What was the last tool that changed your routine for the better?

So I discovered–and I’m very late to the game–that there are magnetic picking tools, which are FANTASTIC at pulling single pans out of a palette so I no longer nick 40% of my eyeshadows trying to rearrange them!

Okay, okay! I bought the Slim 25″ (it extends) telescoping magnetic grabber with pocket clip–looks like a pen!–on Amazon for $4.58.

— Christine

36 Comments

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kjh Avatar

Does the tool you speak of work on those ersatz (fake) metal pans that annoy the xxx out of you, when depotting? My box cutter’s getting dull, with all the slippage and nicks. Tools made for levering out the pan never fit. Any glue dislodging tricks/finds?

kjh Avatar

Thanks. So I still have to use the gas stove, flat iron, etc for glue softening. Sigh… anyway, I think the move is for non-glued, easily rearranged pans. More recent Viseart original size pans remove; the older ones don’t. Not wanting to wreck them (hello, very easily done department) I removed the outer case and put the whole flush base and shadows into the Adept. Tales up room, but that’s the only downside.

Amy Avatar

My tools are all at the budget end, but I got a Boots No 7 double ended complexion brush which I love above all others. The right balance of light-medium density to pick up product and light enough to blend with

Kira Avatar

Wow, there’s a tool for that! I definitely need to get one too. No new special tools, just long term appreciation for my MAC, Hakuhodo, Fenty Beauty, and Real Techniques makeup brushes. Switching to synthetic brushes for face products has been a help when it comes time to thoroughly clean my brushes and not worry too much about damaging them.

Nancy T Avatar

Now that I’ve read it ⬆️, I NEED it! I too am sick to death of leaving mini gouges in my pan only eyeshadow singles. Plus, I would now like to put my MAC Pro Pan e/s’s in one large palette so that I can immediately locate whatever shade I’m looking for instead of having to open a truckload of elf quads to find it!

My extremely well used Simple Human Mirror that I bought around a year and a half ago. It gets used every single day, even days when I don’t wear makeup. That little 10x’s mirror on the back makes tweezing so much more accurate and quicker to get done. I keep it set at a bright outdoor light setting so that my makeup never turns out too dark, always has an excellent blend and is actually the most accurate depiction of what others will see when I’m out and about.

Valerie Avatar

I love the new Suqqu foundation brush. It sold out immediately on release and I haven’t seen it back yet. It’s this short wide brush with an angled top. Synthetic. Moves the foundation quickly and flawlessly. I was quite skeptical when I first got it and didn’t even use it, preferring my old Chikuhodo and Kevin Aucoin favorites or a beauty blender on occasion.
It’s better than all that, shockingly. It spread the foundation evenly and makes it look like skin with minimal foundation necessary and minimal product loss on the brush. Both of my brushes and beauty blenders absorb a certain amount of foundation. The Suqqu brush simply does not. I’ve cut my foundation amount in half using it. If you have a foundation that you want to stretch out longer, you need this tool. And if you want a seamless coverage, even if you think you’re already getting one, it’s worth trying out.
Now I use it with the new Suqqu foundation daily so maybe it’s designed to work with that specifically. It could be average with other foundations, for all I know.
Anyway, that my new tool that smoked my other oldie-but-goodie tools.

Pami Avatar

I’m always nicking my eyeshadows with a fingernail too. I have a larger magnetic pick up tool, and a couple of months ago I saw it in the drawer and thought I’d give it a try for that and it works great except the magnet is so strong it leaves a little dent in the shadow. I don’t know why it took me years to think of that. The one you have probably works much better for moving the shadows since it’s smaller, but strong enough to remove the pans. Thanks for sharing!!!

Kayleigh Avatar

Haha Right? It’s just so much more aesthetically satisfying to not have knicks in your eyeshadow! Drives me nuts if/when I accidentally do that.

As for a recent tool I found, I got one of those heat eyelash curler things and I really love it because it’s super subtle but adds the amount of lift I’ve been wanting. It also helps blend falsies in!

Jane Avatar

rephr brushes n° 15 & 16, seriously! Blend soooooo well! I like them better than Sonia’s original I have and a little better than Wayne Goss or certain MAC’s for crease and blending. I am hoping to purchase n° 13 and perhaps 14 and that would be it.

TropicalCowgirl Avatar

I actually got one last month. My fave indie brand Cat Cosmetics had one and it was out of stock. It’s strong but if you are careful and use at the edge you should be okay.

I giggled reading all the reviews from mechanics and men imagining if this took off, invading the amazon reviews with makeup uses!

Latest tool…my fingers. I always used a brush to apply foundation. But as my skin ages and I like a more dewy look, I find applying with my fingers fives me a natural look and I can add extra coverage where needed.

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