Q-Tips

Okay, you’re probably thinking, “So what, who cares what the Japanese use to clean their ear canals?” But seriously, Japanese Q-Tips are so awesome that they can substitute for eyeliner brushes. They feel different from their American counterparts, because their tips are packed a little denser and their stems are sturdier. This means they’re less fluffy and if you swipe one in an eyeshadow palette, the tip doesn’t start to pill away like American ones do. They hold pigment really well and are great when I want to get a lot of control over smudging my lash line to create a nice, smoked out eye. I can use one Japanese Q-Tip to do my makeup for both eyes and three to four wimpy American ones to do the same job. And if that endorsement isn’t enough, in an Allure beauty feature, makeup artist Dick Page mentioned Japanese Q-Tips in his ‘What’s in Your Makeup Bag’ features. Incidentally, yes, they are also great for cleaning out your ears. And they come in two colors: black and white. Get them here.