Day 6: Real Techniques- Starter Brush Set

Hello

Firstly I want to apologise for missing yesterday's blog, not that there should be any excuses but my laptop ran out of battery and I didn't have a charger to hand, so instead I will be doing both yesterday and today's reviews today!

Secondly I want to let you know about a couple of ladies who I admire and look up to very much. Known collectivly as "Pixiwoo" Sam and Nic Chapman are sisters who have been making make-up demonstration video's on youtube for a number of years now and are amazing at what they do. Along with anouther couple fo lady vloggers on youtube such as "FleurDeForce" and "LisaElderidgeDotCom" they have inspired me to start this blog and to share my love of cosmetics.

So when I discovered that Sam had teamed up with "Real Techniques" to make some gorgeous make-up brushes I had to get them and try them out.  There are around 19 brushes to collect in total, including 2 sets that are available in the UK at Boots stores.


The two sets are called the Core Collection and the Starter Set, both names implying that the kits are essential, but I decided to begin with the starter set as this included the smaller brushes relating more to eye shadow which I tend to use more than the blusher and foundation brushes found in the core kit.

The kit includes 5 brushes, all with a gorgeous metallic purple finish.
The brushes are:

Duluxe crease brush - A round soft blending brush

This is one of the softest brushes I've ever owned and it works great for blending to make a gorgeous smokey eye or will also work well to add a light bit of shimmer.

Base shadow brush: Good for applying eye shadow or highlighter, but also
 works great as a blush to add concealer under the eye.

Again a very soft brush, I love the two tone bristles, they add to the sophisticated look of the brushes and allow you see just how much product you have picked up.

Accent brush: Small flat brush great for getting shadow under the eye

the side view to see the flatness.

This brush is so handy, it fits perfectly under the eye for adding colour, to a smokey eye or any other shadow design.

Pixel-point eyeliner brush

For an eyeliner brush I was expecting this to be a lot thinner. However when wet the bristles combine to make a great fine line brush, and when dry it makes a great soft smudgy liner.

Brow Brush: Stiff angled brush great for adding colour to your brows
or adding angles of liner

Over all I love these brushes, they will definitely be a staple in my everyday make-up bag. The carry case they come in is also really handy, it folds up to protect the brushes in travel but also folds down to make a great stand to hold them when your applying your make-up.

The case will fit more than just the brushes you get with the kit

It will also fold back and make the brushes easily available great for when your in a rush

These brushes are avaliable from Boots, Amazon and of course Real Techniques website, I really suggest your check them out as they are really popular and for good reason. They are soft, easy to use and beautifully made.

Let me know if you have any of these brushes already, and what you think of them. Maybe you've got the core collection or one of the other singularly packaged brushes. Let me know in the comments below.

Love

Jude xxx

Day 3: Topshop - Smokey Eye Palette in Smouldering

Hi,

Today I wanted to show you in more details the Smokey Eye Palette that I mentioned in my Haul a couple of weeks ago. 

Now being a bit of "rock chick" a smokey eye is pretty much a weekly occurance, so I am always looking for new ways and new products to jazz it up a bit, or just make it bit more interesting, without re-inventing the wheel if you know what I mean.

Well I am happy to say I am really pleased with this palette, firstly the packaging is super cute. Like all topshop cosmetics, its very simple with a matt texture which I love. it does mean that after a while the compact might start to look a bit dirty as its shows the dust more, but is still easily wipe clean so not a serious problem. The dotty pattern on the lid replicates from their nail polish lids and I like the continuity between the lines. 

This is one of 3 smokey palettes that Topshop have and I can tell you it was tough deciding between them, but in the end I went for Smouldering which while still containing typical dark smokey colours, the slight hint of red and shimmer in them caught my attention Heres the close ups:

Pale creamy colour good for highlighting

Grey/brown with slight silvery shimmer

Very dark red/black with plenty of crimson red glitter/shimmer

Black with lots of bright silver glitter/shimmer

The darker colours are very highly pigmented and will create a really dark sultry smokey eye, but I must say I was a little disappointed with the pigmentation on the pale highlighter colour, as you can see in the swatch photo below, even with a primer the highlighter is very difficult to pick up, and no matter how many photo's I took it still didn't show up. I suppose with a smokey eye a highlighter is no the important part but it seems slightly pointless in the palette if its not going to show up at all.

L-R: Black/silver, Red/black, Brown shimmer & highlighter.

Despite the paleness of the highlighter I still really like this palette. in the swatches you can't see the shimmer as well but in reality these are very shimmery and definitely make for a gorgeous evening eye look.  That effortless, slept in your make-up chic that can sometimes prove quite difficult to pull off, would be very easy with this palette.

Its not too expensive at £12 for the 4 shades, and you get a pretty large mirror in the lid too which means you can throw this in your bag for a night out and be ready for touch ups any time.

Not sure I will be rushing out to buy the other 2 colour options, but in time I can see this being a staple in my going out hand bag.

Have you tried this palette or maybe one of the other colour options? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

See you again tomorrow for day 4 of Blog-tober!

Love

Jude xxx