Thursday, 21 August 2014

Weight, oh wonderful weight....



 Hi Pretty people...


   I have to laugh at this 'thigh gap' phenomena that's about these days. Or rather in my case, cry. See, not only do I not have a thigh gap,(deep breath here as I reveal something humiliating) I don't have a gap above my knees in fact. Yes thats right. When I stand up straight my thighs are so big I have no space from my knees up. To be honest, not having a thigh gap doesn't phase me, I think it's complete bollox and such an unhealthy aim to strive for. What does bother me, is I feel my weight is out of control. 

          


   I suppose I should give you a bit of background of how I went from never having a problem with my weight (at times I was told by doctors I was seriously under weight), to having spent roughly the las ten years on a constant battle with my weight.

  Growing up in our house we rarely had sweets, fizzy drinks or take aways, and when we did they were a 'treat' a 'special occasion'. In hindsight I can see that this was a bad idea, associating fattening food with a positive, but I was only a kid, plus my parents loved walks and we had to go on them, so we didn't put on weight. So fast forward to sixteen when I began working in a pizza place, where we got free fast food on our break, and having my own money to buy what ever type of food I liked, and I was hooked. I love food that's bad for me. I still see it as a treat and a reward, I still want chocolate every day. Like really want it. Like of there is something sweet in the house I'll be thinking of it constantly. It's a horrible habit, but one I'm determined to break now.

                    


  For anyone who experiences anxiety, or in fact any mental issue tiredness is a permanent fact of life, it's because your body is dealing with so much other process going on due to the heightened state you're in. If anyone doesn't believe this, feel free to google it, its true. Add this to lack of energy, which leads to lack of exercising and the weight crept on. I actually enjoy exercise once you get past that initial first few days, but I usually wind up getting sick (terrible immune system) or letting one day pass, then another, then another... ya know how it goes..

  A big thing that upsets me when it comes to loosing weight, the only thing I feel like I'm loosing is my battle with weight. I'm able to loose that little bit, then it comes back on, and this loop has gone on for as long as I can remember, its so disheartening. 

In fact this whole issue is heartbreaking for me.


  I've never had those days where I could go out in a mini skirt or a body con dress, and now I'm in my 20's and I'm facing my final college year as nine stone, the heaviest I have ever been. Nine stone might sound very little to some people but with my height it's a problem. 

My stats are, today the 21 August:

Weight: Approx 9 stone
Waist: 27.5 inchs
Hips :36.5 inchs
Thighs: 20 inches
Height 4'11 (This is not likely to change sadly!)

  So as you can see I am really small and the weight is much more visible on smaller people. So today I am trying to start a new. Thursday might be a weird day to start but I'm starting now. I was watching a video on YouTube about weight loss, the girl had a quote 'Do it or it won't get done'. It makes perfect sense and no matter how many posts I write about weight loss, unless I do something about it, nothing will change. 

                          


    I don't think it's rocket science; less crappy food + more exercise = less weight, healthier person. I do feel that it's most realistic for me to tackle each issue separately. I know that in the next week the chances of me going to the gym is slim to none, because I still feel shitty after having that stupid cold. There are things I can do to help my weight between now and the time I write an update post on this, and that is try and get my eating under control. I really feel if I could do that, it would be a huge improvement. I like vegetables, but I'm terrible for eating fruit, so I'm hoping to change my attitude towards this. I know by my IBS I'm not getting fibre in my diet so I have to try work on that. Basically I need to not eat pastries, cake, or chocolate. If I could go a week without eating this type of  surgery food, I honestly feel it will be the first step on my journey. Obviously if I am up to it I won't be avoiding exercise either! 


                  


   I am hoping to loose about a pound by next Thursday, but if I could genuinely have no sugary foods what so ever between now and then I'd be thrilled!  I'm hoping by writing about it, I will feel more obliged to succeed as more people are watching.  Possibly seeing the changes in front of me in black and white will be what I need to not just start but keeping going this time, and make a real difference.


