New Launch: Hair Chalks from Fudge Urban

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 3 - 2013

Hair chalks have been steadily gaining in popularity for over a year now… these little sticks o’ colour offer the kind of hair eccentricity that many of us lust after without any of the regrets a trip to the hairdresser might bring!

If you’re new to the idea, the premise for creating some temporary colour effects is pretty simple…

1. Take your freshly styled hair and ready yourself with the colours you want to use.

2. Grab a towel and wrap it around your shoulders to protect your clothes from any fall-out.

3. If your hair is blonde, you may be able to use the chalks on dry hair… if you’re a brunette or red-head, you may need to wet your hair prior to applying.  This will increase the intensity of the colour but may also cause it to temporarily stain the hair shaft.

4. Starting at the tips and working toward the root, massage the chalk into your hair with your fingers.  Some advocate twisting the strands of hair as this increases the texture and grippiness for the chalk to adhere properly.

5. If you want an ombre effect, gradually apply less chalk as you work your way up the hair strand.

6. Seal the colour in (for around 24hrs) with a shot of hair spray.

fudge-urban-hair-chalks

In the UK, outside of Groupon and the like, this is the first time I’ve seen them go mainstream and the brand bringing them to the table (helpfully in pots rather than messy stick form!) are Fudge Urban.  The hair chalks will be going live (after having been road-tested last weekend at Glastonbury!) with five colours later this week: Festival Pink, Electrik Blue, Pumped-Up Purple, Red Hot Pepper and Iced White.

Still not sure?  Here’s a great video demonstration of how to apply hair chalks (note: these aren’t the Fudge Urban ones in use and skip to about 3mins 50secs to see the demonstration!)

Priced at £5.99 each, they’ll be available instore and online from superdrug.com… do get in touch with @fudgeurban on Twitter if you have any questions.

I foresee a lot more colour on the high-street next week… will you be trying them?


A graphic NOTD from BarryM Gelly Papaya!

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 3 - 2013

Like a four year old with a brand new craft set, I’ve finally gotten to grips with my nail striping tapes that I bought about a million years ago before promptly relegating to the back of a drawer.

You see, when I first applied BarryM’s Gelly polish in Papaya, I didn’t really like it… it’s not quite as “peachy” as I was hoping for, a little too bright against my pale skintone. Especially for a school day.

A graphic NOTD from BarryM Gelly Papaya!

So, I grabbed a muted green polish and with the help of a few strips of tape, managed to create quite the neatest lines I’ve ever accomplished!  Go me!  This was all a complete fluke you understand, even the fact that the colours kinda go together was not part of a greater master plan.  I simply got lucky.

Doesn’t it look nice though?  If you don’t Pinterest the shit out of it, I’m not talking to any of you again.

Don’t own any nail striping tape?  Oh, you should!!  It’s only taken me a couple of years to get round to using it… I bought mine on eBay.  Next time, I’ll actually try leaving the tape ON the nail… but you know, baby steps…

Are you sporting any nail art at the moment?

Win it! Eight festival-inspired Face Lace designs to giveaway!

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 2 - 2013

You already know that I’m a big fan of the gorgeous Face Lace designs, artfully created by makeup artist Phyllis Cohen… but did you know that she’s just released a set of uber-colourful designs to complement the current collection?

You can read more about what Face Lace is and how they work here and here.

Win it! Eight festival-inspired Face Lace designs to giveaway!

Win it! Eight festival-inspired Face Lace designs to giveaway!

These re-usable, Woodstock-inspired designs are sure to bring out the love child in each of us without the need for orgies, drugs, and booze.  I know, sorry about that.

The good news is, I have eight of these pretties to give away, if you’d like the chance to win your very own Face Lace in either a Dovechild or Sunbeam design, simply do the Rafflecopter thang below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C
1. Start date for this competition is 2nd July 2013
2. Closing date for this competition is 9th July 2013
3. Winners will receive 1x festival-inspired Face Lace chosen at random (worth £8.29 each). No cash alternatives.
4. Competition is open worldwide.
5. Lipglossiping.com is the sole promoter of this competition.
6. Personal details will not be kept or forwarded and are only used in the context of this competition to inform the winner(s) of their prize status.
7. Eight winners will be selected at random from all entries received.
8. Winners will be notified within 5 working days and will be expected to reply to an email sent to the address used to enter the competition within 5 working days or risk forfeiting the prize.

