Real Techniques Collector's Edition Sculpting Set Review

 I am a huge fan of Real Techniques brushes and I have spoken about them several times. I also love majority of  their new collections although I have not tried the Bold Metals Collection because I think it's too expensive. There are also various mixed reviews of the Bold Metals collection so I was a little wary of purchasing them. However, when I saw that they had launched the Collector's Edition Sculpting Set, I hot footed to Superdrug to purchase it. I am beginning to enjoy contouring/highlighting so having a practical set of brushes was all I wanted. I am really pleased that the Pixiwoo duo decided to design these lovely set of brushes which have already become so popular as you can hardly find them in store.



Packaging
It's pretty much the standard Real Techniques packaging which I quite like. This set is pink themed and I think it looks gorgeous. It has some sort of shiny finish to it which I think makes it stand out from the other regular pink themed Real Techniques brushes (the setting brush, cheek brush and stippling brush). There are three brushes in the set which include: The Setting Brush, The Sculpting Brush and The Fan Brush. They really look stunning in real life complete with white tips.


Bristles
The bristles are synthetic and cruelty-free which is standard for Real Techniques. I find that synthetic brushes seem to shed less but that's just my opinion though. The bristles are very soft and fluffy and they feel really gentle on my skin. They are really well attached to the handles so you don't get any stray hairs when they are in use. Stray hairs on my face make me very irritated.


Shedding
I have only had this for about two weeks or so but I have washed it up to 3 times already (as at the time this post is going up) and I have not experienced any shedding at all. I am not surprised because many of my Real Techniques brushes don't shed. A few from old collections do shed after I have used them for a long time as expected but it is not a common occurrence which is why I love them. 


Ease of Washing/Drying
They wash really easily which I am pleased about because the last thing anyone needs is a brush that's difficult to wash. I was a little concerned about the Sculpting Brush being difficult to wash because it is very dense but I am happy to report that it is really easy to wash. I wash them with Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Dr Bronner's Liquid Soap but the baby shampoo really gets all the makeup off. They also dry really easily although the Sculpting Brush takes longer to dry compared to the other brushes in the set. Of course, this is expected because the bristles are very dense and closely packed so I wouldn't expect less but it still dries faster than some less dense brushes in my stash




The Sculpting Brush: This was the brush that made me buy the whole collection. As mentioned earlier, I was really keen to try one of these sculpting brushes for contouring my face. I almost bought the Bold Metals version but I could not justify paying such an amount for just one brush. I am pleased to say this is a really good brush for contouring. It has a slight angle but the bristles are rounded (if that makes any sense). The unique shape makes it really easy to blend out my contour well. It is the perfect size for my cheek bone and I just really love it. This sculpting brush can also be used to apply bronzer along the perimeters of the face and temples if that's your thing. 



The Fan Brush: This was also another brush I was so close to just ordering from Ebay. I don't think I own any fan brush in my current collection. I didn't really miss having a fan brush for a long time until I started getting into contouring and highlighting. If you want a subtle highlight (which is my preferred look), a fan brush is the way to go. You can imagine how delighted I was to see that it was included in this set. As the name suggests, its bristles are fanned out to resemble a fan. I love how well made this brush is and you can tell the bristles are not going anywhere because they are well attached to the brush handle. It does not pick up a lot of product but I don't mind because I prefer a very subtle highlight. Nevertheless, I really love using it on the high points of my cheekbone and it feels lovely against my skin. I wish it was a little bit bigger though but I think a lot of people may prefer this size. I really enjoy using this and it's ever so easy to wash/dry.




The Setting Brush: I was also very delighted to see this brush in the collection. I already own an earlier version of this brush and it's definitely one of my favourite Real Techniques brushes. This is practically the same brush but I have a sneaky feeling that it is slightly fluffier than the earlier version. I have a review of this brush here if you fancy a read. The shiny pink colour is really lovely and it's useful for helping me separate how I use the two brushes. I use the earlier version of the setting brush to blend out my under eye concealer while I use the new one to set my under eye concealer with powder. The Setting brush delivers really good results for these techniques but it can also be used for concealing blemishes, blending out contours (around the nose) and even blending out eyeshadows. It's a real gem!


