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Showing posts with label real techniques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label real techniques. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Real Techniques Finish Setting Brush & Brush Crush Powder Brush | Review

Hey everyone! I have been a fan of Real Techniques for many years now and when I came across the Brush Crush Limited Edition collection, I just knew that I had to own at least one item from that collection. I was able to pick it up when I was in the USA and I actually featured in my Buffalo Shopping Haul | Spring 2018! I also received the Setting Brush from the Chick Advisor Spring Cleaning Event Haul that I wanted to include for you in this post!


Real Techniques Brush Crush #300 Powder Brush
I tried using this brush as the name suggests, as a powder brush and it's too flimsy to use for powdering my entire face. I read some reviews online and many people enjoyed using it for bronzer which I was intrigued to try out! This collection is exclusive to Ulta and this brush claims to be engineered for performance yet stylish enough to star in one of your Instagram photos. I just love the tapered pink glittery handle and the brush hairs are so soft! They use synthetic bristles that are also ultra plush which fade to a nice purple tone. It's easy to clean just like their other brushes and it's not streaky on the face! This works perfectly as a bronzer brush and it's actually going to replace my Sigma brush from now on! I just love using it!
Update: I can no longer find a working link because it was limited edition.

I was playing around using this brush for various things such as using it to highlight my face and using it under the eyes as it is smaller so you have more precision with your application. I have used it to blend out the concealer under my eyes and also to powder the under-eye area. I don't care to use this with cream products such as concealer or liquid contour personally speaking, but each to their own. I prefer using it to set the powder under my eyes, dusting off bake or applying highlight to certain parts of my face.


Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order!
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinksI use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

Friday, September 30, 2016

September Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another Empties post! I used up more products than I thought I did this month so let's dive right into it!


Face
Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips For The Face (8 count) - I really like to use these on my nose specifically. They are my favourite pore strips that Biore makes. They are wider and are more effective in my opinion. They are my favourite pore strips at the moment and I highly recommend that you check these out at your local drugstore!

The Face Shop Blackhead Out Charcoal Nose Strip - You get one single-use nose strip in the package and I do like these more than the Biore Charcoal Nose Strips, but the Deep Cleansing Pore Strips from Biore are my current favourite! This gets the job done but I feel like you can get a box of 8 pore strips from Biore much cheaper than buying one of these nose strips at The Face Shop for $1 a piece.

Rue Beaute Hello Sunshine Make Up Wipes (25 count) - I only bought these because of the packaging to be very honest with you. I had asked the sales associate about these wipes when I was in the store and she knew absolutely nothing about them because she had never used them. I picked them up because they were only $3.99 USD. There is a weird smell to the makeup wipes and there were other patterns on the packaging of the other make up wipes they carried in the store, but I don’t know if they are all the same wipes inside. If I ever buy these again, I will only use them for removing swatches on my hands and arms. 

The Face Shop Face Mask with Rice Extract - As you know, I have been on a sheet mask kick lately and have been buying a lot of my friends sheet masks as well. These three sheet masks: Rice, Lotus and Lingzhi Mushroom are all designed with air pockets within the sheet to bring natural moisture and nourishment to the skin. This particular sheet mask has brightening properties when applied to the face. They use a Natural Squeeze-and-Extraction Process that you can read more about on the back of the packaging of the face mask.

The Face Shop Face Mask with Lotus Flower Extract - As you can probably tell, I enjoy trying face masks that are different and have unique ingredients in them. That is why I picked up this Lotus sheet mask rather than a honey or avocado one. This sheet mask is a hydrating one. It did not smell too strong like I imagined that it would and was very pleasant to use.

The Face Shop Face Mask with Lingzhi Mushroom Extract - This is a firming sheet mask and it is meant to improve the resilience of sagging skin. They use an Oriental Herb Extracting Process which is explained on the back of the packaging. 

Teeth
Colgate Total Toothpaste in Clean Mint - You have seen this product before and know that it is a paste that doesn’t do anything outstanding to my teeth. It is a very standard toothpaste.

Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste - Again, you know the drill with this toothpaste: it is a gel and it is a basic toothpaste that doesn’t particularly stand-out to me.

Body
Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin - This is the old packaging and I do like this scent in small doses, but I feel that it was hard for me to finish this tube. The smell is quite strong and at times it can be overpowering. You can only really wear it in the fall and for part of winter. I will not be repurchasing this scent unfortunately. 

Soaps
Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in London - This has to be one of my all-time favourite Bath & Body Works scents and it is in the top 5 for sure. It smells incredible and is described as, 'Golden Shortbread, Candied Bing Cherries & Toasted Almonds.' This scent is very comforting, reminds me of the holidays and good times in general. I was sad to finish this soap and was using it when just foam was coming out. I need to repurchase this ASAP! I also love the design on the bottle.

