Yes, I know, as a beauty blogger, it’s almost criminal to put this title… Beauty bloggers across the world are raving about Real Techniques makeup brushes, everybody knows that!
Real Techniques makeup brushes
I tried hard to love them, really. And to be very sincere, I really appreciate some of them and I use them almost every day. But in general, I’m quite disappointed…
Let’s just say that, for a slightly higher price, you can really find better deals, and a lot better quality.
It was when I was chatting with a friend of mine that I realized that I was not the only one thinking that way. It was something like: “I thought I was using them the wrong way, I thought I was the problem…”
And it was especially when I tried other “cheaper” makeup brushes that I noticed the difference regarding the quality.
This blog post is not a rant against Real Techniques. I really think that, for a makeup beginner, it’s still a nice deal.
But if you are like me, a real makeup brush lover/junkie (I really am, I just love everything about them, and read about them all the time, it is one of my guilty pleasures. Oh and watching YouTube videos about them feels so good! ), you’ll find Real techniques makeup brushes not bad… but you can find way better, and without even paying that much more.
Why are makeup brushes so important in the makeup application process?
Many moons ago, when I was studying at beauty school, I really understood that, even if having the right tools will never replace the talent, it really helps.
A good makeup brush will really make a big difference regarding the makeup products application: the quantity you use is way better than if you are using your finger tips or worse, the sponge applicators.
And of course, it will provide a better precision. Makeup looks better, even if you’re not a proper makeup artist.
At the time, the beauty school had this partnership with a professional makeup brand that I really hated. But they had very cheap and complete makeup and brush sets. (if you want to go to a beauty school, be aware that you will have to pay for your own stuff, and it’s quite expensive)(you work with your own makeup during the exam)(so you’d better have the good stuff)
I knew that I was not going to a makeup school after I graduated, but I really wanted to have some good makeup brushes. Just to be able to use them on myself, really!
So I did my research, and unfortunately, it was quite clear: if you want good makeup brushes, it comes at a (high) price!
So I decided to go for a few MAC makeup brushes (40% student discount: yee-haw!) and I found the rest at Sephora.
Sephora has always been great for makeup brushes. But I was so lucky at the time, because they were getting rid of their old makeup brush collection (“Sephora Artist”), so I managed to buy an entire set for a ridiculous price. I still have them today (even though I bought them more than 10 years ago), and still use them/love them.
That said, I absolutely love the current Sephora makeup brushes range. Of course, it’s way more expensive than Real techniques brushes, but if you compare to MAC or Bobbi Brown brushes for example, it’s a great deal. And the quality is just insane.
What’s a good makeup brush?
A good makeup brush is supposed to help you to apply your makeup. The brush will take the right amount of product, applying makeup is flawless, not streaky, it’s basically a time ‘savior’ (OK saver).
It is a high-quality product. What I mean here, is that it’s very well done: it doesn’t loose bristles as soon as it touches your face, you can wash it without destroying it, the ferrule (=the metallic part) doesn’t rust, it dries quickly (without rotting).
The bristles can be synthetic or natural, I don’t really mind. A lot of ‘synthetic bristle’ makeup brushes are great (and some people are allergic to the natural ones). The good thing about them is that you can apply both liquid and powdery products with them.
*Warning: don’t use your natural bristles makeup brushes to apply you liquid foundation! You’ll end up with a very pretty “bearded lady” effect (it leaves bristles all over your face) and your brush will be bald in no time!*
If the handle is pretty, that’s always a bonus, but everyone has a different opinion about that, so it’s great that there are so many different options out there! For example, I’m not a big fan of colored handles, I prefer the classic black or even better, the wooden handle (aaaaah, Bobbi Brown makeup brushes…so pretty…but so expensive…but so pretty…but so expen…).
My Real Techniques makeup brush collection:
After having heard all the beauty bloggers of the whole world raving about them, and having seen the great makeup tutorials by the Chapman sisters aka Pixiwoo (famous makeup artists, founders of Real Techniques Beauty), obviously, I wanted to try their makeup brushes.
So I invested in 3 sets: face, eyes and travel. I also added the Blush Brush, the Stippling Brush, the Setting Brush, the Powder Brush and finally the Expert Face Brush. Yes, I wanted to have a FULL Real Techniques overview. wink
Fortunately for me, I have invested more in the face makeup brushes (because I know now that I really prefer the face brushes to the eyes ones).