Cost 
I purchased the Collector Sculpting Set from Superdrug for £20.99 and it was even sold out in store when I got there. The kind sales lady had to go into the warehouse to see if they had any left and I was very lucky. This set is only exclusive to Superdrug so you can check your local one to see if it's available. Otherwise you can always buy it online. If you live in the US, I think it is available in Ulta as always. I can't think of any cons at the moment; maybe the cost. It's slightly more expensive in the UK than it is in the US and I can never understand why this is always the case.


Overall Thoughts
I am sure it is self evident that I am obsessed with these brushes. I love every single one of them and I think it is such a great collection to have especially if you are looking to up your contouring/highlighting game. All the brushes in the set are very functional to me and I use them frequently whenever I do a contour/highlight. I seriously love it and I really recommend it. Have you tried the Real Techniques Collector's Edition Sculpting Set?
*Affiliate links used, read my full disclaimer here

Must-Have Real Techniques Brushes

I am pretty sure Real Techniques Brushes are by far one of the most popular and affordable makeup brushes. I absolutely love them and I have featured them on here a couple of times. I was also lucky to be sent some brushes a little while ago (find out why here) which made me very pleased. All (but one) of the brushes featured today were purchased by me. I may feature some of the ones I received in a separate post another time. Although I have a looooot of Real Techniques brushes, I find that I reach for some of my favourites more often than the others. I bought majority of them from Boots during their 3 for 2 offer. The rest were bought in Super Drug because they sell RT brushes slightly cheaper than Boots and when they have offers, it is much better as well although their loyalty points are not the best. Anyway, I thought it would be nice to show you these must have Real Techniques (RT) brushes.

Buffing Brush (sold in the Core Collection Set for £21.99)

This was the brush that made me fall absolutely in love with Real Techniques because it changed the way I applied all my bases. The annoying thing is that it comes in the Core Collection set so if anything happened to it and you just wanted to repurchase the one, you would have to get the whole set. I have bought a few back ups (Core Collection) just because I needed the Buffing Brush. It is a dome shaped brush which s slightly flared out. It  flawlessly buffs and blends in my foundation so well that I can say hand on heart that it is one of the best I have tried (only few brushes provide the similar results). I have spoken about it here already so I won’t ramble too much.

Expert Face Brush (£9.99)

I also have a review of the Expert Face Brush over here so I would try to keep it short. I purchased the Expert Face Brush because my Buffing Brush was about to kick the bucket. I also fell in love with it as expected because it is a damn good brush. Unlike the Buffing Brush, it is slightly smaller and denser which helps apply my foundation really well. It is very easy to travel with and it can be used to blend out other makeup products like blushes and contours because it really fits into the natural contour/curves of the face. Thankfully, it is sold separately so if you don’t want to splash out on the Core Collection, this is a good one to try.

Setting Brush (sold mainly online from £6.50)

Dear Nic and Sam, thank you for realising that there was a huge gap in the beauty world for a brush that fits under the eye so well, blends and sets everything like none other. I have a full review on the blog already but I can’t help but gush about this brush. It is small, slightly dome shaped, tapered and very fluffy. It is amazing for blending concealer under the eyes and around the face (on blemishes). I also use it to add some setting powder under my eyes and everywhere else that needs it. I have even shamelessly used it to blend out my eyeshadow and it does a lovely job. I already have several backups because it is definitely one of my favourite brushes in the whole RT collection.

Powder Brush (£12.99)

The Real Techniques Powder Brush is again one of my favourite brushes because it really does its job well. I also have a full review here if you fancy a read. It is very dense but still fluffy which helps in flawlessly applying my powder. I have used it for up to a year now and it has still maintained its fluffiness unlike some powder brushes which become stiff after a few washes. Its wide surface area means my whole face is covered with a few sweeps and I always reach for this over all my other powder brushes. A cheaper alternative/dupe is the Wilko Powder Brush (review here) which is very similar to the RT one and I love both of them. The only downside is it’s quite a big brush so it’s not one that you can chuck into your makeup bag but that doesn't really matter to me.

