Surely you've heard of this? I've been meaning to mention this in my monthly favourites for ages, but keep on forgetting! So, here is a proper post all about it...
Real Techniques are a brand that I am really beginning to love and trust. I've already mentioned the sponge in my June Favourites. Which, if you've not already read, you can find here.
I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that this makes your foundation look amazing. Products which you'd usually apply with your fingers look ten times better when applied with this brush. According to Sam Chapman, one of those behind Real Techniques, you can use this to apply powder and blusher too.
The brush is made from synethic bristles, which are 100% cruelty-free, just in case you were worried about having animal testing on your conscience. The bristles are also firm and broad, which makes it perfect for applying both liquid and cream foundations. It seems to be really soft and gentle too, which ensures that it doesn't aggravate any dry or sensitive skin patches.
The handle's quite chunky so it's relatively easy to grip; and it's made of Aluminium, so isn't heavy at all. Just in case you were previously struggling under the extreme weight of your old makeup brushes...
You can really buff the product into your skin without it looking 'cakey' by the time you've finished. (I don't want the nickname 'Cakey Katie'...) This brush is absolutely great for preventing over-application of foundation, which is so easy to do with your fingers. The finish it leaves is beautiful and this is the only foundation brush I've ever used that doesn't leave streaks!
Back in the day, before I discovered Real Techniques, I applied foundation with my fingers... A sin, I know... However, I've used this pretty much every day since I picked it up in July. I wash it weekly and it's still in perfect condition. Bristles aren't falling out (which is one of my pet hates) and it's not deteriorating in any other way.
Brushes from the Real Techniques range are colour-coded too, which is really handy!
Gold = Base brushes.
The brush costs £9.99 in Boots, which I know is quite pricey; and that's what initially dissuaded me from buying it, but... Once you've tried it, you realise it's genuinely worth the price!
This is pretty much a self-explanatory post, to be honest! You can now become a fan of Katie Writes on Facebook! How exciting is that?
(Not very, you could argue, but please don't; because I'll cry if you do).
So, those of you who aren't on Bloglovin', Instagram or Twitter can now get updates straight through Facebook. Become a fan and get my incessant ramblings delivered straight to your news feed...
Go on! You know you want to!
On Friday when I reviewed some foundation I called it 'Foundation Friday' and I'm not ashamed to call today 'Mascara Monday' either...
To call this an understated product is such an understatement. It's one that I've overlooked for years, if I'm honest. It's one of those great 'traditional' mascaras that's been on shelves for as long as you can remember and that's really stood the test of time.
The packaging, for starters, is something that's really quite hard to miss. It's a bit...garish, potentially? Bright pink and lime green...? Although, maybe I shouldn't be judging this book by its cover.
Maybelline have a good history of making bestseller mascaras. Great Lash is cheap, it's good and it does exactly what it says on the tin... Even if that 'tin' is so brightly coloured that you practically need sunglasses just to glance at it.
The brush is pretty bog standard. (Not bog brush. Don't apply your mascara with one of those, please. Imagine the germs, not to mention the panda eyes.) It's fibrous, not a 'show-off-y' plastic one and the shape is pretty standard too. As you can see from the third picture, I've compared the wand with Max Factor's False Lash Effect. The MF one has plastic bristles, as opposed to Maybelline's traditional fibre ones.
If you prefer a chunkier wand, you might be better off with a different product. Although, this would be great for coating your lower lashes, even if you don't use it for anything else.
There aren't even weird or science-y boasts about this product and with some of the stuff that cosmetics companies come out with nowadays, maybe that's a breath of fresh air?
I've been using the shade Blackest Black, but you can also buy Black/Brown, if that's more your cup of tea. There's also a waterproof option on offer too, for those who prefer that! They like to call Blackest Black 'Ultra Noir', because it sounds quite posh.
It's not going to leave you with lashes that look too dramatic, which makes it great for using as a daytime mascara. Like with Rimmel's new Wonder'Full mascara, you might need something with a little more 'oomph' for nights out. Also like Wonder'Full, it also promises to condition your lashes. I'm not sure whether or not it's worked for me...
There's nothing special about it and maybe that's what makes it so good? Brand after brand bring out new mascaras that claim to do all these fancy things for you and sometimes they fail to deliver. With this you're unlikely to be disappointed because it doesn't bang on needlessly about giving your lashes loads of volume or making them look false.
Now I will admit that I did suffer from a little bit of smudging under my eyes after a few hours. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll know how much I despise smudgy mascaras... It wasn't too bad and seeing as the mascara's so cheap, I'm willing to let it off. I even managed to get away without suffering from the dreaded 'clumpiness', which is brilliant for such a budget mascara.
Great Lash retails for £4.99 and it is a little smaller than your average mascara tube... Size isn't everything, after all. You can pick it up in drugstores and probably even the odd supermarket too!
If you're looking for a good mascara that's not going to cost the earth, then this is one to seriously consider.
I'm a green/herbal tea addict. I'll be the first to admit that. So, I thought I'd discuss something a little different for a change... Just in case you were bored of me banging on and on about makeup.
If you hadn't already guessed, I'm talking about this relatively new tea from Twinings: The Double Mint Sensation. Or Intensely Double Mint. Whatever you want to call it. It's basically peppermint tea, but also with added peppermint oil, so that's where the 'double' bit comes from...
If you're in dire need of a warm, but seriously refreshing beverage, this is a great one to try.
You get 20 sachets in a box. I love the fact that they come in sachets rather than unwrapped bags, because it's easier to take them out and about with you. You can take them to work, or just leave one in your handbag in case you get an emergency case of 'tea-withdrawal'.*
*It happens a lot to English people. Don't judge us, okay?
You probably don't even need to brush your teeth after drinking this, because your breath is so minty and fresh. I would clean your teeth anyway though... So that they don't end up going rotten and falling out...
The longer you leave the bag in, the mintier the tea is, obviously. Twinings advise you to infuse for 3-4 minutes, but leave the bag in longer if you want a seriously minty kick.
Dear Reader, this post isn't sponsored. Having said that, if Twinings see this and want to send me free tea, they're very welcome. HINT HINT.
If you fancy trying it, you can buy a pack for £2-£2.50 from any UK supermarket!
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