How to Choose the Best Makeup Tools for Your Skin Concerns
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran in the world of makeup and beauty or are relatively new and just dipping your toes in the water, the number of makeup tools available in stores and online can be overwhelming. There are tools for makeup application, like sponges, brushes, and built-in applicators, not to mention the range of tools for helping makeup set correctly, stay on longer, and even removing it at the end of the day.
Before deciding what makeup tools you need, you’ll need to decide which skincare product you want to use for your specific skin concerns. For instance, if your skin concerns are dryness, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, dark circles, or redness from acne or irritation, you’ll want to find a product that will address these concerns and their underlying causes, while enhancing your natural beauty. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!
Here at Journ, we know not all skin is the same. There is no one-size-fits-all beauty product that will address every skin concern, so that’s why we made five! Depending on what your skin concern is, there is a makeup product and tool for you. This guide will walk you through how to decide which makeup tools and products are best for your skin concerns!
Dark Circles and Hyperpigmentation
One of the most common skin concerns is darkness and hyperpigmentation. Dark spots, dark circles, and hyperpigmentation can have a variety of causes. Dark circles are often caused by exhaustion and lack of sleep. Dark spots, or hyperpigmentation, are often caused by melanin overproduction, which results in areas of skin that are darker than the rest of your skin.
Dark circles and hyperpigmentation are common skin concerns and are usually nothing to worry about. However, if you’re trying to achieve a smooth, even skin tone, having the right makeup tools at your fingertips can make a huge difference.
Concealer is a common makeup product used to hide dark spots, but it often doesn’t get the job done adequately and can end up looking creased, cakey, and even like you’re wearing a mask. Instead, try using a color correction product. This will address the underlying skin condition and nourish the skin with vitamins and antioxidants, while also reducing the appearance of dark circles and spots.
Here are two of our corrective colors that will help minimize dark circles and hyperpigmentation for different skin types.
Light to Medium Skin Tones
If you have light to medium skin tones, try our Kauai color corrector. Made with White Lily, Kukui Nut, and Noni, it’s packed with vitamins A, E, B3, and C, antioxidants, and linoleic acid to help hydrate the skin while reducing the appearance of dark spots.
Medium to Dark Skin Tones
If you have medium to darker skin tones and want to get rid of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, consider trying our Marrakech color corrector. Carefully formulated with Sweet Almond, Carrot Seed, and Rose, this product has essential fatty acids, Beta-Carotene, and Vitamins A, B3, C, and E to hydrate skin.
Makeup Tools to Use
If you’re concerned about dark circles and hyperpigmentation, these are the best beauty products for you. But which makeup tools can you use to work best with these products? There are a few different options.
You can use your fingers and pat the product on the desired area, or you can use a concealer brush. However, the best makeup tool to use is a Beauty Blender. A Beauty Blender is a makeup sponge that helps apply the product in a patting motion without the potential for bacteria and oils from your fingers transferring to your face. Beauty blenders are also the most efficient for applying color correcting skincare products underneath your eyes and are an excellent way to achieve smooth, even application!
Beauty Blenders tend to be egg-shaped sponges, with a wide end that works well for larger areas like your cheeks and forehead, and a pointed end that’s useful for those harder to reach spots like your dark circles and the corners of your nose. Some will also have one flat side for even more versatility. Beauty Blenders aren’t the only useful makeup sponges out there, though.
You can also purchase mini versions, best for detail work around your eyes, as well as wedge-shaped sponges that are particularly useful for nose contouring. There are even silicone beauty sponges that are well-loved because they don’t soak up any of your product as you’re applying it, although you may have some difficulty using this around your eyes.
Dull or Uneven Skin Tone
Another common skin concern is dullness and uneven skin tone. If you have dull skin, you might think of your skin as lifeless, bland, or dehydrated. Uneven skin tone, on the other hand, can be due to a variety of reasons. Luckily, brightening and evening out skin is easy with our Alpenglow color correcter!
Alpenglow
Our Alpenglow color corrector is for all skin tones and helps brighten dull or sallow skin, while also helping even out skin tone. As a bonus, the Alpenglow can also help minimize the appearance of wrinkles when used over time.
Formulated with Grapefruit, Blueberry, and Daisy, this skincare product is rich in Vitamins C, E, naringin, polyphenol, and L-Arbutin to nourish skin, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even skin tone while brightening it.