So, why am I not a fan of Real Techniques makeup brushes?
For this review to be constructive, I will start by giving the positives points, so let’s start with the pro’s:
- – the brushes are pretty good for applying makeup products: it makes the process of makeup application easier, without brush stroke traces everywhere, which is great.
- – the bristles are rather soft/gentle on the skin (they’re synthetic), it’s a nice feeling.
- – the sets are really quite good, the brushes selection is OK (well of course, you always have flat brushes which are a bit useless and the liner brush is 10 times too thick).
- – the price, obviously. It’s a real BARGAIN. A full set of 4 makeup brushes for the face which costs less than 20$, it’s very cheap.
So now, the con’s:
- – I really don’t like some of the brushes / feel some have no real purpose: the flat foundation brushes (OK, it’s not only about Real Techniques, it’s in general) and I find that a lot of eyes brushes are way too big and not practical to use. They’re not precise. I know I have a small face, with small features but still! wink
- – they lose their bristles. Not much at first, but more and more, and that’s really the kind of detail that makes me doubt the overall quality… If you run your fingers through the brush and bristles (even 2 or 3) drop out or start detaching from the brush every single time, it becomes a real problem, as you can imagine.
- – and the biggest issue for me is that some of them don’t resist the washing process. After only a few weeks, a lot of my Real Techniques eye brushes had lots of bristles that were no longer attached to the handle. I cannot use my Deluxe Crease Brush, and my Base Shadow Brush anymore. Even if I didn’t pay a lot of money for them, it’s still very annoying, especially when I’ve heard so many bloggers say how sturdy and tough they are!
As you can see from the photo above the brushes are in a pretty bad state and I only wash them with water and soap (actually a really soft baby shampoo). Bristles are coming out left right and center and are starting to detach from the handle (especially you can see the top one in photo above).
My conclusion:
In summary, I would say that the quality of Real Techniques makeup brushes is really uneven. In the end, I’d much rather pay double and have a set of brushes that last me for years. In the end, it will probably end up being cheaper!
Of course, for someone who is just starting to put together their first makeup tools, with a small budget, it’s a good starter set. But if you want to keep your makeup brushes for a long time, it won’t be the case with these brushes, I’m afraid.
In general, I did find that the quality of the face brushes was better than the quality of eye brushes. They are just too fragile, even for this price.
I’m currently trying some Zoeva makeup brushes. They are also cheap makeup brushes. They’re a bit more expensive than the Real techniques ones, but it’s still a very affordable option. I’ll certainly do a more detailed review of the Zoeva set if you’re interested! wink
You can find the Real Techniques makeup brushes on their website.
And you, are you a fan of Real Techniques makeup brushes? Did you have any problem when you washed them (or maybe I was really unlucky with my set)? Tell me in the comments section! wink
Photos credits: Real Techniques, bonnie-garner.com
Cet article existe aussi en français: Pourquoi je ne suis pas fan des pinceaux Real Techniques
Interesting! I’vr never read a negative review about them (and never tried them before). Really enjoyed reading this post! xx
Thanks for the lovely comment, Zein! Me neither, that’s why I was so disappointed! :(
great post , this is really informative thanks for sharing !
http://www.ryokogurl.com/
Thanks for your nice comment! :)
Interesting post! I have a selection of Real Techniques, amongst a few others.
My worst brush purchase has hands down, been MAC. They really are incredibly disappointing. They lose so many bristles, I spend more time picking them off than I do applying my make up. Not had that problem with RT.
I do admit that some brushes I don’t believe serve a real purpose. Or at least I don’t use them for what they are supposed to be used for… ie, many eye brushes I use as concealer brushes, etc.
http://amodelintheknow.wordpress.com/
Thanks for your comment! :)
I had the same problem with some of my MAC face brushes, but I really love my MAC brushes for the eyes though. I also believe that you can use your brushes for a different purpose than they were initially planned for. Let’s be creative with our brushes, lol! ;)
You know, it’s actually really refreshing to read a not-so-raving review about RT brushes. I’ve always wondered about RT brushes and since people keep gushing about them I automatically assumed that they must be pretty fab. But since I don’t need any more brushes at the moment I never got to trying RT brushes myself. This makes me feel just a little better about that and makes me feel less like I’m missing out ;-)
Thank you for the comment! :) I admire the fact that you are so reasonable about brushes, you’ll have to teach me how to resist them ;) #obsessed
I was really disappointed when my RT angled brow brush fell apart. I was gently massaging some brush cleaner on the palm of my hand to dissolve some gel liner and a long bristle appeared, as I pulled it out, literally half of all the bristles came out with glue etc. I don’t have my receipt and when I emailed their customer service dept, they told me to bring it back to the shop I bought it from (Boots Ireland). I’m not sure what their return policy is with no receipt :(
I was also very disappointed with the stipple brush, very hard to clean matte foundation using baby shampoo.
