I’m very excited to bring you a review of one of the new brushes from Real Techniques. When I caught wind that Real Techniques released four new brushes in early 2014, my heart just skipped a beat. I thought ONE new brush would be an awesome way to start the year, but FOUR!? I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques brushes, and I always rave about how amazing these brushes are. Real Techniques used to be designed by one of the Pixiwoo sisters, but Nic has joined the team, so I’m sure we will be seeing lots different approaches to makeup that reflect both sisters’ personalities!
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The Real TechniquesRetractable Bronzer Brush (USD$12.99 / CAD$19.99, available here) is marketed as a travel-friendly, flat-top, duo-fibre bronzer brush. When I first saw the size and shape of it, I was taken aback – it reminded me so much of the duo-fibre foundation brushes for stippling in liquid foundations that were so popular a while ago! So I had to test it both ways.
The first thing I have to mention is the construction of the brush; it is an addition to their “base” brushes (mainly for applying base complexion products) as denoted by its orange handles. I was surprised to feel the weight of it which suggests a construction that is made to last, and can withstand being carried around in your bag or thrown in your purse and generally, can withstand a little bit of abuse. In terms of dimension, its length is about the same size as palm (14cm length-wise) , and it measures about 3cm across which makes it one of the larger brushes I have in my collection.
The design of the Real TechniquesRetractable Bronzer Brush is very well thought-out and takes both functionality and versatility into account. Most brushes that are made for traveling or have that retractable feature often lack the quality. This brush combines quality and a travel-friendly aspect which does not make it a redundant addition to my collection of brushes. When you are done with the brush, simply pull up the sleeve and pop on the lid which both protect the bristles and its shape as well as keep the bristles clean.
The bristles are dense, soft, and according to Sam (in the official video) have different textures. Made with synthetic taklon hair as the rest of the Real Techniques brushes, this brush is cruelty-free and not prone to shedding during washing or application. The bristles feel very soft on the skin, and picks up products easily. I like using this brush with finishing/setting powders, but the dimension of the brush does not make it a convenient one to use with blushes if you have a smaller face shape like myself.
Read More: Real Techniques Duo Fibre Collection.
This brush is best used with bronzers that are not too pigmented because it can be a little difficult to control with its larger shape. It would be great to use if you just want to add a quick wash of colour around the perimeter of your face and when precise work is not needed.
I mentioned that I used this brush as a foundation brush to stipple in liquid foundations. It worked well enough for me to cover the face quickly, but I find it to be a scratchy and the finish was uneven so I had to go back with another brush to clean up the foundation. It would be good to have in emergencies, but probably not for foundation on a daily basis.
Where to Find Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush.
Real Techniques can be found at Wal-Mart, select Pharmasave (for Canadian readers), or Ulta for US-based readers. For Canadian readers, Farleyco, the official distributor of Real Techniques in Canada, now has these new brushes (as well as the permanent range of RT brushes) on their website! They offer free ground shipping for orders over $50 (and trust me, you will probably spend that much or more once I have reviews of the other brushes up!) and since they are based in Canada, not only are you supporting Canadian businesses, but you probably will receive your order much faster (and no customs duties to worry about!)
For international-based readers who may not Real Techniques readily available, a good option (which I have tried before) is iHerb. If you are a first-time customer, you can save $5 off $30 or $10 off $40 order with this code (which I used for my purchase so I can vouch for its validity): BLC424. I was able to stack a 20% off deal (Black Friday) and the first time coupon code ($10 off) reduced the price I paid for brushes in my order quite a bit. Shipping to Canada was about $4 (Global Priority with DHL) for 4 sets of brushes and took around 3 weeks to arrive.
Read More: Real Techniques Travel Essentials Set | Review.
Overall, the Real TechniquesRetractable Bronzer Brush is another winner from Real Techniques; A travel-friendly, flat-top, duo-fibre bronzer brush that does not disappoint! Its construction is made to last, and can withstand being carried around in your bag or thrown in your purse. This brush combines quality and a travel-friendly aspect which does not make it a redundant addition to my collection of brushes. The design is very well thought-out and takes both functionality and versatility into account. I like using this brush with finishing/setting powders and would be great to use if you just want to add a quick wash of colour around the perimeter of your face particularly when precise work is not needed.
How about you? Will you be purchasing the Real TechniquesRetractable Bronzer Brush?
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