The brow trend is not going anywhere, anytime soon.

And while everyone loves a bold brow, it’s important you don’t go overboard. Because, while a v. bold brow might be great for a night out, the everyday bold brow should be *a bit* subtler.

Make sure to keep your brows in check by avoiding these 4 common mistakes:

 

First Mistake: Your brow product is noticeable
It’s normal to see some makeup on your skin from a few inches, but not a few feet away.

Solution: Apply pigment (gel, pencil, powder) with light feathery strokes and use your brow spoolie to blend thru hairs and over the skin. Next, sweep a brow gel over brows to remove excess product and keep them in place.

 

Second Mistake: Your brows look a bit like tattoos
Don’t try to make your brows look too identical because it actually ends up looking artificial. Brows should look like hair, not a solid block of colour.

Solution: Minimise eyebrow differences (thicker brow, higher arch, longer tail) with a few light strokes, but don’t overdraw one brow to match another. Avoid a uniform look by only filling in brows where necessary, like bald spots–which you can fill in by drawing on “hairs” with a tinted brow gel and your 202 angled liner brush.

 

Third Mistake: Your brows don’t match your face
Enhance, darken, and even exaggerate your brows, but don’t change your natural shape. Eyebrow trends change, but if you have straight brows don’t draw in an arch, or vice versa.

Solution: Adapt your eyebrow technique to your eyebrow shape. For squared brow shapes, add definition at the head, draw on short hair-like strokes with your brow pencil, and blend lightly with your brow brush for a natural looking fade. For pointy arches, accentuate the edge of your arch, but stick to the natural shape. And for an over-extended tail, go ahead and enhance the tail of your brow (especially for evening looks), but be careful–if you overextend it, it *can* bring the eye down or look droopy.

 

Fourth Mistake: You over-highlight your brows
There are many ways to accentuate your brow shape, but you don’t need to do all of them, all of the time. Outlining the entire brow with a concealer is time-consuming and can look obvious for every day looks.

Solution: Use a concealer that matches your skin or is a tad lighter to even out the skin above the brow. Then, use your deluxe crease brush to blend out into the forehead and set with a transparent powder.

There are many variations of the popular “smokey eye,” but the basic theory is to cover the lower part of the eyelid with a dark shadow and have it fade as it moves up toward the eyebrow—like smoke rising into the sky—to create a smouldering finished look.

For most, applying a smokey eye is difficult at best, but when you use the same technique with softer shades the result is a versatile daytime look that is quick and easy to apply.

We love the smokey technique for every day because it requires minimal products, time and skill level. And all you need to do is blend.

P.S. To further simplify, we recommend choosing a cream or stick formula for the daytime smokey or “dusky” eye because the formula blends easily over the eyelid without any shadow fallout.

 

The Right Shade

Light skin tones: taupe, heather, muted grey, stone

Medium skin tones: chocolate, slate grey, mauve, olive green

Dark skin tones: cocoa, purple grey, steel, walnut brown

 

The Technique
The simplest application is to use one eye shadow with two eye shadow brushes—one brush to apply and blend into lower lid and one brush to blend out the edges.

1. Dip the tips of your base shadow brush into a cream shadow (or run a stick shadow along the lash line), then use back and forth strokes to blend up into crease. Buff out the edges with your deluxe crease brush.
2. Apply to lower lash line with your accent brush and blend out with your deluxe crease brush.
3. Add 2-3 layers of mascara.

 

The Add-Ons
For a more defined look, select a powder eye shadow one shade deeper than the base shade and sweep along the lash line with your 203 tapered shadow brush and blend over the lower lid. Then, take a clean 203 tapered shadow brush to soften shadow up to the crease.

For a long-lasting look, prime the eyelid with a shadow base or primer and continue with 'The Technique' (above) steps 1-2. Take a matte or subtle sheen powder shadow (in the same hue) and press over the cream shadow with your base shadow brush to keep pigments in place all day.

