Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea #7 - Real Techniques Blush Brush

This Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman (Pixiwoo) Blush Brush is my most recent brush acquisition but it's become a firm favourite in my make up routine, so I think it would make an excellent stocking stuffer.  I was a little sceptical about it at first as it's pretty huge for a blush brush, but it works best instead as a powder/bronzing brush or to wash out blush if you've applied it too heavily.  While I would say it's too large to apply blush, it does deposit the perfect amount of colour.  It feels gorgeously soft and is such a pleasure to use.

You can see some images below where I've put it next to MAC 168 and 138 brushes to give you a size reference.  I actually prefer it a lot more to the 138 tapered face brush which I'd hankered after for ages but isn't as useful as I hoped it would be.

You can pick up this Blush Brush from Boots in store or online here for £9.99.

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Spring Clean Make Up BLOG SALE! MAC, Benefit, Urban Decay, Sleek, Smashbox, OPI + More

Updated May 2012: I've removed items as they've sold as this post was very pic heavy, but there are still a few left so if you fancy anything below give me a shout in the comments or email me at clickandmakeup@gmail.com.  I will be adding more items very soon so check back in a few weeks!

These bits for sale are from my personal make up collection. They are all perfectly good products but I either have dupes of these or they don't suit me (in my old age I am moving away from bright colours towards a more sedate pallete...)

THINGS TO NOTE

1. I will post to UK and Northern Ireland addresses only
2. Items will be sent by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery 
3. Postage and packaging is £2.75 plus £0.65p per additional item (updated on 30th April 2012 to reflect Royal Mail postage cost increases)
4. Prices are in Great British Pounds
5. All sales are first come first served basis, no reservations
6. List the item(s) you want in a comment below this post and leave your PayPal email address so I can invoice you
7. Please let me know in advance if your postal address is different to the one associated with your Paypal postal address
8. All payments must be made by PayPal. It is the safest method for both buyer and seller. Items will be marked as Pending until payment is received. Payment must be made within 24 hours of me sending you a PayPal invoice
9. No returns - all sales are final. Please ask any questions or check swatches online before purchasing
10. I will package the items as securely as possible (I've been stockpiling bubble wrap!) however I cannot be held responsible if anything happens to it in transit. 
11. Sanitising will be left up to you.  Check out this video from MissChevious for some handy tips:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8re-3ShqYa4

Any questions, just ask!

Review: Sigma Brush Travel Kit + MAC Comparisons (Pic heavy!)

Sigma brushes have been on my wishlist for a couple of years now, so I was delighted to receive their Travel Kit to review (and give one away to one lucky reader - check back tomorrow to enter the giveaway!).

As you can see it all comes packaged beautifully in organza bags and the brushes are very well protected in their little plastic guards.

The brush roll is fantastic - durable with a magnetic clasp which keeps it shut.  There's also a little zip pocket into which you could fit a small palette.

What Sigma says is in Italics...

Concealer - F70 - The rounded, tampered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.

This has become my favourite concealer brush as the bristles are just the right density to blend in the product, without aggravating delicate under eye skin or rubbing away the product.  It also happens to be the perfect shape and size.

Tapered Blending - E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.

This is Sigma's answer to the MAC 224, however I wouldn't call it an exact dupe as it's much fluffier with longer bristles.  I don't have a huge amount of eye lid 'space' so it's not ideal for me, but I have found a use for it to buff out  under eye concealer.  It's also pretty good for placing highlighter on top of your cheek bones and on your brown bone.

Sigma left, MAC right

MAC left, Sigma right 

Eye Shading - E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles.

This is probably my least favourite brush in the kit as it's a bit too chunky and dense to achieve precise eye shadow application with - I would only use it to add a highlight to my brow bone.  However it's very well made and the bristles are soft.

Pencil - E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles.

This brush is very comparable to the MAC 217 pencil brush - it does taper more at the tip - but I get pretty much the same effect from it.  It's a perfect size for applying an inner eye corner highlight.

below: Sigma left, MAC right

Large Powder - F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.

I adore this wonderfully soft face brush with bristles of perfect density - I use it to apply finishing powder, bronzer and to blend out over zealous blusher!

Foundation - F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles.

While I can't fault the quality of this foundation brush, I do find it a bit dinky and thin - I prefer something along the lines of Gosh's chunky foundation brush which helps to buff it in much better.

Large Angled Contour - F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles.

This was the brush I was most excited about trying as I was tempted to even order this one separately as it looks suspiciously like my beloved MAC 168, the brush of my dreams!

Sadly, it didn't completely live up to my expectations as it is a bit bushy and doesn't give me a precise application of cheek contour powder, but it does well to buff it out.

MAC left, Sigma right 

MAC left Sigma right

Sigma Makeup offers a free travel size F50 brush with this kit -  this is a fantastic duo fibre brush - I don't have the MAC one so I can't compare, but I do have the Inglot one, and the Sigma one although smaller, has better quality, softer bristles.  Perfect for air-brushed-looking foundation or cream blush.

So while I wouldn't say that Sigma brushes are replacements for a lot of cult MAC brushes, in terms of their shape, size and function, I would say they are comparable to MAC in quality.  Therefore they're a great option for make up beginners or MUAs looking to expand their kit.  $49 dollars works out to about £32 (but you have to also factor in the shipping to whichever part of the world you reside), which for 8 great brushes is a very good deal.  I wish I'd come across Sigma before purchasing all sorts of other 'budget' brushes which have turned out to be a waste of money.  

You can win your very own Sigma Travel Brush Kit in my next weekly giveaway which launches tomorrow, so check back then for details on how to enter!

*PR samples provided for review

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March Favourites

I haven't done very well in the mornings over the past month so I don't have too many new make up favourites, but I've been enjoying lots of other products...

I'm really into looking after the skin around my eyes, so I've been using Organic Surge eye gel in the mornings which helps wake me up with a cooling effect and in the nights I use Clinique's all about eyes - it's a tiny pot I got as a Glamour freebie, but I have had a full size pot in the past and will definitely be repurchasing when my stash of minis run out.

Hair-wise Aussie Miracle Moist is the best high street shampoo I've ever found.  I used this for ages last year, and am rediscovering how fab it is all over again.  In the meantime I've been using a Frederic Fekkai eye-wateringly expensive shampoo and can honestly say my hair feels just the same if not better after a dose of Miracle Moist.  It's moisturising but cleans my hair properly without leaving a residue.  The Joico K-Pak conditioner was given to me at the National Beauty Blogging event.  I leave it on about 3 minutes in the shower, but want to see what it can do for me if I leave it in for half an hour.  I haven't had a trim in months, maybe even a year, so it's really helping keep my dry ends at bay.

With my sleep patterns being up the spout, I've been relying on Benefit Erase Paste in shade 1 to cover my dark blue under eye circles.  This stuff is pricey (about £20) but well worth it.  I bought this pot at least over 18 months ago, and although I did take a break from it for a while, it's still going strong.  You only need a little bit and it gives heavy coverage.  In the last week I've started buffing it in with a MAC 224 which gives a very natural finish and helps to stop it settling in the fine lines around my eyes.

I picked up my second bottle of Guerlain's My Insolence in the January sales and I'll never stop loving this sweet and sexy perfume.  While it's lighter and less cloying than the original big sister - Insolence - it's still a 'night time' scent, but I like to wear it at all times.  It reacts very well with my skin and is delicious from first spritz through the dry down.  It's fairly long lasting, especially if you spray it on your hair or clothing.  The bottle is also a stunning addition to my vanity.

This RMK Lip Crayon in 01 Pink was another goodie I received at the NBBE and in the tube it looks pretty scary, but on my lips is the most gorgeous pink which brings my whole complexion alive.  I'll do a FOTD with it soon so you can see how lovely it is.  It's very moisturising for a 'crayon' and could actually be a little more pigmented than it is.  I love the precise tip which makes it easy to apply on the go.

This Firstlight Cosmetics face brush was sent to me many moons ago and I've used it consistently since then to apply my finishing powders and blend out when I get too contour/blush happy - so I don't know why I've never featured it in my monthly favourites before!  I don't feel any need to get the MAC paddle brush (can't remember the #) which almost looks a bit too big.  This brush has been through many washes and come out the other end with minimal shedding and it's still very soft.  I'll do a full review on this and their mineral foundation in the next couple of weeks.

Superdrug's £1 MUA eyeshadow in shade 2 - Pearl is my go-to brow and inner corner highlight and I love it all over my lid to make my eyes seem more awake in the mornings.  I've also used it as a cheekbone highlighter in a pinch too.  You need to check it out!

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Review: GOSH Foundation Brush

I've been looking for the perfect foundation brush for a good few months and I think I've found it.  I have the Body Shop one and one from the Revlon Vital Radiance range which is a bit smaller than normal and good for getting into nooks and crannies.  However I they always left a few streaks that I'd have to go over with a damp sponge.

I am in love with this £9.99 GOSH duo hypoallergenic foundation brush.  It's 100% synthetic with nylon bristles which they say are more hygienic, hold their shape and will not feather. 

I have a few GOSH eye brushes and a blusher brush which is meh, but I'll be hard pressed to switch to another brush for foundation now.  What attracted me to it is that it's not your typical flat shape, but is quite full, making it easier to buff in foundation to avoid streaks.

It doesn't shed and washes like a dream, returning right back to its original colour.  The handle is a little shorter than my other brushes, and shorter than MAC brushes but that doesn't hamper application.

I just pump some Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation onto it, dot around my face and start blending and it's revolutionised the way I used MaxFactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion foundation.  I used to use the sponge which came with it, but it left me looking almost too pale and 'made up' but used with this GOSH brush, my skin looks flawless.

If you're looking for a good foundation brush, I highly recommend this one.  GOSH can be found at Superdrug.

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