Core Collection - Real Techniques Brushes

Hello!

Today I am reviewing the real techniques core collection brush set and blush brush. These were some of my first real techniques purchases and some within the collection have remained my ultimate faves! 

Firstly, all the brushes within the collection have lasted me such a long time! I have taken them abroad many times, washed them monthly (if not more) and used a few in the collection throughout the day, everyday and NEVER have the brushes shed, lost shape or gone tacky. They all remain super soft and do their job beautifully (you can tell I'm a real fan). 

The blush brush remains one of my favourites, and has for a few years now. I find the shape of the brush picks up enough product and allows an easy, even application even in a rush. The brush is soft, with a slightly rounded pointed tip, giving you the perfect angles to apply product directly on your cheek bones and a light dusting over the rest of your face if necessary. I find either over smiling or pouting when applying blush really helps to zone in on the areas I need to apply to achieve a flawless glow. I especially love using the brush with Sleek blush, so anyone looking for a new product to compliment the brush should give my last post a view! I only use this brush with powdered blush, so any gels or creams can be applied by hand or with a stippling brush. 

Real Techniques core collection (another staple set within my make up range) includes four brushes that I feel form the basis of your make up needs. The buffing brush (the holy grail of brushes) is a dream for applying any foundation or powder. I love to apply my foundation and then gradually blend in concealer with this brush, giving a flawless full coverage look. Alternatively, blotting powder onto problem areas, buffing and reapplying product throughout the day, smoothing product and reducing creased, cakey looking product are only a handful of wonders this brush can do, maybe because the brush is so dense (or maybe because it's magic). I honestly love this brush, and if I could only have one brush for the rest of my life, this would win every time. 

Love affair over, the collection also includes a pointed foundation brush, detailer brush and contour brush. I use the contour brush with powdered highlighter and sometimes a bronzer for my cheekbone area. I find this brush to be a mini version of the blush brush, so ideal for focusing on smaller areas and targeting prime highlighter areas. 

The detailer brush again is durable and has many uses. Sometimes I apply my lipstick with this brush, to give a subtle colour and shine to the lips when I want a more natural look, alternatively applying concealer closely around the brows, under the eyes and in the creases of nose is another handy trick made easy. I also intend to maybe use it for when I purchase the Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow, the latest addition to my ever expanding wish list. 

Finally the pointed foundation brush, with one obvious use being foundation application. The small brush allows you to build an even coverage, and the tip allows you to reach under the eye and in creases in the skin easily. 

Overall I can safely say I LOVE my brushes. I haven't yet mustered the courage to invest in the real techniques bold metals collection but I'm sure when my brushes fall apart (which seems a long way away) I will be forced into an investment.

Real techniques core collection - Boots, £21.99

Real techniques blush brush - Boots, £9.99

Happy shopping!

Belles Beauty 

Core Collection - Sleek's Pink Lemonade Blush Palette

Hello!

Today I am reviewing Sleek's blush by 3 Pink Lemonade palette. This trio of intensely pigmented blushes is used within my everyday make up look to achieve both a natural shine and cute pink going out look.

The palette contains two powder blushes; icing sugar and pink mint. 'Pink mint' (far left) is a bright pink colour with a small shimmer to add a healthy glow to your look. You need very little product for it to be noticeable on your skin and it really looks amazing and lasts all day. It's build-able for the evening to give a n intense yet shuttle shimmery touch. 

'Icing sugar' (far left) is one of my all time favourite blushes! It's a dark pink with lots of shimmer and a hint of rouge. It looks really lovely on my skin no matter how tanned I am and always lasts the whole day. It's super pigmented so a little product goes a long way, and the palette is reasonably priced anyway making this a bargain! This looks lovely for an everyday natural look, but again can be mixed with the other palette colours to create a new colour. Love it! 

Finally the middle product, 'Macaroon' is the only cream blush within the palette. It's a dark pink without any shimmer. It blend perfectly and the texture feels light and airy on the skin making it a suitable every day blush. 

Overall this palette is amazing for anyone's make up bag. The combination of products are all fantastic alone and combined to achieve the desired look. I would highly recommend these blushes (and any blush from Sleek) as they last, are durable and suitable for all looks. 

Sleek Blush by 3 - £10

Hope you love it as much as I do!

Belles Beauty 

Benefit's High Beam Highlighter

Hope your having a lovely weekend!

Today I am reviewing Benfit's High Beam Highlighter. A bottled, liquid product that is easily applied to highlight areas of your face and add a sparkle!