The people have spoken! QVC Customer Beauty Awards…

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 2 - 2013

When it comes to judging the merits of beauty products, opinions don’t come much more highly-regarded than those of the end-user themselves.  Which is why I like the QVC Customer Beauty Awards.  QVC shoppers are a real pro-active bunch, you only need to read the product reviews on the website and check out the forums to understand how much effort they invest in being part of the QVC “community”, they’re hardcore!

Returning for another year, the QVC Customer Beauty Awards have been gathering ratings and votes from this tight-knit community over the past month and last night, the results of the best available at the shopping channel were revealed.

qvc-customer-beauty-awards

Across a total of 12 categories… 48 beauty product nominees battled it out to be crowned the ultimate winners, and here they are:

Best Moisturiser – Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream
Best Facial Cleanser – Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Best Haircare Product – Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
Best Foundation bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation
Best Nailcare Product Leighton Denny Crystal File Duo
Best Beauty Essential Product L’Occitane Hand & Foot Care Duo
Best Anti-Ageing Product Decleor Aromessence Iris
Best Make-Up Must-Have bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer
Best Summer Essential Ultrasun Face 50+ Duo
Best Male Grooming Product Liz Earle Men’s Face Scrub & Cleanse & Polish
Best Targeted Treatment Gatineau Melatogenine Force Collagene Duo
Best Newcomer – Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm

All of these products are available to buy online at qvcuk.com

I was disappointed that the lovely Lipstick Queen Sinner range didn’t beat off the competition for best newcomer but the might of Elemis was just too strong!  Leighton Denny’s fabulous nail files triumphing over Seche Vite’s top coat made this SV dissident smile broadly but I was shocked that neither Emma Hardie nor Alpha-H picked up a win!

Did any of your favourites make the winner’s podium?

Layla, Leila… what’s a few letters between friends… I’m pretty excited for these new Summer shades from child-friendly nail polish brand: Little BU.

Of course, I should be more excited for the actual colours than their names but heck, I can’t help it. I’m just a big kid at heart. *buys all the everything with Charlotte on it*.  And don’t think I don’t see you trying to look all cool as you scramble around the fridge for a Coke bottle with your name on it.

So anyway, I’ve got two new Little BU shades to show you (but not the Charlotte, they’re messing with me!)  My mini-model even agreed to wear one at super-short notice, which was nice… considering she was in a head-spinning foul mood brought on by the fact that we only had Biscuit Dairylea Dunkers and not Tube Dairylea Dunkers. There’s a difference (apparently).

Little-Bu-Layla-and-Carolina

Carolina is a sheer peach with a hint of subtle sparkle and Layla is a sheer (but buildable) lilac with a myriad of multi-coloured glitter.  No prizes for guessing which one was my little Leila’s favourite?

Little-Bu-Layla

She made me do three coats… I thought it looked better with two… but you know, she’s four.  She doesn’t know when to stop gilding the lily.  MOAR GLITTER.  MOAR.

I sealed the final layer with a slick of the Little BU top coat which keeps everything pinned down for around 24hrs or until you chuck them in a bath to soak.  These really give off absolutely no scent at all during application, they apply without any frustration, and I’m happy in the knowledge that they contain no harmful toxins.

Little BU polishes (9ml) are priced at £9.95 each and are available to buy online at iluvlittlebu.com and instore at Harrods and Selfridges.

* press sample

Butter London Fiddlesticks NOTD

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 27 - 2013

fid·dle·stick

exclamation /ˈfidlˌstik/ 

Nonsense

butter-london-fiddlesticks-web

Who knew such a bunch of "nonsense" could look so pretty?

Butter London Fiddlesticks is a deep magenta glitter suspended in a raspberry base.  It was released as part of their Holiday 2012 collection and thus, horribly inappropriate to be wearing in June.  Whatever.  It's pretty and I like it… so I'm gonna wear it.

The coverage is pretty full-on and the above photo shows it worn with 3-coats, which as you can see, delivers full and complete opacity.

butter-london-fiddlesticks-web2.

