Nothing can completely eliminate the stress of holiday shopping, but we just made it a whole lot easier—all our fave brushes are now in beautiful holiday brush sets that you can easily shop online and in-store!

We put together 3 unique brush sets, suited for a variety of personalities, so you can find the perfect gift for everyone in your beauty crew (and you too!).

For the super smart “boss babe” bestie…

1. She’s always looking for ways to streamline her routine, so give her the gift of beauty and efficiency with the multitask brush set. The three brand new brush heads (with colourful panoramic case) are all she needs to apply touch-ups on the fly.
2. Your clever cohort will appreciate the simplicity of an eye shadow stick set to sweep over the lash line. She can pair it with the multitask eye brush to blend up toward the crease for an easy everyday look.

For the “glam goddess” friend who naturally becomes the centre of any room…

1. She tells hilarious stories with a sparkle in her eye and a big grin, so why not help her play up those eyes and cheeks even more with the spotlight essential brush set. The set includes 3 of our bestselling bold metals brushes: 300 tapered cheek, 102 triangle concealer and 203 tapered shadow brushes in a crisp white brush roll.
2. Her cheeks will be forever glowing with a cheek duo, which she can pair with her new 300 tapered cheek brush to swipe across the top of cheekbones, swirl and blend out the edges.

For the “beauty rebel” friend who has everything (and you still like her)…

1. Your fortunate friend may not need new brushes, but she’ll want the uber graphic your picks: Berlin brush set! The set includes 5 of our fan favourite brushes with handles inspired by the Berlin street art scene. Honestly, can you ever have too many RT brushes?
2. Spa-like gifts are always welcome, so pick up a sweet bath set for your luxe-loving buddy.

Happy shopping

Every magazine, catalog and advert you pick up this summer features beautiful models with a flawless, golden tan radiating from prominent cheekbones and impossibly-long limbs. They never have sunburn or tan lines, their skin is dewy (never dry or flakey) and while they may have a smattering of freckles they never seem to have any obvious sun damage…

So, what’s their secret?  

It’s called makeup! More often than not, there is an awful lot of face and body makeup going on to achieve that “natural” beauty.

If you’re looking to get the modelesque, end-of-the-summer “golden goddess” look (sans sun), make sure you follow these tips:

Fair – Light Skin

Being the fairest of the group is probably your normal, but here are a few ways to warm up your skin without looking ridiculous:

• DON’T apply a darker foundation to your face. It will look obvious.
• DO choose a golden beige bronzer that warms up light skin tones without the orange tint. Dip the tips of your stippling brush into bronzer and smooth over your forehead, cheekbones and bridge of nose for a warm glow.
• DON’T use your contour powder as a bronzer – it has a grey undertone meant to “sink” areas of the skin.
• DO apply a gradual tanner in the lightest shade.
• DON’T get spray tanned by a machine or a person, unless they have a solution that is around 6% DHA. Regardless of application and quality of product, your skin will appear orange if you use the medium solutions (8-10%).

Medium – Tan Skin

The goal is to look sun-kissed and healthy, not super tan everywhere.

• DO choose a sheer bronzer to accent your skin vs. an opaque bronzer that covers your skin.
• DON’T apply bronzer all over your face. Choose a bronzer, one or two shades darker than your skin tone. Run the bronzer under your jawline, over the shoulder bones and down your décolleté with your 100 arched powder brush.
• DON’T use your contour powder as a bronzer – it can look muddy on tan skin.
• DO accent tan skin with a pop of blush.
• DO apply a gradual tanner in a medium shade.

Dark – Deep Skin 

You already have the lovely colour, but take it up a notch with a little sheen.

• DO apply a sheer foundation to even out and add warmth to your skin. Choose a foundation and work over your skin with your stippling brush for a sheer finish.
• DO even out your skin tone and add a lovely sheen all over your body with an illuminating oil.
• DON’T underestimate the power of colour. Accent your deep skin tone with a deep red/orange. Sweep over the apples of your cheeks with your blush brush to brighten your complexion.

There were Sam’s Picks, then there were Nic’s Picks, and now there are Your Picks.

We are so excited to introduce our first fan-inspired limited edition set because we love to create brushes that YOU love!

