causes things to grow back spiky. For the rest of my body I tend to just shave (using whatever razor heads are on offer – you know the deal!), but I do treat my bikini line and legs with the Braun IPL Silk Expert Pro 5*. I’ve worked with them over the years, but regardless of that I’d still be using it today as it works so well at giving a long-term solution to my strong hair-growing gene. Nice.