                    


  Thanks so much for reading, and please, PLEASE if anyone else is starting, during or finished their own weight loss journey let me know. I really think having other people doing it with you is a big help. Also if anyone has any type of exercise they find a bit more interesting than the normal gym routine let me know in the comments. To be honest I don't think I'll be up to sweating it out in the gym after college every day so I'd love to try something fun that wouldn't be a chore. Any recipes that    people have for quick dinners or meals I could take to college in some tupper ware would also be greatly appreciated:)

     Lots of love and look after yourselves and each other. xxx



Tuesday, 19 August 2014

20 Things About Me Tag:)



Hi Pretty people!

   This tag needs no introduction, and instead of just having it as a quick post, I decided to extend it a little bit. Not, mind you because I am in anyway more interesting than the next person, but because I was afraid the blog was becoming a bit too much about reviews, and I didn't really want to go down that route too much.

   So without further a due!





      1: I'm studying for a degree modern sociology in university. I did a month of my final year last        year, but had to defer due to hospital. Really looking forward to going back this September, I love college and find some of the stuff I study really interesting:)

       2: I adore animals! I have three cats, blackie, pete and felix; who's the only female, who, ahem, relocated from our neighbour's several years ago, cough! I also foster cats, and at the moment I have the wonderful Molly. At one point there was six cats and three kittens in our garden! I seem to spend my life covered in cat hair and scratches! I also have a dog, she's a Japanese Spitz and her name is Sama (the Japanese for lady), but she also goes by sam, samwise, sandwich, samy, baby, oi you and my favourite, fluffy arse. She's totally the baby of the house, is very much always in the middle of things and loves going for a walk!




         3: I like piercings, but love tattoos! I have my navel, tongue, snakebites, septum, micro dermal in my neck, tragus, cartilage and ears pierced. I have my ears stretched to 6mm or 2 gauge, which I know a lot of people disagree with, but I am sensitive to cheap metal in my ears and hated not wearing earring so I stretched my ears up and don't intend to go any bigger. I have about 12/13 tattoos, and my next session will be finishing off my half sleeve, hopefully this week, it was supposed to be last week but was sick with the flu last week:( I'm planning to do a blog post on tattoos with the help of my tattoo artist Eric, from Freedom Ink, and Gentleman Jay a very good friend of mine who's also a tattoo artist, so if anyone has any questions they'd like me to ask just comment below or on my Instagram! I have to say I think piercings and tattoos on the opposite sex extremely attractive too!:)

                                               
   
         4: I left school just as I was about to turn 16 due to a terrible bout of anxiety and depression. Eventually I started to work and have worked in a pizza place, hairdressers, retail, call centre, clothes boutique and eventually decided to go back and do my final exams before college and happily moved on to college:) The crappy jobs that I did before I went back to education are the drive behind me working at college when I really don't want to be there. Sometimes half the battle behind figuring out what you want to do, is finding what you really don't want to do. Even though everyone I knew from school has moved on, and I'm older than a lot of students I study with, I'm glad I waited to go to college, I know a lot more about myself and what I want out of life than I did when I was 18.

       5: I have a very negative body image. I don't like looking at my face and body and thats why I hardly ever put pictures up here of my full face or body, this is also why I find it hard to post face of the day or outfit of the day pictures. It mostly comes back to a very low self esteem due to incidents from my past, and I'll be working through that now my team have identified it. I'm also trying to loose the stone I put on on hospital and finally get in control of my weight, once and for all. But I'll be doing another post on that exclusively. I also photograph very badly and don't turn to in pictures like I actually look like! So please bare with me if I don't a lot of face of the day makeup! 


     6: I love reading. I have hardly any time during the college year to read books, so I don't read half as much as I should anymore. I love the way you can loose yourself in a good book, figure out how the characters look in your head and become totally absorbed in the story and their lives. Two of the best books I have read over the summer are 'The Adulteress' and 'Unravelling Oliver', they are definitely worth a read, because they're human stories. I suppose what I mean by that is they deal with ordinary people and how what happens to their lives makes them into different people. Also you have a preconceived idea of what you instantly think of the main character, but you find yourself challenging that when you read their stories, or at the least partially understanding their actions. 


                                 

       7: I love to write! Ok I don't know if you can count that as a fact, since you probably already know that by the fact I'm writing a blog. When I was younger though I wrote short stories and poems (yes I was that sort of teenager!) and through out most of my life have kept a written journal. I don't write stories or poetry any more, but I love writing my journal as its a great outlet for me and helps me to de stress and get things off my chest. I have to have my diaries in an A5 size, spiral bound, lined and have something cool on the cover, like hello kitty or something!  I think the blog is a great way to connect with people who  are like you and interested in the same things, and I have met some lovely people through it:) I suppose it's my way of putting my life out there too, and I do love writing about beauty, especially about affordable products, as I think some blogs are very high end product focus, and not everyone has the money for it:/ The mental health side of the blog is my way of accepting my own mental health, help other people to understand what the reality of struggling with your mental health is like, especially when you're in your 20's and reminding people whom have their own issues that they're not alone. A big part of it as well is I want to show that people who suffer with their mental health have everyday lives, problems and interests too. 


                                      


     8: I am really short with tiny hands and feet! I am 4'11, with a size UK2 foot or E.U. 34/35.  I hate trying to find trousers that fit or shoes for going out, its impossible! I have a bit of weight on me and a lot of the petite ranges don't seem to have size 10/12 left:( People think it's great because I can buy kids shoes, but when it comes to going out shoes I wind up having to look in specialists shops which means spending a fortune.  My mam and dad are quite short, though both over 5 foot, but my brother is very tall so he clearly got all the height! It has its uses and generally makes people think I'm younger than I am!


   9: From the ages of 12-14 I lived in Budapest in Hungary. My dad works with aircraft so he travels a lot, but this time we all moved with him. We went to an english speaking private school, as there was no way we could of learnt Hungarian! While we were there we visited Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. Budapest is beautiful city and the Christmas markets are well worth a visit. 

                                                   

    10: I am terrified, terrified of flying! If there was a word that was 'more frightened' than terrified I'd used that word too. I was always quite scared of flying, which was a pain when we lived abroad, but in the last ten years I haven't flown and I feel sick with fear if I go near the airport! Having previously been in a long distance relationship, it is very restrictive and I am determined to do something about it after college. EasyJet have a programme for people who are terrified of flying which I am hoping to complete, has anyone else every done this programme or any other one? I think its the idea of being in an enclosed space and if someone got air sick around me, but I'm not fully sure what I'm frightened of, but I am determined to beat it!

                                         

    11: I have had my teddy, aptly named Teddy, since Santa brought him when I was seven and he still sleeps in my bed every night. I bring him everywhere I am going to be staying for a while, including college, holidays and hospital! He came from Pennys I discovered later, and is looking a bit worse for wear after several washes and many many years of cuddles! He's the only soft toy I won't let my pets play with and he always sits near my pillows. So sad I know, but it's a comfort thing and he reminds me of home. I love ya teddy!
    
                                                            


      12: Since I've been in hospital I really believe in the saying 'Clean room, clean mind' which basically means that if you're in a neat environment that it will help with how you deal with things when you're having problems. Maybe it's to do with having your room or home in order when you're mind isn't, or being in control of your surroundings when you're not really in control of whats going on in your head. I was never really too pushed before about having things neat, but since I have been home from hospital I find I sleep and think better in a clean tidy room. Or maybe I'm getting old. Actually its probably that! 
      
                                        

     13: I have no interests in brands. I'm much happier to get two items cheaply with no brand name, then get one with a brand name on it. I prefer to judge something on the basis of weather it does the job its supposed to. My Micheal Korres watch was €20 from a stall and the most brand like bag I have ever owned if from River Island. Saying that, I do have a Pandora with only real charms, and I'd love a Chanel quilted handbag! When it comes to makeup though, I can be a bit more of a brand snob, so far the best eye shadows I've found are M.A.C. but I have no objection to buying cheaper stuff if I find it works! The most expensive item in my make up collection is the Benefit Oxygen Wow foundation, which was €35 approx. As a rule I'm not a fan of Benefit, I think it's waaay over priced!


     14: I am surgically attached to my i-phone and I must change! I actually sleep with it charging under my pillow, but I have a good reason for that! I suffer with tinitus, which means I have a ringing or buzzing in my ears all the time, and it's particularly noticeable when there is no other noise around, so I use the rain apps or youtube videos to help me sleep. But I am terrible for always having my head in my phone, I hardly ever use it for calls, but I text a lot and live on instagram. I really have to stop!!
              
