CharlotteFrances: real

Earlier this month I picked up 'The Real Steal' set by Benefit. It contains a full size of They're Real! mascara, a travel size of the Push-Up Liner and a tester of They're Real! remover. These three products come in a set for just £19.50 which is an absolute bargain because its RRP is £24.

If you want to purchase this set, here are a few places you can find it:

1. Benefit

2. Look Fantastic

3. Feel Unique

They're Real! Mascara
I know I'm late on the bandwagon but this mascara is amazing! On use, it is so easy to apply adding length and volume as well as separating the lashes - everything I look for in a mascara. It stays in place all day without smudging and to top it all off it is easy to remove with regular makeup remover (I used the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water).

Would I repurchase: Yes

They're Real! Push Up Liner

I've never been able to master the art of winged eyeliner so I was excited to try this product. I had heard a mix of reviews about it so I was interested to try it for myself.

This is a gel liner but in a super handy pen form. The nib is angled and flexible but it's not easy to get the right amount of product out. Overall, I found it difficult to use and the product itself was quite dry and flaky. All in all I made a total mess of my face and had to remove it immediately. It does not come off with regular makeup remover so you definitely need to buy the 'They're Real! Remover' (a sneaky move Benefit!).

Would I repurchase: No.

They're Real! Remover
The remover worked pretty well to remove the liner from my eyes although I had to scrub it a bit, leaving my eyes quite red (a big no no).

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I hope this review is useful. Let me know what you think of the They're Real! range.

Charlie xx

Sunday, 6 April 2014

Real Techniques Brush Collection

Real Techniques brushes are very popular among the beauty community because they are amazing brushes for an excellent price. Sam and Nic Chapman are professional make-up artists and the creators of these Real Technique make-up brushes. They are the sisters behind Pixiwoo make-up tutorials which can be found here.

From Left to Right: Powder Brush, Buffing Brush, Contour Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Detailer Brush, Shading Brush, Shading Brush.

The Real Techniques Core Collection is probably the most popular out of the whole collection of brushes. These brushes are readily available in drugstores in the UK such as Superdrug and Boots retailing at £20.99. This set contains base makeup brushes; buffing brush, a contour brush, a pointed foundation brush and a detailer brush, which are perfect for beginners as well as more experienced make-up users.

Buffing Brush:

This is my favourite brush in the collection because it helps to give a flawless and natural looking finish to base make-up. I use this brush to blend in my liquid foundation.The brush is excellent as it evens out foundation without absorbing a lot of the product, unlike some brushes I have used previously for applying my foundation.

Pointed Foundation Brush:

This is actually my least favourite brush in the set because I find it too small to use all over the face in applying my foundation. When I first used this brush I found it gave a streaky finish to my foundation and therefore I much prefer using the buffing brush. I would guess this brush could be used for concealing dark under eye circles or for concealing blemishes on the face.

Detailer Brush:

This is an amazingly precise brush as it is so small. I like to use it to conceal small blemishes or redness around the nose. I also love to use this brush to give a softer finish to lipstick and to give an even finish over the lips.

Contour Brush:

As I do not contour my cheeks I like to use this brush for highlighter. It picks up just the right amount of product and glides on the areas you want to highlight. For contour/bronzer I prefer to use a larger, more fluffy brush.

This set comes in a panoramic case which is great for travelling but also doubles up as a stand for the top of your dressing table. Another good use for this case is to hold the brushes upside down to dry avoiding the glue dissolving and bristles falling out.

Powder Brush:

This large, fluffy brush evenly apply powders and mineral foundations for smooth, high-definition results. I use this with powder to set my foundation in place.

Shading Brush:

This brush applies eyeshadow perfectly. However, it does not work as well for the crease of the eye because it is not quite fluffy enough but for eyeshadow all over the lid it works a treat.

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Do you use Real Techniques Brushes? Which is your favourite? Do you have any recommendations?

Charlie xxx