Real Techniques | Makeup Brushes (Face)

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Launched in 2011 from YouTube Makeup gurus (and sisters) Samantha & Nicola Chapman, the Real Techniques® range of makeup brushes were created to merge well-crafted, functional beauty tools at a wallet-friendly price point. Made of synthetic (and thus cruelty-free) bristles that are all hand-cut, combined with sturdy aluminum handles that bear a rubberized grip on the end, this range has quickly reached cult-status from makeup artists and consumers alike and with good reason: they deliver.

Confession: I’m somewhat obsessed with makeup brushes. The following is a true excerpt:

Me: I need to go makeup brush shopping
Husband: Why? Don’t you have enough brushes already?
Me: ∗glares at him∗ No. You need more than 1 brush, you know
Husband: Why? You only have 1 face

Hysterical.

In fact, I’ve always been a bit of a beauty snob and if asked, I would always recommend getting top-tier makeup brushes over the drugstore variety (it’s a question of quality), but after having heard so much about the Real Techniques® brushes, along with their creation and frequent use by both Sam & Nic, two women in the beauty industry whose skills I highly respect, it only fuelled my curiosity to try them out for myself – having recently been sent basically the entire collection from the Canadian distributor of the brand, I have since been putting them through their paces with rigorous testing and have decided to break my reviews into a few parts, in order to be thorough.

From what I’ve seen thus far, the hype is fully justified. Read on!

Real Techniques® | Powder, Expert Face, Foundation, & Concealer Brushes

Powder Brush (CAN $12.49) | Can be used to apply all powders and even mineral foundation. The rounded head is packed with ultra-soft rounded bristles that are able to pick up an even amount of product for all over distribution. This brush has an excellent density – neither too thick nor too floppy/sparse, which makes applying face powder effortless. Can also be used for bronzer

Available at: London Drugs, Uniprix, Rexall Pharma Plus, select Familiprix, Lawton Drugs, Pharmasave

Real Techniques® | Powder Brush

Expert Face Brush (CAN $9.99) | A broad short-bristled and dense-headed brush for application and blending of cream and liquid foundation, although this multi-tasker can do so much more than that. Almost kabuki-like in feel, this brush is one I’ve seen the Chapman sisters use most consistently in their videos (and which was the brush I was most curious to try) and I can understand why they turn to it so often. The texture is ultra-soft against the skin, and this brush does an amazing job of working your foundation into the skin for a perfectly flawless finish. Can also be used to help blend/blur any demarcation lines from contouring or blush to create a seamless finish.

Available at: London Drugs, Uniprix, Rexall Pharma Plus, select Familiprix, Lawton Drugs, Pharmasave

Real Techniques® | Expert Face Brush

Foundation Brush (CAN $8.99) | A firm yet soft-bristled brush for liquid foundation application, that is angled to help you build coverage. Frequently, paddle-style foundation brushes can leave streaks upon the skin and requires some effort to smooth them out, but the density of this brush minimizes any marks, while the slanted tip is useful for getting into any nooks & crannies of the face. Can also be used with cream contouring products to help ‘map’ out proper product placement.

Available at: London Drugs, Uniprix, Rexall Pharma Plus, select Familiprix, Lawtons Drugs, Pharmasave

Real Techniques® | Foundation Brush

Concealer Brush (CAN $10.69) | Newly added to the range, this is a slightly thinner and smaller version of the Foundation Brush, with a similar angle and feel to the bristles. Made for application of liquid or cream concealers, this brush can also be used for strategic placement of liquid or cream highlighter on the high planes of the face. Even though concealer and I are NOT friends (thankfully I don’t suffer from dark circles that need camouflage, as concealers have a tendency to emphasize any fine lines under my eyes. Age…ugh), I find that this brush does an effective job of not only applying concealer, but then helping to merge it seamlessly into my foundation. One trick I’ve found (through trial & error) of making concealer actually work on me, is by using the flat part of this brush to ‘pat’ product into the skin to give a more natural finish, as opposed to the usual back & forth wiper motion that makes product settle into lines instead.

Available at: London Drugs, Uniprix, Rexall Pharma Plus, select Familiprix, Lawtons Drugs, Pharmasave

Real Techniques® | Concealer Brush

Core Collection (CAN $23.99) | This set includes 4 full-sized brushes (Buffing, Contour, Pointed Foundation and Detailer) as well as a nylon case that can convert to a stand.

Available at: Walmart, London Drugs, Uniprix, Rexall Pharma Plus, select Familiprix, Lawtons Drugs, Peoples Drug Mart, Pharmasave Value Drug Mart

Real Techniques® | Core Collection

Buffing Brush | As the name implies, this brush is meant to be used after foundation and face powder are applied, to buff the products into the skin for a seamless finish. While not as densely packed as the Expert Face Brush nor as large in diameter & length as the Powder Brush, the Buffing Brush is one of those brushes that you never knew you needed until you start using it – and then you cannot ever do without. Also excellent to help meld contour or bronzer products onto the skin.

Real Techniques® | Buffing Brush

Contour Brush | An oval brush with velvety bristles and enough flexibility to allow for ease of application, with a ‘soft’ firmness to enable placement control. This brush is narrow enough for effortless contouring application, but can just as easily be used for highlighting as well (upper cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupids bow, even decolété). I’ve also found that one of the most effective uses for this brush, is for applying face powder over concealer by using a light tapping motion to set both in place (this step minimizes the look of concealer which can sometimes collect in lines around the eyes).

Real Techniques® | Contour Brush

Pointed Foundation Brush | A flat paddle-style foundation brush with soft yet firm bristles, and a tapered tip to enable foundation application in small or tricky/curved areas of the face. The size of this brush makes it simply too small for all-over foundation application, but it is quite useful for those with tinier features or to simply ensure your product reaches all areas in an even manner (think: hairline, ears, above & between the brows). Can also do double duty as a concealer brush or for patting foundation/concealer over blemishes.

Real Techniques® | Pointed Foundation Brush

Detailer Brush | A small-headed tapered brush that can be used to apply concealer to blemishes/problem areas of the skin (its small size means you won’t be flooding the surrounding skin with excess product). Versatile for use as a lip brush, the bristles have enough rigidity for precise colour placement/lining, but are soft enough that they won’t tug on the sensitive skin of the lips.

Real Techniques® | Detailer Brush

Makeup brushes are a major passion of mine, and I continue to add to my arsenal every chance I get. Of course, the downside to having a large brush collection, is that there’s more of them to clean – but it’s a small price to pay for beauty tools that help make one’s makeup application a joy. These Real Techniques® brushes have all exceeded my expectations, and there are several that I reach for quite often: the Expert Face Brush to provide that skin-to-skin texture, the Powder Brush for quick & even face powder/bronzer application, the Contour Brush for effortless product placement, and the Buffing Brush for a flawless finishing touch. The only area I haven’t tested these brushes out yet, is in how they react to a washing (although thus far, shedding doesn’t seem to be an issue – bonus points for that), but will make sure to update with that info.

Find more information on the brand by visiting realtechniques.com