SOLD OUT! Ipsy Me - Real Techniques

Dang that was fast!  I just checked my email and saw the notification about the Ipsy Me Real Techniques deal and it is sold out!  But you can still save if you order from the Real Techniqes website.  Enter IPSY15 for 15% off!

Brushes are a girls best friend. Truth. For just $13 ($17.98 value) + Free Shipping, the full-size Real Techniques Perfecting Brush Set helps to hide imperfections and define your natural features. Concealing, sculpting and defining just got easier. Set includes: Sculpting Brush Concealer Brush

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Real Techniques - Nic's Picks

Received my Real Techniques Nic's Pick brushes from my Kohl's Order and got to test run these brushes for a couple weeks now.  

I use the duo-fiber face brush to apply MAC Studio Fix, the cheek brush for bronzer, angled shadow brush in the crease, base shadow to apply MAC Shroom all over my lid and the eyeliner brush with Wet n Wild Creme liner.

What the website says:

A collection of Nic’s favorite brushes. Complete any look with this limited edition set, featuring 3 exclusive brushes specially designed to create the perfect finish.

Includes all the brushes needed to create a complete look:

• duo-fiber face brush: for lightweight application + blending of face powder or pigments
• cheek brush (set exclusive): evenly applies makeup across cheekbone for a more dramatic finish
• angled shadow brush (set exclusive): perfectly cut for layering eye shadow in the crease
• base shadow brush: applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color
• eyeliner brush (set exclusive): firm, angled head for optimal control along lash line

- Limited quantity – while supplies last

Cost: $29.99 can be found on the Real Techniques site, Kohl's, Ulta

Pros:
-Great quality
-Good price for a set
-Very different brushes than other sets

Cons:
-Limited edition

Would I recommend this to a friend?  YES!  Let's just say, I have found my favorite brushes and would trade my Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Brush Set for another full set of Real Techniques.  They are so good!  Hardly any shedding.  They are dry within 24 hours of washing and are excellent quality.  I'm hoping there will be other sets with new style brushes, but so far I am good with what I have.

Deals! Real Techniques Nic's Picks - Last Day for $10 Off Coupon @ Kohl's!

If you're looking to pick up some Real Techniques brushes, especially the Nic's Pick set, today is your last day to use the $10 off coupon code VETSDAY10 at Kohl's!  For those in the Seattle area, I checked availability online for this set and it showed up at the Southcenter location, but sadly there weren't any on the floor.  I was able to order via the in-store kiosk and shipping is free to your home.  I paid about $21 for this set which is a great deal.  Looking forward to adding this set to my Real Techniques collection and doing a comparison to some of the brushes I have.  

VETSDAY10 coupon code is for $10 off a purchase of $25 or more that can be used in-store and online.  I always check the Coupon Sherpa and Retail Me Not apps for available deals while shopping in-store.

Review: Real Techniques Brushes

A few weeks ago, I purchased two Real Techniques Brush Sets at Ulta.  The The Real Technique's Sam's Picks and Real Techniques Starter Kit both come with 5 brushes and I was able to test almost each of them out the last few weeks.  First off, all the brushes are super soft.  The second is the design with the long ferule and the bottom handle being flat, so the brushes can stand upright.  I have seen reviews on these brushes and they are absolutely right that these are very well made and an affordable price.

Sam's Picks includes: multi-task brush, buffing brush, essential crease brush (set exclusive), setting brush, pointed foundation and fine liner brush.

How I use these brushes:

multi-task brush - bronzer application
buffing brush - all-over face powder application
pointed foundation brush - under eye concealer and spot concealing
essential crease brush - crease color
setting brush - highlighter powder application (MAC MSF)
fine liner brush - cream eyeliner

The starter set includes: base shadow brush, deluxe crease brush, accent brush, pixel-point eyeliner brush, brow brush and panoramic case.  

How I use these brushes:

base shadow brush - all-over lid eyeshadow and blending

deluxe crease brush - patting on deeper colored shadows on the lid

accent brush - highlighter eyeshadow on the brow bone & dabbing the corner of the inner eye

pixel-point eyeliner - have not tried this yet since Sam's Pics had the fine liner brush

brow brush - filling in with brow powder

These have become the stand-bys.  I don't normally do a full face everyday, but I will reach for these when I decide to do a more complete look.

I still have to compare the pixel-point and fine liner brush with creme eyeliner application.  The fine liner brush did well picking up product and smoothly applying the liner.  The panoramic case is a great idea, but it has space limitations.  Doubling up the smaller brushes, doesn't secure them in the case and they slip out.

These are the usual suspects.  These sit pretty in a Sonia Kashuk Gold Standard Vanity Cup (scored from the clearance section at Target).  I also picked up the Real Techniques Blush Brush to round out the set since I use the multi-task brush for just bronzer.  

The one brush I didn't quite like was the brow brush.  I have tried a few other brow brushes, but I always come back to this Anastasia 7 combo brush and spoolie.  The Real Techniques brow brush is really soft, but didn't create the more pronounced brow that I like when filling in.  The densely packed, natural bristles of the Anastasia brush pick up more product and allow me to define my brows quickly.  I would like to try the brow brush with a cream brow product such as Anastasia's Dipbrow Pomade or Make Up Forever's Aqua Brow to see if there is a difference in using a more pigmented, gel product with this brush than a powder.

Pros:  -Taklon bristles are super soft
          -They apply product very well
          -The full size handles make it easy to use

Cons: -The sets might not have brushes that you may need or want.  You can always purchase the brushes you need individually.

Cost:  Prices at Ulta.  I also took advantage of the promotion at the time of buy one, get one 50% off and also their $3.50 off $10 purchase coupon that you can find on the Coupon Sherpa app for iPhone when you are shopping in-store.

          -Sam's Picks $29.99
          -Starter Set $17.99
          -Blush Brush $8.99

Would I recommend these to a friend?  Yes!  These are fantastic and affordable brushes if you are looking to add to your collection or even replace brushes.  I have kept my other set as back-ups to use when these are drying after cleaning.

What are your favorite brushes?  Have you tried any Real Techniques brushes?

New Brushes: Real Techniques

I have been wanting to get some new brushes and picked these up today at Ulta. Real Techniques Sam's Picks ($29.99) and the Starter Set ($17.99). The current sale is buy one, get one 50% off and you can use the $3.50 off coupon. I scored 11 brushes for about $39. That's less than $4 each! I got to use them today and will do an update on how I use and/or like/dislike each one.