As some of you may have realized, I am both a budget shopper and a “don’t stop until I find the perfect, healthy and most high quality product” shopper. It’s a difficult task. It’s almost schizo of me.

That’s why when I DO find the “right product” at the “right price,” I value it so much and it gives me so much joy. You understand the kind. The “I got something really beautiful/special/useful/perfect-and-it-won’t-take-my-budget-months-to-recover-kind of happiness we women get about our shopping.”

When I berate myself for making bad purchasing decisions and returning too many things or spending too much, I think of my brushes, and think, “Well, at least I was smart enough to purchase those.”

My best find of 2012 is the Real Techniques Brush line.

Beauty lovers there is no need to pay more! These super soft ultra plush Taklon brushes have the density, the softness, the ability to create any look you need to create. They can be used with creams, loose powders and pressed powders. They create all kinds of finishes, from ultra sheer, to whatever coverage you want. The expert face brush, stippling brush, and buffing brush are all great for foundation application, but can also be used respectively for other purposes, such as cream blushes, powder blushes, highlighting, powdering. They are both stiff and soft, and their density makes it possible to really work products into the skin. And they are a STEAL. The purple eye set cost $18.00 and the gold-colored Core Collection cost the same. I’ve added one eye brush to the purple set and a stippling and expert face brush to the gold set  (both purchased separately, ranging from $6.99 – $9.99).

Other noteworthy things:

I have actually never seen a brush case that lets you add more brushes. But the sets you buy from Real Techniques all include places to hold those extra must have brushes you bought. You would think this would be obvious, right? Well apparently it’s novel, because Real Techniques is the only brush line that I have seen with this feature. After all, brush set sellers assume you are going to use these 4 and only these four brushes, right? This is a huge plus for me.

The versatile cases, used both as closed cases and as stands, really are incredibly practical and a wonderful idea. I use the stand feature every day and close them only for travel.

The brushes are cleverly color-coded AND labeled permanently so you always know the purpose of each one – but really they are multi-purpose so you don’t have to stick with its purpose or color. Color code: Purple for eyes, Gold/bronze for base, and pink for finish.

The line was created by Sam Chapman of the Pixiwoo girls – their website and youtube channel is totally worth checking out! I’m a fan. I love their fun tutorials and their sense of humor. (http://pixiwoo.com, http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo?feature=g-all-c)

You can find more out about the line here:

http://realtechniques.com/

The brushes can be purchased at ulta.com, realtechniques.com, and I’ve heard Walmart, but couldn’t find them.

I am planning to do a tutorial soon. But more on why there are no videos as of yet on wearyourvitamins.com later. It has something to do with lighting, faces, and spinach. I think I’ll do a whole post on why there are no videos. (And since I couldn’t post a tutorial today, I just got carried away with photography instead).  In the mean time, here is one of the best tutorials using these brushes available, by Sam Chapman herself! There are all kinds more on the website.

http://realtechniques.com/the-looks/metal-futures-makeup-tutorial

I will DEFINITELY be talking more about these brushes in times to come. They are the most amazing brushes out there!