                                       


  15: I have incredibly pale skin,my body is pure white and I don't tan I burn. My skin is so pale that when I wear fake tan, which is seriously rare, I just look weird and dirty! It's very difficult to find a pale foundation pale enough unless you go for something higher end, but I have found recently that brands are getting better, I have two different formulations from Rimmel in Ivory and I have to say they're very good colour wise. I might do a blog post on paler foundations if anyone is interested? I recently purchased a white foundation to mix with mine from Makeup Revolution so I'll let you know how I get on with that. A good white foundation that isn't high end can be difficult to find but this cost me about €4! 

   16: I suffer really badly with home sickness, and miss my family tons! In the first year of college I decided I couldn't cope with the home sickness and was going home! I think in college it's something everyone goes through, even if they don't admit it. But in general I am not great at being away from home, and I have to text or talk to my mom every day, I still miss my dad and brother, but they drive me mad! I used to try get the dog on Skype and the phone, which didn't really work out!

                                    

    17: I hate Christmas. I know, I know, people are going to be like 'You're such a scrooge', but Christmas is a very hard time for me. For the last few years its been fairly crap, people were sick, my dad was away working in Abu Dhabi, family arguments, stupid stuff like that, but it affects how I feel about Christmas. I used to think I was a minority until I was in hospital last year, and a lot of people seem to hate Christmas! I came home Christmas eve from the hospital and had Christmas eve and day with my family and had to go back to hospital St Steven's day, the whole thing was a bit of a blur. I remember my mam making this special tree especially for me (I'll post a picture below), and watching Despicable Me 2. I was still going through withdrawals at that stage so dinner was not a big thing for me. But I dislike Christmas because it starts now before Halloween in the shops and by the time December comes around I just feel meh! I dislike it as well because I don't get that Christmassy feeling anymore, and I wish I could get it back, and it sucks so badly that I can't, and I feel I'm missing out on something wonderful that everyone else gets but me. In my home house my mom loves Christmas and goes to so much trouble, but she's the only person like that in our house. I don't know, maybe Christmas will improve for me and I'll develop happier memories.  In the mean time the wonderful tree my mom made, even though this picture makes me quite emotional..

                                      


  18: Moving on! I'm quite good at interior design. I can't do the drawings or room plans but I know what looks good together, I have a good eye for things like colour and pattern and I can visualise a room quite well before its even put together. I seriously thought about studying it at college but I wouldn't of enjoyed having to draw up room plans and mood boards and work with fussy people with no taste!


   19: I have had four operations in my life time. One to remove a growth from my wrist, one to remove a really large absess from my right jaw, one to sew up fissures and one to cut the nerves that cause period pains! After the one on my jaw they didn't sew the face up properly so the right side of my face looks a little slanted I think, especially around my mouth:( I have scars from all the operations, but luckily none of them are majorly visible.

   20: I'm not afraid of needles, but every time I get my blood taken I get really weak and pass out! The first time it happened to me was outside the doctor's office and a really nice old man told me it was a sign of being a really nice person:)


                                           



  So there is my 20 things about me! I hope it was a bit fun to read and learn more about me as a person. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read it as I know it's a bit long, if anyone has any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below! 

  xxxxx



                                                           

  


Friday, 15 August 2014

MaXfactor 2000 Calorie Mascara Review




Hi Pretty people!


    I return to you with another review! Mascara is fast becoming the new foundation of drugstores, or Boots to you and I, due to its many different formulations, wands and price ranges.  Also much to the delight of people who, like myself, love a bargain many drugstore buys are rivalling their higher end counter parts. 

    A while back I used a Maxfactor mascara that I really loved, and decided to find it and repurchase after falling in love with Maxfactor again, totally due to their new campaign with the beautiful Gwyenth Paltrow. I particularly love the sixties recreation below, so beautiful and feminine and just DEVINE! I have to say when I contacted Maxfactor about the products used in this picture they replied very quickly and were exceptionally nice, and nice staff will always encourage me to come back to a brand. Take note!:) 
      
                                               


    So off I went to buy the mascara, but I just could not remember which one I'd originally bought! So I decided to go with the 2000 Calorie in black, mostly because it was reasonable priced, €10.99. By the way I've since remembered it was the Masterpiece Max mascara I bought. 

