Halloween night, a school play, a dress-up afternoon at home: when the face paint needs to go on fast, reach for the Mehron foam hydra sponge applicator. It earns a place in every makeup kit, from zombie faces to stage looks.

This foam sponge from Mehron is made for applying makeup, so you can work colour onto the face layer by layer. Its bright yellow colour makes it easy to spot in a crowded makeup bag. It is sold individually, so grab one for each artist in your crew.

Build your kit around it with triangular foam wedges, a barrier spray pump bottle and a Stageline flat-ended makeup brush, and every face on the guest list is covered.