Removal is a minor bitch… what with it being glitter and all.  You could layer this one over something like Butter London Blowing Raspberries and I'm sure that a single coat would have much the same effect with less irritation during the removal process.

Butter London Fiddlesticks is priced at £11.95 and available to buy online from PowderRooms.com

Deal Alert: Space NK 50% off Sale – My Picks!

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 26 - 2013

Nothing gets me excited like a Space NK sale.

You see, I am not a woman of considerable means so I will always clap like a seal and skip like a munter at the thought of actually being able to afford the kind of treats that usually wrack me with stomach-churning guilt whenever I buy them.

Space NK have just released their (up to) 50% off sale page online, I don't know what it's like in store… our nearest is a 40mins+ drive away.  I also don't know if I'm buying yet… it's my birthday next month and I've already splashed some cash on another Sara Berman bag (my third), plus a cheeky StrawberryNET and Fragrance Direct order.  GOD SPACE NK, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME YOU WERE HAVING A SALE SOONER!

Anyway, if I do partake… here are my top picks, I wouldn't get all of them… but this is my shortlist!

space-NK-sale-picks

01: Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in Mystere looks like an awesome Autumn/Winter shade that would either turn me into Snow White or simply exaggerate my ruddiness… I'm undecided.  I love the formula but the colour may work better on someone less naturally red-cheeked. (£19 £9.50, SpaceNK)

02: I'm a sucker for a neutral metallic and Space have put some lovely Rococo Nail Apparel shades in the sale.  This one in Mysterioso is calling me… especially at that price! (£12 £6, SpaceNK)

03: Everyone sorted for eye-cream?  I'm not.  I haven't found one that I like and as the clock ticks on, it's the one place that I'm really starting to notice a bit of age creeping in you know? I could quite easily panic buy this Reviving Anti-Wrinkle Fluid for Eyes from Skeen… I don't know much (anything) about them but the retinol sure sounds good! (£33 £16.50, SpaceNK)

04: It's always a good idea to buy off-season and there's no harm in preparing ourselves for the (inevitably) cold winter ahead.  Elemental Herbology's Wind and Cold Therapy promises to be the business for hands, cuticles and lips. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail! Or something… (£19 £9.50, SpaceNK)

05: Miller Harris is one of my favourite perfumers and La Fumée is one of my favourite Winter scents.  Gloriously smoky and reminiscent of Bonfire Night it's a cracking EdP and although I don't need to replace my bottle just yet… this price makes me wish that I did!  (£95 £47.50, SpaceNK)

06: It wouldn't be a SpaceNK sale without a bit of nicely-priced ByTerry would it? Now, while more than anything… I would have loved to see some Or de Rose Elixir Extreme pop up on the sale pages… it hasn't.  And so I'd happily content myself with some ByTerry Colour Skin Enhancer instead.  What it does, I don't really know… I just know that I've got the wantsies.  (£64.50 £32, SpaceNK)

07: Finally, and probably my most-lusted-after item from the sale is this Sniff Scented Candle from R Nichols.  A bit of a strange lust perhaps but you see, I bought one of these (not this scent) in their Winter sale and it blew me away.  I want all of the beautifully illustrated R Nichols candles.  And as for this scent, well…. leather and woods… need I say more? (£40 £20, SpaceNK)

None of the free delivery codes I've found work anymore but if I find anything, I'll be sure to update this post… otherwise, there's the standard 6% cashback on Quidco.

What are you lusting after from the SpaceNK sale pages this time around?

Nails Inc. launches the Green Queen Manicure. Feeling arty? DIY it!

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 25 - 2013

Keeping up with the latest trends in the fast-moving world of many manicures can be pretty hard work!  In light of this, Nails Inc have recently launched their Guest Manicure initiative which allows you to get to grips with a new nail trend for just £15, available from Nails Inc bars across the country.