   Well, first of all, this mascara has a very strong smell. The brush is quite large, and is roughly the same width the whole way along until it tapers slightly at the tip. The brush comes out saturated with the mascara which even when you wipe off the excess, is still heavily coated. This can lead to clumping of the lashes especially at the roots which is not a good look! Also the large brush makes it difficult to get to the inner corner and bottom lashes.  During the day there was a fair bit of smudging on the bottom lashes, but the top lashes held reasonably well. It doesn't hold curl fantastically well, but it isn't water proof, a formulation which is known for holding curl as best as possible. 

I took some pictures of before and after to let you see the mascara for yourself.



Eyes with no mascara 



                                       



Eyes with mascara just applied




  So, as you see the mascara is quite black and does add some length to the lashes, but can be clumpy. Bottom line I won't be repurchasing this as I'm just not happy with the brush and the strong smell coming from it. It wasn't too difficult to remove with my Nivea remover, but it did crumble a little while i was removing it, making it harder to keep out of the eyes, not good for sensitive eyes!

  Maxfactor's Lash Extension Effect has a much smaller brush so I think I'm going to give that one a try next, has anyone tried this? A beauty guru on YouTube recently made the very valid point that if you like the brush from one mascara just keep it and use it with other mascara, it might be a pain to keep clean though, what do you guys think? At least now I know to look for mascaras with a small wand to try next, can anyone recommend one? 

   Thanks so much for reading and I'd love to read your comments, thoughts and reviews! Be kind to yourself, and others. xx



Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Genie, you're free....




Hi pretty people....

  I think you'd have to live in a cave today to not of heard the tragic news about Robin Williams suicide. He was a wonderful funny man, who's movies, though sometimes seemingly slap stick always had a deeper message for humanity embedded in them. When I was very sick last September before hospital, I wanted something that reminded me of my childhood, something familiar, and as you'll see on my Instagram, it was the movie Aladdin. Robin just had that power, to change people's day or even their lives. Sadly he couldn't work the genie's magic on his own.

   Robin was always vocal about his struggle with alcoholism and depression, which seemed so contradictory to his on screen personas. It's often the case where the people who seem like the life and soul of the party are really struggling inside with their own demons. It also goes to show that substance abuse can affect everyone, not just 'weak' people who can't 'get it together' or down and outs or people who just can't afford to go to rehab.  

  Mental health doesn't discriminate, rich or poor, black or white, old or young. It doesn't make you weak that you struggle with it sometimes. I often hear people say, 'I don't want to burden people with my problems',  and it's true in some cases people can't cope with what you tell them. BUT in the majority of cases people will do their very very best to help other people. I always say to people you'll bother people a lot more by having them come to your funeral, rather than taking a few minutes out of their day to talk. It sounds harsh and dramatic, but as we've seen by Robin's death, it can often be the outcome when people struggle. 

                       SO REACH OUT!!!


   I can't stress this enough to people. Help is out there. Some times its talking therapy, sometimes it's pills and sometimes it's both. For some people it's going home and screaming into a pillow when they get home from work and that's enough for them and that's ok too. Dealing with your mental health does not have to be a long term issue. I think sometimes people feel if they admit they're struggling, it's opening a can of worms that they will always have to deal with, this is not the case! But these short term 'bouts' are just as important to deal with if they become too much, as the long term concerns. 

   I've recently noticed how in my articles about mental health I haven't put any links to organisations which can help. Mostly I have done this as I don't know where you the reader are from, and also I don't want to recommend any service over the other as different ones help different people.  However, I am going to put some links below this time and hopefully they can be of some help to people. 

Rest in peace Robin and thanks for the laughs, gone but your legend lives on. x

www.stpatricks.ie - St Patrick's Psychiatric Hospital Dublin.

www.mentalhealthireland.ie - general mental health 

www.ie.reachout.com - youth mental health

www.pieta.ie - selfharm and suicide

www.mentalhealthamerica.net - mental health in America

www.mentalhealth.org.uk - mental health in the U.K

www.mind.org.uk - UK charity around mental health

Please note that these are simply sites I googled and am in now way affiliated with. 




Saturday, 9 August 2014

New Blog Layout



     Hi pretty people!


      I'd love some feed back on the new background and layout of the blog, so please let me know what you think.  Massive thanks to Lotte to helped me with it all:)


    Check out her gorgeous blog at www.ifyoufeedpeanutsyougetmonkeys.blogspot.ie



      Love as always! xx

Review of Ziaja SenSitive Soothing Day Cream and Micellar Water





Hi Pretty people!


                Once again,I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! It's hard to believe that it's been a week since my last post, but in that time I was shopping in Dublin and have some amazing buys to show you guys in the weeks to come! I also took on foster kittens, who at this moment are having a great time chasing my fingers across the keyboard! If anyone can give a kitten a good home let me know!:) 


                                     
Molly and Charlie helping me write!




       I would also like to dedicate this post to my wonderful friend Zoe who's 21 today. Its such a pain in the a•• I couldn't make it due to stupid train and bus systems, but I hope you've a wonderful day hun:)

        Ok, so on to the review! As the title would suggest, this review is on Ziaja's SenSitive skin day cream and miscellar water. I have done a review on the enzyme peel product from this range before and was so happy with it I decided to try these out. Ziaja is a Polish range, which has several, very affordable lines and can be bought in most chemists and online. I'll leave the link for the Irish online store below.


                 

         
      The miscellar water is €4.99 for 200mls, is ph balanced,dermatologically and allergy tested and has 0% parabens, alcohol or perfume. It's active ingredients are provitamin B5 and allantoin, which is an anti irritant and has moisturising properties. You apply to the skin with cotton pads and there's no need to rinse. So does it do the job? 

        You're still going to need an eye make up remover with this for a start, but it is very good at removing other makeup. When I first purchased this I used it as my general face cleanser, and to be honest I wasn't thrilled with the results. During the day I did notice my skin was looking very oily around the chin area, and I felt had to use the water to cleanse again. In fairness to the product at the moment I am really struggling with blockages and lumps on the right side of my face, and my chin and nose always have black heads. Ironically, I read an article about the bacteria on your phone possibly causing spots and since I have started using my head phones, it has definitely made a difference! Get that anti bacterial wipe now


Eeeeeeew!


      So instead of using the miscellar water as a skin cleanser I have just been using it to remove make up and it does a lovely job. I think if you had good sensitive skin this would be lovely for you, as it did leave the non problematic areas of my skin really soft and clean, but its just too gentle to tackle my problem areas. I would defienitly recommend using this in preference of a face wipe if you're too tired to  'double cleanse' at any stage. It's very economical as you don't need to use too much of this product, and it is brilliant at taking off face makeup. Bottom line, I will be repurchasing this as it is an excellent, good value make up remover that leaves behind no residue and isn't full of harsh chemicals. 


                                 


     On to the Soothing Day Cream! It retails at €6.99 for 50ml, is ph balanced,  has no silicones, mineral oil or perfume, has an SPF of 20 and protects from UVA and UVB rays. This product is marketed for sensitive, dry and itchy skin, which it doesn't point out on the front of the box! Due to this it is just too heavy for my skin, and reminds me of a lighter formulation of aqueous cream. I think is not so much for sensitive skin, as for dry skin that suffers irritations and can't cope with chemicals. Unless you actually have this type of skin, rather than just sensitive skin, I wouldn't recommend this product. It is a pity as this product has a lot going for it and if they brought this out in a milk version I would definitely try it. 



                                                   


  So, there's my honest opinion on these products! Has anyone else tried out this range, or other lines in the range? What did people think? Can anyone help me on my quest to find a good moisturiser?! 

   Enjoy what ever you get up to this weekend and lots of love from me, Charlie and Molly!xxxx



Saturday, 2 August 2014

Real Techniques Review




   Hey Pretty people!


   I hope everyone's having a lovely weekend! Its pouring rain outside, so I decided it was perfect weather to write a review I'd promised on instgram, while having Dispicable Me2 playing in the background. Yes, it's very tragic, I love minions. There I said it! They are they funniest little yellow things on the face of this earth! I may even have a little minion collection, I may not.I'm saying nothing. Hehe bottom!


                                                         
Complimentary minion pic!



