split image of red makeup and brushes on a white surface

Makeup Tools & Techniques

Find everything you need to know about the best makeup tools and helpful application techniques straight from the pros. Read on for tips and tricks no matter your skill level.

Elsa Hosk with bronzed, shimmery makeup and a bouncy blowout
If You’re Dealing With Makeup Fatigue, Try These 8 Tips To Refresh Your Look for Fall

Three makeup bags from Royce, Dagne Dover, and Beis, sitting on a counter with makeup products inside them
The 10 Best Makeup Bags to Keep All Your Cosmetics Organized, Byrdie-Tested

A makeup brush cleaning device and a bottle of MAC brush cleanser
Makeup Artists Agree—These Are the 12 Best Makeup Brush Cleaners for Flawless Application and Clear Skin

A collage of various airbrush makeup products
The 9 Best Airbrush Makeup Kits for Red Carpet-Worthy Glam

Derek Deng
I Enrolled in Korean Makeup School—These 5 Beauty Secrets Changed My Routine Forever

Sofia Richie on her wedding day applying a pink lip gloss
Doing Your Own Wedding Makeup? 21 Essential Tips From Makeup Artists

A woman with curly hair is holding a makeup brush
How to Properly Clean Your Makeup Brushes, According to Celebrity Makeup Artists

Open makeup bags with an array of products inside
How to Sanitize Makeup: The Expert-Approved Guide

Dove Cameron wears icy glittery eye makeup with little white flowers in her long wavy hair
13 Fairy Makeup Ideas For Ethereal Glowy Glam

Sarah Cheung applies lip gloss in mirror while wearing warm-toned makeup look and pink feathered top
New Year, New Me: Tips to Get a Beauty-Forward Fresh Start in 2026

Model putting a makeup brush on her cheek
Are Dirty Makeup Brushes Really That Bad for Your Skin?

Sydney Harper applies blush to her upper cheekbones using brush and holding Patrick Ta compact
Here’s How To Apply Blush for Your Face Shape To Achieve Sculpted Dimension

Ashley Graham with straight dark hair and brown smokey eyshadow
19 Simple Makeup Ideas for Fall, From Smudged Liner to Moody Metallics

model applying Tarte Maracuja Juicy Glow Primer
Tarte's Glowy New Primer Promises Summer Skin Year-Round

Three people with different skin types testing a variety of contour kits
The 10 Best Contour Kits for Effortless Sculpting, Per Testers

Woman with glowy makeup look and curly hairstyle
How to Apply Makeup to Dry Skin for a Hydrated, Dewy Finish

Model with short brown hair, bright red lipstick, and nude eyeliner
8 Ways to Use Nude Eyeliner, According to Makeup Artists

Three makeup brushes displayed suitable for applying eyeshadow
These Are the 10 Best Eyeshadow Brushes to Own, According to Makeup Artists

A model with slicked back hair, shimmery eyeshadow, and rose colored blush
Are You Using The Right Blush Brush? We Asked A Celebrity Makeup Artist

Actor Greta Lee with glowy, perfectly applied makeup
These Flawless Makeup Tips Will Take You From Base to Brows

A woman holding a tube of concealer against a textured background
Testers Say These Mature Skin-Friendly Concealers Deliver Radiant, Smooth, Even-Toned Skin

Two women applying eyeliner to their eyes
The 12 Best Eyeliners That Won’t Smudge or Settle Into Fine Lines—Tested by Women 35+

Assorted makeup tools: two brushes, blue lash tape, and eyelash curler
These Are the 10 Makeup Tools Everyone Needs, According to Pro MUAs

Close up of makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes with a glossy bright green eyeshadow look.
How to Pull Off Glossy Eyeshadow With Zero Creasing

A set of hands placing down a room service tray, which has loose and pressed powders along with a teapot, coffee cups, and donuts
Loose Powder vs. Pressed Powder: Makeup Experts Explain the Difference

Kate Middleton wears a radiant makeup look, updo hairstyle, pearl drop earrings, black hat, and polka-dot dress
Love Kate Middleton's Makeup? Learn How to Get Her Signature Look

Laura Harrier with a soft glam makeup look and slicked-back hairstyle
How to Apply Makeup to Downturned Eyes for a Bright, Lifted Appearance

award winning makeup products
These Are the Best Makeup Products of 2023

Byrdie writer Karla Ayala wears the Kiss My Lash But Better false lashes in style Blessed
The Kiss "My Lash But Better" False Lashes Are the Easiest Way to Get Soft Glam

