Real Techniques Nic's Picks

Every beauty blogger and their dog have a witness when it comes to blogging whether it be having a unhealthy amount of foundations or hundreds of lipsticks which are all varying shades of the same colour. My unhealthy obsession after bronzers and highlighters definitely has to be makeup brushes, in particular ones that are cheaper than their expensive sisters. I am forever buying makeup brushes despite probably have a few of the same brush to do the exact same job. Just before Christmas, Real Techniques released a few more brush sets to the collection which I couldn't resist treating myself to, one of which is the Nic's Picks Set which are a selection of brushes that Nic personally has chosen.

The Real Techniques Nic's Picks (£29.99) is a set of five brushes in a limited edition silver metallic design which includes three exclusive brush cuts which you cannot buy separately The brushes included in the set are the Duo-Fiber Brush, Cheek Brush, Angled Shadow Brush, Base Shadow Brush and the Eyeliner Brush. 

The Duo-Fiber Brush is one brush that will not be getting much love from me as I already have this brush from the Duo-Fiber set. It's the perfect, lightweight brush for dusting over any powder without making it look caked on or too powdery. 

The Cheek Brush is slightly tapered, more dense brush that is packed with bristles that are ideal for applying any blush or bronze. Whilst it is the perfect size for the cheeks, I personally can't apply bronzer with it as it is still too stiff despite using it and washing it multiple times. With that said, it does apply the product beautifully. 

The Angled Shadow Brush as the name suggests is quite literally an angled shadow brush which you can use to add definition on the eyes to create depth, filling in your eyebrows or for eyeliner itself. This is another brush that I haven't yet used as I don't particularly have a use for it at the moment as I haven't been experimenting with any dramatic eye looks however from the shape of it, I bet it would work okay at blending eyeshadow out.

The Base Shadow Brush is quite literally my favourite brush from the set as it's it the perfect sized brush to apply eyeshadow all over the lid, in the crease or for blending it all out. I prefer it for the latter as it just gets into the crease perfectly and applies just the right amount of colour. I really do wish that you could buy this brush separately as I would no doubt buy quite a few more of it!

The Eyeliner Brush is another self-explantory brush as the name suggests as you can use this to add definition at the lash line as well as to fill in your eyebrows. I still haven't found the perfect use yet for this brush however I bet that it would work wonders with Benefit Brow Zings to really fill in my eyebrows and make them appear thicker and fuller.

eBay Beauty Blenders

Out of everything that I buy makeup wise, beauty tools are my weakness and I have a complete arsenal of brushes and sponges to suit every aspect of applying makeup. Whether it be for a night out on the town or a natural look, I have the tools to help recreate whichever image I have in mind. With that being said, I'm finding it to be a very expensive hobby especially after recently purchasing quite a fair few of my beloved Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and being hit with an additional handling fee (the joys of ordering things from the states!) I've found myself scouring the likes of eBay to help find some new makeup sponge applicators and I've come up with a few interesting hits..

The most smallest and cutest addition of them all definitely has to be the mini beauty blender (99p+) which is the perfect size for blending in concealer under the eyes! Unlike it's bigger sister, this is the perfect size to blend in any under eye concealer as it's not bulky and will not ruin your makeup. Unfortunately, these are very hard to find dupe wise as most sellers list the bigger size as the smaller size.

The next addition is quite an usual one as it's quite literally a sponge on a stick that sellers on eBay sell as a sponge makeup blender (99p+). I will admit that it doesn't feel sturdy at all and I bet that the slightest sign of pulling will pull it off. I personally like to use this to blending in foundation on my neck to avoid those dreaded foundation marks which actually works really well to blend it all in. However, since using this I have noticed that it doesn't wash up particularly well so it's permanently stained but for the price, you can't really complain.

The latest addition is quite literally a rip off of the original beauty blender (99p+) that is actually a lot bigger when compared side to side to the original. It is also not made from the same materials as it feels a lot more like a sponge you would find it the kitchen rather than to apply your makeup with. In terms of how effective it is, I would say that is does a standard job as I use this primarily to apply my foundation before using a different sponge altogether to blend and buff it all in. As it's a bigger size, it does cover more surface area but I wouldn't necessarily go as far as seeing that this replaces my love for the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge or the original beauty blender. A search of makeup blender sponge will bring up hundreds of results, so you do have to search for quite a while until you find a trustworthy seller.

