Review | Real Techniques Stippling Brush

The Real Techniques make up brushes have been orbiting the blogging world for a while now, and ever since the lovely Samantha Chapman from Pixiwoo released them, I've wanted to get my hands on them. Before my spending ban, I popped into Boots and took advantage of their 3 for 2 offer. I bought just the one brush, but now I know I will head back for more once my spending ban is up.

I decided to purchase the Stippling brush after seeing it featured on many blogs and Youtube videos. The brush is a perfect all rounder, and can be used with liquid foundations, powder foundations, cream blushers, highlighters and setting powders.

So far I've just used it for liquid foundation and a setting powder. I found that my foundation went much further so I used less foundation and got the same coverage. It blended in so well, and looked flawless and natural, but still allowing me to have good coverage. I love it so much, it has taken over my old holy grail foundation brush from Sigma. I prefer to use a larger brush for powder, but it still provided good coverage.

 

Not only does the brush do an amazing job, it is also made of synthetic hairs and therefore 100% cruelty free. I'm actively trying to make sure that the products I purchase from now on are cruelty free (although it's quite a struggle as you never know what is and what isn't!)

I couldn't recommend the collection more, I'll definitely be getting more than one next time! The Real Techniques brushes are available in Boots.

Jess's Guide To: Washing Your Make Up Brushes

I haven't done one of these posts in a while, and they seem to be pretty popular (feel free to offer any suggestions in the comments on what I can do a 'guide to' next). Before I start this post, I'm going to admit that I am a complete fail when it comes to regularly washing my make up brushes. I find it so tedious and I leave it up until I have no possible way of using the brushes before I wash them, which I know is really bad, but it's a habit I'm slowly breaking, and I'll show you how!

If you use your make up brushes daily, ideally you should wash them once a week. Not only does it make them nicer and softer to use, it will get rid of bacteria, oils and dead skin cells in them. A lot of people may not realise that this is what is causing breakouts, not the products themselves.

Washing your make up brushes is not a difficult job, but there a few things that should be done that not everyone knows.

1. Firstly, you must use warm water, not boiling hot and not freezing cold. If the water is too hot, it may damage the brushes. Make sure you point the brush downwards so the water doesn't run into the brush handle. It may loosen the glue.

2. Then, apply brush shampoo (I use one from ELF, but there are plenty available) and massage the bristles. I would not recommend normal shampoo, but I've heard Johnson's Baby Shampoo is a great alternative as it's mild. Rinse and repeat as many times as you need until the water runs clear.

3. Gently squeeze any excess water from the brush and reshape it.

4. Lay the brush on it's side on a towel and leave to dry. If you leave your brushes to dry standing up, the water will run down, and loosen the glue. No one wants ruined brushes!

5. Make sure the brush is completely dry before using again. Depending on how dense the bristles are, it could take from a few hours to a whole day!

As I mentioned earlier, I hardly ever wash my brushes *slaps wrist* however I have started to use my ELF Daily Brush Cleaner. It's super cheap, and every day after use, I simply spray the brush and wipe it clean. Simple! :)

PS Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I'm not sure where time goes!

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