This month sees the launch of the Green Queen manicure, a nod to the colour of the season, worn in a slightly more demure way than going all out HULK on your tips.

nails-inc-green-queen-manicure-1371812262

Nails Inc. say:  This is the Queen of all manicures for the festival season – a base of Royal Botanical Gardens in mint with with stunning emerald green Queen Victoria Street tips.  This is a subtle look to make your nails pop all festival long.  It’s the perfect way to accessorise your outfit – through rain, mudslides, thunder or sunshine, whatever the weather throws at us this summer, your nails will be bold, beautiful and bursting with colour.

I say… this one’s a bit manageable innit!  For once, will I be on trend?

Grabbing the closest colours I could muster, I did a pretty neat job (even if I do say so myself).

DIY-green-queen-manicure

Not got the time for such frivolities?

Your life is undoubtedly more exciting than mine… perhaps you’re off to Glastonbury this week to sample the delights of the long-drops and the she-pees.  In that case, skip the am-drams and get a pro to sort you out.

Book in for your Green Queen Manicure at your nearest Nails Inc. via their online booking service, here

Salt vs Sugar: Is your exfoliator scrubbing you up the wrong way?

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 24 - 2013

When it comes down to it, most body scrubs are pretty low-tech.  A DIY recipe generally involves little more than a simple pairing of an abrasive ingredient with a moisturising agent, et voila!  Body scrub.

It’s all about the exfoliation.

That unmistakable pleasure/pain(!) of scrubbing your skin and physically sloughing off the dead skin cells that clog the surface layer whilst removing grease and other impurities.  Sounds good doesn’t it?  And let’s not forget some of the other benefits of exfoliation which include prepping your skin to welcome moisturiser, self-tan, and masks whilst an increased blood circulation brings a healthy glow to some oft’ neglected areas.

While there are truly limitless moisturising agents available in which to suspend those wonderful exfoliating particles… it’s the hard-working scrubby bits that I’m talking about today.  In particular, the two most commonly found abrasives.

Salt and Sugar.

Salt vs Sugar: Is your exfoliator scrubbing you up the wrong way?

Salt vs. Sugar

Perhaps you’ve never even considered why you might choose one ingredient over the other.  What are the differences between them and why should you even care?

Read on, and I’ll tell you all you need to know for the next time you’re thinking of making a purchase…

Salt vs Sugar

The major difference between the two is simple; scrubbiness.

Salt is more abrasive and dissolves more slowly than sugar when it comes into contact with water.  Salt is usually the preffered ingredient in scrubs marketed toward a male consumer as it’s presumed that our menfolk prefer a more vigourous scrub!  And because of its slow-dissolving nature, it’s also the scrub ingredient of choice in many spas and other professional places that offer treatments involving manual exfoliation.

Some salts – such as Himalayan and Dead Sea Salt – are also revered for their “healing” properties thanks to a particularly high mineral content.  These are generally considered to have greater therapeutic properties than their sugar counterparts and as a result can be more expensive to incorporate into a finished product.

Salt scrubs should never be used on the face, or indeed any delicate part of the body.  However, feel free to go crazy with them on calloused feet and enjoy stepping out in sandals again with confidence.

Salt vs Sugar: Is your exfoliator scrubbing you up the wrong way?

Four lovely sugar and salt-based body scrubs to get your skin glowing!

SALT

Elemis Sp@ Home Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow* (£36.50, timetospa.co.uk)

Soap & Glory Flake Away (£7.50, boots.com)

SUGAR

Organic Surge Million Dollar Brown Sugar Body Polish* (£32 £8 on sale!, organicsurge.com)

Marshmallow Blends Lemon Sherbet Sugar Scrub Cubes* (£6, marshamallowblends.co.uk)

Sugar vs Salt

If like me, you’re a more sensitive soul… sugar scrubs will still give you a great manual exfoliation, sloughing away rough skin and leaving behind a smooth surface that begs to be stroked!  Not only is sugar less abrasive than its salty counterpart but it also reacts more kindly to any shaving cuts you may have accrued on your legs, salt stings!

You may also find that during application, sugar scrubs are a little easier to tame.  Salt-based scrubs tend to have less “stick” to the skin… particularly if the salt to base ratio is high.  Sugar, by its very nature, is a lot “stickier” and easier to work into the skin for some hardcore body-pampering.

When all is said and done, the difference between salt and sugar mostly comes down to personal choice and how sensitive your skin is to begin with.  Me?  I adore the therapeutic properties of a good old-fashioned bath salt but I prefer my scrubs to be a little sweeter!

Do you have a preference between sugar or salt-based crubs?

* press sample

Tealing kinda blue! Boots No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Cruising

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 21 - 2013

Whenever I get given one of those nifty till spits treating me to X amount off Boots No7, I make a beeline.  Well, two actually… my first port of call are the brushes, I must have a million No7 brushes that I always take with me on holidays.  You know the sort of thing… not so rubbish that they’re unusable, not so amazing/expensive that you’d cry if they got bent out of shape! Makeup bag staples.

My second stop-off is in front of the Boots No7 Stay Perfect nail polishes.  I’m a little bit reluctant to hand over full-price for the range but when you’ve got £3 off… well, things don’t seem quite so expensive after-all!

Especially when they look as pretty as this…

Boots-No7-Stay-Perfect-Nail-Colour-in-Cruising-Teal_1

Boots-No7-Stay-Perfect-Nail-Colour-in-Cruising-Teal_2

How lovely is that teal?  Next stop, it’s going on my toes!

I generally find the No7 formula to be a two-coater, the brushes have improved recently and now I can generally cover the nail in 3 strokes with an extra one thrown in to tidy up.  Drying time is average but the gloss is usually out of this world.  My biggest bug bear with the formula is that so many of the strong shades stain my skin and require more acetone in removal than I’d usually like to use.

Despite the moniker, Stay Perfect doesn’t actually stay all that perfect.  I usually get significant tip wear within a few days and the odd chip here and there, noteworthy for someone whose nails rarely suffer from chips!

That being said, I’m almost tempted to forgive it for being such a rich, glossy shade that looks as though it’s been poured on rather than painted.  Lush.

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Cruising is priced at £6 (without a voucher) and available to buy instore and online at boots.com

Are you a fan of the No7 Stay Perfect nail range?

* press sample

Pick up a pick-me-up with The Body Shop face masks!

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 21 - 2013

News of The Body Shop’s latest launch is like well-tuned music to my ears.  I’m a sucker for anything that promises an instant fix in less time than it takes to watch a movie and their NEW single-shot face mask sachets will turn you into a movie-watching, zit-busting multitasker of EPIC proportions!

Pick up a pick-me-up with The Body Shop face masks!

There are four different varieties of mask available in the range, here’s a quick guide to give you an idea of which might be the best choice for your current skin needs:

Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask

“Bring skin back to its optimum moisture levels with intensely hydrating Vitamin E.  Bursting with antioxidants this cushioning moisture cream protects and rejuvenates, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.

This is an overnight leave-on mask, great for when your skin is feeling dehydrated or in need of some extra TLC, personally… I’d use this in conjunction with any one of the cleansing masks.

Vitamin C Microdermabrasion Mask

“Filled with fine micro particles and crushed garnet stones, this zesty Vitamin C mask gently and effectively removes impurities and dead skin cells, providing deep exfoliation. It improves skin texture and tone, revealing a brighter, balanced, more radiant complexion.”

Great for combination and congested skin-types, perfect to use a couple of days before an event or big night out.  As it’s an exfoliator, I wouldn’t use this one more than once a week at most.

Tea Tree Face Mask

This antibacterial, deep cleansing clay mask smoothes and refreshes the skin by absorbing excess oil.  It gives an instantly cooling, soothing sensation whilst leaving skin clear and squeaky clean.”

A good choice for oily skin types.  If you’re wary that it might be too much for your skin, limit its use to a dab on any blemishes you have and save the rest to give your back/shoulders a deep cleanse!

Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask

“Draw out impurities and rebalance the skin’s natural ph levels with this mattifying clay mould mask. Packed with the purifying properties of naturally sourced seaweed, it cleanses deeply, controlling excess oil, leaving skin oil and shine free.”

Who doesn’t love a good sea monster-esque clay mask?  These are my favourite to tackle congestion and blackheads across my t-zone.  Again, I’d use an overnight moisturising mask after treatment to restore hydration on my dry skin and limit its use to once a week.

All masks are single-use sachets containing a 6ml volume, making it a great and inexpensive way to mix-and-match treatments for an at-home pampering session.