Hi Shaz,
I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope Boots will be able to exchange your brush.
For your stippling brush, try to clean it with oil first (like coco oil for example) and after with your baby shampoo. I find it easier to use oil when I’m washing my foundation brushes! Tell me if it worked for you! ;)
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of them, but I can say that I am a huge makeup fan and I do enjoy Real Techniques. I’ve never had any of your problems with any of them, so your review was quite interesting :) Did you buy the brushes from the website? I was just thinking, you maybe got some fake ones?
Well, I don’t know, maybe you can’t expect so much from such a cheap brand. But they work fine for me….
Hi Liv, thanks for the comment! :)
It depends, some of them were purchased online (I don’t really remember where, to be honest) and I purchased most from Boots, so I don’t think they were fake. It’s a pity really, because I really do love some of them… Like the Stippling Brush: I needed to repurchase another one when all the bristles fall out, just because I can’t live without it! ;)
I feel you! Real technique has a good deal, some good brushes with low price for college student like me. But my base shadow and buffing brush (which I love the most) are the most disappointing one. They loose the glue and the the bristle started to fall out. I need to glue them back with silvery-blackish glue because I am too broke to buy new one. I currently look for zoeva! Especially their rose gold edition! Thank you for your honest opinion!
Hi Raissa! Thanks for your comment! :)
I knooow for Real Techniques brushes, it’s very frustrating, isn’t it?
However, I’m totally convinced by Zoeva! I did 2 reviews on their Rose Golden sets if you fancy to read them! ;)
Thank you for this post!
This is exactly what happened to my real techniques make up brushes after washing in gentle warm water and baby shampoo. After 3 months, I could basically pull the brush head apart as the glue was starting to melt. I thought I was the only one.
Hi Jenny! :)
No, sadly, you’re not the only one! But for some reason, there are’t a lot of people who talk about this problem…
Just received a RT core set and I will return it tomorrow: the bristles of the contour brush and even the buffing brush were so scratchy! Very bad quality. My old ebay brush, that is a dupe of the buffing brush is equally dense and smoother. I bought RT brushes to replace it, but I ended up by ordering Sigma and Sedona Lace. Never RT again!
I’m so sorry you had this bad experience with Real Techniques! :(
Hiya! I was so interested reading this blog post – I’ve owned the core collection and the powder brush for over a year now, and i am so in love with the brushes! I was looking to purchase a few new brushes recently, and i was wondering what you thought of the real techniques stippling brush? I’ve used it once before but i wanted to know if you’ve tried the zoeva stippling brush! If so, which do you prefer, and why? Thank you so much!
Hi! :)
I love the RT stippling brush, really! But I had the same problem with it as the others; after a while, all the bristles come out… :/
So I need to buy one as a back up, just in case! ;) I really wish they were more robust!
I never tried the Zoeva version, I don’t know why. The shape is not exactly the same, I’m not so sure about it…
Sorry I can’t help you more! :)
Hi,
I just have bought some RT brushes and since they have been washed only two times, i can´t give a solid opinion. Just to note one thing, that maybe it is not important, but it really surprised me: In the first wash of the Expert Face Brush , no bristle went away that i notice, but the logo painted in the handle did (and they were bought throught the official web site so they are not fakes!).
I wash them with pure glycerine soap, so i couldn´t say that is the problem.
Anyway, it´s not an important thing.
This is a great (and necessary) post, and also, i have read your positive review of Bioderma Hydrabio Eau de soin, which is great because i have just bought it from France to try it ;)
Diana
Hi Diana, thanks for your lovely and interesting comment! :)
The logo on my RT brushes has started to fade after a while (I still use some of them, the ones with some bristles left lol) but it’s strange that the logo on yours fade so quickly! Did you email the RT customer service? Maybe they can help! ;)
Cover the painted label with clear nail polish to keep it from rubbing/washing off. This is a pretty common problem.
