Real Techniques - Nic's Picks Make-up Brush Set - Review

Real Techniques say 

Real Techniques by Sam and Nic Chapman introduce a new essential collection featuring five must-have brushes with a limited-edition silver metallic design and three exclusive brush cuts, including everything you need to create a flawless base, enhanced eyes and the perfect finish.This set contains all the brushes you need to create a complete look,  is perfect for contouring and each brush is hand cut for precise application.

The Five Brushes

Duo powder fibre brush: for lightweight buildable application of the face or pigment
Cheek brush: impeccably tapered, dense bristles that are perfect for applying cheek colour and bronze (set exclusive)
Base shadow brush: For all over eye colour
Angled shadow brush: To create depth (set exclusive)
Eyeliner brush: Adds definition at the lash line (set exclusive)

Made with 100% ultra-plush, cruelty-free bristles that help create flawless, high-definition results in any type of light. 

My thoughts 

I was really impressed with these brushes, I was a latecomer to the benefit of using decent brushes but once I tried them, I haven't looked back. 

This set does exactly what it claims to. I have heard people rave about the Real Techniques brushes and I can see why as I want to rave about them too. Handily on the other side of each brush is written what the brush is to be used for which I find really helpful.

The powder brush is so light and soft you barely feel a thing but you know that it is covering the face evenly and leaving no tell tales brush strokes. 

The cheek brush is firm and leaves an excellent finish to powder blusher. It applies so smoothly that it looks almost like you are wearing a liquid blush rather than powder. This is one of my faves. 

The base shadow brush picks up powder beautifully to evenly impart and give complete and all over colour to the eyes. I love it. 

The angled shadow brush makes crease blending light work. 

The Eyeliner brush is stiff and sturdy for precision lash line application.

If you are looking for a set of brushes for yourself or to give as a gift you cannot go wrong with this one. 

Real Techniques - Nic's Picks Makeup Brush Set £29.99

*PR Sample

My Makeup Brushes - Powder, Bronze & Blush

Now there was a time when I just used the brush that came with my blusher ..However, the old pictures are testimony to the fact that that was clearly the wrong thing to do.  I have seen the error of my ways and seen the results of what great brushes can do and now I have quite a few brushes in my kit. Not a huge amount I will say but these do me just fine.

I have already told you about the fabulous 6 piece eye brush set from EcoTools and today I turn to the four trusty brushes that I use over and over again to powder, bronze, blush and highlight my face.

Clinique Bronzer Brush £23.50 

I bought this brush as part of my makeup kit when I was getting married and have used it pretty much daily ever since (7 years and it is still going strong). It is an all over face brush and it is incredibly soft. Perfect for applying my bronzer.

EcoTools Bamboo Blush Brush £7.99

I adore this blusher brush that I picked up in Boots about 3 years ago. It is made from sythnetic taklon and has a fabulous tapered shape and is so, so soft. It picks up product perfectly and evenly for flawless application. I love it.

*Cover FX Powder Brush £34

I use this brush to apply my contour blush. It is a fully rounded powder brush. I have used it to apply pressed and loose powder equally effectively but for now (and for the last year) I have used it just for contouring with a pressed powder. Can be used for all powder applications. Synthetic.

*Kiko Cosmetics Dark Heroine Face Brush (ltd edit) £15.90 

Annoyingly this is a ltd edit product that is no longer on sale which is a real pity as it is pretty damn perfect. This double sided brush contains on one side a kabuki style short and round/flat brush that is ideal for powders, I use it for my loose setting powder. The other side is a longer, thinner flatter, slanted style brush that is good for powder blushers and personally what I like to use it for.. is highlighting. This works a dream with my Laura Mercier Shimmer Mosaic Powder highlighter. Once again this is a synthetic brush and is beautifully soft.

*PR Samples

Denman D3 Kiss Brush

I love Denman brushes, they are such good quality at a great price. I have a very sleek black Denman paddle brush which I have had for years and it is still going strong, even down to the gold logo!

Which brings me to a new limited edition release from Denman in time for Valentine's Day. How cute is this kiss lip print?

I have been using this to help smooth and shape my hair during blow drying and it is a welcome addition to my brush collection.

Denman D3 Kiss Brush costs £7.31 from www.denmanbrush.com