Real Techniques Stippling Brush Review

If there is one brand in the beauty industry that has gained a huge following in such a short amount of time and made an impact, then it is definitely Real Techniques.

Until recently I was really concerned about the tools I was using to apply my make-up, I would always buy cheap and then just replace it when it became a bit ropey. But, after stumbling across the pixiwoo channel on YouTube I took the advice of beauty guru Samantha Chapman and invested in a good quality make-up brush.

I purchased the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, created by Samantha. Her aim was to create a professional set of make-up brushes that were easy to use. And, if I may say so, Samantha did a very good job of it!

For my first purchase I decided to go for a brush that would be a good all-rounder, which is why I purchased the stippling brush. The duo-fibre brush has short bristles meaning it is good for applying foundation, powder, blusher and highlighter. The brush also contains longer bristles, this is to ensure that the product does not clump, which also means the brush will be easier to clean.

My first impressions were that this brush would not blend my foundation in properly because the bristles are so soft, but I was wrong, I can now apply my foundation in record time. The brush is quite small in size, which I like, as it means that it is good for travelling with and is easy to hold. The shortness of the brush means that you can be more accurate with your blending.

A lot of thought has been put into this product which is why I am impressed with the little details, such as the shape of the handle. The end of the handle is a lot wider, it's almost an hourglass shape, which means you can stand the brush up on its end rather than having to chuck it into your make-up bag because it would leave product on your dressing table.

I've been using the stippling brush for just over a week now and it has not shed one bristle yet, this includes being washed.

If there is one downfall then it is definitely not related to this brush but perhaps the company. The products from Real Techniques are not readily available throughout the UK and will mean you will most probably have to buy them online. I purchased mine online from Boots, other stockists include Love-Makeup, Cocktail Cosmetics, Beauty Chamber and Cloud10Beauty.

The Real Techniques Stippling Brush is a good investment, although it is £10.99, it will definitely last you a long time and give you the perfect base to your make-up, mine looked flawless!

Is there a brush you would recommend from Real Techniques?

xox

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

The majority of the time I like to try a product before I buy, however, this isn't always achievable. So, if I am unable to get my hands on a sample of a product I will do a fair bit of research, to get honest opinions of the product.

The Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation has been blogged about many times before, by people with a variety of skin types and skin problems.

I purchased this foundation after hearing about the excellent range of shades available, as I'm sure you're well aware of from my whinging in previous posts, I am very pale.

So, did it live up to my expectations?

This latest foundation from Illamasqua is marketed as being inspired by the Asian BB Cream market, promising to 'smooth, soften and condition your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage'. Unfortunately, this product failed to do that for me.

The formula is a lot thicker than many foundations on the market, but it still remains blendable. Skin base foundation works well when you warm the product up with your fingertips before spreading over your face. As you would expect with a BB Cream, this foundation is good for lazy day make-up, as there is no need for tools or brushes.

While this foundation promises to be natural looking, this was still a little too heavy for me. However, it will hide imperfections perfectly. The foundation alone, without any concealer, hid my dark circles.

The main reason that drew me to this product was the amount of shades available, there are 18 available. I was shade #02; this is the second lightest shade as was a perfect match from me. The first shade is pretty much white. For the first time ever, I can say I found my perfect shade in foundation! It's an achievement in itself.

Shade 02 in natural light

Shade 02 blended

While I wanted this foundation to be the perfect one for me, unfortunately it isn't. My skin is unbalanced; it is dry in some places while oily in others. Despite moisturising beforehand, this foundation stuck to my dry patches and left my skin flaky, dull and dry looking, it also highlighted my open pores despite using a primer. Although these flakes weren’t apparent before foundation, it did accentuate my dryness.

This foundation also didn't take too well to my oily T-zone either! The centre strip down the bridge of my nose was shiny within a couple of hours and the foundation had slipped from my t-zone by lunchtime. I had only applied this foundation about three hours earlier.

Another disappointment is the lack of SPF, while it means the foundation will photograph well, I have become a bit obsessed with protecting my skin against the sun and so this is a necessary factor to have in any foundation now.

 I would highly recommend trying this foundation before buying, if you can. This product is one that you are either going to love or hate. It's garnered some rave reviews across the internet, and I trust their opinions. I believe that you need a balanced, normal skin type to get the best and natural look from this product.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is priced at £25 and available in store at many Debenhams stores and online.

Anyone else had the same experience?

xox