Thanks for the tip! :)
I just bought some real techniques face brush set, and honestly even the brushes I bought from eBay were a lot softer and nicer. As soon as I took the brushes out of the packaging, I could already see the bristles falling out and I could feel the bristles on my face were a lot harsher than the eBay ones. Definitely going back for a refund.. I expected better
I’m really sorry to read that! :(
Whenever I see someone complain about bristles falling out or the ferrule becoming loose, the first question that comes to mind is “are you washing them properly?” I’m a professional makeup artist and this is the best way to wash your brushes:
1. Use baby shampoo, be gentle!
2. Keep your brush pointed down as you rinse. You don’t need to wash the handle-just the bristles.
3. Synthetic bristles don’t need conditioner but natural bristles do. Use a VERY moisturizing conditioner on natural bristles and really work it into the bristles, but do so gently!
4. Again, keep your brush pointed down as you rinse.
5. Invest in a product called The Brush Guard.
6. Place the brush guard over the bristles and then place them upside down in a low glass or mug to dry. For larger brushes, I use a large but short tupperware container so that they dry faster. This way, the water will drain through the top of the brushes into the bristles instead of draining into the handle. NEVER dry your brushes standing up. Avoid laying them flat to dry. Seriously, brush gurads will extend the life of even the cheapest brushes if you dry them upside down.
That’s exactly what I’m doing when I’m washing my RT makeup brushes, but the bristles still fell out… :/
I dont know what you did wrong, but I have washed my RT brushes so many times in 7 months, and they are just perfect.
Hi Katherine!
Well, good for you, but maybe I didn’t do anything wrong and I had a bad batch? Who knows maybe they have improved this following negative feedback on this point with their brushes;)
Instead of assuming someone else doesn’t know how to wash brushes, (I think people who have been investigated with makeup for a few years have likely learnt not to dry them with the hairs up), maybe give them benefit of the doubt and admit that RT isn’t great at quality control? R u hired by Real Techniques PR team or sth?? Their quality has been decreasing over the years and anyone could be getting a horrible batch now (e.g. I’ve heard more than a dozen people say that they repurchased the same RT brushes but the newer ones are just not up to par, happened to me also)
Also I own many brush guards but I never bother using them with cheap synthetic brushes which don’t (and shouldn’t) tend to lose their shape. I don’t think they’re a necessity unless you own a lot of fancy Japanese fude made with delicate squirrel hair. I find normal goat hair brushes to keep their shape fairly well without the guards too (unless they’re just really bad quality – e.g. not glued properly).
Amen to your comment lol ????
I recently got some brush guards as I just bought some fancy Japanese brushes and I must say it helps a lot, even with my goat hair brushes. But yeah, I agree, I wouldn’t use them with my synthetic brushes ????
Are you certain you have the RT authentic brushes? I’m looking at them on amazon.com and a lot of people are complaining about receiving fakes, which have the exact problems you’ve described.
I bought them in Boots, so yes, I’m pretty sure, sadly… ;)
I wonder if RT started using more glue after feedback b/c I haven’t had a single strand fall out. My biggest complaint: even though the bristles are hand-cut, they are really hard and scratchy. And they’re uneven. I’m not a fan.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for sharing your own experience with RT. :)
I don’t know if they changed something in their brushes because I try to repurchase some of the face brushes I love (like the Stippling Brush for example) and same problem, I have to be very very careful when I wash it…
But I confess that now than I discovered ZOEVA brushes, I don’t reach for my RT ones so often… ;)
I am glad I never felt tempted to purchase those. I personally think they look extremely cheap, rough and overall nasty. Here in Sweden pretty much everything related to makeup is extremely expensive, even the drug store products you guys get for 3 pounds in the UK. So when Real Techniques arrived here the price was extremely low for 5 brushes, so that set off my natural ” don’t get it” alarm. Good quality brushes are NEVER very cheap and if you come across brushes that are way below average price range, you have to wonder why.
Hi Juliana!
Thanks for your feedback! :)
Good quality brushes can also be affordable in my opinion; I’m totally obsessed by ZOEVA makeup brushes! Did you try them?
Hello :)
Yes, I have tried Zoeva and they are amazing. It’s funny but Zoeva brushes are on the expensive side where I live but I could find them for a better deal online. And yes, I agree with you, good quality brushes can also be affordable but again they are never super cheap. Affordable is one thing and extremely below average price aka cheap is another :-)
Yes I totally agree with you!
When something is extremely cheap, I also get super suspicious, and usually it’s for good (or should I say bad) reasons!
Hello again,
This is a little off topic, I am not sure why I can’t subscribe to your blog. I wrote my email on that little box on the bottom of the page and nothing happens.
Ooops, you’re right, will get that fixed as soon as possible, thanks for pointing that out, that’s so kind of you… :)
If you drop me a message from here (https://bonnie-garner.com/en/contact-me/) with the email you’d like to use, I can add you manually, otherwise I should be able to fix it in a day or two…
From the first time i used it, it already shed. And i dont know why, but when i brush them, they cling to the soap so bad that it wont dry and some hairs are still soapy.
Oh my God, I’m so sorry to read that, Monica :/
Did you contact the client service?
I don’t really understand the hype either. They aren’t that inexpensive anymore, the prices have went up a bit over the years.
I’ve received some brushes in my packs that weren’t cut evenly, the bristles weren’t all the same length. annoying.
The thing that really bothers me about Real Technique brushes is their handle size. Referring specifically to the face brushes. They are so thick at the bottom and just an odd shape. It makes them difficult to fit into my makeup brush travel case and even my holder. I won’t buy anymore specifically for that reason. It’s just not paratactical.
I also agree that the liner brush is useless. I used to use it to apply Latisse. But now it is useless once again, should probably just throw it away.
Thanks for your feedback Danielle! :)
Yes, you’re right, they’re definitely better and cheaper options out there, I don’t get the hype either.
Thanks for this. I agree with everything you have said here. I went out and bought the sculpting brush and expert face brush after reading and hearing of how good real techniques brushes were. To be honest, the expert face brush wasn’t as good as the urban decay optical blurring brush (which is what I use everyday) at applying foundation and blending, which was understandable as the UD was more expensive. But overall after using both brushes I don’t see anything wow about them. I use the sculpting brush for contouring and blush sometimes, I don’t think it’s really all that.
After two brushes I don’t think I’ll go out to buy anymore. The expert face brush was awkward to hold for me. I think it’s the fact that Sam and nic have YouTube videos that really makes people go out and buy these (just an opinion). I have other similarly or more expensively priced brushes that are better quality.
Thank you Samantha for your comment and feedback! :)
I was very tempted to buy some RT brush. Especially that flat rose gold one. Glad to finally run into more normal review. Too many over the top positive reviews for every RT brush. Refreshing post.
Thank you Joyce. :)
I also did a review of the new Bold Metals Collection ones if you fancy a read. ;)
Thank you for your post. It feels silly to say it aloud, but asthetic does kind of matter for me as an noob-intermediate makeup shopper with more money than sense- RT seems to plasticy and childish looking – so I was hoping to go for Zoeva or even a plain looking cheap no-name (if they aren’t going to be durable anyways) to start building a collection I like looking at AND using. Off to read your RT metals and Zoeva review!! :>
Ah ah ah I totally agree for the packaging: it’s very important! :)
I’m sure you’ll love Zoeva brushes: great packaging and amazing quality!
Just recently my expert face brush fell apart that being said it’s over 3 yrs old and I haven’t been the nicest to it. That being said some of my older brushes from RT are starting to go so I’m investing in Mac or some brushes of the same quality in the near future.
After 3 years, it’s not too bad! :)
For the face, Zoeva makes some great makeup brushes and they’re way cheaper than MAC IMO! ;)
For the first tme in my 43 year old life needed to write reply on blog post. Just because of confusion made. And totally different experience. I have RT blush brush for over 3 years (actually 4 years) and not experiencing no problem with it. Because of that, I bought year after foundation brush (like flat brushes because of my Rosacea). Still no problem. And I’m washing them every day.
Good for you! :) I would have been very happy to have the same experience with RT! :)
Same here, I got my RT brushes (core collection, travel and expert face brush + setting brush)
in 2013-14 and they’re perfectly in great condition even with near-daily usage.
Only after 2.5 years of using my expert face brush, did it start applying foundation a bit more streaky than i’d like. (so i just ordered new ones off iherb. have yet to test those)
Anyway, I was my brushes once a week or once a fortnight and i’ve never had shedding or handle falling apart issues either.
Maybe some people were washing them too often??
