Makeup accessories: headbands, sponges, pocket mirrors and nail kits

Makeup accessories, sorted by what they are made of

Four materials share this aisle: textile, foam, glass set in a decorated shell, and small steel tools. Material decides almost everything that matters later, from how you wash the thing to how long it lasts. Colour comes afterwards.

Textile: the headband has to stay put

The broderie anglaise, fleece-backed and bow-fronted bands keep hair off the face while you apply, remove or mask. Broderie anglaise reads as open-work and crisp; the fleece-backed version is thicker and softer; the bow sits at the front and adds a little relief. Width and stretch beat pattern on fine hair, because a narrow band travels the moment you lean over the basin.

Foam, glass and steel: three habits to pick up

Foam comes as teardrop-shaped blenders for foundation, BB cream and concealer. The point reaches the side of the nose and the inner corner; the wide end covers the cheek. Damp foam holds less product than dry foam, which is the whole trick, and that holds whether you picked fuchsia, beige or a soft aqua.

Glass turns up as small round mirrors made for a handbag, decorated on the back with a black and white kitten, a girly jewelled motif or a summer turquoise. Steel is the quiet one: the six-piece pouches for nails hold a clipper, a file, a cuticle pusher, scissors and a buffer, wrapped in a butterfly, unicorn, cat or floral case.

Colour is the last call, not the first

Once material and upkeep are settled, shade is a matter of finding the thing again. Pale pinks, white, ecru, grey, mauve, sky blue, mint and yellow run through the textiles; the sponges lean brighter. A pale band shows marks sooner, so keep a second one in rotation while the first dries.

The wider women's fashion accessories range picks up from here, from scarves through to winter gloves, if the pouch itself needs company.