Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette

Everyone's coming out with an easier way to clean your brushes lately! I'm a fan of Real Techniques because they have good quality stuff, but are also reasonably priced. The new Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette retails for $19.99 CAD, and contains 3 different patterns on the palette (for optimal brush cleaning?)..

The palette comes with a sample pack of their new Brush Cleansing Gel as well.

The back of the palette has a slit for your hand so it's easy to hold.

I don't know why but after trying the palette a few times it just wasn't meeting my expectations. I think maybe it's due to the fact that it's completely silicone, it had a hard time cleaning my 'heavier stained' brushes. My liquid foundation brushes just weren't getting cleaned, the foundation was getting stuck onto the silicone and was getting put back onto my brush. A little bit of a pain in the butt. I used the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel (which smells awesome btw), I also tried it with 2 alternative soaps and got similar results.

It did a much better job of cleaning my brushes that I use with powder products. But I don't think it's a good investment if you're trying to clean foundation brushes with this (like I had intended).

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Overall, I think this is the first Real Techniques product I've tried that I don't really like. I'm kind of on the fence about it. The concept is sooo good and I really wanted to like it, but I wanted it solely for my foundation brushes and it doesn't do a great job of cleaning them (as mentioned above). I think it works well for brushes that only have powder residue on them (eyeshadow brushes, blush, bronzer, highlighter brushes, etc).

If you want to put it to the test, you can find the Deep Brush Cleansing Palette online at FarleyCo and the link will also show you other locations where the product is available. It can also be found at select Rexall Pharma Plus, and select London Drugs. I believe I've also spotted it on Amazon.

Press sample received for consideration

Real Techniques Nic's Picks Brush Set Review

I'm super obsessed with Real Techniques brushes, I have what I think is a bit of a wide collection and I use at least a few every day. When I saw the new limited edition Nic's Picks set I was in awe.. the metallic handles are gorgeous... but basically I just get excited over any new Real Techniques brushes. Anything to keep my mind off their expensive Bold Metals collection that I can't afford..

There are 5 brushes in the set.. I'll start with my least favourite, the Duo Fiber Face Brush. Probably the only brush in the set that won't really get used. I already have the Duo Fiber Set and this brush is identical to the Duo Fiber Face Brush in that set but slightly smaller. They recommend this brush for powder or pigments but I prefer to use my Real Techniques Powder Brush, so I don't really have a use for this brush other than applying a cream blush, or achieving a natural look from a product that is too pigmented.

The Cheek Brush (Exclusive) is one of my favourites and one of the reasons I wanted this brush set. It's ideal for blush across the cheekbones but I can also use it for bronzer, or even as a setting powder brush. It does need to be used with a light hand because the brush is so dense.  

The Angled Shadow Brush (Exclusive) is a fluffy brush designed for applying eyeshadow in the crease. It might be a little too big for some, but I find it works best for applying a slightly darker shade in the crease (sparingly) and just blending. You can create a super fast smokey eye with this too, as it applies the colour softly and thick across the crease, and then the rest requires minimal blending. If you don't have a lot of eyelid space, this brush might not be ideal for the crease. 

Out of the 3 eye brushes, the Base Shadow Brush is my favourite. I find myself using it for everything; applying colour to the lid, applying colour above the lid and in the crease, and blending. It really is a very versatile eye brush and I have been using it every single day. 

And last but not least, the Eyeliner Brush (Exclusive) is a stiff brush with an angled tip for control along the lash line. Personally, I prefer a different type of brush to use with liner so I use this with my Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade for my brows, but I can also use it with any powdered brow product.

All the Real Techniques Brushes are made of synthetic bristles, they are super soft and I can vouch for them lasting quite a while since I've had my other RT brushes for what I believe, is years now. You can find the Real Techniques Nic's Picks set on iHerb, in Canada at London Drugs, in the US at Ulta, and worldwide on LookFantastic. The price is not set, and seems to be vary from $30-40 CAD. 

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection Review

Lately, there has been a lot of hype around Real Techniques and their new Bold Metals Collection, which features a set of new individually sold brushes with a higher, more luxurious price point that aren't even available in Canada yet. But here I am still reviewing this old collection... (heh, kidding, it's not old)! 

The Duo Fiber Collection actually came out sometime in summer of 2013, however, it was marketed as a limited edition set. In 2014 it was decided that the set was going to be a permanent addition to the line of brushes. The Duo Fiber is definitely the most unique collection to be added to the Real Techniques brush lineup because of the 2 different synthetic fibers in these brushes. This set doesn't come with a brush holder/travel case like some of the other Real Techniques sets do.

The fibers are quite visible, as you can see there are shorter, denser black bristles, in between the sparse white bristles. And yes, these brushes are designed to be used with powders or with cream products.

There are only three brushes in the lineup, but you don't really need any more than that. These three are very versatile and are:

Duo-Fiber Face Brush

Duo-Fiber Contour Brush 

Duo-Fiber Eye Brush

In terms of how to use these brushes, I was a bit confused at first, but I've pretty much got it now after having tested them out.

The Duo Fiber Face Brush is designed to be used with powder products such as a setting powder, compact powder makeup, mineral powders, and even blushes. I found it great to apply a setting powder, or to highlight the cheekbones. It works well for anything you don't want to apply too much of, basically. I wouldn't suggest it for blush unless it is a very pigmented blush, because it will be difficult to pick up product.

The Duo Fiber Contour Brush is designed to be used with contour products, such as a bronzer, contour or blush. I love using it with my Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow to contour the cheeks, it works well with a powder bronzer like The Balm Bahama Mama. 

The Duo Fiber Eye Brush is designed to be used to add a bit of colour in the crease of the eyelid. I found the brush a bit scratchy and have better, softer brushes to use for the crease of my lids. So I use this brush to lightly contour the nose with the same Illamasqua Cream Pigment or a bronzer like The Balm Bahama Mama.

I found all 3 brushes to be less softer than the other Real Techniques brushes, and found them to be a bit scratchy.

Products Shown: Duo Fiber Collection, Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow, MUFE HD Pressed Powder, The Balm Staining Powder Blush in Houndstooth

Overall, the brushes aren't the softest in the Real Techniques line, but they are decent for someone who uses powder products often or doesn't want heavy application. They are definitely ideal for pressed powders that are highly pigmented, but I wouldn't use them with a drugstore blush or bronzer. They definitely aren't a necessity to a makeup collection, but they do come in handy. 

My favourite brush has to be the contour, with the face brush coming in second and the eye brush as my least favourite. No, I would not re-purchase these brushes if the set I have now were to break, but I would not regret purchasing them for the $20-30 that they are sold for (note: I did get this set as a sample but I was going to purchase them anyways). 

The Duo Fiber Set retails for $20 but you will usually find it for a little more. Available at Ulta*, Boots, Amazon.ca (overpriced alert!!), iHerb (probably the cheapest, for North America at least), and Obsessed Canada. Have you tried this set? Do you use duo-fiber brushes?

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.