Have you come across any good eBay makeup tools?

Real Techniques Sam's Picks

REAL TECHNIQUES SAM'S PICKS* - £25 - £30

Long time readers will know that I'm a huge fan of Real Techniques especially their Buffing Brush and Miracle Complexion Makeup Sponge. I received my first brushes almost two years ago and with using them on a daily basis, they're starting to look a little worse for wear. So I was very excited to receive the Real Techniques Sam's Picks Brush Set for Christmas which I've been putting to the test over the past few months.

The Real Techniques Sam's Picks is essential a brush set containing Sam's favourite brushes. She's made sure that there is a variety of brushes and this set literally contains every brush you could need if you were just starting out. The set contains six full size brushes with one of them being a set exclusive which includes the infamous Buffing Brush, Multi-Task brush, Setting Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Fine Liner Brush and the set exclusive brush, Essential Crease Brush.

The Multi Task Brush is a large fluffy, slightly fanned out brush that has been created with the intended use being powder whether it's for blush, bronzer or setting powder. I personally like using it with bronzer as I find the unique shape of it somehow helps with contouring despite it being somewhat flat.

The Setting Brush is a small yet very well sized tapered brush which has many uses including applying powder to the under eye area, contouring and highlighting. I first started using this originally for applying powder under my eyes but have since started using it with powder highlighter as I find it applies the right amount for when I'm wanting a more highlighted look than normal.

The Buffing Brush is infamous across the blogging world for being the brush to use for foundation. It honestly makes buffing in foundation like a dream and helps to blend everything in ensuring that you have an airbrushed finish. I use this primarily for when I'm wearing Estee Lauder Double Wear by itself as I find that it helps buff everything in with ease. I also use it on occasions when I've been a little heavy handed as it prevents any cakeyness whilst not altering the finish. I'm so glad that I've now got two of these brushes as my first is looking a little beaten up.
The Pointed Foundation Brush is one of those brushes that I would deem too small to be a foundation brush unless using it to touch up the base whilst on the go as other wise the small, flat paintbrush style brush would honestly take forever to cover an entire face. I haven't yet found a use for this brush but I have heard that it's brilliant for applying concealer under the eyes or to help cover up blemishes.

The Essential Crease Brush is essentially the perfect brush for blending out any eyeshadow. As it features a tapered head, it allows for precision and control whilst being ultra soft which is very important especially when using in such a delicate area. Apparently this is very similar to MAC's 224 brush although I wouldn't know as I don't and will not ever own a MAC brush.

Finally, the last brush is the Fine Liner Brush which is a small, firm yet soft brush that really holds its shape when it comes to drawing lines of any thickness. As I much prefer using liquid liners with a felt tip style applicator, I haven't found a use for this brush yet but I'm sure this brush will be the answer to your prayers if applying liner isn't your strong point.

Whilst this brush set may seem pricey to some, it is most definitely worth it as you're getting six brushes which you can use for a wide variety of things. Whilst I haven't found uses for all the brushes and have only been using one or two on a daily basis recently, I couldn't imagine applying my makeup without these brushes especially the Multi-Task Brush! If you're a big lover of Real Techniques then I would most definitely recommend this!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge Review

REAL TECHNIQUES MIRACLE COMPLEXION SPONGE - £5.99

I've never been one for sponges and have always opted for using brushes or my fingers if I was that desperate. So when Real Techniques brought out their Miracle Complexion Sponge, I was intrigued by it despite there being a lot of love it/hate it hype surrounding it. It was only until I was having a splurge just before Christmas that I finally picked it up and have been putting it to the test ever since.

The sponge itself is designed to be used either dampo or dry to apply, blend and buff in your base. There's a domed end for all over application, flat edges and sides for larger areas and a tip to get in to all the nooks and crannies and I must admit, the shape truly does work as you can swap and move it about as you please depending on your need. The function of the sponge was a little hard to get to grips with as spreading the product is limited and the exercise of tapping/bouncing it in caused elbow ache at first whereas now I have perfected the art and can get my base down in under two minutes flat.