Essential Crease Brush (sold in Sam's Pick Set £29.99)

I think this may be another exclusive brush within a set. It came in the Sam’s Picks set which I purchased from Jasmine in her blogsale and I was just so thrilled! I think this was my first eye brush from Real Techniques and I loved (and still love) everything about it. As the name implies, it is an eyeshadow crease brush that beautifully deposits and blends out eyeshadow(s) in the crease. It is quite small so it fits well into the outer V of the eyes and I love using this brush so much. If it was sold separately, I would definitely purchase a few backups.

Duo Fibre Contour Brush* (sold in the Duo Fibre Set for £23.99)

When I was putting my brushes together for this post, I was debating on what contour brush was my favourite. I have both the Duo Fibre Contour Brush and the Core Collection Contour Brush; I love them both but the prize goes to the Duo Fibre Contour Brush. The main reason I chose it over the other contour brush is simply because of the soft finish provides. I usually opt for a soft contour contour and the Duo Fibre Contour brush helps me achieve this look really easily with minimal blending. It applies my contour really soft and blends it out well for a more natural “faux” cheekbones and that’s the look I favour for an everyday face. If you prefer a more defined contour look, then the Core Collection Contour Brush is your guy. It just does not blend out my contour as flawlessly as the Duo Fibre one.



Multi Task Brush (sold in the Sam's Pick Set £29.99)
This was also in the Sam's Pick set I purchased from Jasmine and I absolutely love it. I really wish it was sold separately as it would be a perfect staple brush. As the name suggests, it is a proper multi task brush which can be used for blushes, powder, bronzer and even for light coverage foundation. I love the flared out shape and it's so fluffy. When I have limited space in my luggage (on short trips), I always pack this brush along because it can be used for various products and techniques. My favourite is to use it as a blush brush and I very much prefer it to the other Real Techniques Blusher Brush.


These are my top picks from Real Techniques and I hope you enjoyed it. I am sure you can tell I love Real Techniques Brushes and I am so lucky to have a huge collection of them. I am thinking of purchasing at least one brush from the Bold Metals Collection but they are a little pricey. I may treat myself; who knows?. I don't need any more makeup brushes though- said No Woman Ever!!! I am addicted! I am keen to know what brushes are your favourites. Have you tried any of these brushes? See you in my next post...x

*I was lucky to be sent this particular brush along with other brushes (read about it here)
Some Affiliate Links used above

Blog Anniversary Give-away- Real Techniques Core Collection (Open and International)

I am so glad to be finally hosting this giveaway. I have been crazily busy that it's unreal and I barely had time to update this little blog as you may have noticed. I wanted to do a big giveaway but I thought I may as well start with what I have with me at the moment so more people can have a chance to win when I roll out the rest of the giveaway prizes. I chose the Real Techniques Core Collection Makeup Brush Set because I think it's one of the most practical brush sets anyone can have and it has such great quality. I already have a set of this reviewed here so you can see it in action if you want.


Giveaway Rules

As always I like to keep the rules simple. All you have to do is
1. Follow my Fashstyleliv on Google Friend Connect (GFC): Link is here 
2. Follow Fashstyleliv on Bloglovin: Link is here
3. Leave a comment below telling me what makes you happy.
                     That's all....Easy, isn't it?
I would start by saying what makes me happy-A lot of things make me happy but this blog makes me really happy and that's because of you lot so a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone!!!



This Giveaway is Open Internationally (as always) and It will run from 29th April to 29th May 2014 which is a full month.  The winner be chosen through random.org and will be announced on the 30th May 2014 here on the blog. I will contact the winner  directly via email. If you are under 18, you would need to obtain permission from your Parent/Guardians if you win. That's it folks. Good luck and see you in my next post...