Makeup Tools to Use
So, what makeup tools are best used to brighten and even out skin? We recommend using a makeup brush. Concealer brushes are an excellent makeup tool to apply a color correcting product. They are smaller than foundation brushes and are able to cover up smaller spots or larger areas of skin as well.
Sigma brushes and Morphe brushes come in various sizes, angles, and shapes, so you can choose which brush suits your makeup needs best. Generally, the ideal concealer brush will be flat and densely packed, with a slightly tapered head that allows for precision application. You can also find concealer brushes with flat heads, but these tend to be more useful for carving out cut crease eye looks and contouring than daily application of concealer or color corrector. They range in size, but a slightly larger version would be most useful when aiming to combat dullness since you have a bit more area to cover.
The Morphe E57 or the Sigma F70 are good options if you’re just starting out. Both make use of synthetic bristles, so they’re even appropriate for vegans!
Redness
Redness is a skin concern that almost everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. Redness can be caused by a variety of causes, but the most common causes are acne, acne scars, dryness, and irritation. If your primary skin concerns are redness, here are some of the best makeup tools that can help!
From Acne and Acne Scars
Acne is a common condition many adults have, and it can have a variety of causes. For instance, hormones, diet, exercise, sebum production, stress, and even genetics can lead to acne. Even after acne heals, it can sometimes leave behind stubborn acne scars that can be frustrating and difficult to get rid of. If redness from acne and acne scars are your specific skin concerns, try our Matcha color corrector.
Matcha
Our Matcha color corrector is excellent at getting rid of redness. To understand how color correctors work, think of the color wheel. Whatever color you want to get rid of, simply use the opposite color. To get rid of redness, using a green color corrector will get the job done!
Our Matcha is formulated with Hibiscus, Seaweed, and of course, Matcha. It’s rich in nutrients, such as alpha hydroxy acids, Vitamins A, B, and C, and the anti-inflammatory properties of caffeine. Together, these ingredients help to balance out sebum, dry out spots, and control breakouts while addressing the underlying problem of redness and neutralizing skin tone.
Makeup Tools to Use: If you’re considering using Matcha, try using a small concealer brush to apply it—smaller than you’d use for Alpenglow. Try Morphe’s M41 Mini Concealer brush. Simply apply an apple-seed-sized amount of Matcha on the back of your hand, warm it with your fingers, apply it to your brush, and pat it on the desired area. Make sure that you blend it out to the surrounding area. A little bit of this product goes a long way, but if you need more, you can begin the process over again to get the desired look.
Another reason that using a small concealer brush is better than using a larger makeup tool on acne is that this allows you only to apply it in certain areas and cover smaller spots. This way, you can use this to only dab products on small areas or blemish spots.
From Dry and Irritated Skin
Redness can also arise from dryness or irritated skin. Your skin can be dry or irritated for a variety of reasons. The weather can dry your skin and allergies can cause irritation. These causes can be difficult to avoid, but luckily, our Dew color corrector can help neutralize red appearance and soothe any discomfort.
Dew
Our Dew formula contains Eucalyptus, Jasmine, and Neem to calm irritation, reduce redness, hydrate skin, protect sensitive skin, and support skin’s elasticity. These ingredients work together to support skin health and address the underlying condition, while also enhancing your natural beauty and giving you an even skin tone.
Makeup Tools to Use: It’s also recommended to use a small concealer brush when applying the Dew color corrector so that you can target specific areas. You can use your fingers or a sponge if you prefer, since you’re covering a larger area. You can also pair a makeup brush with a sponge—apply the product to a specific area with your small brush to ensure that it’s exactly where you want it, but then use a sponge to buff out any harsh lines that might arise for a sheerer, smoother finish.
Using the Right Tools Makes a Big Difference
Having the right products in your beauty arsenal can make a big difference, as can having the right makeup tools. Without the right tools for application, your color corrector can be more difficult to apply and not give you the desired effect you want.
When you know how to choose the best makeup tools for your skin concerns, you’ll have everything you need to know about simplifying and perfecting your beauty routine.
Sources:
Dark circles under eyes Causes | Mayo Clinic
Acne Scars: Causes, Diagnosis, Types & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic