New Real Techniques Brushes

I've raved about them before, but like most beauty bloggers, I'm a huge fan of Real Techniques brushes. Recently, three new brushes were released and I snapped up two of them: the Expert Face Brush and the Setting Brush. As with my previous brush purchase (the Travel Essentials set), I have iHerb to thank for stocking the whole Real Techniques range at affordable US prices, with relatively quick and inexpensive shipping. I wish iHerb had been brought to my attention earlier, as it would've saved me from buying a whole heap of Real Techniques brushes at inflated prices from a local stockist late last year.

Top: Buffing Brush; Bottom: Expert Face Brush

l-r: Buffing Brush, Expert Face Brush

The Expert Face Brush is said to be very similar to the Buffing Brush from the Core Collection, except that the two are different in shape and the Expert Face Brush can be bought by itself. In the words of Samantha Chapman herself, the Expert Face Brush "works exactly the same as the Buffing Brush, so for all those that wanted the Buffing Brush on its own, this is a good alternative." Both are super soft and feel lovely on the skin. The coverage and finish is the same and both give a polished, airbrushed effect.

The Buffing Brush has a larger head, so it can apply product to a wider area of the face (namely the cheeks and forehead) with fewer strokes. The Buffing Brush is used in circular motions to blend and work foundation into the skin, whereas the Expert Face Brush is moved mainly in downward or sideways strokes. One advantage of the Expert Face Brush is that it's better at blending around the edges and corners of face, such as around the nose and mouth area. The more narrow shape assists in more precise application and is better for contouring using blush or bronzer.

Top: Contour Brush; Bottom: Setting Brush

l-r: Setting Brush, Contour Brush

Top: Setting Brush; Bottom: Multi Task Brush

l-r: Multi Task Brush, Setting Brush

I'm not really sure why I bought the Setting Brush. It was more out of curiosity than any envisaged practical use. At first I thought it would be like a mini Blush or Multi Task Brush, as it's another pink-coded brush and appears to be shaped similarly (albeit on a smaller scale), but it's more like an oversized eyeshadow brush (soft, somewhat loose and flat). The first thing that struck me about the Setting Brush is how small it is. The closest in size to it is the Contour Brush (from the Core Collection), though the Contour Brush is noticeably larger, thicker and firmer. The Setting Brush is way too big for eyeshadow, but too small for blush or bronzer. Its primary purpose is to set concealer under the eyes or to do some spot powdering over the face, two things I don't do regularly, if at all. It could also be used to apply highlighter, though I feel the Contour Brush would be a better choice.