I’ve been wanting to tell you about the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for a while now, but kept putting it off. Recently, when I shared the super efficient liquid foundation application tutorial, quite a few of you expressed an interest in using or owning a face brush, and specifically, in the Shiseido Perfect Foundation brush which I had been raving about before. If I’m to be honest, its not the most expensive brush you’ll buy, at just RM95 and it’ll last you a long long time.
But I know some of you operate on a budget, so here’s a good alternative for a face/foundation brush – the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. Before I send you on a wild goose chase (because I do like this brush a lot too!) I must tell you that I have no idea where its available locally or if its available at Shins where some other Real Techniques brushes have been spotted. I’ll tell you below where its available online but if you know whether it can be found here, please share the info!
Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman is a range of makeup brushes created with one half of the sisters running the Youtube/beauty blogger/makeup artists channel, Pixiwoo. I don’t personally watch Youtube beauty videos but I have watched some Pixiwoo videos and they are easy to follow and understand. None of the rambling you get with some other vloggers. If I were to do video, I’d ramble on so long, I’d forget what the subject matter was. Rather like what my posts are like 😛 But I digress! (as usual) What is it about the RT Expert Face Brush then?
At the height of the raves when the Real Techniques line was first launched, I purchased a set of Real Techniques Core Collection brushes which come as a set of 4 face brushes. The yellow aluminium bodies tell you at a glance that these brushes are face brushes. Very helpful colour coordination, that!
The only brush from the Core Collection that I ever really used or liked, was the Buffing Brush. Its why I never blogged about the Core Collection. I wasn’t terribly impressed despite all the raves.
The Buffing Brush was meant for powder foundation or mineral foundation and as the name implies, is to be used in a buffing motion, to give a flawless, full coverage finish. I however, would use it to apply liquid foundation, or to buff or blend liquid foundation and it works well!
The synthetic bristles are soft against the skin and the head is dense enough yet pliable enough to give a smooth, even finish to any foundation you apply on skin.
So, when I came upon the stand alone Expert Face Brush, I was a little curious if it was similar. It did look rather similar. At the princely sum of US$9 I just had to pick it up and give it a go.
Well, colour me impressed!
The Expert Face Brush is nothing like the Buffing Brush so if you are thinking of owning both, go right ahead. The head of the brush is more dense and tightly packed, it is structured to be a little more flat, and the shorter bristles mean that there is less give and its less pliable. The slightly flatter structure mean its easier to buff and blend product and to get into the crevices around the nose and eyes etc.
The synthetic bristles are soft and dense and it doesn’t hurt your skin even if you buff product in. I have tried the 5-line liquid foundation application technique with this brush and it works a treat and here’s the deal, is even quicker than using a flat paddle brush! So far, this is my favourite brush to use alongside the flat top foundation brushes that I own.
Here are some comparison photographs to show you the differences between the Expert Face Brush and the Buffing Brush. You can see that the Buffing Brush is rounder and the bristles are longer. It is also less dense and works well for liquid or powder foundation, giving a lovely flawless finish.
The Expert Face Brush doesn’t work as well for powder foundation, but it works very well for liquid or creamy foundation, similarly giving an even, flawless finish to skin. Used with the application technique I showed you before, this, its quick and quite flawless.
The upside of these brushes, price aside, is that I find them much easier to clean than the Shiseido Perfect Foundation brush, which is a pain in the @$$ 😛 For me, I find that as the brush isn’t as dense as the Shiseido one, its easier to get into the bristles and clean them. The smooth synthetic bristles are also easy to wash and dry.
One more difference between the Expert Face Brush and the Buffing Brush lies in the base. The Expert Face Brush is a standalone brush and quite literally, can stand alone. The base is widened so you can stand it unassisted on your dresser. Not quite sure why you’d do so, but you can if you want. The brushes that come in the set don’t have this widened base and therefore are not stand alone (hur hur 😛 )
So in a nutshell, get this if you’re on a budget. Or even if you’re not on a budget. Its a good brush to have in your arsenal 🙂
In a nutshell
The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush is a synthetic brush made for application of liquid or cream foundation. The dense slightly domed brush head makes it easy to apply and blend foundation in a buffing motion, and the soft dense bristles give skin a flawless appearance with minimal to no streaking if you do it right. Its an excellent brush, both in terms of use, application and price and worthy to have in anyone’s brush arsenal. Some people have mentioned that their brushes shed but I didn’t experience any shedding despite having washed it numerous times. Maybe I got lucky.
