Building a small tool kit that you will actually use
Most drawers hold far more tools than anyone uses. A deliberately short kit gets used more, gets cleaned more, and costs less.
Start from your routine, not the shelf
Write down what you genuinely do most mornings. If that is moisturiser and sunscreen, you need a roller and nothing else. If it is a full base, you need blending tools.
Buying for the routine you have is the difference between a kit that gets used and one that gets photographed.
One tool per job
A sponge for base, one large brush for powder, one blending brush for eyes, one roller or stone. Four items covers a great deal.
Doubling up only makes sense when the second one is genuinely different — a gua sha stone next to a roller, not a second roller.
Consumables versus keepers
Sponges are consumables and should be bought in multiples. Brushes, rollers and devices are keepers and justify spending more once.
Getting this the wrong way round — one expensive sponge, a drawer of cheap brushes — is the most common mistake.
Cleaning has to be easy
If cleaning the kit takes more than a couple of minutes, it will not happen. Keep a solid cleanser next to the tools rather than in a cupboard.
A kit small enough to wash in one go is a kit that stays clean.
Where to spend and where not to
Spend on the tool that touches your face longest — usually the foundation tool. Save on the ones used briefly or occasionally.
Clips, puffs and applicators are cheap for a reason and there is no advantage in a premium version.
Travel
A small kit travels without a case. That is a real advantage: fewer items, dried properly, wrapped in a clean cloth.
Anything that must be zipped away damp will not survive the trip well.
Reviewing it twice a year
Twice a year, take everything out and be honest about what has not been touched. Those items are not going to start being used.
A kit that shrinks over time is a kit that fits you.
What it costs
Across the 19 items currently listed, prices run from $3.79 to $349.00, with the middle of the range around $7.98. That spread is worth knowing before you start comparing, because the cheapest and dearest options here are usually not the same kind of product at all.
Shipping is a flat $4.99 per order and free once the order reaches $39.00, which is set out in full on the Shipping Policy page.
Questions that come up with this
Do you sell the same range online as in the shop?
The online shelf is a selected part of the counter — the tools we restock most often. If you saw something on 8th Avenue that is not listed, call +1 212-969-0030 and we will check the shelf for you.
How long does an order take to arrive?
Orders leave within one to two business days. Delivery inside the United States is typically another two to five business days depending on the address.
What does shipping cost?
A flat $4.25 per order, and nothing at all once the basket reaches $32.00.
The FAQ page covers the rest.
Four products that show the range
The least expensive way in: DESKEMAI 2-Piece Silicone Face Mask Applicator Set – Pink & Blue Wands at $3.79. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A step up from the basics: e.l.f. Clean Queen Solid Brush & Sponge Cleanser for Face & Eye Makeup Tools at $6.00. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A middle-of-the-range option: DANGSHAN 24K Golden Pulse T-Shape Facial Massager for Face Tightening & Lifting at $11.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
The most substantial option: upLift 5 Anti-Aging Nano-Pulse Device for Face & Neck Contouring, White at $349.00. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
Where this sits in the shop
Eve Beauty Source groups its range into 6 sections, so it is usually quicker to start from the group than to scroll the whole shop. These are the ones with stock on the shelf right now:
- Sponges and Blenders — 5 items
- Facial Devices — 4 items
- Facial Tools — 4 items
- Makeup Brushes — 3 items
- Brush Care — 2 items
- Shaving and Dermaplaning — 1 item
If none of those is obviously right, the full shop lists everything on one page.
Coming in instead
Eve Beauty Source is at 778 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036, open Mon–Sat: 10:00 AM–9:00 PM · Sun: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM. If you would rather look at something before buying it, call +1 212-969-0030 and we will put it aside for you.
Anything already ordered can be followed on the order tracking page.
Related reading
Other pieces in this journal that cover neighbouring ground:
- How to wash a makeup sponge so it actually lasts
- Jade, stainless steel or ice: which facial roller suits you
- Dermaplaning at home: what these razors are and are not
- What a 36-piece brush set is really for
The full journal index lists everything we have written so far.
In short
Most drawers hold far more tools than anyone uses. A deliberately short kit gets used more, gets cleaned more, and costs less. If you want to talk it through rather than read about it, +1 212-969-0030 reaches the shop during opening hours, and the contact page has everything else.