Sonia G.’s Builder Three is a newer go-to, and for me, it replaces the functionality of MAC’s 239 for me, which has long been one of my most versatile brushes as I could get away with doing an entire look using just that brush. The same is true with the Builder Three–it’s just particularly good at blending and is a softer, smoother brush.
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I’m not so good with multi-tasking. I have very specific tastes and distinct application preferences for pretty much everything in my routine.
Gosh, I can’t think of anything I use makeup-wise for more than one thing 🙁 I’m going to have to keep an eye on this post for suggestions, lol!
Besame sells an eye brush that looks similar to this one; I bought it on a whim a couple weeks ago and I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the quality! And just like the Sonia G, I could definitely get away with doing an entire look with just that one brush!
Not a brush or tool, but Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea, Vol. III. The shadows in that palette work fantastically as brow powders and highlight (in addition to just being great eyeshadows). One of the very few palettes I’ve hit pan on.
I pretty much use products as they’re intended, but lately I’ve been using NYX Proof It Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer very, very sparingly (or else it will be visible) along my lip line to keep lipstick from feathering.
In term of brushes it’s definitely the MAC 127, works great for crease work, packing color on the lid, even under eyes or lining (if pinched), or face highlighter.
In terms of make-up a good contouring powder is a good multi-tasker, works great for both cheeks and eyes.
Corrected, MAC 217, not 127 (the face brush) 😆
I also have the 239, it’s a great brush, but it’s not as versatile as the 217. I can pack eyeshadow well with the blending 217, but I cannot blend well with the packing 239.
Real techniques buffing brush – I can use this for anything and then the nudestix multiple in sunkissed. On my skintone (NC30 with gold/olive undertones) it just works on my eyelids, cheeks and lips. Makes me look polished so quickly.
Talking about Real techniques, they definitely have great multi-taskers.
The Sculpting brush is great for contour, bronzer, blush, even powder (setting the face). But I have also used it as a buffing foundation brush (with liquid and cream formulas) and it works amazing. Some might be able to use it well with concealer as well.
The Setting brush is another great multi-taskers. Except applying concealer and than setting it with powder, it’s great for highlighter, or for bronzer and blush on small faces, or even face eyeshadow (very diffused crease shadows).
Now I think I should of mentioned these instead of my initial comment. 😀
The Naked Basics Palette. I can use it for eyeshadow, eyeliner, brows, contour, and highlighter. I even bought a back up, which I almost never do.
Rachel that’s exactly what I was going to say! Plus I love how compact it is and great for travel. It’s such a workhorse, I can’t believe they discontinued it!
I saw 4 of them at Home Goods just yesterday for less than half the original cost.
Thanks, Donya. I think I’ve seen them on Hautelook, too. It’s a good time to grab a back-up or two.
Thanks Donya! I didn’t even know Home Goods carried cosmetics!
I know! Stupid of them, I think.
To be perfectly honest, I haven’t any idea at all! Everything I own has a purpose, maybe two, and that’s the limit. Only thing I can even remotely say is a “multi-tasker” is perhaps that very old pot of L’Oreal Infallible Continuous Cocoa? IDK? I use it as my brow powder, and when necessary, to hide my gray hair growth when I’m in that 5th week of awkwardly in between hair.
Urban Decay Naked Basics (the first one) is a great minimalist travel palette. Not only for shadow, I can sculpt my face and fill in brows. Good for when I don’t want to bring each individual powder product.
It is not that I use it in different ways but mostly that I use it for so much, does that make sense? No, I don’t think it does! Anyway, it would be MAC Fix +. I use it after primer and before foundation to add another layer of moisture. I use it on my beauty blender to help adhere any baby fuzz to make my foundation smoother. Of course, I use it on my brush to improve adhesion of eye shadows and to foil any shimmer shadows. I use it at the end to make my makeup and skin meld together and I will use it during the day to freshen my makeup and to cool my skin if I feel that it is inflamed. It is my all around go to product.
Nudestix Nudies Matte All Over multi stick in Bare Back, for my skin tone I use it instead of bronzer to put color back in my face, I use it for blush, and I can use it on my eyes.
I have a couple of products that are multitaskers for me:
Nude by Nature’s Primer works well as an eyeshadow primer
Real Techniques fluffy brush, which can be used to do a whole eye look
Aquaphor.
Even my beloved Bite agave lip mask can’t soothe my lips when they are the most chapped like Aquaphor can. Use it on my cuticles. Also use it around my nail beds when I’m painting my nails. Helps really stubborn dry spots or irritated spots on my skin anywhere. Helps tame my brows when I go too long between waxing and they need to be trimmed down. Works as a dewy “highlighter”. Use it where I’m going to apply perfume to help it last longer. Put just the tiniest dab on my fingertips to help tame static flyaway hair from wearing hats in the winter.
Otherwise, I generally am not a fan of multitasking make-up purposely designed that way. They tend to be a jack of all trades, master of none. I do get a lot of play out of Benefit Hoola or MAC Cosmic Force blush for when I need a brown shade…anywhere really and don’t want to carry multiple products.
Those are some great tips Lucie! I’ve used it on my cuticles, but never thought of some of your other applications.
I love my ecotools bronzer brush not only to apply bronzer very fine but also for blush or to go all over face and dust things evenly. Also some pink highliters I can use as blush in a rush. The Physicians Formula shimmer strips which I really like as an example I can use as contour (which I hardly bother with anymore anyhow), blush, highliter and using the bronze also on eyes. Avon has the shimmer strips also I’d like to try them both shades since I liked the Physians Formula so much I did get both shades but they are very similar.
For me it’s Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmering Brick. It’s awesome as a bronzer, it can be also used as a blush, and I love it as an eyeshadow. Also it is a pretty highlighter if you have a small enough brush to just touch one stripe. I’ve bought it in TJ Maxx, so it was half price and I’m more than happy with it
I got Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Unstoppable in a holiday giftset years ago and worried that, since it’s very peachy, it might not work on my fair, cool skin. It actually looks great and pairs well with many different lipstick. I guess it’s a peach with just enough of a pink/red undertone to it to work with my skintone?
My makeup eraser! When it’s dry I use it to clean off eyeshadow fallout without removing my concealer. That or Dawn dish soap to clean my brushes, Beautyblender, and the containers I keep them all in.
I have two: Viseart Neutral Matte Eyeshadow Palette and my Smith Cosmetics 253 brush. Mixing the top row of Viseart shades gives me a great powder spot concealer when I’m in a rush or trying to pack light. I could do almost an entire eye look (color laydown, line, buff edges) with the 253 – it’s such a great shape for my smaller lids. (The Sonia G. Builder Pro is a close second in terms of multitasking brushes, but it can’t quite line the same way the 253 can.) I can’t wait until the Builder Three is back in stock so I can purchase!