Real Techniques Expert Brush Review

Real Techniques Brushes are one of my favourite brushes and I received the Core Collection as a lovely gift from the BF in 2013 and I was over the moon because I wanted it for so long. I have a review here if you want a cheeky read. The buffer brush has been so used that it is quite tired now and it is at the verge of giving up but I will spare you its gruesome picture but I loved and still love it a lot. It is quite a pain that I can't purchase it on its own as it comes in a set. The other brushes are still fine so I don't see any need to buy another set which is why I settled with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush which is an all rounder. If you need to know more about the Real Techniques duo behind the brand, head over here as I have written briefly about them but the brand is the brain child of Sam and Nic who are very popular YouTubers and Makeup Artists.







Packaging
All the Real Techniques Brushes are colour coded. The Gold/Burnt Orange colour code is for Face/Foundation brushes, Pink is the colour code for Setting Brushes like blushers, etc, Purple is the code for Eye Brushes and White is for their Duo Fiber Brush sets. Thankfully, the  is one of the brushes you can buy alone which is great and it can also stand on its own on your dresser or makeup table. I like the packaging as it has picture of the Real Techniques Duo and tells you how to use the brush. The brush itself is labelled which is very handy especially if you are new to makeup.

Uses

Just like many other RT brushes, this is a multi-tasking brush as I use it for a couple of things. As the name implies, it is an expert face brush which can be used for foundation and for powder. I use it mainly for foundation because it just seems to be the perfect size to reach all parts of my face. The bristles are densely packed but they are very soft. My foundation just seems to glide across my face easily and buffed in seamlessly to give an even and flawless finish. I do find that it absorbs more product/foundation and sheers it out nicely on your face but it also means that you have to wash it regularly.

Comparison to the Real Techniques Buffing Brush

I like both brushes a lot and if they sold the buffing brush separately, I am pretty sure I would have picked it up but I am glad I picked this one to try out because it is amazing. Both of they are quite similar in their use as they are excellent with foundation and cream blushes. However, the expert face brush is smaller and has a slightly rounded brush head which I think makes application of foundation easier and more flawless. The buffer brush has a flatter and is slightly domed shape which makes it ideal for both foundation and powder in my opinion. In terms of density, the Expert face brush has more density than the buffer brush but both are equally soft and easy to use. Also, the expert face brush is slightly smaller in size and I actually prefer it that way because my hands are small anyways so they are the perfect size for me.

Shedding/Washing

As with all Real Techniques brushes, shedding is very minimal  and I have not experienced any shedding whatsoever and I don't expect to. I experienced shedding with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush after almost a year and a few months and I think that's amazing as it had been sorely used. Washing this brush is a dream and all the dirt comes off easily and it dries really fast so you can actually wash it everyday and it would be ready for use.

Cost

It set me back £9.99 in Boots and it's sad because I should have bought this during the 3 for 2 offer which Boots had for a long time. I didn't buy anything during that period and I can't believe I did not. If you live in the USA, I hear it is cheaper and it retails for about $8 or less. I guess you can also buy this online especially from Amazon which I know run some deals on the Real Techniques Brushes every now and then as well as some other online beauty stores who have offers every now and again. To be honest, for the quality you get, I think £9.99 is well worth spending on this brush because it is excellent and i love it.

Personal Thoughts

I love it and I have been using it everyday since I bought it. It makes my application of foundation really easy and makes it all so blended with minimal effort on my part. I have my eyes on a couple of brushes but I am going to wait until I snap up on a good deal. Meanwhile, I can still lust after the other brushes currently on my wish list e,g. The Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer and Powder Brushes, Real Techniques Setting Brush and Real Techniques Blusher Brush...I am coming for ya!!! See you in my next post...x

Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Review

Hi Lovelies,
I hope you all had a blissful weekend. It was really nice over here in London because the sun was out and the weather was fantastic. Londoners never joke with the sun; almost everyone was out basking in the sun or having a barbecue or a picnic. Good Times :-))

