e.l.f. Discovery

The Ultimate Guide to Makeup Tool and Product Pairings

By Emma Izquierdo

WHY THE RIGHT TOOLS MATTER

Let’s face it: choosing the right makeup tools can be tricky—and we know the struggle. With endless choices, from makeup brushes and sponges to applicators, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Oftentimes it can seem like every tool has a different purpose, and it’s not always obvious which one is best for you. Plus, not all brushes or tools are created equal—differences in bristle type, density, and shape can significantly impact the application and totally change up the result.

Finding the perfect tools also involves trial and error; a tool that works great for someone else may not necessarily work for you, making the process feel even more complicated. It’s crucial to know when to use a specific makeup brush versus a sponge or your fingers, and this varies based on the type of product you're using. The wrong tool can leave your makeup looking patchy or cakey instead of flawless. Basically what we’re saying is: navigating the sea of makeup tools can definitely be a challenge!

If you’re on the hunt for new makeup tools and application techniques, quality matters, but so does how well the brush or sponge plays with the product itself. We decided to take the guesswork out of finding the right brushes and tools and make them to specifically compliment different holy grail products within the e.l.f. Family. Ready to find the tool and brush BFFs? Let’s get into it.

Camo Concealer Sponge + Camo Concealer

Meet our Camo Concealer Sponge, our go-to makeup sponge thoughtfully designed to pair with—you guessed it—Hydrating Camo Concealer and 16-Hour Camo Full Coverage Concealer.

We love this ultra soft, egg-shaped sponge because it’s molded from latex-free foam and features dual-pointed ends so that it perfectly fits into all of the hard-to-reach areas of the face, allowing for seamless, cake-free application. It blends flawlessly, maintains its shape, but it’s also buoyant and flexible for getting into small creases. To use it, just slightly dampen the sponge in clean water, then squeeze out any excess water and apply your concealer, then use the sponge to blend and bounce to perfection!

Halo Glow Powder Puffs + Setting Powder

Puff your way to perfect set makeup with our beloved Halo Glow Powder Puffs. We designed our powder puffs in two different sizes—one for all over application and one for smaller, more precise application—yet both go the distance in helping makeup set and stay all day. These puff power players are made to be paired with our best selling Halo Glow Setting Powder. The Halo Glow Pinkie Puffs are our favorite for applying loose and pressed powders to all of those hard to reach crevices of your face; think inner corners of eyes, around your nose, and your cupid’s bow.

This set of three ultra-soft beauty powder puffs are finger-sized and teardrop-shaped for easy application and spot coverage without caking. The Halo Glow Powder Puff is our soft, reusable powder puff designed to expertly apply our powders into a flawless finish. Similar to our mini pinkie puffs, the teardrop triangle shape is designed to fit into all contours of the face for an expertly smooth application. Plus, it’s reusable and machine washable!

Brow Lift Applicator + Brow Lift

Meet the brow tool to end all other brow tools: The Brow Lift Applicator! Our dual-ended applicator and spoolie tool helps to groom and lift your eyebrows into a fluffy, feathered, soap-brow look. Ideal for applying our Brow Lift gel , the extreme hold eyebrow gel that nails a soap brow look.

This two-in-one brow game changer features a flat applicator to effortlessly pick up and apply eyebrow wax, gel, or soap, plus a spoolie on the other end to tame and shape brows into that beautifully groomed, feathered finish. To get the soap brows look, slightly bend the spoolie of your Brow Lift Applicator, then dip it into the Brow Lift gel. Brush the spoolie upwards through your brows for a fluffy, lifted look. Use the spatula end to flatten brows into a laminated look that stays put!

Putty Blush Brush + Putty Blush

A creamy, putty blush deserves a perfectly tapered Putty Blush Brush! Our tapered blush brush plays well with all putty and cream-based formulas, but it’s especially ideal for applying Putty Cream Blush , our seamless and blendable cream-based formula that gives a radiant flush of color.

The tapered blush brush glides through our Putty Blush for precise application and blending, creating an air-brushed effect and a natural flush that will last all day. Its duo fibers help create a diffused look or can be easily built up for a more dramatic pop of color.

Putty Bronzer Brush + Putty Bronzer

Similar to our Putty Blush Brush and Putty Blush, except it’s the sun-kissed, back-from-vacation version. Our Putty Bronzer Brush is a perfect match for our creamy Putty Bronzer, thanks to its angled, semi-stiff bristles that deliver a flawless contouring application every time.

This makeup brush is designed to pick up and distribute the perfect amount of bronzer and helps to make contouring and highlighting a breeze, allowing the unique formula to melt seamlessly into skin. Our Glamour Beauty award-winning Putty Bronzer has a putty-to-powder texture that effortlessly blends and blurs into skin for a bronzy glow with a smooth, semi-matte finish. We love that this bronzing brush plays well with its lightweight formula, letting you build an all-over warm bronze or just a hint of contour and flush of color.

Putty Primer Brush & Applicator + Poreless Putty Primer

Primer fans, this one’s for you. The BFF to our Poreless Putty Primer, the Putty Primer Brush and Applicator is our dual-ended makeup spatula and buffing brush for an easy, hands-free Putty Primer application. How does it work? Take the spatula end and scoop out a small amount of putty primer.

Apply the face primer it to your skin, then use the dense bristle brush side to blend and buff out the primer (or bronzer or blush!) onto your face. Already obsessed with our Putty Collection? Then the Putty Brush and Tool Trio is a must for your makeup bag. This triple threat of three makeup brushes are all made to pair with our putty products—putty primer, blush, and bronzer—and make for seamless application and control no matter what type of look you’re going for!

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