Cosmetics-obsessed vloggers, like Tanya Burr and Zoe Sugg, have taken the world by storm with their step-by-step YouTube make-up tutorials - inspiring us all to get a bit more adventurous with our beauty routines.

But pulling off a perfectly blended smoky eye, or cheating your way to sharp cheekbones with clever contouring, requires more than just a fingertip smudge here and there.

It's all about the brushes, but with such a bogging array available, where to begin?

From bloggers to brands and everything in between, this definitive A to Z guide is here to help...

A - Angled approach. The slanted handle of the Laura Mercier Angled Eyeliner Brush, £16 (www.selfridges.com), allows easy and precise eyeliner application.

B - Best for blusher. The Bobbi Brown Blush Brush, £35 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk) is soft, sturdy and perfectly shaped for buffing on blusher.

C - Contouring masterclass. Look for a mid-sized head with a pointed tip, like Charlotte Tilbury's Powder & Sculpt Brush, £35 (www.charlottetilbury.com), if you're after Kim Kardashian-style cheekbones.

D - Disguise blemishes effectively with a densely packed short-bristled brush, like the Body Shop Lipstick & Concealer Brush, £9 (www.thebodyshop.co.uk).

E - Expand eyelashes by combing through with a lash comb. Metal teeth are best - they're less likely to break.

F - Flawless foundation can only be achieved with a flat brush like the Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush, £32 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk). Dampen with water first to stop the bristles absorbing the product.

G - Goss, as in professional make-up artist turned vlogger Wayne Goss, has more than two million subscribers to his channel (www.youtube.com/gossmakeupartist). His expert videos describe how to make the most of your face shape and features.

H - Highlight the tops of cheekbones using probably the most misunderstood of all make-up tools, the fan brush, so designed to allow a fine dusting of powder to a narrow area.

I - Incredibly expensive is one way to describe the Suqqu Face Brush, made with super-soft squirrel hair, which costs £168 (www.selfridges.com).

J - Japan, specifically the region of Kumano, is famed as the place where make-up brushes - including Wayne Goss' own collection - have been hand-crafted for the last 200 years.

K - Kabuki brushes also originated in Japan, where they were used to apply make-up by actors in the traditional Kabuki theatre. Try the Lola Brocha Kabuki Brush, £19 (www.marksandspencer.com), for perfect powder application.

L - Look for a round-tipped lip brush that comes with a cover to protect it (and the rest of your products) in your make-up bag, like the Illamasqua Lip Brush With Cover, £18.50 (www.illamasqua.com).

M - Mini brush sets are a great space-saver when travelling, and you can pick them up for less than a tenner. Limited Collection Mini Brush Set, £8.50 (www.marksandspencer.com).

N - Natural isn't always best, especially if you want to avoid animal products. EcoTools brushes, available at Boots, are cruelty-free because they use synthetic hair with bamboo and recycled aluminium handles.

O - One drop at a time is all it takes with the BareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush, £24 (www.bareminerals.co.uk), designed with an indent in the bristles. Pump foundation into the head then buff on to your face, building coverage with each drop.

P - Plastic replaces hair on the Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush, £5.99 (www.boots.com), allowing for smooth straight lines. Get practising your cat-eye flick.

Q - Queen of YouTube, Zoe Sugg, aka superstar vlogger Zoella, is so popular she's soon to be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds. Nearly eight million followers tune in to watch the 'self-confessed beauty junkie' in chatty tutorials, showing off the results of her regular shopping sprees (www.zoella.co.uk).

R - Real Techniques is the brush brand beloved of vloggers and fans alike, not least because it was created by vlogging sisters Sam and Nicola Chapman. The latest kit to hit the shelves is the Real Techniques Collectors Edition Sculpting Set, £20.99 (www.superdrug.com).

S - Stippling brushes are a must if you suffer from acne or scarring. Dip into your foundation or concealer and dot onto your skin (rather than painting in strokes), for an airbrushed finish.

T - Tightlining is a favourite YouTuber technique, where you apply eyeliner right in between the upper lashes. Grab the MAC 212 Flat Definer Brush, £19 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk) and watch Wayne Goss' 'How to: apply eyeliner like a pro' and have a go.

U - Under-eye concealing requires a different technique to blemish disguising. Choose a small, tapered brush like the Clinique Concealer Brush, £14 (www.clinique.co.uk) to ensure even coverage.

V - Value for money can certainly be found with the Models Own brush range. A 5 Piece Brush Set will set you back just £9.99 (www.modelsownit.com).

W - Washing brushes regular gets rid of product residue and bacteria which can cause spots. If you use your brushes daily, they should be rinsed weekly with cleaning solution like Clinique Make-up Brush Cleanser, £13 (www.clinique.co.uk), and left to dry thoroughly.

X - is for Pixiwoo (OK, we cheated with the alphabet system there a little), where sisters Sam and Nicola recreate celebrity make-up looks for their nearly two million followers at www.youtube.com/pixiwoo.

Y - YouTubers' most-used brush has got to be the MAC 266 Small Angle Brush, £16.50 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk), the essential utensil for dramatic eyeliner and shadow application.

Z - Zoeva is a relatively new player on the beauty scene but the brush brand has quickly become a major hit with the vlogger crowd. The range offers more than 50 tools, including some vegan brushes ( www.beautybay.com).

TRIED AND TESTED

Our testers go in search of smooth, shiny locks with three new hair oils.

:: Avon Supreme Oil Duo Treatment 100ml, £6.50 (www.avonshop.co.uk)

"I've used oils before and they can make my fine hair limp and greasy, but this one was light and I didn't have to worry about how much I used. It gave my locks a good shine and still left it with body. Great value too."

5/5

:: Keratin Revolution Argan Oil Illuminate, £19.99, available in salons nationwide

"A luscious, light Argan oil that not only smoothed my hair but also gave it a lovely shine. It's a bit more pricey than I'd usually pay, but I only needed one pump of product for my long hair and I loved the delicate scent."

3/5

:: Liz Earle Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil, £17.25 (www.lizearle.com)

"I've been using Moroccan oil for years and didn't think anything could better it, but this blend of natural oils is heavenly, creating a noticeable shine on my bleached (and therefore very parched) hair and leaving smooth and soft"

4/5

BUY IT NOW

Serum, SPF and foundation - that's three steps in your morning routine, right? Well, not any more, thanks to Bobbi Brown's latest innovation. Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF40, £39, combines skin-soothing properties, sun protection and make-up in one, without sacrificing quality at any stage (www.bobbibrown.co.uk).

BEAUTY BULLETIN

:: BENEFITS FOR EVERYONE

Throughout May, eyebrow specialists Benefit will donate the profits of all brow shaping appointments to charities Refuge and Look Good Feel Better, plus every customer who has a shape will take home a free full-size Gimme Brow Gel. Appointments start from £11.50; find your nearest location at www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk.

STEAL OF THE WEEK

If you haven't yet discovered the wonder that is Micellar water, the gentle but powerful make-up remover, here's a cheap - and lazy - way to try it. Superdrug's new Micellar Facial Cleansing Wipes are infused with the solution and they're £1.29 for a pack of 25. Grab some and say goodbye to waking up with panda eyes (www.superdrug.com).