We took 5 of our fan-favourite brushes, let you choose the design in our online competition, then turned it into this graphic Berlin-inspired brush set.

For the full how-to, check out Nic’s tutorial or read on…

Your Picks: Berlin

buffing brush

Perfect for blending powder or cream evenly over the contours of your face. Buff into skin with circular movements for a flawless finish.

#ProTip: Apply a face primer before foundation for effortless application and long-lasting coverage.

contour brush

The rounded head is just the right size to apply highlight, contour or face powder exactly where you want it.

stippling brush

The ideal tool for those who tend to be little heavy-handed or desire the sheerest application of foundation, powder or colour. Brush bronzer across forehead and cheekbones to warm up the face, for a healthy glow.

deluxe crease brush

The dome shaped bristles perfectly fit into the orbital bone, making it easy to press in eye shadow and blend out the edges for a seamless finish, or evenly apply concealer under the eye and around the nose bridge and nostrils.

base shadow brush

This essential eye brush is the ideal tool for applying a smooth, flawless base of colour along your eyelid.

Summer is here, ladies. So, if you haven’t switched up your beauty routine, why not summer-ise your look now with a cheerful candy apple lip colour?

This bright shade can range from a sheer stain (like you just ate a strawberry popsicle) to a lacquered finish (the candy coating on an apple), and it brightens most skin tones.

Here are 3 ways to wear a candy apple red lip this summer:

Out and About.
When you’re out running your errands, sweep on a hydrating, shiny shade. Go barefaced (but don’t forget your sunblock!) and a layer of mascara. You’ll look effortlessly chic while knocking things off of your to-do list.

At Work. 
You may have your nose to the grindstone, but that doesn’t mean your lips can’t look pretty! Keep you eye makeup neutral and choose a lip crayon with a satin finish — it’s super portable and easy to apply on-the-go.

At Play.
Heading out for the night, but it’s too hot for a lot of makeup?  Skip the dramatic eye and face contouring and get glam with an ultra shiny, red lip! Start with a layer of lip liner all over your lip and blend in with your lip brush. Top with a long-lasting, ultra shiny lip gloss for an eye-catching evening look. 

Pro Tip: Use the tip of your triangle concealer brush to outline lips with concealer and powder to perfect the shape and prevent bleeding.

If orange had to describe itself in three words it would probably be warm, vibrant and confident. Basically, the perfect shade to embrace this summer, right?

While orange may look like a tricky lip colour to wear, it’s a universally flattering colour that warms and brighten any skin tone.

Here are 5 ways to rock an orange lip this summer:

Hello World

If bold lipstick is your jam, get into the summer spirit with a radiant tangerine shade. Smooth on your lips directly from the tube, then use your shading brush to work pigment into the skin for a long-lasting, luxe look. Keep your lips the focus with a slightly winged black liner, lots of mascara and peachy-bronze cheek.

The Long Haul

Looking for something that will take you from dawn to dusk?  Try a lip paint. A little goes a looong way, so dab a small amount in the center of your lips and blend outward with your retractable lip brush.

#ProTip: Protect and hydrate your lips—apply a lip balm with SPF and allow to soak into skin for a few minutes before applying pigment.

Just a Hint

Feeling a tad colour-phobic? Take baby steps with a super sheer lip colour. Wear alone or layer over a nude lip pencil for longer-lasting coverage.

Lip Laquer

Nothing sets off a golden tan or naturally dark skin tones like a shiny blaze of orange. Go big or go home!

Real Techniques celebrated its 5th birthday and we wanted to celebrate with you!

Aside from the goodies we’ve sprinkled into the month of May (2016), we also wanted to “give” you a beautiful birthday look to rock all month long. 

Flawless Base

Choose a light to medium foundation and push onto the skin with a damp miracle complexion sponge (adding water will help blend and reduce the amount of product absorbed by the sponge). Nic recommends keeping the skin light to balance out a colourful eye.

