Hello World!
So a few weeks ago, I ordered the new limited edition Brush Crush Collection from Real Techniques, and I've finally gotten around to using it. The collection has 8 brushes, a sponge, and a silicon applicator. The design of the whole collection is very cute with pink, purple and glitter! But do they work? I tried everything from the collection and here are my thoughts.
301 Foundation Brush - $12.99
This was the first thing I tried from the collection, and I was very disappointed. Real Techniques makes one of my favorite foundation brushes, so I was very excited to try this one. It appears to be very full, dense, and rounded, which would make for easy blending. But the brush hair is very rough and not as densely packed as it appears. It also feels like it's tapered, which makes blending difficult, and leaves streaks. I would definitely recommend you pass on this brush and instead go for the
Expert Face Brush.
This is a perfect powder brush. It's super soft and very full. The arched cut allows you to lightly sweep powder on all areas of your face for a flawless powder application. I would definitely recommend this brush!
I was surprised by how much I liked this brush. When I first saw it, I didn't think it was a blush brush because of it's shaped. It has a slightly tapered triangle tip to concentrate the blush on the apples of your cheeks, which I thought would apply too much product in one area. But the brush is soft and fluffy, so product just washes over your cheeks and blends effortlessly.
I like to use contour brushes shaped like this for contouring my nose, more than the rest of my face. But most brushes like this are very thin, so you can apply the contour exactly and then blend it out. But this brush is very thick, which I didn't think would work for my nose. But surprise, surprise... it did! It has a flat edge for applying contour with precision, but because it is so thick and soft, it's like you're blending as you apply. So it works beautifully for both the nose and the face.
I would like to preface this by saying I am not a fan of fan brushes. I much prefer teardrop brushes for highlighting, but fan brushes are meant to apply a soft sweep of product. But that was not the case for this brush. This brush picks up a lot of product. It makes application very easy, but it's definitely not a soft sweep and definitely not a subtle highlight.
This is your basic standard eyeshadow blending brush. It's very soft and it has a tapered end, which is great for blending. Besides how it looks, there is nothing special about this brush. But it is a good brush.
This is easily my favorite thing from the entire collection. First off, this brush is just super cute, but it also performs perfectly. This brush is huge, round, and super soft, which makes it perfect for applying powders including bronzers and highlighters all over the face and body. I LOVE this brush!
This is another item that is super cute but also very functional. This sponge is very soft and gentle on the skin, but firm enough that it keeps it's shape as you press it against your face. The shape of this sponge is perfect for blending in those hard to reach areas of your face. The pointed tip is great for under the eye and around the nose. The flat top is great for all over the face.
This is a nice brush. It's very similar to the 302 Blush Brush, but it's slightly smaller and less tapered. But it's super soft and applies powders nicely.
Real Techniques described this as a "smooth, flexible surface helps to hygienically transfer product to your skin." And that's pretty accurate. This is nice way to apply liquid product to face without having to use your fingers or using too much product, but you will still need a brush or sponge, because you can't blend with this. It works fine, but it seems unnecessary to me.
Overall, I really like this collection. I think it's super cute and pretty affordable. You can also save some money you buy one of the two sets offered by Real Techniques. The Luminous Glow set comes with the 304 Fan Brush, the 302 Blush Brush, the 303 Contour Brush, the Diamond Foundation Applicator, and the Diamond Sponge. It retails for $29.99. The
Shimmer + Shine set comes with the 300 Powder Brush, the 305 Shadow Brush, the 307 Finishing Brush, and a cute makeup bag. It also retails for $29.99. The only brush I would not recommend is the 301 Foundation Brush, and if you're only going to get one thing from this collection it should be either the 306 Kabuki Brush or the Diamond Sponge.
Happy Makeup Monday!
~Kerin
P.S. - Follow me on Instagram (@kerinskorner) to see all my makeup looks!
I am writing this post from the airport before I board the plane to take me home - back to H-town! This means my summer is officially over. And it's a little bittersweet. On the one hand, I'm excited to go home and see my family, but on the other hand I'm going to miss my friends and colleagues and the work I was doing. And then there's the fact that I start school on Monday, which I am never looking forward to. :( 
Omg! I got online today and realized I haven't posted in 3 weeks! I don't know what happened. I didn't realize it had been so long. I'm so sorry. I guess I just got busy and compounded with my perpetual laziness, I just lost track of time. But alas I have found my way, and I indeed have much to inform on you on. So sit back, relax, and get ready for a slightly longer than usual post today.
But Saturday was the big day. The Tom Holland Q&A was happening I was not going to miss it. We went to a strange sword fighting class in the morning. And then we watched this really bad Black Lightning film. And then I went and got in line for Tom, while my brother went to the Mark Waid Q&A. And I'm glad I did, because it was so packed. I got in line 2 and half hours before the panel, and there were already like 50 people in front of me. And by the time, my brother got out of his panel, there were like 1000 people in the waiting room. It crazy. And it really wasn't worth it. Tom was great. He was sweet and funny, but the panel was just meh! The moderator asked a lot questions, the Tom had already answered in other interviews, and then Tom invited this obnoxious kid on the stage, and he just tried to take over the panel. And I'm like dude, this is not about you. Later, we went to the Ray Park Q&A, and that was pretty fun.
Sunday was the last day, and goal was to go shopping in the vendor area to get souvenirs. But since, nothing was really happening everyone was shopping too, so it was really packed. My brother got some Funko Pops to start an actual collection and I got a random grab bag of comics. I was going to get a shirt, but I didn't like any of them. Then we also went to the Ruth E. Carter Q&A. She's the costume designer for Black Panther, and other films. And it was really interesting and informative. Then we left, and went back to the loft, and watched Spider-Man: Homecoming until it was time to return to our regularly scheduled lives. But overall, I had a great time, and I think I'll go back. I think I'm a convention kind of girl!
Anyway, I recently really gotten into Supernatural. I started the show a while ago and would watch it occasionally, but I didn't want to make the commitment to watch it because it has so many seasons. But I finally took the plunge, and now I'm on Season 5 and 13. Yes, I skipped to the current season, while simultaneously watching previous season. So what?
However, I did go to the advance screening of I Feel Pretty, and might be going to another tonight, but that is not indicative of how I feel about this movie.
Step 1: Prime! I used the Mac Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage. I like this primer because its a lotion, so it feels just like a moisturizer, but it's gel-based, so it's not greasy, and it's super lightweight. But I never reach for it because it adds radiance, and I usually try to use oil-controlling primers.
Step 6: Eyes! 
Step 8: Highlight! I applied highlighter lightly to the tops of my checks, browbone, and bridge of my nose. I used Becca x Chrissy Teigan Glow Face palette, and used the shade 2, Beach Nectar. I like all the shades in this palette, and there is no real reason I never use it. I guess it just gets lost in the bottom of my collection.
Step 9: Blush! I applied blush in between my highlight and bronzer in a downward motion from the top of my cheekbones to the apple of my cheeks. I used the shade La Vida Mocha from the Beauty Bakerie Coffee & Cocoa Bronzer palette. This is a super vibrant, super pigmented, red-orange blush that looks great on dark skin. But I don't really wear blush, so I hardly ever use it. 
For my lashes, I first applied the Lancome Cils Booster lash primer to my top and bottom lashed, and I really like it and it does make your lashes look longer and fuller, but it's just an extra step, I don't have time for. 
But how sway? Well, I quit my job yesterday. What? No, you didn't! Well , yes I did. I won't get into all the gritty details, but I didn't feel like the management and leadership valued my time and my efforts, so I walked out, and that's that. But now my afternoons, are completely free.
I saw Midnight Sun last night, so let me know if you guys want a review for it. I was not planning on writing on, because that movie is like mad old, and I like to give you guys reviews of pretty recent movies. But if you want, you can have it.
