Makeup Revolution V Real Techniques - Brush Cleaning Tools

Brush cleaning day, usually Sunday, is one of those chores that I huff and puff about having to do. It is one that only I have created and therefore only right I clean the brushes. Having read some horror stories in the media about infections from dirty brushes, I have embraced this chore much more regularly than I used to, but I still dislike doing it intensely and as soon as someone invents a self-cleaning brush, the happier I will be. In the meantime, anything that I can use to make this chore a bit more exciting will capture my attention and currently there are two items that have done just that. The Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette and the Makeup Revolution Pro Cleanse Brush Tool. 

The Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette, which you can find in Superdrug for £12.99, look a bit like a soap dish, maybe that was the intention, who knows but it is beautifully bright pink so you can’t miss it and it makes the task of cleaning brushes so quick and easy it is much less of a chore. Using it is really simple, you just need to wet your brush, add some brush shampoo, whichever one you use and then rub the brush along and around the little knobbly bits a few times and you are done. Inside the dish there are some different sized knobbly bits (I am sure they have a proper name) and they are for different sized brushes, so no brush is left unclean. 

Makeup Revolution, not one to be without something funky have their Pro Cleanse Brush Tool, which again you can buy online or via Superdrug for just £4.99 and this little gadget works similarly to the Real Techniques dish. Bright purple in colour this time, it is designed to fit over your fingers this time and instead of having knobbly bits, it has groves and they work in the same way and are different sizes are different brushes. Again you need to wet your brush, apply your brush shampoo and swipe the brush backwards and forwards along the grooves, as you do so, you can see all the makeup ‘stuff’ that has been lingering on there run off into the sink and within seconds your brush is clean and ready to be left to dry.

So there you have two tools to help you clean your brushes and they both have plus points and both have minus points.  The dish for Real Techniques is pink so that is always going to be a hit, but... tend to find myself cleaning the dish as much as the brushes, given the amount of dirt and grime and stuff that comes off the brushes, I don't want it lurking in the dish when I grab my next brush, so I wipe the dish clean with an anti-bac wipe after cleaning each brush and start again. The Makeup Revolution Tool fits over your fingers and doesn't get the chance to grab onto any gubbings off the brushes, it has long since run off into the sink.  The knobbly bits for Real Techniques are brilliant and do help with the cleaning of brushes and it does speed up the job, the same for Makeup Revolution, but with Makeup Revolution, i'd have liked a few more smaller grooves for my smaller brushes please.

All in all, both tools help make the job of cleaning brushes quicker, easier, less of a chore and worthy of owning and whilst I am a fan of both, Makeup Revolution is a third of the price and is worthy of purchasing for a hassle free, faff free brush cleaning tool.

Real Techniques Bold Metals

I was lucky enough to be invited to the official launch of Real Techniques Bold Metal brushes and it took place at the beautiful five star Mondrian hotel here in London.  We were greeted with some amazing cocktails which were cleverly described and view across London not to mention, stunningly styled brushes set out around the room to touch, photograph and play with.

After the event we were handed a goody bag which is just amazing, I mean seriously stunning.  Inside the bag is this Accessorize gold leather zip top clutch bag which is beautiful. It is sleek, sophisticated and is just stunning.  Inside the clutch bag was three (wow) of the new Bold Metal Real Techniques brushes.  

As soon as I saw these popping up on Instagram and Twitter, I got quite excited by them because they look amazing an unsurprisingly they feel amazing, I'm talking real quality.  One thing I did learn at the launch is the brushes have been weighted in their design for optimal control and comfort and the brushes are engineered for perfect weight distribution when tipped toward the face for use.

So here we have the three brushes which I found inside my gold clutch bag.  Starting with the Arched Powder Brush which is number 100. Described as follows "The domed cut sweeps perfectly across the face for flawless application of pressed or loose powders".   This brush for me is perfect because I am a huge fan of powders and it works so well with my setting powder too.  Priced at £25 and is exclusively available at Boots.

The second brush is silver designed and called the Oval Shadow Brush and it is number 200.  Described as follows "The full, round shape allows for all-over lid application and seamless blending".  This brush is just so so cute, small enough to get into the corners of your eyes when blending and as you run it across your eyelids you cannot feel it.  Again this brush is available exclusively to Boots and is priced at £15.

The final brush that I have is brush number 301 and it is the Flat Contour brush and it is described as follows "A dense head creates shadows and highlights on targeted areas of the face to play up favourite features". This brush is packed with bristles and because of its design it fits perfectly with the shape of the face for contouring, or if you are looking for that flawless foundation look, you can also use this brush for buffing and it is just so so soft.  Again available exclusively to Boots, this brush is priced at £22.