All that glitters isn’t gold… it’s rose gold, and if you’re reading this on your rose gold phone while walking in your rose gold sneakers, you know what we’re talking about!

We love the rosy metallic because it’s a little unexpected and it’s so darn flattering! The golden pink looks great against any skin tone and gives instant youthful radiance when worn on or near your face. No wonder you look so pretty talking on your rose gold phone!

Whether you’re celebrating at home with family and friends or getting glitzy for a party, add a warm glow (or sparkle) to your face with a rose gold accent.

Alluring Eyes
Sweep a cream eyeshadow over the mobile lid with your 203 tapered shadow brush and blend up into the eye socket.

Press the flat side of your of the 203 tapered shadow brush into a rosy-gold glitter and layer over the cream shadow for a 3D shimmer look. Optional: Dip the tips of your 201 pointed crease brush into a deep plum eye shadow and work into the outer corner of the eye socket for more definition. 

Finish with a modern cat eye. Take a gel liner (plum, chocolate brown or black) and sketch over the root of your lashes with your eyeliner brush and end with a slight flick.

 

Radiant Skin
Add a drop of Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector to your foundation and work over your face with your expert face brush for a luminous glow.

Accentuate the high points of your face with a light-reflecting powder. Sweep over the cheeks, bridge of nose, cupid’s bow, or collar bones with your multitask cheek brush for a soft strobing effect.

 

Glistening Lips
For a matte metallic finish, dab Lime Crime Metallic Velvetines in Blonde onto the centre of your lip then work out to the lip line with your accent brush.

Looking for a little sparkle? Layer with a glitter gloss. Take a loose pigment and press over the centre of your lips to pump up the dimension.

 

Full Throttle Glitz
If you can’t get enough glitter, apply Space Jam Space Paste in Rose Gold anywhere you want a little bling. The glitter is suspended in paste so it applies evenly and doesn’t spread everywhere like loose glitter.

We love to experiment with new beauty styles (and encourage others to do so too), but there’s something to be said about developing a signature makeup look—your go-to face that works with everything. You’ll always look amazing and save a lot of time and money while doing so!

Before you create a new signature look or tweak your existing one, consider the following:

• Lifestyle. Where do you spend your day and what are you wearing? What is appropriate for your workplace/school/community? What reflects your personality? How much maintenance (if any) does your look require?
• Comfort Level. Think about the makeup you can’t live without. Do you feel naked without your perfectly winged liner? Are there at least 4 different lip colours in your bag? Do you sculpt your cheeks to perfection before going to the grocery store? Figure out what you feel comfortable in that is also appropriate for you lifestyle.
• Time. Do you need 2 minutes to apply foundation, blush and mascara, 5 mins for 5-6 products, or 10 minutes for your primed, perfected and polished visage?

 

Get your look together with these steps:

Hone your craft.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert makeup maven, check out our library online tutorials and let Sam and Nic walk you through brush techniques, product tips and expert #mua tricks.

 

Find products that work for your skin type and skin tone.

The only way to see how makeup looks, feels and lasts is through a little trial and error. Go to your favourite makeup counter and ask a salesperson for guidance and a sample! Do a little research online or talk to your friends–there is no lack of information out there, just consider the source! But don’t go over your budget, there are plenty of great products at every price point.

 

Get it together.

Once you have locked in on your look, get organised and streamline your routine. There’s no need to waste time looking for your products. Just have them lined up and ready to go!

Well, you all loved last year’s Bold Metals holiday set so much that we decided to release another holiday set this year! It’s a combination of three versatile brushes with an exclusive brush roll/clutch that we’re calling the Spotlight Essentials Set.

Nic shows you how to use these three uniquely cut brushes to create a bold lip look in her latest tutorial.

 

Flawless Base
-Choose a lightweight foundation and work over your face with a damp miracle complexion sponge. To build coverage, press product onto skin (use the stippling technique) without disrupting existing foundation.

-Dab some concealer onto the flat side of the 102 triangle concealer brush and sweep under the eyes, around the nose and into the corners of the eyes. Next, use the point of the brush to cover any blemishes with a matte finish concealer.

-Set makeup on your T-zone with a pressed powder and your 300 tapered blush brush. The shape fits perfectly into the smaller areas along the middle of the face.

-Apply a soft blush over the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards using your 300 tapered blush.

 

Enhanced Eyes
-Use the same blush colour on your 203 tapered shadow brush and sweep into the upper eye socket to add depth.

-Apply 1-2 coats of your favourite mascara.

 

Flawless Finish
-This look is all about a holiday lip, so choose a bold burgundy shade.

-Apply along the perimeter of your lip with your smudge brush for a sharp edge, then fill in the entire lip (use sparingly a little product goes a long way!).

Every stunning makeup look starts with a flawless complexion, which is why we’re so excited to debut the Real Techniques Ultimate Base Set! 

This set includes all the tools you need to smooth, perfect, highlight and contour your face. 

For the full how-to, check out Nic’s latest tutorial and get all of her personal tricks and #ProTips.

ultimate base set breakdown

expert face brush

Densely packed bristles buff liquid foundations into the skin so seamlessly that it looks like your skin has been airbrushed.

The firm rounded head fits perfectly around the angles of your cheekbones.

#ProTip: Dip the brush tips into a cream shade and run over the cheekbone to create a lovely highlight, or under the cheekbone for a soft contour.

 

miracle complexion sponge

Use wet with foundation for a flawless finish. Just dampen sponge with water, then smoothly apply a liquid foundation. Use the rounded edge for large areas, the flat side for use around the eyes and nose, and the precision tip to cover imperfections.

Use dry to press on loose powder, concealer, and cream or powder blush.

Voted #1 sponge by viewers!

 

deluxe concealer brush

Sam and Nic have long used the deluxe crease brush for concealer, so we added it to the base collection and changed the colour so it’s easy to find and use.

Firm rounded bristles fit perfectly along the orbital bone to blend and buff out concealer.

Great for covering blemishes.

#Pro Tip: Dab a concealer over the top of a blemish and blend out the edges, then lightly sweep a loose powder over blemish to set.

And–as you know–it’s also perfect for eyeshadow!

 

*The ultimate base set also includes a white to-go case with mirror–perfect for touch-ups or brush storage!*

20 years ago, selecting a foundation was simple.

You had 2 options: matte or moisturising.

Nowadays, your options may include–but are not limited to–luminous, velvet, satin, dewy, HD finish, mineral powder, aerosol, liquid mineral, cream-to-powder, and cushion.

But, wait! We haven’t mentioned the variety of benefits–beauty balm, colour correcting, anti-aging, pore-refining, acne fighting, and the list goes on. Then, of course you still need to decide on the level of coverage…

Don’t get us wrong, as a consumer it’s great to have options, but it can get really confusing – even for those of us who work in the business. Fortunately, while there are a zillion names and descriptions for skin coverage they all fall somewhere on the same spectrum: matte to shiny and sheer to full coverage.

Here’s our guide for choosing and applying the correct formula:

What kind of finish do you prefer?

There are very few women who want to look ultra dry or ultra shiny. Most are simply looking for skin that look hydrated but not greasy, right? So, simply choose the formula that works with your skin to give the desired finish.

Let’s break down the 3 basic finishes:

Matte

+Oil-free, powder finish, long-wear, smooth finish

+Skin has a dry finish and no shine

 

Semi-Matte

+Natural, velvet, silk

+Skin has creamy finish and no shine

 

Moisturising

+Dewy, luminous, naked, skin

+Skin has a shiny finish

 

Do you want a formula with a skin care benefit?

If you can find a foundation that has the finish and benefits that you want, awesome. If you can’t find an anti-aging matte formula (they don’t usually go together), then simply use a skin care product with that benefit instead.

 

What kind of coverage are you looking for?

While certain finishes are limited to coverage (dewy is sheer to light finish while matte is medium to full) you can adjust the coverage depending on the brush or sponge that you use.