   Moving swiftly onwards! The products I'm reviewing today are Real Techniques brushes and their beauty blender. These brushes are made by the YouTube beauty gurus Sam and Nic Chapmen, whom I'm pretty sure need no real introduction due to their insane popularity. The girls also created videos to go with their products in order to help you get the best results. I really like this principal, as for many people, the makeup artist makes it look so simple in the store and then when you get home you're looking at the product with not a freaking clue how to make the best of what you've just bought! Also these brushes are quite reasonably priced and I think the most expensive in the range is €16.99. They're available in larger Boots stores and online. I'll leave both links below.


                                             



Shading Brush: This brush was €10.49 in Boots. Ok, straight off, I don't really use this brush. I wasn't hugely impressed by it as I felt it didn't apply as much colour as I wanted on the lids. It can also be used to apply the crease colour but again I felt it just didn't apply the colour to the level of intensity I wanted. I did use this recently to apply a cream eye shadow base, and it did a really good job, so I think I may start reaching for it again, but only for this purpose. It is a very soft brush and doesn't drag the eye lids, and for some reason I really like the fact the brush is thin and not as long as other makeup brushes. I think it's because it allows you to get up close to the mirror with out smacking the brush off it, and then into your eye. Or maybe thats just me. I would recommend this for someone who simply wants a wash of colour, or for someone who uses cream based eye products.

                                           
                                                                 

Expert Face Brush: This brush was €13.29 in Boots. Its quite firm, as in when you push down on the bristles they don't splay out everywhere, but they are soo soft! This is designed for application of and blending liquid and cream foundation. I wasn't too impressed with this for applying and blending liquid foundation, but recently I purchased Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse to use as a contour product, and it works so well with this! It applies and blends the mousse so easily and effectively. I always get a bit worried about applying contour colour as I'm so pale and dread that 'dirty face streak' but this brush blends it seamlessly into my skin. Use a light hand with this brush as because it's firm, you could end up dragging the skin if you're too heavy handed.You could possible even use this to gently press powder onto the face, though not around the eyes. I would absolutely recommend this brush to anyone who uses mousse, cream or even wax based products. 


                                               

Blush Brush: This was €12.99 in Boots. Ok, this brush in my opinion is way too big for a blush brush. It's about twice the size of a normal blush brush and closer in size M.A.C.s 150 which is a big brush! In it's favour however this brush is soooo soft and the shape of it reminds me of a blender brush as its cut in a dome shape. I personally use this brush to apply colour all over my face as the shape is perfect for going around the eye and nose area and again, it's so soft on the face!This applies powder without causing a lot of fall out or leaving you with the over powdered look. I'd definitely recommend this brush to anyone and everyone:)

                                               



Miracle Complexion Sponge: This is €5.89 in Boots.(There were all bought in Boots in case you've not cottoned on to that yet!-_-) Oh wow...I just love this sponge. I'd marry it and have it's little sponge babies if I could! This is the Real Techniques take on the original Beauty Blender. I have to admit I was late to this whole beauty blender phenomena. I used a sponge when I was much younger to apply makeup, and I just thought sponges were so 90's! But when I saw this for under €6 and I was looking for a new way to apply my foundation I thought why not? I'm delighted I did! I don't know the science of how this sponge works, but when you run this under water it swells to about three times its regular size. You squeeze it out and then use it to apply foundation, cream blush, liquid highlighter, concealer, pretty much anything that isn't powder based really! It can be used for blending as well as application and is flawless at both. I recently bought a second sponge for applying and blending my liquid highlight, and my mother who was so impressed with the results also decided to buy one, and is so far a huge fan!

                               

 
So. Is there anything I don't like about the range over all? Well, just silly things. I keep all my brushes in a jar like container and because the ends of the face brushes are larger they do take up a lot of room. My only complaint about the sponge is it does seem to stain easily and this can make it look like you've not been bothered to wash it. Not major things really and I still would have no problems recommending this range to anyone!:)

    I hope this post was helpful and answered any questions people may have had about these products. Has anyone else had experience, either positive or negative, with Real Techniques?  Also has anyone tried out their new make up pallets? It feels like eeeveryones got a palette on the market these days! Think I'll look into releasing one myself.....

Thanks so much for reading !:)
xx


Boots Link: http://www.boots.ie/en/Real-Techniques/

Real Techniques Site: http://realtechniques.com

All images Google Images