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Oh Snap! Jolly Gingerbread - You have definitely seen this before and it is not the last you will see of this scent! It is a staple in my household that everyone enjoy using and smelling this delicious gingerbread scent!

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Boardwalk Vanilla Cone - You have seen this multiple times in the past and this is another popular hand soap in my household. This is the old packing and formula as they have changed it to a green formula and have re-done the design on the bottle.

Caffeine
President’s Choice The Great Canadian Maple Flavoured Coffee (12 single serve coffee pods) - I purchased this at The Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS) and it is such a great coffee! It really makes the entire kitchen smell incredible and when opening up the front door, this is the first thing that you smell! I used this in my Keurig machine and just so you know, the pods are 100% compostable. Another great use for the pods after you use them is to take out the leftover coffee grinds and put them on your plants or flowers!

Teavana Caramel Chai Rooibos Tea - I purchased this tea and the Oprah Chai at the same time when Teavana was having 75% off select teas. I also tweeted about this. My mom loved this loose leaf tea more than the Oprah Chai. 

Teavana Oprah Chai Black Tea - This was my personal favourite and I remember being in Michigan when this tea was making it’s debut and people were going crazy for it! I love chai teas in general and this has a nice flavour to it. There is a bold infusion with a little spice to it! 

Other
Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies with Biotin (80 count) - I feature these all the time and you already know how much that I love these gummies. They are a staple for me and you won’t find me without these!

Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Shampoo in Calming Lavender - I use this shampoo to deep clean my makeup brushes and I have been using this for years. I alternate between this one and the yellow one. I try to stock-up when they go on sale.

Bath & Body Works Scentportable Fragrance Refill in Island Margarita - I love this scent in general and it smells amazing in my car! I have received many compliments from friends and family members that enter my car! 

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - I have a blog post where I cut open this sponge and show you what it inside of it. I have been using this sponge for 8-9 months and it held up through many washes and through lots of use! It is a great sponge to use to apply creams, liquids and powders. I would definitely recommend that you check it out as it gets the job done and is not as expensive as the beauty blender. I purchased mine at Wal-Mart and you can try looking at CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rexall or Shoppers Drug Mart depending on where you live. 

Samples/Promo
Pure Silk Rich & Luxurious Shave Cream in Raspberry Mist - It claims to be moisturizing with aloe. I would agree with that statement but it claims to be a rust-proof can and I would have to disagree with that. The part that connects the can to the nozzle did rust around the perimeter and created a ring of rust inside the cap. Other than that, I do like the actual product inside (it was a thicker white formula that came out of the nozzle,) and the scent was incredible! I received this as a sample at CVS when I was in The States.

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Sleeping Cream (2 samples) - I received both of these in-store as samples and I had read some negative reviews on the web site about the scent of this product and that it irritated people’s skin. I was slightly hesitant to try it out but I am glad that I did because I have absolutely no complaints about the smell and this product worked wonders on my skin! It made it very soft the next day and more radiant. There was absolutely no irritation to my skin. There are 3 Precious Seed Oils inside from around the world and there are also 7 Powerful Essential Oils.  

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches (1 pair) - I received this in the Skin Saver 4-Piece Kit from Peter Thomas Roth as a bonus item. I had no idea that these were included inside until I opened up the box and read the little text at the bottom of the box. I had heard many people raving about these lately and was excited to try them out! They are definitely luxurious because they “are infused with pure 24K Gold and Colloidal Gold to help lift and firm the appearance of the delicate eye area in just 10 minutes.” 



I do not have much puffiness under my eye area and I do not have many wrinkles or Crow’s Feet. I did feel a cooling sensation and my under-eye area felt refreshed as well as more awake but, I can’t justify spending that kind of money on the full sized product for a problem that I do not have. Maybe in the future but right now, it is not practical for me to go out and purchase this.

The Face Shop Brightening & Soothing 3-Step Programming Kit (2 kits) - I had mentioned that I would let you know how I liked this 3-Step Mask Kit in another blog post and I am here to let you know my thoughts! First of all, let’s talk about the obvious: THE PACKAGING! I absolutely hate how wide it is and how much space it takes up in a drawer. Now, I thought that the 3 steps were going to be inconvenient and time consuming but I was wrong. The 3 steps are very easy to follow and doesn’t take up much time at all. You first go in with a jumbo cotton swab that is soaked with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) to exfoliate and clean the skin. You just simply pat or wipe it on your face from the centre out and make sure to focus on your problem areas but don’t go too close to your eye or mouth area. 

