Beauty Tools

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan always has smart tips for making life easier. This week, Michelle tells us how to decode the differences between eye shadow brushes:

There are number of different shadow brushes out there, so how do you know which ones to choose? Depending on your desired look, different shapes and sizes of eye shadow tools will yield different effects on your eyes.

The two that are most important would have to be the fluffy brush for blending and the contour brush. But for more precision in your eye shadow application, take a look at the various types of brushes and their intended uses below:

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Large, fluffy brushes with a rounded edge are great for larger areas of shadow that is applied between the crease and brow. These brushes are good for blending different colors and for highlighting the brow bone.

Contour­ brushes are the most important! Brushes with smaller and shorter bristles are perfect for smoothing out specific areas and contouring blended colors, especially around the corners of the eyes and on the eyelids themselves.

Flat, straight-edged brushes work great when you want to contain shadow to certain areas along the crease or edge of your eyelid. Like a paintbrush, the bristles are less fluffy and more compact, which allows for better accuracy.

Flat, angled brushes are for even greater precision around the edges of the lids, creases, and corners. Since they have a tapered tip, angled brushes will help you apply detail to specific areas and can also be used for eyeliner application.

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YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan always has a new tip or two for making the world of makeup easier. This week, Michelle tells us how to choose the right mascara wand for your lash look:

Hi everyone,

Not all mascaras are created equal, and mascara wands are just as important as the actual formula inside the tube. With so many different shapes and sizes to choose from these days, it's useful to know what each wand does. From big to small and combed to curved, this Beauty School post will go over a few of the key differences in wand anatomy to help you get the most out of your mascara.

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Brush Shapes

• Straight wands: Most mascaras come with a standard straight wand. This is the basic shape and is the most natural to use.
• Curved brushes have the arc of your lashes and eye shape in mind, and are meant to give you an easy, all-over application.
• Heart-shaped brushes are a combination of the different shapes. They start out as standard brush heads, and taper in to form a narrower point at the end. This design is meant to give you precision when you need it, as well as a normal brush when you don't.
• Round mascara heads are relatively new. The small, spherical shape is supposed to allow you to reach each and every lash easier than if you were using a larger brush.

Learn more about the different bristle types when you read more.