I have really looked forward to putting up this post because it is one of my favorite brush sets ever. I am sure if you are beauty lover and regularly watch beauty gurus on Youtube, you would have come across the Real Technique Brushes. There were created by Pixiwoo (Samantha Chapman) who is one of the most popular Youtube Beauty Gurus because she has fantastic makeup tutorials and a brilliant Makeup Artist. I am not sure when this brushes were launched but they seem to have been around for a little while. One of the main reasons these brushes have stolen the hearts of many makeup lovers is the fact that they are amazing, soft and have minimal shedding. Also, when a makeup artist creates a brush set/collection, I think it always turns better than the average random brush because makeup artists know what kind of brushes they would prefer and what areas are harder to reach by the average brush. 

I have been eyeing this brush set for a really long time and was waiting for it to go on sale but it never did. On my birthday, the BF surprised me with it. I was so happy because I didn't expect it at all and I thought it was such a sweet and thoughtful gift. Each time I apply my makeup, I apply it in love...hahaha, Just kidding :-). Using a brush to apply makeup gives a better flawless look. Of course, there are still some makeup products I prefer to use my hands for such as under eye concealer but my default way is to use brushes. The fingers and hands warm up many of the products and can actually ensure many makeup products look good on the face but they are rather messy so I always opt for my brushes.

The real technique brushes have a variety of brushes ranging from face brushes, eye brushes, powder brushes, etc. Some of the brushes are sold individually but many of them are sold in brush sets. The Real Techniques Core Collection, as the name implies, is really a core collection of brushes to own especially if you are a beginner and you are trying to build up your makeup stash. Let's get started on this review, shall we?

                                             The Real Techniques Core Collection
The Core collection is one of the Real Techniques' best selling brush and it consists of 4 brushes which are mainly face brushes to include the Buffing Brush (which is the bestest brush I have every used), Contour brush, Foundation Brush and Detailer Brush. The main reason I was lusting after this collection was the rave about the Buffing brush. It has been raved about on every beauty social media you can ever think about and the sad thing is, it is not sold separately. I am glad in a way it isn't because I would have missed the opportunity of testing out the other wonderful brushes included in this collection. Not all the brushes in the Core Collection can stand on their own which made it a little difficult for me to take pictures but I still tried my best to make it work. However, the individually sold brushes are all free standing.

                                                              Packaging
This always has to come first, doesn't it? I love the packaging because it is simple and realistic. It comes in a panoramic case which is a  black brush holder which can stand on its own. I think this is really practical because it serves both as a brush holder (for your dressing table and to hold the brushes after a wash) and as a travel pack.

It helps keep the brushes in place and the good thing is, there is space for other brushes as well. It is a brilliant little case and I love it. For it to stand, you need to pull the toggle behind and let it stand. Simple, practical and classy.

                                                                Texture
They are made of Taklon bristles which are synthetic therefore 100% cruelty free. They are really the softest brushes I have ever used and always remain in shape after several washes. They feel very smooth on the face and always deliver perfect flawless results. You can be assured you would get no stray hairs on your face with these brushes.

                                                                       Durability
I have had these brushes for a full seven months and they are still as good as brand new. I think I am seriously besotted with how soft they are. Some brushes appear soft when you first buy them but after a few washes, they show their true rough textures. It is not the case with the Real techniques brushes as they seem to get even softer after each wash. 

Contour brush

Talking about washing them, they are very easy to wash and they dry really fast. I think they are one of the fastest drying brushes I know. I also like the fact that they have white tips so you know when they are clean whilst washing it. Blog post here on how I wash these babies...

Contour brush

Also, I have not experienced any damage to the brushes after washing. Sometimes, some brushes get pulled out of their handles because water gets in to the glue that holds it together and loosens it from its handle. I am not sure what kind of hold/glue these brushes have but they have remained so strong and durable, it is almost unbelievable. :-)

Pointed foundation brush

                                                                      Shedding
To be honest, I have not experienced any shedding whatsoever with these brushes at all. They are the same as it was when I first used them. Also, when I apply makeup on my face with them, I don't experience any shedding or stray hairs; stray hairs from brushes make me really cross :-()

Pointed foundation brush

I have one naughty brush from another make up brush company which is also very soft but always leaves tiny pieces of stray hairs on my face while using it and it is the most off putting thing ever especially in the morning when I am dashing off to work. I am glad the Real Technique brushes don't give me any hassles at all when it comes to shedding. They are one of the few brushes i have used that have not shed. Amazing, isn't it?

