Not Quite A Beauty Blender...But Just As Good?!

When it comes to applying my base make-up I'm definitely one for using a buffing brush of sorts as using my fingers just doesn't seem very hygienic and those flat 'foundation brushes' just don't do it for me. I have been on the hunt for something to rival my much loved Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I think I may have found just that in the form of the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It's basically a more affordable - and slightly differently shaped - Beauty Blender and that is something I've wanted to try for a long time but with it not exactly being the cheapest of make-up sponges around, I put off buying it. The Miracle Complexion sponge however is a mere £5.99 and from what I can gather, it isn't all that dissimilar providing exactly the same results, if not better. 

I've been using the RT sponge to blend out my under-eye concealer as it's perfect for getting into the corners and packing down that coverage with the pointed end. I've also tried it for foundation application and though this isn't my preferred method, it did do the job well and I've since just been using it after my buffing brush as a way of blending out any areas I got a tad to heavy-handed with  foundation. The sponge has the usual pointed end and then unlike the Beauty Blender, it has a flat surface at the other end making it easier to use; it also expands to almost double its size when wet so that helps if you are going to use it to apply your foundation. If you have oily skin I'd say this sponge is best used dry to bring down any shine in the face, but if you're after that added glow trying dampening it for a more flawless finish.

So although I am keen to try out the Beauty Blender to really compare the two (I'll do a comparison post if I do), for the moment I'm happy with how the Real Techniques version finishes my skin and I may just have become a beauty sponge convert. I'm not sure I'll be retiring my buffing brushes just yet but they definitely have some serious competition.

Have you tried the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge? What are your thoughts on it?

Controlling Oily Skin

Generally I have quite oily skin around my t-zone and especially with summer on its way, I'm always looking for products that will help stop my makeup completely sliding off my face mid-way through the day. After searching for some time and trying out a a lot of things I think I've finally got my oily skin under control using just two (or sometimes three) products!

If you have oily skin you generally want to stay away from dewy foundations as these tend to just slide right off the face and with having oily skin to begin with, you shouldn't really find the need to add more dewiness anyway. I find that mattifying foundations work best and I'm currently using the L'Oreal Infallible 24hr Matte as this gives my skin a nice coverage but because it's matte, it doesn't make my skin look oily throughout the day. With this particular foundation I don't ever feel the need to use a powder over the top but if I'm using a slightly less matte foundation then I will apply a dusting of Rimmel's Stay Matte powder to keep my base in place without making my skins look cakey. 

To finish up my make-upend keep everything in place all day, I like to use Mac Fix+ as a makeup setting spray. This helps my makeup settle and gives a natural glow without the excess oils that I don't want. I like to use this spray pretty much everyday and with a good skincare routine underneath, my make-up stays put pretty much all day.

Do you have oily skin? What products do you use to help your make-up stay in place?

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £10.99 (Amazon), £11.99 (Boots)

I've been recently getting a lot more into beauty items than I used to be, looking into different foundations especially to try to achieve that flawless base look. Now normally I'd just apply foundations with my fingers but I really want to try out a brush to see if it really does make a difference in the finish look, so I invested in my first Real Techniques brush and chose the stippling brush after reading its claims to give an 'airbrushed, high definition' result. For those of you who don't know, Real Techniques is the brand created by make-up artist Samantha Chapman who is also one half of the Youtube channel Pixiwoo. 

My verdict? Well, the first thing I noticed was the colour and the overall shape of the whole brush. All the brushes are colour coded and this one is a lovely pink colour which is always a welcome addition. As for the shape, the brush is actually freestanding so this makes for easy storage and the handle itself is a great shape to hold comfortably in the hand. The bristles are flat-topped and made from a synthetic, duo fibre material meaning no stray hairs left on the face and also a really good, dense application. One thing I must mention though is the size of the brush, it's on the small side so you must be prepared for it to take slightly longer to apply a full face, but for me, this hasn't been a huge issue at all. 

I honestly feel that the claims of giving an airbrushed result are very true, as long as you are prepared to spend slightly longer applying to allow for both full coverage and the stippling motion in problem areas. Although I love this brush, I'm keen to try out the ever raved about buffing brush which is said to be a much better way of apply foundation; for now though, I'll be gladly sticking to the stippling brush. 

Emma xo 

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