Secondly, you go in with the Soothing Serum after step 1 aka the peeling agent has completely soaked into the skin. You just apply an even layer to the skin again, making sure to apply from the centre out. The last step is to apply the sheet mask that has moisturizing properties to it as there is both aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. It will then help your face look more radiant and healthy. I agree with it and even those these two kits were included with my order at no additional cost because it was part of a promotional offer, I really enjoyed using it and would purchase them with my own money in the future! 

Clif Organic Trail Mix Bar in Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter - I received this as promo when I was outside in the GTA. I do like to eat Clif bars in general and my favourite kind is the Chocolate Chip one and I also like the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut bar. These particular bars are: Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten Free and a great source of Fibre. It tastes great and is 190 calories if you eat the entire bar. I do want to try the Clif Organic Trail Mix bar in Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond next! 

Dove Dry Spray 48 Hour Protection Anti-Perspirant in Cool Essentials - I have quite a few things to say about this dry spray. First off: it failed to deliver and I found myself reapplying this product 2-3 times a day. I really don’t sweat a lot under my armpits but I felt the need to refresh myself because during the hot summer days, it is much needed! It certainly did not last for 48 hours and not even for 8 hours! I do like this smell and I would not use this product again. I did shake it before I used it every time and it was very convenient to throw into my bag or purse. It is good for sharing and great if you are on set and can use it on your different actors or models for the time being. I do like Dove deodorants in general but this one I did not like. Luckily for me, I did not purchase this product because it was part of a promo.

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Gel & Desensitizing Gel - As you most likely already saw, I do have an entire blog post dedicated to Smile Brilliant along with my results and the process. If you are interested, feel free to read it and if you are reading this before October 7th, 2016, make sure to enter my contest that I have in collaboration with Smile Brilliant! I really like the idea they have of each person having custom whitening trays designed for them in order for each person to have a unique experience when whitening their teeth. I also love that they included a desensitizing gel because most whitening products do not come with one and that can leave my teeth feeling very sensitive the next day to hot & cold foods. I have no sensitivity the next day after using the Desensitizing Gel! My teeth also became much whiter after using their Teeth Whitening Gel. Check out my blog post if you don’t believe me!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. This blog post is not sponsored but some links are affiliate links. 

Smile Brilliant - Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook - A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on! 

Monday, September 12, 2016

What's Inside Your Beauty Sponge?

Hey everyone! I was honestly debating whether or not I should do this blog post for quite some time. I decided to still write it because it could potentially help some beauty lovers out there! I cut open my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge after using it for 8-9 months to see exactly what was on the inside. 


I have not re-touched the bottom photo because I wanted to give you a closer look of how it actually looks like in natural lighting. You can see that even though I washed it many times, there is still some makeup that seeped into the middle and around the tip of the sponge. 


There is a very good reason why it is advised that you should replace your makeup sponge every 1-4 months depending on how you take care of it. I'll admit that I did not wash it after every use, but I did wash it quite frequently.

Here are some other tips on when you should replace your makeup sponge & how to store it:

1. It is deteriorating or has cracks in it and has started to crumble.

2. It has changed colour.

3. It isn't as soft as it used to be and it is hardening.

4. It has become smaller in size aka it has shrunk.

5. You were sick and had a bad cold or a virus.

6. You started to break out and have not switched out your beauty products or skin care products and can't pin-point what is making you break out. It could very well be your old makeup sponge.

7. Do not keep it in a ziplock bag or a makeup bag for longer than you have to because that is a breading ground for bacteria and mould. Keep the holder (if it is a beauty blender,) and store it in the open for it to breathe.

8. Make sure to squeeze out as much of the water as you can after washing or rinsing it. 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook - A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on! 

Monday, September 5, 2016

Most Used & Favourite Makeup Brushes & Tools

Hey everyone! I have used many brushes and makeup tools over the years. I felt that it was time for me to write a blog post about all of my favourites and what has been working for me!


Brushes
ELF Studio Kabuki Face Brush - I have owned this brush for many years and it has lasted many washes. There are many uses for this brush as you can apply powder, bronzer or many other things with it. How I like to use it is to blend out my blush, highlight and bronzer/contour with it.

Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush - I purchased mine in a trio at Wal-Mart awhile ago and I adore this brush! I especially like it to apply highlighter onto my cheekbones, cupids bow, chin and right above my eyebrows. I feel that it is the perfect size for me and it does a lot of the work for you.

The Classic Shadow Brush (#6) in the 11 piece Pink-A-Dot Brush Set by BH Cosmetics - I love this for packing on colour onto my lids. It is a flat shader brush and I love the fun pink polka dots on the black brush handle!

BH Cosmetics #4 Dome Fluffy Brush - Unfortunately, I couldn't find this set on the web site but I love how soft this brush is! It is my go-to brush for apply blush onto the apples of my cheeks!


Sigma Large Angled Contour Brush F40 - This is a brush (pictured above,) that I have been using for many years for bronzing up my face. I feel like it is perfect for applying bronzer to any face shape really.


EcoTools Domed Bronzer Brush - I found about this brush a while back from the YouTuber Love MelisaMichelle. I bought mine at Wal-Mart and I found it pretty hard to come across. I suggest that if you see it in stores, to pick it up right away! I love this for setting my face with powder on days that I am not baking and need to set my foundation & concealer. You can use it to apply bronzer but I like to use it as a powder brush. The bristles are densely packed and the head of the brush is rounded. The handle is made out of sustainable bamboo, the ferrule is recycled aluminum and they use cruelty-free synthetic bristles. 

Morphe E46 Mini Angled Buffer Brush - I like using to this brush to: clean up underneath my contour and bronzer, to set the under eye area and to press powder into the sides of my nose. I feel like I need to buy another one of these brushes because it works so well! 

Sigma Tapered Blending Brush E40 - This is by far my favourite blending brush in my crease area when I do not want something defined or precise. If I am not depositing a specific colour in a certain place and just want to blend away, I automatically reach for this! It is has been my favourite for years and will be hard to find another blending brush that I like more than this one.

BH Cosmetics Angled Brush #10 - This is from the same set as the domed fluffy brush that I had previously mentioned and I love using this on my brows. I use this to map out my brows when I am using the Brow Pow Eyebrow Powder in Dark Brown from The Balm. 

Sigma Small Angle Brush E65 - I use this brush to apply the gel stain from IT Cosmetics onto my brows. I also use it when I apply the Anastasia Dipbrow in Dark Brown. It is more stiff than the other angled brush and works very well for this purpose.

Eco Luxe 10 Piece Brush Set from BH Cosmetics - This flat shadow brush is smaller in size and I always use it to apply shimmer to my inner corners as well as under the brow bone. It is the perfect size to apply product to smaller areas. I have even used it to apply highlighter down the bridge of my nose! 

Tools

Tweezerman Slant Tweezers - I have owned mine for a few years now and the writing has actually rubbed off. These tweezers are very easy to use and the tip is stainless steel. The slanted shape of the tip makes it easy for removing multiple hairs at once. I have used many different brands as well as styles of tweezers and I can say that these are the best! I purchased mine at Sephora. The blades are sharp yet ultra thin and I love the ergonomic design!

Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors - I bought mine at Sally’s Beauty Supply and these are amazing! I don’t know what I was doing without these before! It makes trimming your brows very easy and it is stainless steel. 

MAC Small Pencil Sharpener - I have owned this sharpener for over 10 years and it is by far my favourite. It perfectly sharpeners all my pencils (not just MAC pencils,) and it is very easy to empty out as well as clean.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - I have tried a wide range of curlers and this makes my lashes look incredible! I had an ELF eyelash curler for years before that fell apart on me (literally.) This is what I reach for on a regular basis and I do not need to apply much pressure to give my lashes that perfect curl.

beautyblender pro - I absolutely love this sponge because it is bouncy and blends out creams as well as liquids beautifully. I even use this sponge to apply powders when I decide to bake my face. 


Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook - A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on! 

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

beautyblender pro VS. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Hey everyone! There is a lot of talk about makeup sponges in the beauty community and I wanted to compare both a more expensive makeup sponge to a less expensive one to see which one is better all around!



 You can see that the beauty blender is slightly smaller than the Real Techniques makeup sponge. That gives you more control and precision when applying your makeup. I would say that the beauty blender is softer and more bouncy when dabbing out your product(s) on your face. I also felt that it gave me an overall more flawless finish after fully blending out all the products. It is also very easy to use and to clean. 


The Real Techniques makeup sponge is dual ended and has one more pointed end as well as a more flat side. Due to its size and the fact that it holds more water, I was using more foundation as well as more product in general than when I would use the beauty blender. It also absorbs more water and is harder to clean than its competitor.

The Verdict
My vote for the winner of this showdown is hands down the beauty blender. It is worth the investment because you will most likely get your money's worth out of it and it is just so convenient to use! It has definitely saved me time when applying my makeup and I enjoy using it! Don't get me wrong though, the Real Techniques sponge is a great alternative for someone who is just started out with makeup or someone is on a budget. It can also be for someone who enjoys using the flat side to get in all those corners!

Makeup Sponge Gone Wrong!
I tried the Studio 35 makeup sponge from Walgreens a while ago and it was AWFUL! It was hard even after wetting it and squeezing all the water out. I tried it several times and could not get used to the rock hard texture of it. I ended up throwing it out and that sponge doesn't hold a candle in the wind to these two!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED AND I BOUGHT THESE SPONGES WITH MY OWN MONEY. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!