Merit X Byrdie Holiday Kit
We Created a Byrdie x Merit Holiday Collection—and You're Going to Want to Shop It Right Now

The author creating and applying Twiggy makeup
How to Get Twiggy's Iconic Mod Eye Makeup From the '60s

Close up of actor Natasha Liu Bordizzo with soft glam makeup
How to Create a Soft Glam Makeup Look, According to a Makeup Artist

An open jar of cleansing balm and a muslin cloth
How to Remove Your Makeup Like a Dermatologist

Close up of drag queen Symone with thin brows and '90s-inspired makeup
How to Glue Down Your Eyebrows Like a Drag Queen

Part of a woman's face as she applies concealer under her eye
How to Set Under-Eye Concealer For a Crease-Free Finish

Steps of Perfect Red Lip Tutorial
How to Apply Red Lipstick Flawlessly: A Step-by-Step Guide

Close up of socialite Nicola Peltz Beckham wearing a blushy, glowy makeup look
The Correct Makeup Application Order, According to Makeup Artists

Close up of actor Storm Reid with a soft glam makeup look
TikTok Says to Use Setting Spray Before Blending Your Makeup—Does It Work?

Two eyes, one open one closed, each one belonging to a different person, with shimmery blue eyeshadow surrounding the eyes continuing onto cheek and face.
Your Helpful Guide to a Gender-Affirming Beauty Routine

Selena Gomez wears a bronzed, contoured makeup look with dramatic eyeshadow
Bronzer vs. Contour: Makeup Artists Explain How to Apply Both

Dua Lipa wearing bright highlighter
Dua Lipa's Makeup Artist Just Shared Her Genius "Butterfly" Highlighter Technique

makeup brushes on light green background
How Often Should You Replace Your Makeup Brushes? Here's What the Experts Say

A woman with blush draped on her cheeks
How to Apply Liquid Blush Like a Professional Makeup Artist

Sir John and Lori Harvey
Sir John Gave Us the Best Tip for a "Snatched" Sculpt on Mature Skin

woman using a makeup sponge
The Best Way to Wash Your Makeup Sponges, According to Makeup Artists

woman using powder puff on her face
How to Use a Powder Puff to Set Your Makeup Flawlessly

Pamela Anderson in the '90s
This Is Exactly How Pamela Anderson Did Her Makeup In the '90s

woman applying makeup with a sponge
How to Apply Foundation With a Sponge, Brush, or Your Fingers

how to apply blush
How to Apply Cream Blush Like a Pro

woman tapping makeup brush on powder lid
How to Apply Face Powder for a Flawless Finish

Collage of makeup organizers, including options from Parallelle, Stackers, and CalPak, on a light gray background
The 15 Best Makeup Organizers to Transform Your Vanity

kourtney kardashian face shape
How to Apply Makeup for Your Face Shape: A Guide

Person applying makeup with a rounded brush overlay of a product image showing a similar brush
The 9 Best Makeup Brushes for Seamless Application, Tested for a Month

Latina Woman with Creamy Moisturizer Swatch on her Cheekbone
How to Apply Primer For Long-Lasting Makeup, According to Makeup Artists

Assortment of body makeup bottles on a table
The 8 Best Body Makeup Products for a Real-Life Filtered Effect

Eyeliner Looks Tightline Mandy Moore
How to Tightline Your Eyes With Eyeliner, Step-by-Step

A broken palette of three eye shadows
How to Fix Broken Makeup At Home, According to Makeup Artists

hailey bieber selfie
How to Apply Concealer Correctly, According to Pro Makeup Artists

A woman with freckles sprinkled across her nose and cheeks.
11 Easy Ways to Get Fake Freckles With Makeup This Summer

A woman with winged eyeliner on top and gems lining her lower lash line
How to Apply Eyeliner Like a Professional Based on Your Eye Shape

Woman Applying Foundation with a Makeup Brush Using the 'Bake' Method
How to Bake Your Face For a Budge-Proof Makeup Look

Joan Smalls wearing glowy, bronzed makeup
How to Apply Bronzer for a Sunkissed Glow All Year Round

katie jane hughes eyeliner tutorial
How to Get Perfectly Even Winged Liner For Hooded Eyes

Sadie Stanley's profile showing smokey eye makeup and eyeliner
How to Keep Eyeliner from Smudging: 14 Tips From Makeup Artist