Real Techniques Nic's Picks Brush Set

Real Techniques have been one of my favourite makeup brands for several years now – they’re affordable, great quality and perform better than some of the high end brands I’ve tried! The brand was originally started up by Samantha Chapman, one half of the Pixiwoo sisters, but sister Nic has now come on board, making it a family effort. 

Their latest brush set is ‘Nic’s Picks’ – featuring five of Nic’s favourite Real Techniques brushes, including three that are exclusive to this collection. It’s great to see some new brushes being added to the range. I’m a bit of a Real Techniques addict and own pretty much every brush they’ve made (ahem) so three new ones definitely appealed to me. 

Inside the kit, you’ll find: Duo-Fiber Powder Brush, Cheek Brush (exclusive), Base Shadow Brush, Angled Shadow Brush (exclusive) and an Eyeliner Brush (exclusive). As you’d expect from the brand, all five are made out of cruelty-free synthetic fibres which are super-soft against the skin. 

The Duo-Fiber Powder Brush is the largest of them all and is great for powder blushers, bronzers and face powders and gives an effortlessy even application. This has been in previous collections, but has been given a bit of a handle upgrade and the snazzy black and chrome is a bit different to their previous launches. 

The new Angled Shadow Brush is probably my favourite of the five – it’s amazing for applying shadow to the crease area of the eye and blending in. It makes applying a smokey eye really easy – the tapered shape fits in well to the eye socket and the soft bristles mean you can blend, blend, blend to your heart’s content. 

The Cheek Brush is also a new addition and is definitely worth investing in. It’s a great multi-use brush that I’m wishing was available separately so I could have a spare one! The slightly domed shape is great for blusher or highlighter application. Nic suggests also using it for bronzer/contouring, but I have to admit I prefer a slightly angled face brush for this as I find it easy to get a more subtle finish. 

At £29.99 for five brushes, this is slightly more expensive than Real Techniques' previous launches, but I think it’s a great value set that will last you for ages. I’ve been using some of my Real Techniques brushes for years and they wash up incredibly well, with minimal shedding of bristles. If you’re thinking of Christmas gifts (or are planning your own Christmas wishlist), this is a great introduction to the brand, or for any makeup lovers that are looking for some good value brushes. 

You can find the Nic’s Picks collection online and in store at Boots and Superdrug (where it's currently on offer for £20!) as well as online from Feel Unique. 

What do you think of the latest brush set from Real Techniques? 

*PR sample