I love this product. I currently own the mini highlighter, which can be purchased within many of the Benfit sets on offer. The 'Best of Benefit' is my personal fave for any Benefit newbe looking to try out the best selling products within their line. This highlighter is a pearly peach color, giving a subtle but effective glow to applied areas. I use this product every day on my brow bone to finish off my make up. It really compliments my skin tone and gives a pearly shine, making by brow area look perfectly shaped and cared for!

When applying I usually spread a thin layer of the product all over my lower brow area and leave to sit un-blended for a minute or so. I find the product starts to dry giving a lasting effect and even more glittery glow when I eventually blend the product in. This product could also be used on check bones, cupids bow or down the center of the nose to give a lasting shine.

Hope you love the product as much as I do! Keep your eyes on my Instagram page for updates on new reviews.

Belles Beauty 

MAC prep + prime lip base

Hello!

Happy Sunday and hope you have had a bright and sunny weekend! Today I am reviewing the lip base from the MAC prep and prime range. I have used many products from this range and I do feel it really suits my skin type and has never let me down (so far). 

This creamy lip product aims to prepare the lips for applying lipstick and other products, or just something to apply to give the lips a healthy glow. I invested in this product at the start of winter, knowing my lips do get very dry and crack easily, proving a major issue when I want to apply lipstick or lip liner. I find this product does exactly what it states to do, applies a layer of super hydrating, moisturising cream to the lips. It makes my lips super smooth instantly and provides the perfect base for any lipstick (especially MAC). It's very easy to apply with the wind up packaging, meaning you also know exactly how much product you have left. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who loves lipstick, has dry lips or is just looking for a balm type product. Love love love this and will definitely be reviewing the rest of the prep and prime range soon! 

Keep your eyes peeled for more reviews soon!

Belles Beauty

Core Collection - Mascara

Happy Monday everyone! 

Hope you are not feeling too glum this very windy day after the weekend! I want to carry on focusing on the core collection pieces of any make up bag. The things I personally feel are must have items for creating an everyday look or a glam going out full face. 

Mascara is difficult to reccomend because there is such a wide variety of brands, wand styles, colours, price tags and ranges. You can soon find yourself buying every product in order to find one that really suits your taste and needs. I will be looking at my favorite mascaras, both drug store and high end, as it doesn't matter how little you have to spend, there is still a product available to you!

Firstly we have False Lash Effect Mascara by Max Factor. This mascara promises full lashes with a natural look. I use this mascara every day almost, as the wand is perfect for this type of application. The mascara has never gone clumpy and the product has also lasted me a long time which is also a bonus. The wand to the mascara is very thick with lots of bristles which separate the lashes as you apply and create a lovely natural look. I sometimes use this mascara after I have applies one layer of another in order to separate the lashes and even out the product. Definitely worth a purchase for anyone wanting to just apply one coat for a natural look, or anyone wanting a mascara for a night out that wants to build product to create a false lash look without clumps!

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara - £10.99

My Shade - Black 

Next under the spotlight is L'Oreal Paris False Lash Telescopic Infinite Length Effect Fibers mascara. What a name! The want to this mascara is longer and thinner, with the bristles in six lines across the applicator end. The wand also has a pear shape, meaning that it curls with the lines of your eyes, making application easy and smooth.This also means applying to lower lashes is a lot easier, because the smaller brush coats every lash. I often blot mascara on the sides of my nose and just above my eye when applying mascara, but this shapes wand avoids this as it bends to reach all lashes with one stroke. The product has lasted me and stayed dewy and wet (sounds weird) but many mascaras tend to dry up and loose their shine after a few applications, but this one hasn't. The wand never goes clumpy, only builds excess product at the mascara tip which will need to be wiped away ever so often which isn't an issue.

Again an amazing mascara, ideal for everyone!

L'Oreal Telescopic - £10.99

My Shade - Magnetic Black

Finally Benefit's Bad Gal Lash, my higher end mascara. I feel this mascara has been neglected after the appearance of Benefits False Lash effect and their newest Roller Lash Mascara. This mascara wand is the biggest of the three, which on my eyes gives an amazing look to my lashes, The formula is always evenly spread on the brush, and I have never had any issues with clumping or slightly too much product building on the wand tip. The product has also always evenly coated and separated my lashes, leaving me with the perfect natural yet bright eyed look. I really do recommend this mascara to anyone who wants a quick but effective application in the mornings!

I always have fuller, longer looking lashes when using this product which I love!

Benefits Bad Gal Lash Mascara - £17.50

My Shade - Black 

I hope this has been helpful to you and hopefully you love some of the products as much as I do!

Belles Beauty