I guess the experience is different with RT for everybody ;)
Hi
I have now had my 3rd Real Techniques brush fall apart on me while washing them.. I’ve done everything right, I use Mac brush cleaner and I dry upside down.. I’m starting to worry about cleaning my others now incase they fall apart.. Don’t know if anyone else has had that problem??
Just read above comments and realise some people have had the same problem, I literally can pull out the whole brush head and the one that fell apart today, literally the whole head came off while upside down in one go!! I’ve posted a pic on my Tweeter @AMLAxx86
I’m so sorry to read that Alicia… Yes, apparently, RT are really not the most robust makeup brushes in the world…
This has been so helpful and informative to read! I was gonna spend a lot of money on a RT brush set but was hesitating for a long time. Everyone always rave about how amazing the brushes are so it was refreshing to see someone post an honest review! You helped me decide not to waste my money on some potentially disappointing brushes, thank you so much!
I’m glad it was useful! :D
Really enjoyed reading your post you have a great way with words. I have the base collection set for a few weeks now and am loving them to the moon and back, a friend of mine has like the full collection and never heard anything like what you described in this post. Then again sinds the time difference between this post en my reply is quite big it may be that they improved their brushes sinds.
Gonna visit your site more often now
Xx jeff
Hi Jeff! Thank you so much for your lovely comment! :)
Yes, maybe you’re right, they probably improved their brushes and I’m happy to hear that you didn’t have issues with yours! :)
I really appreciated your review of the RT brushes, as it’s always so important to hear the good and bad about any products.Luckily for me, I have been using quite a few of the RT brushes (both for eyes and face) for about 18 months now, and have not encountered any of your problems. I use them on a daily basis and wash them weekly, and they are still soft and in perfect condition. It’ll be interesting to see how long that will last. Looking forward to reading more of your reviews : )
Welcome Andree! :)
Thank you for lovely comment and your feedback.
I’m happy to read that you’re having a good experience with your brushes! I would have loved to be happy with mine too, but sadly, it wasn’t the case… :/
Hi! This was such an informative post. What brushes do you recommend? I am tossed between Morphe, Zoeva, and Sigma. Thanks :)
Hi Tahlia! Thank you very much, I’m glad you liked it! :)
I’m a fan of Zoeva brushes, they’re my fave and I love their face and eyes brushes. I did 2 reviews if you fancy a read:
– ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Complete Eye Set Volume 2, my review
– ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set Brushes, my review
I also like some of the Morphe brushes but not all of them, to be honest. There is some inconsistency in the range. I really like the Elite collection but the other ones, it really depends: some are great, some are very bad.
I tried some Sigma brushes and in general, they’re good too but maybe a little bit expensive sometimes.
I hope it helps! :)
Great review! I bought my first 2 RT brushes last MONTH – the expert face brush and the blush brush. I LOVED the expert face brush and started using it daily in applying my liquid foundation. Because of this, I also washed it once or 2x a week, very careful not to let the water touch the handle. But alas, after just 1 month, the entire head fell off! I just emailed RT’s customer support last night but since I am in the Philippines, I don’t expect anything to happen to that complaint. That being said, what brush can you recommend I buy instead that can replace the Expert Face Brush? My foundation is Estee Lauder Double Wear liquid foundation.
Hi Janice! :)
Sorry to read that, it’s not the nicest experience, I hope they can help you with that! :)
I also love Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation, especially in summer but usually I apply it with a sponge because it looks so fresh and natural blended with a sponge, like perfect skin! So maybe you could try it with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge (I really like it) or even better with a Beauty Blender (my personal choice, I love this stuff! ;) )?
Tell me what you think! :)
hey :) these look like fakes. I could tell right away from the little dent in the base shadow brush. that isnt what the end is like. Plus…idk mine look just a whole lot neater in finish and have never. ever. shed. I read another similar review of a person who also got theirs from boots. maybe try buying them sometime again, from another place. for the price they’re amazeballsss! :)
Oh really? Well, it’s weird because I didn’t buy them from a dodgy place… But yes, you’re right, it maybe worths a second try ;)
I’ve been using mine for a year now. I washed mine a few times, but mine still works fine. It doesn’t have bristles coming out like yours, I wonder if you are washing it in a right way, or it’s the products that you used in the process. Anyway, thanks for sharing!:)
Ho Emma, thanks for your comment! :)
I have other makeup brushes and I wash them the same way and they’re fine so I don’t think my way of washing them is the problem here, sadly… I just wasn’t lucky with the RT brushes I got. ;)
Informative article! Weirdly I’ve had good experience with the RT brushes, had them for a year now.(though I’ve only washed them about once a month don’t judge me here lol)
Just a random tip, but don’t stand the brushes up right after you wash them! (just incase you do haha) the left over water can drip down and start dissolving the glue. Let them dry upside down, I usually let them hang like that for half a day.
