Up until a month ago, I would have fully said that I was a MAC and Sigma girl when it came to makeup brushes. I used the Sigma F80 for my foundation, the MAC 224 for concealer, the MAC 109 for contouring, MAC 187 for blush, MAC 188 for highlight and the MAC 150 brush for powder which I’ve had for four years and it’s still going strong! Â That was until I went a bit crazy at the Real Techniques stall at IMATs about a month ago now. I treated myself to all three kits that are available, plus I picked up the Stippling Brush from lovemakeup. Currently my Real Techniques collection stands at the Stippling Brush, the Core Collection, the Starter Set and the Travel Essentials Set and although I may own all three sets there are just six that I reach for on a daily basis..
The Contour Brush from the Core Collection, does exactly what it says on the tin. Although I find it a little too thin for contouring everyday, it’s great if you have a little more time to do some blending. I’ve actually found this to work really well with my Bare Minerals Well Rested to set my concealer. Now where do I even start with this next brush? The Buffing Brush from the Core Collection set is my favourite out of the bunch! I use this to buff in my foundation of choice every morning and it is seriously amaze; it blends it all in so quickly and feels so soft on the skin – it’s worth getting the Core Collection just for this. The Multi-Task Brush from the Travel Essentials Set, is the brush I use to apply my blusher every morning, although it’s also great for bronzer and powder too. Another brush that is good for foundation, but it takes a little more work is the Stippling Brush which is sold individually. This was the first brush that I got from Real Techniques and swore it was the only one for me when it came to foundation, that was until I used the Buffing Brush! I now use this brush for cream blush and it works a treat. I don’t wear eyeshadow everyday, but when I do the Base Shadow Brush, which is from the Starter Kit Set packs on colour and has very pliable bristles to blend the outer edges. Another brush from the Starter Set which is marketed as suitable for eyeshadow is the Deluxe Crease Brush, but I find works best for blending in my Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer.
Most importantly all the Real Techniques brushes are made out of Taklon bristles which are synthetic, so the brushes are 100% cruelty-free. They wash well, and I find they dry much quicker than my MAC or Sigma brushes (the F80 takes years to dry out!). Although I did have some problems with shedding with the first Stippling Brush I brought, I got in touch with lovemakeup which is where I got it from and they sent me out a replacement and I have never had problems with shedding from any of the brushes since. I think I must have got a dud one. The only other problem I have with the Real Techniques line is that I wish they were all sold separately. At the moment some are sold on their own and others in sets, and out of the three sets that I have there are only one or two brushes from each that I actually use.
If you were to buy all three sets and the stippling brush together, it would take you back about £75, but do I think it’s worth that? Definitely, yes! Like I said these are brushes that I reach for everyday, the only brush that I reach for a lot that isn’t Real Techniques is the MAC 109 for the odd bit of contouring here and there. The Real Techniques range is now available from Boots, aside from the Travel Essentials Set which can be purchased at lovemakeup.
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