I've tried it with various foundations including Estee Lauder Double Wear and it works perfectly well with it albeit it looking a little caked on around the nose area which a little blending would fix in a jiffy. I've also found the best way of using the sponge is simply by spraying a little water/setting spray instead of fully submerging it in water and then start wring it out. When I first used it, I did just very that and I found that the foundation sat on my face and remained tacky for about an hour or so which wasn't very appealing whereas now when I spray a little setting spray on it, foundation blends out beautifully and sets within seconds of applying.

It's gotten to the point where I've had to buy a new one as the constant washing/rewashing of it means that there are times that I cannot use it and have to resort to using brushes again hence why the old one looks a little worse for wear and was still damp when I took the picture..

Nanshy Face Brush Set

NANSHY FACE BRUSH SET - £34.95*

Over the past few months, I've been getting more into my makeup brushes and have slowly been building up quite the collection. My all time favourite brand of brushes just has to be Real Techniques and my favourite brushes by them are the Buffing Brush and the Expert Face Brush, both of which are perfect for applying, blending and buffing in foundation. So when Liam asked me what I wanted for Christmas, it was definitely a no brainer and I asked for the Nanshy Face Brush Set which I just so happened to open up on Christmad Day.

The Nanshy Face Brush Set comprises of five full sized make up brushes, all of which can be used to apply various bases to your face in different ways. The handles are wooden, varnished and rather weighty but I've personally found them easy to hold and work with. All the bristles are synthetic which means that they're 100% cruelty-free and vegan friendly. What I like the most about these is just how soft they are! The bristles themselves are densely packed so they pick up product well. Whenever it comes to washing them, I do a double cleanse with both Johnson's Baby Shampoo and an anti-bacterial hand wash and I haven't had any shedding from the brushes.

Nanshy Flat Angled Buffer Brush

Best for mineral blushes, loose powders and bronzers.

This is the only brush that I've used a handful of times and thus I cannot say what I use it primarily for. Whenever I have used it, the angle of the brush has been brilliant for contouring and sculpting the face whilst the flat top blends it all out beautifully.

Nanshy Pointed Brush

Best for cream/liquid foundations and concealers.

This cleverly crafted pointed brush makes blending an ease especially in those difficult areas like in the corners of the eyes, around the nose and mouth. I like using this for my concealer under my eyes as the pointed yet rounded point is perfect for blending and buffing it in seamlessly.

Nanshy Angled Buffer Brush

Best for cream/liquid highlighters, bronzers and blushers.

This is just like the Round Buffer Brush except it's angled which makes applying cream and liquid products incredibly easy. I like using this with my Benefit High Beam as it blends it in so seamlessly. This would also be the perfect brush to use with cream bronzers to contour the face as the slight angle would make it easy for anybody just getting to grips with contouring.

Nanshy Round Buffer Brush

Best for liquid/cream foundations.

The round, slightly domed shape of this brush makes applying any liquid/cream base products a dream as it buffs them into the skin creating a flawless finish. I personally prefer this for buffing in foundation around my nose as it helps prevent any cakiness from appearing.

Nanshy Flat Top Buffer Brush

Best for mineral/powder/liquid/cream foundations.

This is your typical kabuki style brush which is ever so similar to the Real Techniques Buffing Brush except it's slightly more dense. I expect that this would be the brush to use if you prefer mineral/powder foundations however I find it perfect for buffing it foundation particularly on my cheeks.  

Favourite Brushes

There used to be a time when I used to apply make up with my fingers and sponges and I shudder every time I think of it as I know for a fact that I didn't wash my sponges. Nowdays, I rarily use my fingers as I have a whole variety of brushes to apply, blend, buff, bronze, highlight etc my skin. I thought I would share with you what brushes I've been loving using recently.

For my base, I tend to always apply my foudation with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. This is a flat top kabuki brush which makes applying and buffing in foundation like a dream. Whilst I do think this is a very good brush, I mainly go in afterwards with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to help finish blending in foundation in areas that I think I might have missed with the Buffing Brush. As it is so densly packed, I find that it blends in foundation so well. I like using these two together as they help make me look like I'm not wearing any foundation at all as they've both blended it in and buffed it in so well. To help set my base, I use whatever powder and the Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Face Brush and just stipple it in rather than blending it in. I find that this brush distributes powder evenly due to it being a duo-fiber brush and not so densly packed.

