You ever throw down $30 on a makeup brush only to have the hair come out on your face after a few applications? Or maybe you’re clumsy like me and have accidentally stepped on your expensive makeup brush, snapping it in half and rendering it practically useless. Either way, it’s frustrating as hell, isn’t it?
Most of the time I buy expensive brushes that last me for decades when properly taken care of, but I’ve always wondered, “Why are these things so dang expensive? It’s hair on a stick for godsakes!” Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could find quality brushes, that wouldn’t break when stepped on, wouldn’t shed like a cat in summertime, and cost a fraction of the price of other brushes?
Well today is your lucky day, my loyal readers! For I have found a brand of brushes that meet all of the above criteria and are also extremely easy to find. The brand is called Real Techniques and was developed by Samantha Chapman, the other half of the YouTube makeup duo known as Pixiwoo.
If you haven’t watched their videos you are missing out. They are charming, have British accents (I’m a sucker for accents), are extremely talented and informative, and the makeup transformations they create are beautiful. But enough about that and on on to the brushes!
They’re lightweight, durable, easy to clean, and some even come with their own handy-dandy case. Chapman has developed every brush you’ll ever need such as eyeliner brushes, blush brushes, and all different shapes of shadow brushes. For the cost of one Mac Cosmetics brush, you could get about five Real Techniques brushes! Whenever I have friends who are new to makeup and inquire about what type of brushes they should buy, I always recommend Real Techniques.
For instance, they have a perfect starter set for newbies that covers all the bases you need for eye looks. Included in this set is a Base Shadow brush, Deluxe Crease brush, Accent brush, Fine Liner brush, and a Brow brush (can also be used to create the perfect cat-eye flick). Are you ready for the price? A mere $18!
If you care more about perfecting your foundation instead of eyeshadow/liner, The Core Collection is up your alley. It includes a Detailer brush (great for concealing blemishes), Pointed Foundation brush, Buffing brush (perfect for creating a flawless HD look and also works great with mineral makeup), and a Contour brush. Again, only $12 dollars (online):
And one of my personal favorites is the Travel Essentials set, which includes a Multitask brush (can be used for powder, blush, or bronzer), Foundation brush, and a Domed Shadow brush (absolutely the best brush I’ve found for blending eyeshadow in and above your crease). Only for the small price of…you guessed it…$13!
So there you have it. For the meager price of around $45 plus tax, you will have every makeup brush you need to get started painting on your beautiful canvas. If you chose to buy department store brand brushes instead, you’d get about two brushes (as opposed to twelve Real Techniques brushes) for the same price. I’m here to say I’ve purchased brushes from Mac, Sonia Kashuk, Clinique, Bareminerals, Sephora, and Makeup Forever (just to name a few) and the Real Techniques brushes are the best bang for your buck. Not one hair has fallen out of these bad boys, they’re easy to clean, and the application they provide is flawless.
My ONLY complaint about Real Techniques comes from a whiny aesthetic standpoint. I’m generally an anti-color person, preferring black a lot of the time. So the colors used on the Real Techniques brushes rub me the wrong way. I feel like the color choice makes the brushes look a bit cheaper in quality than they actually are. But, if you like color, these are for you.
You can also purchase Real Techniques brushes separately if you’re only interested in a specific type, and you can practically purchase them anywhere. Such as the following locations:
- Ulta
- Amazon (Btw, they’re around $2 cheaper on Amazon:Real Techniques Brushes
)
- Walmart
- Target
- Kohls
- Walgreens
- Ralphs
So scrape together your pennies, buy a starter brush set, and get to painting! Here’s is a fun video to watch from Samantha Chapman explaining the “Do’s and Don’ts” of Makeup” using Real Techniques brushes to demonstrate:
