Real Techniques Core Collection review

I know I'm stupidly late to the party with this review, but it would be rude not to post about the Real Techniques core brush collection.  I've been using it since March, so you can safely say I've fully road-tested it!  My first real techniques brush was the stippling brush which I reviewed here.  After really liking that brush I put the Core Collection and Starter Kit on my birthday list - I'll do a review of that one soon too.

The four brushes in the Real Techniques Core Collection are ( L to R) - detailer brush, pointed foundation brush, contour brush and buffing brush.  

Detailer brush 

This is a really useful small brush.  I've found it to be good for applying a tiny amount of concealer to an awkward place like around the corners of the eyes.  It's also a good brush for a little bit of precise eye shadow work too, if you want to perhaps just add a tiny amount of a darker shadow.  I don't get a huge amount of use from this brush to be honest, it's more of an occasional use one if I'm doing something out of the ordinary with my makeup.

Pointed foundation brush 

I have to admit that I still haven't used this brush.  I just don't need it as I'm so into using the buffing brush for my foundation and I really don't want to put it down.  It seems like a huge waste of this lovely soft brush though - does anyone have any suggestions for how I could use this?

Contour brush 

No surprises that I use this brush for contouring.  It's the perfect size for contouring the hollows of your cheeks and other areas on the face.  I use this with my Sleek contour kit and it works perfectly for the contour and the hi-light.  I remember someone telling me they used this brush for blush, but for me it's to small for that - I like to use a bigger and angled brush from my Sigma kit for blush.

Buffing brush 

This is now my all time favourite foundation brush.  I use it with my Estee Lauder double wear and they're a perfect pairing.  I don't get any streaking at all using this brush with that foundation.  It's a super soft brush so I take it right under my eyes and blend concealer with it.  It's intended to be a buffing brush, so sometimes after I've applied my MAC MSF natural as a setting powder with a big fluffy brush, I'll buff over it with this brush just to make sure everything's even and there's no cakeiness.  I could probably do with two of these brushes so that I could use one for foundation and one for powder - I'm not sure if they sell this one individually so I'll have to check.

So although I don't get a lot of use out of half of the kit, the other half has become a staple in my every day makeup routine.  I sort of knew this when I decided to get the kit - the buffing and contour brush were the main brushes I wanted, and seeing as the whole kit is only £21.99 I wasn't fussed that I might not use the other two much.  

I think these are amazing quality brushes for the price (they're really soft and they don't shed at all) and I would definitely buy this kit again if the buffing and contour brushes wear out.  

You can get the Real techniques Core Collection from Boots for £21.99.