                                                                 Application and Use
Due to its soft texture and unique shape, it always delivers a consistent flawless finish no matter what product and what brush I use. Sometimes, I think it helps bad foundation appear better because it evenly distributes the foundation all over the face and blends it in properly. 

Buffing brush

All the brushes have the Real Techniques logo on one side and has the name of the brush on the other end. I think the deep orange/burnt gold colour against black makes the core collection really look classy and elegant especially on my dresser. 

Contour brush

                                                                 Cost
I think this is one of the most affordable brushes with great quality. It cost £21.99 for the Core Collection which can be bought either online in their Online store or in Boots. I think they are also sold in Super Drug. In the USA, you can buy them in Ulta but it can always be bought online from  the Real Technique Online Store. Compared to many brushes out there, I think this is very affordable for the amount of brushes you get and the excellent quality the brushes have.





                                                              The Buffing Brush
This brush gives me life and it is by far one of my favourite brushes. I love it and I can understand why everyone has been raving about it. It is called a buffing brush but it should have been called "the all purpose brush" because I use this for everything.

 It is ideal for full coverage liquid foundation and mineral foundation. Its bristles are so soft and it always delivers a flawless finish. It may look small but don't underestimate its size as it works excellently and can cover a large area of the face easily.

I use mine for liquid foundation, mineral foundation, powders, setting powder and sometimes for my blush (I was not kidding when I said it's all purpose for me). It is absolutely fantastic and I take it everywhere with me. I only wished it could actually stand on its own.

                                                  The Pointed Foundation Brush
Now this is meant to be the actual brush for the liquid foundation to deliver custom coverage which I believe it can. However, I don't use it for that because it is way too small for a foundation brush and I feel it may waste my time when the Buffing Brush is waiting to be used for that purpose. 

I use this to apply my under eye concealer and also to conceal any dark blemishes on my face. It is very good for concealing due to its pointed shape; it can get into those areas the Buffing Brush can't get into such as between my nose and near my eyes. 

This is my favourite brush for applying my Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick reviewed here. It is a lovely pointy brush which can reach many narrow areas.



                                                             The Contour Brush
I love this dome shaped soft brush because it is excellent for contouring for me due to its dome shape. I know some people feel it is a bit too wide for contouring but I really don't mind because I contour really lightly and this brush is perfect for that. 

I also use this brush for my blush especially if it is a really pigmented blush as this picks up the colour very lightly and distributes it easily and evenly.

 It can also be used to apply highlighter on the face because it delivers a soft focus finish to the overall makeup.




                                                              The Detailer Brush
I did not have any particular use for this brush because the other brushes were adequate for applying makeup on my face. I think this is best for the eye area and I don't use a lot of eye shadows on a daily basis.

But, I have started falling in love with this cute brush because it is perfect for applying popping colours to my water line. I use this to apply my Illamasqua Liquid Metal (Review here) and also to create a graphic smoky eye.

It is really perfect for the really tiny areas where you just want a detailed and precise look. I think you can also use this to apply concealer to really tiny blemishes. This is also another brush that is multi-tasking. Indeed, almost all the brushes in the core collection can be used for more than one use.

                                                                        Verdict
If the BF did not buy this, I would have definitely bought it because it is easily my favourite brush set/collection. I use these brushes everyday and I love them more every single day as I mentioned they seem to get softer and better with time; it's really surprising. I give this brushes an outstanding 9/10 only because I wished these brushes were free standing and some of them could be sold separately. I love how durable, soft and flawless finish these brushes offer.

Have you tried any of the Real Technique Brushes out? I hope you enjoyed this post and see you in my next post up soon...have a fab week ahead.