Confronted with yet another lockdown, it becomes necessary to pick up a new hobby or to take time to learn more about yourself.

I find that this is a great time to expand your makeup skills. If you’ve ever wanted to dabble in makeup artistry or even just play around with more looks in your arsenal, now is your chance.

But don’t start without the right tools. A good makeup artist can have all the best products, but they won’t get very far if their brushes are not of good quality.

If you’re looking for a complete starter kit or to upgrade your existing tools, Beauty Scout offers the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Master Collection. The set of 24 brushes for face and eyes covers all your makeup application needs and techniques.

The collaboration features the brushes tested by YouTube beauty influencer Jaclyn Hill, a Morphe user since she started her channel. With her eye and personal experience, she made sure the brushes are made for every woman in mind and every makeup need possible.

Each brush is carefully made, depending on its use. For example, the Anything Creamy Brush is made of synthetic bristles so you can maximize your cream foundations and blushes, as it doesn’t absorb the product. The Fluffy Blender Brush is made of natural bristles, on the other hand, so it is extra soft on the skin. Added to this is how it’s a steal: It’s a $265, value but you get it for only around $165.

Now that you have the right tools, reach for a good eyeshadow from Ameera Beauty. The brand takes its name from the Arabic word for “princess.” It champions clean beauty with practices that are vegan, ethical and halal.

Its two eyeshadow palettes are Nudes and Sultana. Nudes has 12 matte and shimmer shades in an array of colors, from subtle pinks to glamorous browns and bronzes. Sultana boasts of bolder colors like reds and greens so you can play with your self-expression.

On the other hand, you can also build on your skin-care arsenal. Since the lockdown means we have to skip a few derma appointments, you can up the ante when it comes to your skin-care routine.

Light treatments

If you’re missing some light treatments, turn to the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro. It is a three-minute at-home innovation, as this medical-grade mask is lined with the most powerful anti-acne blue light allowed in DIY devices, as well as four spectra of red light.

What you get is the combination of 100 red LED lights and 62 blue LED lights that work together to smooth wrinkles, firm skin, diminish discoloration and clear acne for a beautiful, youthful complexion.

For the rest of your body, explore beyond the usual scrubs and soaps. Try something like the Hayo’U Nephrite Body Comb. This jade tool aims to bring harmony and balance into your everyday routine.

You can use this on your arms and legs morning and night to promote circulation and help ease stress or tension. It also stimulates lymphatic drainage.

What’s a complete set of new beauty skills without teaching yourself new ways to style your hair? Now is the time to find your signature look or to master pulling off salon-worthy coifs at home.

For this, I recommend a trusted and versatile tool such as the GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance 1” Styler. Whether you want to straighten your hair or create volume or curls, this one can do it all. It is a “first-of-its-kind smart straightener that predicts your hair needs, adapting to ensure the optimum styling temperature at all times for ultimate results with less breakage and more color protection.”

The design is made to work with you perfectly, with a unique wishbone hinge to ensure that the plates are precisely aligned, a 20-second heat-up time, and a heat-resistant plate guard to protect your surfaces after styling. I would say it’s a professional tool that’s also beginner-friendly. INQ

Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Master Collection and Ameera Beauty will be available at 8 Soho Boutique and on beautyscout.ph.

Dr. Dennis Gross is available at Cult Beauty. Hayo’U is at Net-A-Porter, while GHD is at Sephora.