Enhanced Eyes

• Sweep a blue eye shadow stick (or any other fun colour) over the mobile lid and use your dome shadow brush to soften colour and buff into the crease.
• Run a soft blue shadow thru the eye socket with your 203 tapered shadow brush. Dip the tips of the same brush into a darker blue – tapping off the excess–and work into the outer corner of the eye and blend out to the crease.  
• Apply a dark blue liner over the lash line and pull up on the end. #ProTip: When extending liner out, look straight ahead with open eyes for accuracy. Buff out the line with your shading brush.
• Pop several layers of a volumizing mascara. OPTIONAL: Apply to bottom lashes too.
• Remove eye shadow fall out and straighten the corner line with a swipe of a facial wipe.
• Smooth concealer under the eyes and chin, around the nose, and over any blemishes. Take your 102 triangle concealer brush and work over skin, allowing the brush to fit into all of the tight spots and using the straight edge to clean up under the winged liner.
• Take a lighter concealer and apply as a highlighter along the tops of cheeks, under brows, center of the nose and inner eye, blending in with your 102 triangle concealer brush. Use your 203 tapered shadow brush to blend the edge of eye shadow into the concealer under the eye brow.

Perfect Finish

• Brush through brow hairs with your lash-brow groomer and sketch a brow pencil along your natural shape of your brows. DON’T create a new shape. Just enhance your natural brow line.
• Grab your 100 arched powder brush and set makeup with a light dusting over powder.
• Use the same brush to sweep a bronzer over the high points of your face for a fresh, healthy glow.
• Pop a bit of cream blush onto the apples of the cheeks with your contour brush.
• Line lips with a blue-toned eyeliner.
• Top with a vibrant lipstick and buff in with your accent brush.

Nic shows you how to create a soft eye and pretty lip in her tutorial to help you look fresh and beautiful (in photos and face-to-face) for your prom or formal.

Flawless Base

• Moisturise skin and apply foundation with a damp miracle complexion sponge (adding water will help blend and reduce the amount of product absorbed by the sponge). Smooth over the skin with the flat edge or use a dabbing motion for areas that need full coverage. Wearing your hair up? Sweep foundation over your ears.
• Choose a foundation that photographs well. Avoid foundations with SPF (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) as they may cause flash-back.
• Flip the miracle complexion sponge and use the tip to push concealer in, around the nostrils, under eyes or any areas that need extra coverage.

Enhanced Eyes

• Take a warm brown cream shadow over your lid with a shading brush for a long lasting look.
• Apply a soft light shimmer in the inner corner of the eye with the same shading brush.
• Run a brown pencil over the the lash line with a slight lift in the outer corner (don’t worry about it being perfect!). Soften the line with your shading brush and run pencil along the top water line.
• Brush up lashes with a volumizing mascara. OPTIONAL: Apply to bottom lashes too.
• Brush brows up with your lash-brow groomer then run a brow powder thru hairs with your brow brush. Set and define hairs with a brow gel.

“Brows frame the face, but we don’t want it to look like you borrowed someone else’s for the night!” -Nic

 

Perfect Finish

• Grab your miracle complexion sponge and press a setting powder over the skin to set makeup and eliminate shine. DON’T powder over dry skin.
• Take a blush brush and sweep a warm bronzer over the high points of your face for a fresh, healthy glow. Note: Bronzer is warmer than a flat contour shade.
• Apply a highlighter on the top of cheekbones, brow bone and cupids bow with your setting brush.
• Frame lips with a lip pencil that’s lighter than your lipstick to avoid altering the hue.
• Apply an eye catching lipstick and buff out the edge with your accent brush. Finish with one last pop of lipstick over the center of lips.

Have you ever tried to replicate a runway or editorial look only to have it go horribly wrong? If you’ve ever swiped a shiny salve or gloss over your cheeks or eyelids to create that super dewy look you saw once in a magazine, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

Fortunately for all you “dewy” lovers, there are several new products on the market that are designed to gloss your face without the sticky, smeary mess!

Here’s our how-to guide for wearing a face gloss:

Get Dewy

Start with clear skin or a light layer of liquid foundation.

Squeeze a dollop of face gloss onto your concealer brush and sweep over the tops of your cheekbones.

#ProTip: Product goes on a little sticky so pull hair back for a minute or two until it dries.

Mix it Up

Create a shade of your own by mixing gloss with your favorite eye shadow, cheek or lip colour.