I am a huge fan of Real Techniques Brushes and they have featured on my brush on quite a few occasions, I carry the Kabuki Brush around with me in my travel make-up bag along with the travel set and I love them because they are just so easy to use and so good at the job they have been designed to do.  These brushes have far out-weighed my expectations, which as you might have guessed was set pretty high.  

I have read so much about these brushes and to have three of the seven in my grasp is amazing and I just love them.  You can read more about the brushes or purchase them HERE via Boots and if you are one of those people who have debating whether or not to buy them, just do it, honestly they are brilliant.  I have my eye on the Triangle Foundation brush which is brush 101 and it looks amazing.

Have you tried the Bold Metal Brushes yet? 
Do you have your eye on any?

My Real Techniques Brushes Collection

I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques brushes, I have quite a few and am always looking to add to my collection. My fascination began with the powder brush which I was given for my birthday a few years ago, but then consequently lost on holiday and was truly gutted because it was one of my staple items. Anyway, for the purpose of this post, I have washed all of my brushed (except the Kabuki one oops) and put them back in their original packaging - note to self, I need somewhere or something to store my brushes in.

Today my collection has grown quite a bit and it includes the following:

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush - This is the best Kabuki brush that I have ever owned and I absolutely love the fact that it is retractable because it means it is easy to fit into your handbag, make-up bag, overnight bag or whatever and the bristles remain protected because the lid, which is very secure. protects them.

The Real Techniques Core Collection - I bought this after realising I had lost my powder brush because there was a discount offer online which was too good to miss. The collection includes 4 brushes which are detailer brush, pointed foundation brush, buffing brush and contour brush and out of the 4, the buffing brush is the one I use the most.

Sam's Picks - This is a set I got for Christmas from a good friend of mine and again it is a fantastic kit which includes:

- Multi-Task Brush: for effortless application of powder, blush and bronzer
- Buffing Brush: ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation
- Essential Crease Brush: soft, tapered design for effortless contouring
- Setting Brush: complete any look with a controlled dusting of powder or highlighter
- Pointed Foundation brush: use with liquid foundation to build custom coverage
- Fine Liner Brush: ultimate tool for precision application of liquid or cream eyeliner

The final kit that I own is one I bought for my holiday because I didn't want to carry more than I needed (famous last words) and it is this Little Mini Trio of brushes set, which I also have in my work make-up bag. Inside this handy little carrying pouch there is:

- Mini Foundation Brush: use with liquid foundation or concealer to touch up throughout the day.
- Mini Shading Brush: transform your eye shadow on-the-go from day natural to night glam.
- Mini Face Brush: effortlessly apply powder, blush and bronzer as needed during the day.

As you might have noticed, I never did replace my beloved Powder Brush, it is always something I had planned on doing but never did and I actually don't know why that is. This mini foundation brush is actually really good, not as good as the properly sized version, but it does a good job and is especially useful for carrying around, taking on holiday and so on. From this kit, it is possibly the most used brush.  

I now have my eyes on Nic's picks because I love the look of the Duo Fibre Powder brush and the Cheek Brush.

Do you have any Real Techniques Brushes? Do you have a favourite?

Real Techniques and W7 In The Buff Giveaway!

Just a few weeks ago this happened:

Literally was so happy because to me that is ALOT of people... add to that 2500 of you follow me on Twitter, my instragram numbers are growing as is everything else my blog is linked to.  So, I decided to run a competition to thank everyone who reads it and in doing so, have bought with my own money, two products that I am absolutely loving right now

Real Techniques are a brand bloggers love and I have until recently always sat on the fence about them until I got this actual kit.  It is the on location travel essentials and comprises of an Essential Foundation Brush, a Multi-task Brush and a Domes Shadow Brush - all of which are totally fantastic and I have a review coming of them soon.

Then we have the W7 In The Buff Natural Nudes Eye Colour Palette which again is superb and is mentioned on my blog as a bargain purchase I got somewhere.  Since I bought it, I have used it alot, obviously I am not giving you my Palette, I have bought two and it looks something like this:

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is complete the rafflecopter.

Terms and Conditions

If you are under 18, please ensure you have parental permission to enter as you'll have to provide me with your address details should you win. 

This competition is worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter and emailed, with the winners name printed on the Rafflecopter widget once announced, all of this will happen withing 24 hours of the competition closing. All entries will be verified, with any false, incomplete or duplicate entries being removed from the giveaway entirely.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway