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Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge

I am a big Pixiwoo fan as well as being a Real Techiniques fan. If you didn’t know Real Techniques stems from sisters Sam and Nic Chapman. They are both professional makeup artist, youtubers, authors and creators of Real Techniques.

I have alot of Real Techniques brushes in my collection and am a big fan of their Miracle Complexion sponge. This year they have expanded their makeup sponge range. I want to talk about one of them in this post, the Miracle Sculpting Sponge.

I bought the Miracle Sculpting Sponge after seeing Sharon Farrell talking about it and using it on her Youtube channel (which I will link here). You should totally check her out 🙂

It’s a funny looking sponge I know. I think it’s shaped a bit like a pointy snowman myself 🙂

It is described as having six surfaces, so you can use it to apply and blend contour, highlight as well as foundation, concealer and powder. They can say you can use it wet or dry too. I, so far have only used it wet. Here is the comparison in size between wet and dry.

In Gemma terms. I love this sponge. It is really soft and squidgy and it’s latex free. When wet, it expands so it covers more surface area. It also doesn’t soak up all your products and blends liquids in super easy. The shape does take a minute to get used too in your hand. I use it for applying foundation, concealer, cream contour and bronzer. But, I also really love using it for applying my setting powder. I am going through a bit of under eye baking faze and this sponge really works a treat for it because you you can get right in under the eyes using the small, flat pointed end.

I do like that it has a different sized em…ends. I use the big flat end for foundation then the more rounded end on the opposite side for cream concealer. But, when it comes to deep cleaning it can cause a bit of a problem. Mine was ruined by scrubbing it too hard and the skinnier neck part of it split. I didn’t have it very long when it happened which is annoying, so it’s just something to note. Don’t be too heavy handed with it. Although saying that, I am still using it damaged and it is working grand for me.

Overall, I am a big fan of the Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge.

For me, it wins over the Miracle Complexion Sponge, not because of the shape but because it’s softer and feels nicer (dare I say more bouncier) on the skin :).

You can buy them from Boots in store or online here and Cloud10Beauty here. They retail for between €7 and €8 depending on where you buy.

xxx

October 19, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

Inglot AMC Brow Liner Gel – Review

You know, the first ever blog post I wrote was about the Inglot AMC Gel Liner in black 77, still a staple in my makeup today, but the blogpost here I suppose was a little bit more rough around the edges 🙂

I am here today talking about my newest Inglot purchase. Their new AMC Brow Gel Liner.

I picked up the shade number 17 and I think it’s a pretty good match for my medium/dark brows. They come in an array of colours and the girls will gladly match you up to the one that suits your colouring the best.

The pot itself is absolutely tiny (2 grams to be exact), but I had it on good authority from Sinead of The Beautiful Truth that a little product goes a long way and she wasn’t kidding.

This stuff is ridiculously pigmented. I bought the Anastasia Dipbrow when it was first released here, so I have used a gel for my brows before. I still have the Anastasia one, but it has dried up so is more difficult to use. I think I like the Inglot version of it better anyhow.

Here’s my brows with no product.

I start off by combing my brows with a spooley to get any foundation off them.

It goes on super easy, so much so you have to be very aware of how much is on your brush, be sure to take the access off in the lid before you apply.

I use the Inglot 31T angled brush. I apply it to the tail of my brows first as that’s where I want the most product I use the brush in flicking motions on the brow to try to (kinda) mimic hairs rather than just putting down a complete block of colour.

Then, whatever is left on the brush I apply it to the front of my brow again flicking it into the hairs and trying to just fill in the gaps and make my brows look more groomed. I have a good amount of brow, they just don’t grow how I want them too. And sometimes I get a bit too over zealous with the tweezers aswell…it’s a problem :p

Then I comb through again with a spooley to take away any excess gel.

The Inglot AMC Brow Gel Liner stays put once it’s applied. My brows get pretty oily throughout the day so, usually if I use something like a pencil I’ll set it with a powder aswell just to lock in the colour for as long as I can. I find the Inglot gel liner lasts really on me. I do use a brow gel on top, but that’s more to keep the brows I already have in place rather then to help set the product. This one here is the Essence Make Me Brow which I love and have a review of here.

Here’s one brow finished. You can see the difference right? 🙂

Then two brows completed.

I really like the Inglot Brow Gel Liner. It’s pigmented, it goes on smoothly, it’s easy to use and it lasts. You can use it sparingly for more natural brows, or go full on with it for more bushy caterpillars, whatever your preference 🙂

It will set you back €16 and it will honestly last you an age!

xxx

September 11, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem

My Top Five Eyeshadow Brushes

When I say top five eyeshadow brushes, I don’t mean you have to run out and buy these specific brushes. I just mean having similar brushes in your life will make your eyeshadow application a little bit easier.

I’m a firm believer in letting your eyeshadow brushes do the work for you. Obviously, makeup lovers tend to accumulate alot of brushes over time, but if you take care of yours, I think 5 (or so) will get you through any makeup look.

First and foremost, you need a blending brush.

Blending brushes can be used for pretty much everything.

The Mac 217 is probably the most infamous blending brush, but most brands have their own version of them nowadays. I use a blending brush for applying my crease colour and blending it out softly . As they have a rounded top, you use the higher bristles to apply the products and then diffuse it using the whole of the brush. It’s handy to have two blending brushes in your collection so if the one you are using gets too much product on it, you can switch, but you can always just wipe it off as you go. Noone wants a muddy crease line do they? 🙂 A blending brush works just as good for applying colour all over the lid to, so it’s a bit of a multi tasker in your arsenal which is never a bad thing.

For more defined crease work a tapered brush will come in very handy.

These are just examples of what I use, but again anything similar you can get your hands on will work fine. You just want a soft(ish) brush with a more pointed top. It will let you isolate the colour more when adding it to the crease, so you get a more distinct line there, but you can still use it to feather out the colour if it’s looking a bit too harsh.

A flat brush is a great one to have in your collection too and is definitely a part of my top five eyeshadow brushes list.

Something you can pack colour onto the lid with. It’s great to have a bigger one and a smaller one, but whatever your budget allows is really ok. You just don’t want something too big, unless you’re just using it for washes of colour all across the lid.

I think a pencil brush is another essential brush to have in your collection.

Like a blending brush, they can be used for a plethora of reasons. To apply colour under the lash line, above the lashline, in the tear duct, on the brow brone, or for applying very precise lines in the crease, if you are being particularly fancy.

Finally, I think an eyeliner brush is a must.

I think which one you choose comes down to comfortability really. Whether you are a bent liner brush gal, a straight thin brush, or one of an angled variety, there’s one of to suit all.

There are so many brands out there now that do fab eyeshadow brushes, for all different uses and price points. Sigma, Zoeva, Louise Young, Real Techniques, Mac the list is endless. And us Irish have some fab brands on our doorstep like Nima Brushes and Blank Canvas Cosmetics which is pretty brilliant.

When it comes to real hair or synthetic, just remember don’t apply liquid products with real hair brushes, it will soak up all the product and it will probably damage your brushes in the process too. Synthetic brushes are much more suited to this and you can apply powder with them aswell.

There you have it my top five eyeshadow brushes. I hope that was somewhat helpful, if you’re in the market. If you have any more questions, just ask me in the comments sure 🙂

Thanks for reading.

xxx

August 5, 2015/6 Comments/by Gem