The Brush Report #1 | Real Techniques Expert Face Brush Review

I actually got this brush about 8 months ago after falling out of love with the MAC Foundation Brush and Dual Fibre Brush. I really couldn't get a streak free finish I expected and the hairs often fall out, especially after making my eyes bleed with the price tag. Are they made from unicorn hair? Answers on a post card.

So after hearing a so many other bloggers bang on their key boards about it and it costing a pocket friendly £9.99 I picked a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush up from Boots and headed off home to try it. I have also written a review on the Real Techniques Stippling Brush (here)

 What they say: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - Look pixel-perfect even in harsh light. The synthetic fibres are ultra plush and 100% cruelty free. Ultra firm for the application and blending of cream or liquid foundation.

What I say: What I noticed from the first use is that it doesn't suck up products like so many other brushes, a little foundation went a really long way; great if your foundation cost the amount of a small house. The most annoying thing about brushes are when the black hair fall out and get stuck to my face. I spend ages trying to get them off without wiping stripes into my foundation. With this brush I am happy to report all of the hairs stayed firmly in there for a good eight months, which is amazing really. I definitely agree with them saying it is ultra firm; sometimes it makes my arm ache because I'm buffing with such little movement from the brush. The finish the Expert Face Brush gives to the foundation is actually astounding for something that costs less than a tenner! I guarantee no streaking!  I can't ever imagine not using this brush and just wish things like this had been around when I was an awkward fifteen year old applying my make up with a piece of kitchen sponge!

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, £9.99

What brushes do you love?

Stay beautiful

xoxo

Faking a Bone Structure | Sleek Makeup Face Form Contouring Palette

I blame my lack of bone structure for the fact I am asked for ID when I am buying paracetamol or alcohol. I have quite a round baby face, which many say I will appreciate when I am older, but for now it is annoying. I am a 25 year old woman with the face of a teenager. So in my hunt to chisel my features I asked fellow bloggers on Twitter (@pixipicks) to recommend a contouring pallete to help. There was one product that stood out and was the top of all of their lists, Sleek Makeup Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette. I popped off to Superdrug to see what all the fuss was about.

Blusher

Highlighter 

Contour Powder

Contour Powder / Highlighter / Blusher

No Contouring

What they say: With multi-tasking elements such a contour powder, highlighter and blusher in one neat compact designed to suit all skin tones.

What I say: The idea of having all three products in one neat compact is genius. The matte brown powder is perfect for creating shadow in the hollows of the cheeks. The best way to find the hollows of the cheeks is to make a fish face and suck them in.

Run the contour powder from the ear down to the hollow of the cheek and blend. I like to use the Real Techniques Contour Brush. The blush is a nice shade, but it isn’t very heavily pigmented so you need to build colour. I’m not keen on the shimmer in the blush; I think it would have been better to have a matte colour as there is the highlighter that can be added afterwards. It is a little too much shimmer to add them both. I use the highlighter down the ridge of my nose, chin and forehead. 

Before Blending

After Contouring (This photo looks edited but it's really not)

I really like that it is s easy to use and is small enough to carry around. Also the price is pretty damn good!

Sleek Makeup Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette, RRP £9.99

Rant or Rave?

RAVE

Stay Beautiful

xoxo

(Purchased product)

Review: Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I love using brushes to apply my make up, there is something about applying make up with my fingers that just doesn't work for me. Friends often pointed that my foundation was not blended properly, so In desperation I invested in some brushes and haven't looked back. There has been so much hype in the blogosphere regarding the Real Techniques brush sets. As a disciple of the MAC brush cult I was fairly dubious that anything could break my love, especially one's so reasonably priced.

Real Techniques is the brain child of make up artist and blogger Samantha Chapman and a lot of bloggers have really raved about two of the brushes in particular, Expert Face Brush and the Stippling Brush. I am going to review these separately as well as the brush collection in later posts.

What they say:This dual fiber stippling brush is our trade secret for creating air brushed high definition coverage with all make up types

What I say: I pop a little of my favourite tinted moisturiser onto the back of my hand and gently press the fibres into the liquid. The fibers are super soft and the handle is a great length making it really easy to buff the foundation into the skin using small, circular strokes. The surface of the brush is very small, so my arm started to ache after a while, but the result is worth it. I wouldn't recommend the using the brush if you are short of time but it is perfect if you want to look airbrushed for a night out. The Stippling Brush is better for light coverage, so I prefer to use it on good skin days. I finish the skin with powder using another Real Techniques brush, a review to follow.

I loved this brush while I was in America and it was too hot to wear foundation. It is the perfect brush for tinted moisturisers, BB or CC creams.

Tip: make sure your skin is well moisturised; the brush really pushes the makeup into all the cracks and flakey skin really shows up.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush, RRP £11.99, available in Boots and Superdrug

Stay beautiful
xoxo