Dab a dot of gloss on the back of your hand or palette, pick up a little pigment with your base shadow brush, foundation brush or retractable lip brush and swirl into gloss.

#ProTip: Apply light layers and allow drying time.

Keep in Mind

Less is more. Limit gloss to one small area to avoid looking oily or sweaty. Spread a thin line on top of cheeks or apply sparingly to eyelids.

Not for everyone. Skip this trend if you don’t like the feeling of anything sticky, have oily skin or live in a humid environment.

The newest contour trend “draping” is a throwback to the old 80s technique of using layers of blush to create a sculpted cheekbone. Legendary makeup artist Way Bandy literally wrote the book on it back in the day, and his old friend Marc Jacobs is bringing it back to the runway with his eponymous makeup line.

Now, if you remember 80s-style makeup (or have seen the photos) you may be a little hesitant to embrace this look. However, when you put a modern spin on it (natural shades and blending) it can be a great way to visibly lift your cheekbones in a fresh way.

Follow these steps for a chic, modern version of draping:

1. Choose a light and deep shade of blush in the same colour family (pink, peach, red, plum).
2. Dab the tips of your 301 flat contour brush in the darker hue and tap off excess. Use your finger to feel the point where your cheekbone meets your hairline. Position brush half way up the bone tilting into the hollow below and pull brush down, with the angle stopping at the outside corner of eye.
3. Blend out the lower edge with a clean 300 tapered blush. Then use the brush to sweep the lighter shade over the top edge of the deep colour, moving up and over the bone, so the colour gradually lightens.
4. Repeat above steps for more definition.

Recommended #RealTrend for the following:

Round face or full cheeks: the blush pulls focus to the top of cheekbones, to give the illusion of a longer, more balanced face.

Sculpt dark skin tones: deep vibrant hues will beautifully accentuate deep skin.

To brighten olive skin tones (with peach “draping”).

Not so much for…

Light skin tones that have a pink undertone or angular faces (can look harsh instead of fresh).

Unless you live under a rock without a smart phone, you’re probably aware that festival season has officially begun (thanks Coachella!). Even if you know nothing about any festival, you’re sure to spot the festival trends: a little boho, a few temporary tattoos and a whole lot of accessories.

Fashion-wise, we’re seeing cut-off shorts, flimsy printed tops and anything with feathers, fringe or crochet. Meanwhile, the makeup looks range from a natural sun-kissed visage to face jewels and full-on glamour.

But if spending a small fortune to hang out in the sun with 100,000 other people isn’t quite your jam, here are a few ways to embrace the festival style in your own comfortable (and climate-controlled) life:

Flash Tattoos

Temporary tats used to be child’s play, but companies like Tattly and Flashtat have stepped up the game with original artwork that you wear like jewellery. Wrap an intricate metallic cuff around your wrist, or a geometric body chain down your back, for an eye-catching look. Just press on to clean skin with a wet miracle complexion sponge and 30 seconds later you have temporary body art.

Face Paint and Jewels

Face jewels and face paint may seem a bit much for everyday, but in moderation they can be a festive look for day or night. Just remember to follow these #ProTips:

• Choose one area to accent: eyes, cheekbones or eyebrows.
• Map out design with a creamy concealer and your detailer brush (it’s much easier to tweak a flesh tone!).
• To apply jewels, squeeze eyelash glue onto a palette or hand mirror and use your silicone liner brush to dab onto skin. Pick up jewel with tweezers and lower onto the glue dot. Keep a few makeup wipes handy to clean glue from tweezers and brush after application.
• Want to paint your own design? Pick a cream eye shadow in white, teal, gold, or orange and use your fine liner brush to apply.

Desert Goddess

This look is all about accentuating the bone structure with tawny brown eyes and cheeks (think Michael Kors Spring Runway or Gisele on the beach!).

• To achieve a tan look, choose a large brush like your powder brush, swirl tips in a matte bronzer, tap off excess and run over the cheekbones, forehead and bridge of nose and chin. Blend lightly along your neck and collarbones for consistent colour.
• Grab your duo-fiber eye brush and sweep the same bronzer over lids, starting on the moveable lid and blending out toward the brows.
• Pair with mascara and a neutral lip colour to finish look.