My brow products (and a first impression)

Hi everyone,

I've been away from the blogosphere for a while now because of school and every deadline under the sun, but I've been spending some money so I'll be doing some reviews/ first impression posts hopefully soon.

Today I'll be doing a post on eyebrow products as I love a good eyebrow, and I'll be giving you an insight on my first impression of one specific product!

At the minute, I use mac eyeshadow in 'charcoal brown' due to Tanya Burr using it on her eyebrows in lots of her old YouTube videos. I love the way my eyebrows look when I apply this, and the application time is literally like 10 seconds, it's so easy!

I used to use pencils to fill in my brows when I first started getting into makeup, however I didn't like the way that they applied, I thought that they looked too waxy and streaky on my eyebrows. However I've since actually learnt how to use them and how to apply it onto your brow. I lightly dash it onto my brows and this makes it look more natural.

The last brow product I have and will be talking about is 'maybelline brow drama', it is a sculpting mascara and just putting it straight out there; I would not recommend!! It looked a dupe of the benefit gimme brow which I have resisted into buying it as I don't feel my brows are the right shape/too sparse to use it. Also it is quite expensive for the little tube it comes in. Obviously I wanted to try something like it before I splash the cash so I chose this product. I am not liking it, it goes on my skin above and below the brow rather than on the actual brow. I did get the lightest colour (there was only 2 shades) because I thought the darkest would be too dark for me, I was probably wrong. I just don't feel it gives any colour at all and it doesn't really shape the brows like what it says it does. Has anyone had the same problem with this product or just me?! Let me know!:)

Anyone have any different brow products they use which they think I should try? I'd love to try more:) Also if anybody has tried the benefit gimme brow make sure to tell me because I do reallllly want to try it!!!

Brush Cleaning Day

Hi everyone,

I used to always want to know how to clean makeup brushes when I first got my expensive brushes so I looked into it all over the internet. There weren't that many good websites/blog posts so I thought i'd show you my way of how I like to clean my brushes just incase you're looking too!

I decided not to invest in brush cleaner because 1. It's expensive and 2. I found some posts which said that it wasn't as good as baby shampoo. Baby shampoo is literally so cheap, I got it from a pound shop for something like 96p and it gives your brushes a really good deep clean.

I get a bit of the shampoo on my hand and dampen the ends of the brush. Then in circle motions work the brush into the baby shampoo until you think its clean (this will only take like 30-40 seconds.) To get rid of the dirty excess shampoo on your brush and hand, rinse it lightly under slighty warm water, (don't get the bottom end of the brush wet because the water will run down and unstick the glue which will then result in your brissles falling out!!). Once you've rinsed it add a small amount of the shampoo onto the tip of your brush and using circular motion gently rub the brush onto kitchen towel, (I would receommend kitchen towel rather than toilet paper because it's thicker and the toilet paper will break apart). When there is no colour coming off onto the kitchen towel your brush is clean. Make sure you leave your brushes laying flat or hanging upside down with the brissles of the brush facing downwards, otherwise the water will run into the glue and your brush will fall apart.
Once all my brushes have been cleaned, I make sure the brissles are back in the direction they should be because they will dry into that place, I place them onto kitchen towel and put them on a window cill facing sunlight or on/near a radiator. They will take a good few hours to dry so I would recommend cleaning them before bed so they are dry for when you want to use them the next day.

So my top tips are:
1. Use baby shampoo instead of brush cleaner because it's cheaper and gives a deeper clean
2. Clean your brushes using circular motions
3. Make sure you put the brissels back into their right direction before drying
4. Lay your brushes flat or upside down to dry

If you have any other tips or questions for cleaning brushes let me know in the comments below and i'll be sure to try them and try to answer your questions:) Also I am no expert so this might not be right, but it's just a way I find gives my brushes a good deep clean.
I clean my brushes once every 2-3 weeks because I only use them on me and not other people, and because it is a deep clean, they don't need to be cleaned every week (well I don't think so anyway haha)

Thanks for reading:)

Love Kieren x

My 'Real Techniques' brush collection

Hi everyone,

I've been umming and arring for a while now to do this post (mainly because I needed to clean my brushes), and finally decided to press post, so hope you enjoy:)

I forgot to photograph them after I cleaned them so this

is after a couple of uses.. Do mind me haha!

My collection of Real Techniques brushes started in April last year, I first bought the 'Expert face brush' and I absolutley loved it! Because I loved it so much, I then bought the powder brush and blush brush together on a buy 1 get 2nd half price, which offer is nearly always on in boots, and I love these two just as much! They are all so soft and i'm sometimes late getting ready in the morning because I sit stroking my face with the powder brush hahaha!

When my sister moved to Uni in September, as a leaving present I ordered her an 'expert face brush' and also ordered a cheeky purchase for myself, 'The starter kit'. I use 3/5 of the brushes in this set on a day to day basis, however I have used the 2 others, the 'accent brush' and 'fine liner brush' a few times but just not a daily essential.

These 3 are what I use from the 'starter kit' everyday; 

'Deluxe crease brush', 'brow brush' and 'base shadow brush'

My next buy will be the 'core collection' and the 'setting brush'. They are quite expensive but I would really recommend them and for the amount I use them, I have gotten my moneys worth definatly!
Big round of applause for Sam Chapman, my favourite brushes by far:)

Have you tried any of the real techniques brushes/do you want to try them? Let me know which are your favourites or on the top of your beauty wants list in the comments!

Thanks for reading:)

Love Kieren xx
Ps: It's my birthday in 9 days woohoooo:D