Pros: Bristles and soft against skin, Light handle yet well weighted when held, Bright body colour makes the brush easy to spot in your collection, Dense bristles buff product well giving a smooth, flawless appearance, Affordable
Cons: Not easily available
Who will like this: Anyone who needs a liquid/cream foundation brush, Anyone on a budget
Now for the $64,000 question. Where is this available?
As I said, I don’t know about local availability. If it is, please let us know where you’ve seen it. Some other RT brushes including the sets are available in Shins (I know only of a store in MidValley Megamall). Depending on where you are in the world, you can find a list of places to buy Real Techniques brushes here. Not listed, is iherb.com where you can pick up a brush or two while shopping for your health supplements (You can use my iherb code MPW213 to get 5% off your order) 🙂 Also note that I’ve realised that Real Techniques brushes sold on UK websites are substantially more expensive than on iherb so if you can, buy off iherb. I bought mine from HQHair which I no longer recommend for shipping to Malaysia because shipping used to be reasonably priced and even free but they now charge an astronomical wallet-busting sum of £18.99! So avoid at all costs.
Do you own the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush? Have you used any other Real Techniques brushes and do you like them?
I have the Core Collection (which I find meh) and the Blush Brush (also meh because its far too big) and this Expert Face Brush and the last one is the best of all I’ve tried so far. Definitely hits or misses with the brand. Let me know if you want an overview of the other Real Techniques brushes I have 🙂
Paris B
Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Expert Face Brush Price: RRP US$9 Availability: List of websites here and also iherb.com (Use code MPW213 to get 5% off your order!) and locally possibly in Shins
I love the buffing brush and the contour brush (i use it to highlight areas of my face as i don’t do much contouring). These are staples in my brush collection. I prefer to use this buffing brush on days when I’m in a rush over the shiseido brush (which takes more time to blend but works to a more classy finish). It gives me a streak free and even overall application that’s really quick to achieve. I love this anytime over the foundation brushes i’ve tried by far. And thanks for review, I’m off to get the Expert Face Brush! 🙂
You’re absolutely right about the buffing brush vs the Shiseido brush, Lisa. I use the flat tops when I’ve got time to spare because the finish is lovely, but when I’m in a hurry and just want foundation done quickly, this or the buffing brush is the way I go. The Expert Face Brush is a bit stiffer than the Buffing Brush but I find it useful for getting the foundation right especially around the eye and nose area 🙂
I dont watch them, I much appreciate Lisa Eldridge, Charlotte Tilbury or Monika Blunder for their skills AND creativity, not mentioning what kind of people they were working on. But I have decided to buy her eye brushes, they re good but Im spoiled by Tom Ford and Bobbi Brown brushes really! I still use them though. I think they re the best if you are on a budget, soft, dont shed and work well.
I guess I don’t watch enough Youtube to know the difference LOL Most of the time when I do watch, its when I happen to stumble on their, or anyone’s videos But you’ve given me food for thought! 😉 I don’t think they compare to any of the higher end brushes that’s for sure, and I chose not to get their eye brushes because I’m not much of a fan of synthetic eye brushes. Still, they do a pretty good job at a small pricetag and if they go missing or get damaged while travelling, I won’t feel so bad! 😀
See, I’ve always thought that the Face Brush was the Buffing Brush! No wonder when I tell people to get the Buffing Brush and see that they do, I kept thinking that they bought the wrong one!
I don’t use the Face Brush to apply foundation. I find it particularly useful for face contouring, especially the cheeks. 🙂
hahahahahaha!!! Your story made me laughed! 😀 I can imagine their face when they showed you the “wrong” brush! :p
Anyhow, it’s really expensive buying these in Australia!! I think buying via online websites is better. 🙂
Hahaha! I thought they were similar too and thought myself an idiot for getting both. There were some reviews online that said they are essentially the same thing but when I got it, I realised they aren’t the same thing at all! I haven’t tried using it for contouring. Maybe this will help me learn how to 😛
I JUST did a quick review of these brushes and I am in love with their stippling brush for putting on foundation and they are indeed really soft! I also bought the travel essential set and found the eyeshadow brush is awesome for blending and multi purpose brush is great for putting on powder to set everything. not liking the prickly foundation brush though. I got them all from iHerb.com and they were so much cheaper it was definitely worth the 2 weeks wait!
