I was watching someone (poorly) attempting to apply her make-up with the applicators that came with her drug-store compact. First of all, the compact was almost empty and the mirror inside was so dirty that I don’t know how she saw what she was doing anyway. Secondly, if she didn’t get pink-eye from the filthy applicator she was using, she will shortly.
Please, throw away the tiny applicators that come with your shadows. They’re for the novice that has no decent brushes.

Even if you like the convenience of that small size, you can buy travel brushes that are miniscule from Trish McEvoy (unfortunately, the set that I really like is only available around the Christmas holiday season. They have another set that’s bigger with more brushes now for $275.00 at Nordstrom.com)

that still have the same shaped brush on the end with a smaller handle. If you want everything all together, Trish also sells all different sized planners to travel with that you custom fill with all color products and brushes that you need.

Prices range depending on size and what you fill your planner with.

Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks