New Brushes - The Edit

After purchasing my Core Collection set from Real Techniques a while ago I haven't really felt the need to acquire any more make up brushes - but with new releases and collections coming out I thought I ought to treat myself, and my make up, to a few shiny new brushes. Here is what I chose...

First up is the Real Techniques Blush Brush, the tapered head of this makes for a flawless application, I have actually been loving this for contouring - paired with my Body Shop Honey Bronzer, the brush is the perfect size for giving the illusion of cheekbones and giving my face a subtle glow. Another pick from Real Techniques is the Angled Foundation Brush - again I don't use this brush quite as intended, nothing quite beats the Sigma F80 for buffing in my base, this angled brush however is great for under eye concealer, the bristles are nice and compact which lets you build the coverage you need for a high definition result.

Lastly I purchased the Models Own Five Piece Brush Collection which includes brushes for powder and lipstick and three brushes perfect for eyeshadow application - one for shading, one for blending an an angled brush perfect for liquid liner. This set is great for traveling as the bright neon handles are short making them easy to transport. The stand out brush from this set would definitely have to be the powder brush - I like to use this with my M.A.C Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skin Finish Powder to highlight the tops of my cheekbones and down the centre of my face.

I am also currently testing out some brushes I recently purchased on Amazon so will update you with a review on those soon so keep an eye out for that one, let's just say the set was a real bargain!

Beauty Tools - Brushes

Let's talk basics, the key to good make up application is your beauty tools, sometimes that's your fingers, think cream eyeshadows and light coverage foundation, and sometimes it is a make up brush. My small brush collection contains some real gems that have completely changed the way I apply my beauty products.

The Real Techniques Buffing Brush: When it comes to foundation, this brush is the one. It perfectly distributes your foundation in an absolutely flawless fashion, I find I need less product when using this brush, it blends so seamlessly. A must own I would say.
The Avon Double Ended Shadow Brush: I have had this brush for ages, one end is a flat rounded shadow brush and the other end is a tapered sponge, now I have always discarded this as a pretty poor brush for eyeshadow, I find it far too dense, however recently I have been using this along with my HD Brows palette to fill in my brows and it does a perfect job.
The Real Techniques Contour Brush: This makes contouring super easy, it is the perfect shape for the cheekbone and temple areas, and the brush holds just the right amount of bronzer. I find this brush does a great job at setting under eye concealer also as it is the perfect size.
The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush & Stippling Brush: I have put these two together as I use them both for blush, the Expert Face Brush is perfect for cream blush and the Stippling Brush applies powder blush really well, both deposit just the right amount of product onto the face.

What are your favourite make up brushes?

Bourjois Bronzing Primer

It's no secret that I like the sun-kissed just stepped off a plane look, so any product with bronze in the title has me from the start. When I first read about the Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer I was a tad excited to say the least and as soon as it was released I bought it. I'm a little lazy when it comes to primer but I have found myself reaching for this product a lot. It has all the qualities of other primers I have tried; it smooths out skins texture with a velvet finish, it mattifies and helps your make up stick around all day. But whereas most primers are colourless, this one gives a lovely bronzed glow to the skin. The pot it comes in makes it easy to get just the right amount of product, you really only need a little, I smooth it on with my fingers and then make sure it is all blended with my Real Techniques Expert face brush. You can wear this alone, or under foundation.

I like pairing this with the Revlon Photo Ready Foundation, I love this foundation for nights out but I find it doesn't stay around for long, but when I use it in conjunction with my primer it lasts a lot longer. The two together give a really flawless, matte finish with a lovely sun kissed glow.

Have you tried the Bronzing Primer yet?

Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer 18grams for £9.99 available here.
Revlon Photo Ready Foundation 30ml for £12.99 available here.

On The Go Make Up Essentials

You know the feeling.. You have gone to work in a hurry, overslept, or just completely forgotten to do your make up, which may be ok with you but then you realize you have a lunch date and are looking a bit worse for wear? No fear.. the back up supplies are here!

Now we don't need to go overboard here, we want something that says natural and fresh so I am starting by a good brow tidy up, for this I use the Barry M Clear Mascara and Eyebrow Definer, this is great for neatening up those face framers. Looking tired? Try the Maybelline Instant Anti Age The Eraser Eye concealer, this brightens the eye area and covers any dark circles, it also doesn't sit in any of those little fine lines. This can also be used to conceal any redness or blemishes.

The next step is a little bronzing powder and my weapon of choice is of course the Nars Laguna powder, which gives a nice natural contour and warms up the skin tone. Need a little powder to banish un-wanted shine? I turn to the Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana, I find this is very light and not at all cakey if I apply it with the Real Techniques powder brush. Finally I apply the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous for a 'my lips but better' shade.

Now you can fully enjoy that lunch date knowing you look great!

What are your touch up make up staples?

Everyday Face

Just thought I would do a little post about the make-up that makes the cut for the 'Everyday Face'. I work five days a week and don't get home until after six so long lasting make-up is a must for me. I also go the gym after work and don't want to look too done up so this is a pretty basic "no make up" look.

For my base I start with Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation in the shade natural beige, I apply this with my fingers and the Real Techniques Buffing brush for a my skin but better finish. This foundation is low to medium coverage and it is buildable. It evens out my skin tone nicely. If I am looking particularly tired then I like to use Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer which I find illuminates my under eyes and makes me look alot more human.

I like to fill my eyebrows in a little with the HD Brows palette using the shade Rich Brown, I find a stronger eyebrow look really suits me and helps to frame my face, on the lashes I just put a few slicks of the L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara to make my eyes look bigger.

For contouring I love Nars Laguna Bronzer in the hollows of my cheeks, the colour of this product is perfect for intensifying the cheekbone area, it isn't too sparkly like other bronzers I have tried either. For that fresh awake look I think blusher is a must, like Kate from gh0stparties.com I apply this to the top of my cheekbones as opposed to the apples as it suits my face shape more. For an everyday blusher I am currently using Revlon's Baby Stick Lip and Cheek Tint in the shade Pink Passion and I apply this using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

To finish off the look I use Revlon's Balm Stain Just Bitten Kissable in the colour Rendezvous which is a peachy pink with a slight sheen, this product was also featured in my top lip products post 'On The Lips'.
This look takes only a few minutes to apply and it sticks around all day.

What's your daily make-up routine?

Danielle