Review: Real Techniques Core Collection, Powder Brush and Stippling Brush

 

Powder Brush £12.99

Contour Brush

Flat Foundation Brush

Buffing Brush

- Core Collection £21.99 - 

(also includes lip detailer)

I am sure by now pretty much everyone has heard about the Real Techniques brushes created by Sam Chapman, professional make-up artist and one half of PixiWoo. I first heard about them back in January and spent a while trying to track some down but with no luck, however in April of this year they were launched in the UK, USA and elsewhere worldwide in high street shops, so off I tottered to Boots and picked up a Stippling Brush (not pictured). My love for the brush was instant, it transformed my make-up application, from flawless foundation to cream blush and contours, it could do it all! I did not feel I desperately needed any other new brushes so I held off for a few months, however disaster struck, and let this be a warning to you all! I was washing my brushes one day when I noticed the stippling brush hairs were folding, turns out the water was too hot and the synthetic fibres essentially melted (yeah I know, how hot is my hot water?!) so sadly, my brush was no longer fit for purpose, it went to brush heaven, and I now had an excuse to re-stock!!

So a few weeks ago I finally purchased the Core Collection (buffing, contour, flat foundation and lip detailer) and the Powder Brush. I think I am in love again! I will give a quick run down on the brushes, they are cruelty free, made of synthetic fibres which makes them super easy to clean (in cool water) and they dry so quickly! They also look gorgeous, I love their orange, pink or purple metal handles with a black rubber end, also the individual brushes are self standing, if that kind of thing floats your boat. Ohh and did I forget, so reasonably priced!!

Lets start with the buffing brush, hailed by many as the ultimate foundation brush, offering the perfect flawless finish in an instant. Oh boy do I agree! This brush has literally transformed my make-up routine (I know, again!) I honestly believe this has the ability to turn even the cheapest, nastiest foundation into a beautiful, dreamy finish product. One pump on to the brush, dab about your face and then in circular motions buff it in to your skin and hey presto! Perfect skin! I would pay £21.99 alone for this brush.

The contour brush is also lovely, when I first saw it I thought it was a little small for contour however I mainly use cream products and it turns out it is brilliant for them! I use it to apply my Chanel Bronze Universal , cream blushers and I've also found it great for buffing liquid concealer under my eyes.

The flat foundation brush is, in my opinion, far too small for foundation application, but it is lovely for applying cream concealer under the eyes or cream highlighter to the cheeks. Considering this set works out at just over £5 per brush, I can cope with a random brush like this!

The lip detailer (not pictured) is a fairly standard lip brush, I like it, I use it, I probably won't write home about it, but I needed a new one so it's a welcome addition.

Finally the powder brush, ahh beautiful fluffy powder brush! This is gorgeous, probably my favourite brush I have ever owned. It is so soft and perfectly shaped for applying loose powder to the right parts of the face. It looks a little large and scary for bronzer but turns out, it is pretty good for that too! Perhaps nothing too pigmented but I am certainly enjoying using it with my Bourjois bronzer.

My apologies this is such a long post but I felt these brushes deserved it! They really are lovely, including the stippling (if you don't melt it, oops!) so go on, join that bandwagon! If you can recommend any other RT brushes I would love to hear about it.

Review: Boots Soltan Beautiful Bronze Self-Tan Lotion

As a huge fan of a healthy, year round glow, and the owner of milk bottle pale skin that refuses to tan under any circumstances, I am constantly on the look out for the perfect fake tan. I've tried many, from St. Tropez to St. Moritz, both of which have their good and bad points, St. Tropez more good points... St. Moritz more bad (but still fabulous for a night out... and it's SO cheap!) However, I recently came across the Boots Soltan range of sunless tanners, which really appealed to me, as a middle price range product with a good name behind it. So I purchased this Self-Tan Lotion for £8.99 and gave it a try!

Before I get on to the review, all I can say is EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE!!! Fake tan needs a perfect canvas to be applied to, otherwise you're going to have a tan disaster!

Anyway...

It's a thick lotion in a rather alarming shade of orange with shimmer particles... I know what you're all thinking, it sounds horrendous, BUT if you stick to the traditional tan before bed, wash off in the morning principle, then it's alright. If you like to tan in the morning I advise you keep away from this as you will be like a walking Academy Award, try the mouse version as it has no shimmer and only a warm bronzed glow to it.

Moving on from the initial alarming colour, I apply this with a tanning mitt to already moisturised skin, use something that sinks in quickly but leaves your skin soft (I like The Righteous Butter by Soap and Glory) and this means that it applies evenly and does not cling to any dry patches. As this has a colour guide, it's easy to see where you're putting it, and I find as long as you cover everywhere it does not go streaky, i.e. only missed areas will show up, over application does not matter.

As I said before, I apply this before bed, which allows it plenty of time to develop before I wash it off, but I would say it needs between 4-6 hours for the colour to appear. It ends up as a warm, light tan, it is not orangey (if you exfoliate!) and does not cling badly to elbows and knees. If you're looking for a dark tan this is not for you, it does not look so good with multiple coats. One layer, every week is perfect for a summer glow, but it will not make you look like you've had three weeks in the Caribbean. It does however have a fake-tan smell, which is often unavoidable with most products. Although more often with high end products, there are no 'smell' issues, so when using this, I find it particularly noticeable! But if you can handle that then go for it! The mouse version does not smell so I think I'll stick to that in future.

All in all, I think this is a good tanning product for the price, I like the colour that it goes and the smell disappears when it's washed off. It's easy to apply and the colour guide is ideal for beginners.

Have you used this product before? Can your recommend other tans for me to try?! Let me know in the comments below.

Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I picked the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation up when it first came out in the UK, it was reduced to £5.99 from £8.99 as an introductory offer so I thought I might as well give it a go! Boy am I glad I did! It claims to reawaken and illuminate the skin, it definitely delivers! This foundation really is superb for a 'drugstore' priced product.

I got the colour True Ivory, the second lightest shade and I've found it to be fairly neutral in tone. The colour range is not huge but the product is very blend-able so you should be able to get a colour that suits. It offers a medium coverage with a dewy finish that feels incredibly light on the skin. It also lasts quite well, I would say touch ups are only required after about 8 hours of wear. It does not cling to any dry patches on my skin and I think with an adequate primer it would be ok for slightly oily skin, probably not so good for very oily skin though.

I've heard lots of people talking about 'glitter' in this foundation, this is not something to be concerned about, there is a slight shimmer when the product is in the bottle under false light, however it is undetectable on my skin. I think it purely offers a light reflective finish, which is to be expected from a dewy finish product.

The product is not heavily scented, a little fruity like their other foundations, but nothing too noticeable. I really like the packaging, it's a step away from the plastic bottles of Rimmel's past. All in all, for just shy of £9 it's a very good buy!

Do you have any more questions? Pop them in the comments below and let me know what you thought of this foundation!