Hi Sara, thank you for your comment and for the tip! :)
I have small oval face and I need angled contour brush for contouring also for brush. Can u recommend? Also can u do reviews on morphe brushes?
Hi Masha! :)
I’m really not the expert for contouring, I very rarely contour. I prefer to use a bronzer with a large fluffy brush, which is not something you want to do if you want to sculpt your face ;)
I did a review on some Morphe brushes here, I hope it helps! ;)
hey i never thought i’d find such a good blogger with such great tips and im so lucky i did. Personally I really love real techniques and i use them alot. Your a great blogger and keep up the amazing work!
Thank you, much appreciated, and you’re welcome to come back and visit :)
What are the best synthetic face brushes?? Thanks!!!
Hi q! :)
To be honest, I don’t use a lot of synthetic brushes, but maybe you can find some good ones in brands like ZOEVA, which I really appreciate (I talked about the brand here and here ;) ).
I hope it helps! :)
I definitely agree with this post. I have owned my Real Technique brushes for a few years now and I do love them but only some of them are useful. I bought both sets and also some individuals and from those I really only use the ones for (all the time though) eye shadow (excluding the angled and thin ones), blush, setting and the expert face brush.
Same for me, some are great and others are really bad and lost their shame very quickly…
They’re quite inconsistent, sadly ????
I bought a lot of the RT brushes. After a few months, I noticed after using them in the morning, my face puffed up (?) I have gluten allergies. But the brushes are synthetic (?) — Sad story!!!!
Oh no!!! I’m so sorry to hear that :(
Did you contact Real Techniques to know what could cause this allergy?
I don’t know if you’ll ever see this as I’m three? four? years late, but you have NO idea how much of a relief it is to see someone else having issues with these brushes!
The eye set leaves bristles stuck to my eyeshadow and is incredibly imprecise as you mentioned, and the face brushes too are shedders.
Where I live, RT is one of the more expensive brands so spending the money on a ‘good’ set of brushes felt like a safe investment. Nope.
I’m so sorry to read that!
I thought they would have increased the quality of their brushes by now… Especially if they’re expensive where you live, they definitely aren’t worth it, I guess :(
I own the eye set and a few other Real Techniques brushes and my experience is totally different. I’ve had no problem with washing them, they are still as good as new. Not one hair missing!
Hi Marianna!
I wrote this review 3 years ago. I guess they increased the quality of their brushes. .°
I’m glad you enjoy using yours! :)
I used to be a fan of makeup brushes and ive had mine no more than a year and a half but recently ive noticed my eyebrushes arent as soft as they once were and have been a bit stabby even though i use a very gentle soap that has conditioners in it so i dont know whats been going on with them. I havent experienced any shedding but im probably going to buy bdellium brushes once i have the money to.
Thanks for the feedback Victoria ????
Too bad they didn’t work for you. :(
I only use Real Techniques brushes (for 2 years now), for eyes and face. They never lost a bristle while and after washing them. But I agree, some brushes, especially the powder brush, are too big.
I wrote this article a while ago, I’m glad they improved the quality of their brushes ;)
Let me tell you that I have more than 100 brushes, different brands and qualities even Lancôme, Dior, Sigma Beauty and of course real techniques, some of them more tan 3 years and I haven’t experienced any problem after washing them, If they’re well done, they feel like knew after every wash. I respect your opinion, just don’t share it.
Hi Melissa!
“I respect your opinion, just don’t share it.”
Right back at you, Melissa :)
Thanks for the great review. I have the Real Techniques Bold Metals and I really like them. I have a few of the other RT brushes as well & I haven’t had any problems yet but I haven’t had them very long. One thing that could be causing the issue with shedding is the baby shampoo. Baby shampoo isn’t as gentle as most people think. It needs to be strong to prevent cradle cap. It is also very drying. You might be ok with a low poo shampoo. I’m not sure because I usually just buy brush cleaner that kills germs to prevent breakouts.
nice comment,
whats your views now adays about them.
I still use some of my old brushes but I haven’t buy from hem for a while :)