I always wear bronzer and I find the best brush to apply this with is the Real Techniques Blush Brush. As this brush is quite large yet slightly tapered at the end, I find this brush applies bronzer perfectly to either contour my cheeks or just apply bronzer in general. I wear highlighter without fail and the only brush I've found which applies this well is the Real Techniques Contour Brush as it's just a small-ish brush which is slightly tapered at the end. I find this doesn't pack on the highlighter no matter how much I swirl it in my highlighter as it just evenly distributes it across the top of my cheeks. Sometimes I can be a little heavy handed with my bronzer so I love using my Ecotools Powder Brush just to help blend everything in better and make it look not quite as dramatic. 

The last two brushes that I've been loving go hand in hand with eachother as I only really use them on my eyelashes and on my eyebrows. The ELF Eyelash & Brow Wand is basically a spoolie which makes combing through my lashes and brows really easy. As that brush tends to pick up foundation quite easily and leave bits of foundation in my eyebrows, I tend to go in afterwards with the Ecotools Lash Brush which helps get rid of that. This is a dual sided brush as one side has a plastic comb and the other has bristles.

What brushes do you use to apply your make up?

Japonesque Dual Sided 120 Brush

For those of you who've read what I got for my birthday, you will have noticed that I was spoilt and got two different brushes; the Limited Edition Real Techniques Brush Set from Liam and the Japonesque Dual Sided 120 Brush from Megan who I was so glad to have met in person at the #NottsBBMeet back in April.

The Japonesque Dual Sided 120 Brush is a unique dual-sided brush which has both a natural and synthetic side to it. The idea behind it is that it's perfect to both apply powders/creams/liquids to the face with the synthetic side whilst the natural side is perfect to blend it all in. Just to clear up which side is which, the cream-ish side is synthetic whilst the darker side is natural.

I've personally never got on with paint brush style foundation brushes as I find it to take forever and it never buffs in nicely so I much prefer using them with face masks. However what I like about the concept of this brush is if I were to go travelling, ideally it would do two options instead of one which means that I wouldn't have to take as many brushes.  In terms of how good it is, I would honestly say that it's not that great for applying foundation as I don't like painting on my foundation as it were as I much prefer using the RT Expert Face Brush for foundation. However, I do rather like the natural side of it for applying/blending in concealer under my eyes as it's the perfect side and density to do so. I haven't yet experienced any shedding whilst washing it which is good going in my eyes.

You can buy the Japoneseque Dual Sided 120 Brush as well as other brushes from the range from HQ Hair for a bargain price of £7.25 (at the time of publishing this!)

Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Collection

I'm sure that I'm not alone when I say that I'm a massive fan of Real Techniques brushes. They're amazing quality and at only a fraction of high-end brushes with many different brushes for many different uses. The latest addition to the Real Techniques family is the Limited Edition Duo-Fiber Collection which is to be sold for one year only. They've been in Boots stores since May 20th however I cheekily ordered them with Liam's card (Birthday present from him to me with his permission!) from America where it's practilly half price on the exchange rate even with shipping!

The Duo-Fiber set contains three brushes; the Duo-Fiber Face Brush, Duo-Fiber Contour Brush and the Duo-Fiber Eye Brush. Considering the fact that they're limited edition, they have a different colour theme when compared to the original Real Techniques Brushes. Each of the brushes in this set is a black and white colour combination which makes them stand out. Each brush has the typical Real Techniques flat ended handled which means that you can stand them up. The handles are very smooth and slick which makes applying makeup to be a breeze as there is enough grip to hold them easily and firmly.

The Duo-Fiber Face Brush is advertised as being used for lightweight application and blending of face powders or pigments. I use this to lightly powder my face with the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder as it's just the right size. The Duo-Fiber Contour Brush is advertised as being perfect for controlled contouring and sculpting of the face. I actually use this brush not for contouring but for applying highlighter to the tops of my cheek bones as it adds a natural highlight to my cheeks whilst not looking too overdone. The final brush in this collection is the Duo-Fiber Eye Brush which is to be used to add any finishing touches to the eyes. This is the only brush that I do not use out of this collection purely because I do not wear eye shadow. I'm pretty sure that it would be perfect to blend out eyeshadow in the crease however. 

As much as I love this set of brushes, I do not think that they are a necessary purchase as Real Techniques do have these very same brushes in their original collections. If you're looking into buying this limited edition set of brushes, then you can purchase them from Boots for £23.99 or iHerb for roughly £13 depending on the exchange rate.