Ah snap, Dina! 😉 I have their stippling brush too but I never got the fuss because I’ve never been able to get a stippling brush to work very well. Maybe its just me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these brushes!
One of the most detailed and informative review on the Real Techniques brushes that I’ve read. I’ve been loving my buffing brush, expert face brush too. You should really try the blush brush! 🙂
I got all my Real Techniques brushes from iherb.com. It’s a great site with reasonable shipping fees to MY (between USD4-USD6). I’ve been shopping there a lot, it typically takes 3-4 weeks in delivery to KL. You can use code FPK731 to get $5 off your first time order (or $10 off for orders more than $40)
I’m glad you found it useful, Aiyu 😀 I have the blush brush and I love how fluffy and soft it is, but I find it far too big for my face 🙁 Its like I’m applying blush all over my face! It makes a great powder brush too LOL! 😀 Thanks for sharing about iherb too. I haven’t bought anything there myself but I’m always including my orders into other people’s orders hehe… Maybe its time to make my own 😉
Paris,
I initially has the same problem with you with the blush brush. It felt too big. But this is where the tulip shape of the brush comes in. I only brush the tapered end onto my cheeks. Works like a charm for me. Hope it helps 🙂
Yes, I highly encourage you to get your own Iherb account to enjoy the USD5-10 off discount.
Ah! I’ll have to give it another go, Aiyu 😀 Thanks!
i really like the face brush, it’s inexpensive and really good for the quality. regretting not picking up one more when i saw on iherb for 20% !!! so i can continue using it without washing the brushes weekly 😀
Ahhh there was a discount going on?! Although since the price is already so low, the difference isn’t that big is it? 😉 But yeah definitely inexpensive enough to own a couple
I like the Expert Face Brush so much that I bought one 3 weeks ago and bought another one a week ago. I bought both of them from iherb. I use one for foundation and the other one for contouring. They just do the job perfectly.
Wow! Big fan right there, Phay! 😀 Good to know they work well for you too and now that everyone says its great for contouring, I must try!
Loving this brush alot cos it makes my foundation application routine goes like a dream. I bought mine from drugstore.com during their buy 1 get 2nd 50% off.
Ah that’s a great deal, Jess! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one
Fantastic review! I got all my real technique brushes from iherbs! they really ship super fast plus for for first time buyers there is 10$ off discount as well..makes shipping almost free 🙂
Thank you Parita and thanks for sharing your thoughts on iherb too! I think its time I place my own orders instead of just sharing with others 😉
I’ve got both and others as well! I still prefer to use the buffing brush for liquid foundation as it’s softer. I use the expert face brush for contouring like Tine. I must say I don’t have a single event of fallen hair (from all the RT brushes, that is) which is excellent! In general, I do like them a lot. The blush brush sucks at picking up baked blush, but is otherwise great for normal powder blush.
iherb is an interesting website. I so need to check it out!! :p
Yep, the Expert brush is a bit stiffer but I find it easier to deal with around the eye and nose area. Buffing brush works much better for the cheeks where there’s a wider area to work with 🙂 Everyone is using their Expert Face Brush to contour! I must try! 😀 I Haven’t had problems with my brushes either so for the price, I’d say its a steal all around!
I bought my RT brushes from iherb but it is available locally at Shins. There’s one branch at 1 Utama near Cold Storage.
Yep, I’ve seen them at Shins but they go out of stock very quickly and I don’t think they sell this particular brush, only the sets. That said, I’d rather buy from iherb because Shins marks up the price something dreadful!
Oooh I wish you had posted this sooner! I just ordered a bunch of stuff from iHerb with a 10% discount promo! I bought another foundation brush too ironically! It’s not RT but so far it’s quite good!
Alamak! Maybe next order? 😉
I only got the core collection. The brushes are affordable and amazing i must say. Not one single fallout yet. The buffing brush works wonder for liquid and mineral foundation. But i also find that the pointed foundation brush works well in applying foundation too. Some might say it’s too small and prefer using it for concealer. But i tried applied it using the 5 line technique and i’m impressed with the result, plus it’s fast. Thanks for the tips Paris! 🙂
Agree with you Liyana, the quality belies the pricetag 😀 I haven’t really tried using the pointed foundation brush for foundation because as you have said, it works really well for concealer and covers a large area more quickly 😀 I find it a bit “thin” for applying foundation because I prefer something more dense, but I’ll give it a go anyway, since you said it works! 😉
Hi Paris, this is hands down my favourite RT brush. Malaysians can easily get this from sgdrugstore.com, and it’s much cheaper than getting it at Shins. I got some of mine from there, and the transaction is smooth and easy.