Sheer Coverage

Stippling brush – perfect for a sheer application of liquid formulas. Smooth over skin using circular motions or press on with the tips of the stippling brush for areas that need more coverage.

Miracle complexion sponge – dampen the flat edge of the sponge and smoothly apply liquid or cream over skin for a sheer but flawless finish.

 

Medium Coverage

Miracle complexion sponge – use dry to sweep liquid or cream foundations on for a medium finish that is still buildable. Blend over skin with the flat edge, then roll or press the rounded side into the skin to build the coverage.

Buffing Brush – great for applying powders, cream or cream-to-powder formulas. Using circular movements, buff product into skin for seamless medium coverage.

 

Full Coverage

Expert face brush and sculpting brush – the firm bristles work cream and liquid foundations into the skin for a pixel-perfect finish, while using very little product.

Foundation brush and 101 triangle foundation brush – for the most opaque finish, use your foundation brush to lay liquid products over the skin.

There are many makeup trends that require precision—graphic eyeliner, Insta brows and cut creases, to name a few—but for those of you who prefer a more lax technique, you’ll be happy to know that clumpy (aka spiky, spidery) lashes are on-trend and very acceptable.

Now, before throwing caution to the wind—along with your lash-brow groomer—let’s go over how to wear clumpy lashes without looking like a mess!

**Trigger Warning: If you are a perfectionist this post may make you uneasy!

 

How to Apply

Step 1. Choose a thick mascara designed for the task. Place the applicator horizontally under the upper lash line, along the root of the lashes (stamp lightly on the waterline, if you can) and wiggle up slowly through the ends several times, going over each section (outside, middle and inner) and ensuring that every lash gets a healthy layer of mascara.

Step 2. While mascara is still wet, flip the wand to a vertical angle and use a windshield wiper motion over each section, to “clump” the lashes. Continue until desired “clumpiness” is achieved.

Step 3. Follow the same steps on the lower lash line.

 

How to Wear

Clumpy lashes should look intentional, not accidental. For a modern and edgy (not slept-in and out-of-date) look, we suggest the following:

-Keep the skin looking fresh and clean: work a sheer foundation over the skin with your expert face brush and smooth a concealer under the eyes with your concealer brush.

-Wear eye shadow: muted shadows and pastels provide a great background shade to emphasise the spikey lashes. If you prefer a nude lid, sweep a flesh-tone shadow over the lower lid with your base shadow brush to prevent smudging.

-Wear with an eyeliner to fill in the bare spots or go without eyeliner to play up the spiky lashes.

-Don’t brush through clumps after they have dried. You risk pulling out your lashes.

-Remove mascara gently with an oil-based cleanser and warm water.

We love blush! No other product brightens the skin, adds dimension and gives a healthy glow all in one step.

So let’s get back to basics.

Blush comes in a variety of formulas and textures, but regardless, we have a few brush recos to help you get the type of definition and finish you want:

 

Blush Brush

Our award winning blush brush is our go-to for delivering an everyday, effortless-looking flush over the cheeks with your favourite powder or cream blush. Swirl the tips into your powder or cream and apply over the apples of the cheeks and up the cheekbone in small circular strokes, buffing out the edges for a flawless, high-def finish.

 

Stippling Brush

For those who prefer a very natural look, the duo-fibers in the stippling brush deliver a sheer, feathery finish. For gels or creams, dip the tips of your brush into pigment and “stipple” (press lightly in a circular pattern) along your cheeks. Then, use circular strokes to blend out into the surrounding area. When applying a powder, dip the tips and make circular strokes on cheeks, allowing the shorter bristles to blend while the long bristles apply.

 

300 Tapered Blush

The tapered design is ideal for those who have petite features or when you want a sculpted cheek look. Run the tips of your 300 tapered blush brush up the middle to top of cheekbone with a powder or cream, then go back and use small circular motions to blend out slightly, for a seamless finish.