Priced at £1.50 each and available in store and online at bodyshop.co.uk

* the seaweed ionic clay mask appears to be temporarily unavailable online

** The Body Shop are currently offering 40% off and free delivery when you spend £5 online with code EXTRATREAT

*** In other news, TBS are discontinuing the Sweet Lemon range, I’m so sad!

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fiber Brush Collection

Posted by Lipglossiping On June - 20 - 2013

Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for a limited time only.  The Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Brush Collection* was launched last month and began to hit our shores a few weeks ago.

Reviews have been almost overwhelmingly positive for this trio of brushes and I was keen to cast my eye over the set to appease my own curiosity of whether they were worth the hype.

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 1

The brushes, as the name might suggest, are dual-fibred.  Both fibres used in the construction are taklon, therefore synthetic and 100% cruelty-free.  There are three brushes in the collection and each is labelled along the handle, clearly describing its purpose.

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 2

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 3

The largest of the three brushes is the Duo-Fiber Face Brush.  Of the three, this is the most flexible and feels the least densely-packed (relative to size).  The layering of fibres in such a loose manner means that this brush is ideal for a light-coating of powder to set your makeup.  You’d be hard-pushed to pack on the product with this tool in your hand and for this purpose, it’s pretty much perfect.

Although the website states that all brushes can be used with cream and liquid products… I don’t think there would be much point in using this brush for anything other than powder products.  It would be like buying a pair of nail scissors and using them to cut your fringe.  Technically, you could do it… but why would you want to waste the engineering?

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 4

The second brush in the set, the Duo-Fiber Contour Brush is slightly more rigid than the face brush.  The fibres feel a little springier, with more resistance under pressure.  This gives the brush a little more strength to direct the product being applied and additional control when it comes to blending for a seamless finish.  Ultimately, this is the brush you’ll want to be using this Summer for applying your bronzer and contour shades.  A little more precision but applied with an equally light hand.

Despite being somewhat stiffer than the face brush, I’m still not sold on using it for cream products… I just have other brushes (even from this line) that I prefer to use with liquids and creams.

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 5

The smallest brush in the set is the Duo-Fiber Eye Brush, and for me, this one is an outright disappointment.  I simply do not find the brush comfortable to use in the delicate eye-area.  The fibres are sharp, scratchy and even with the lightest of touches, too harsh for blending out colour across my eye socket.  At a push, it works ok for under-eye concealer but ultimately, I will pass over this brush daily in favour of a softer brush.

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 6

If you use a lot of powder products, I’d say that you would benefit greatly from purchasing this collection… the Face brush is unlike any other I own for creating a ultra-light finish.  I prefer to use cream products on my cheeks when it comes to blush and bronzer so I’m a little torn on the contour brush… at the bargainous price that this set retails for, I’d lean toward saying that it wouldn’t hurt to own it.

The eye brush isn’t worth the space in my brush holder (imo).  Not that there is any space.

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 7

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Brushes Fiber Review 8

The set hasn’t blown me away.  Not in the same way that the Core Collection did back in 2011 (I still use the Buffing Brush daily) and please don’t assume that just because they’re dual-fibre brushes, you’ll get something comparable to MAC’s legendary 187 at a cheaper price point… these aren’t a set of stippling brushes, they’re far more specific in their use helping you to create softly layered-looks and hone your application skills with a lighter-touch.

For a more multi-purpose duo-fibre brush you’d need something like the Real Techniques highly-regarded Stippling Brush instead.

As far as craftsmanship goes, other than my issue with the scratchiness of the eye brush… overall, the quality is great.  There’s no horrible chemical stink to the fibres, the ferrules are solidly formed and the taklon appears to be well-clamped into the handles.  Although the bottoms of the brushes are flat, they don’t offer the greatest stability on their ends… something to remember if you have a white carpet.

The Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fiber Brush Collection is available to buy online from Cloud10Beauty.com or instore at Boots, priced at £23.99

* press sample

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

Urban Decay The Black Palette - Photos & Swatches

Building upon her inexpensively-priced-but-well-crafted brush empire, Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo fame has released another set of brushes to sit alongside her core collections, albeit for …

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