Hurrah! This is a fave-worthy brush, and best of all, is affordable! 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion on where to get it. I haven’t tried using their services but I know they get a lot of raves. Shins is terribly overpriced isn’t it? I was quite shocked when I saw the prices.
Ahh it seems like everyone is so impressed with the Expert Face Brush! I know bloggers who prefer this to Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush, and for the past couple of months I kept wondering if I should get a second Shiseido or go for this one! Maybe I should do both since Real Techniques isn’t pricey. Thanks for the review, Paris! I value your opinion, and now I know I won’t need the set :p
Hmm I don’t prefer this to the Shiseido, to be honest Sunny. Its still Shiseido/Dior flat top brush all the way for me and its only if I want to travel or if I’m in a hurry and don’t need the perfect base, that I use this so its more like my backup than my go-to foundation brush, if you get my meaning 🙂 Its just affordable and a good foundation brush option to have that’s all 😀 You won’t need the set, I’m sure. You’ll already have so many other wonderful brushes in your collection! 😀
I just got my RT last week from iherb. Bought the blush brush, face brush, powder brush. Just started using them, so far so good ^^
That’s great to know ChristyK, thanks for sharing! 😀
I love all the Real Technique brushes! I have got as many of them as I can find in Singapore… almost the whole collection. And while there are one or two misses, the rest are phenomenal!
I am currently loving the stippling brush for applying ultra pigmented blushes like NARS.
Ahhh a fan of RT brushes! 😀 I have the stippling brush too but I never got the hang of using one, even for pigmented blush! I usually just use a very soft blush brush for strong blushes and it works well for me because its so soft, it picks up less product and blends well. But I know the RT stippling brush gets a lot of love and I can’t deny its lovely and soft yet dense!
So. The RT Expert Face Brush huh. Hmm. I like the Pixiwoo sisters, and I like Sam’s brushes as well. I enjoy the buffing brush, the contour brush, the multi-task brush, and the eyeshadow base brush. Been a bit “meh” about the Expert Face Brush tho it’s been geting a tonne of raves, so I passed on that one. I still prefer flat top brushes for my liquid and cream foundies. Hmm. Now you’ve got me thinking.. (not that I need anymore brushes!) Expert Face Brush…. sigh
Ah Ika, if you prefer using a flat top brush, then this won’t be for you. I find it faster in a sense, but it doesn’t give as lovely a finish if that makes sense? So, I won’t use this brush if I wanted a nice finish for my base, but I will use it when pressed for time. Chances are, you don’t need this one 😉
Gah!!! I have the sudden urge to run out to Ulta and get both of these now, even though I already own like a gazillion brushes. 😛
While I like the 5-line technique, the conventional paddle brush is not giving me the finish that I’m used to when I use the Beauty Blender. The RT Expert Face Brush sounds like the solution 😉
You lucky duck to be actually able to run out to Ulta! 😛 There’s so many drugstore goodies to be found there isn’t there? Have you tried the Sonia Kashuk brushes which I think are sold in Target? They are really good too and I hear her new ones are amazing too. We don’t head a lot about them because its just at Target but I own a couple of her older brushes and I think they’re worth checking out too.
In fact, I did get the Sonia Kashuk powder brush that you recommended. Best budget brush that I’ve tried. I don’t even use my MAC brush to powder anymore. And drugstore products are so accessible here that I went a tiny bit overboard with the hauling. 😛
Oh yay! Sonia Kashuk makes some really good brushes 😀 I think if I were in the US, I’d go mad in the drugstores. Just as well I’m not there LOL!
Hi Paris, I own several bruhses from Real Tecniques. I am happy with them, excellent choice for anyone on a budget. They are reliable and good enough to apply anyone´s make up. I bought mine at iherb, easy available and affordable shipping worldwide. I have placed several orders from them, always good. This is a discount code for any
one´s first order: SPB704 , 5$ off orders up to 40$, 10$ orders above 40$.
Sorry, I wrote the wrong before. Write one is: SBP704
You’re absolutely right about it being a good wallet friendly option, Pipa! 😀 Thanks for the iherb codes too!