Hello! How long has it been? Definitely too many days to even count ahaha. Uni and work have consumed my life pretty much. Those two, and the odd social commitment has made blogging near impossible! But I sat back after a super stress-filled day and thought about it. Do I want everyday to exhaust me and neglect the blog that I've worked one and a half years on? Surely not. It's heartbreaking to watch viewership slowly drop, so now I'm going to work hard on getting those numbers back up again and continue growing. I've also had a huge pile of reviews just amassing so there's heaps of new content to come - from beauty products, to a possible hair colour change, to even some crazy Japanese snacks to introduce to you! Thanks to you guys who have stayed and kept faith that I will post something soon ahahah :') 

A little update of what's been happening in my life so far? Well, I started University and I'm studying Business Information Systems. It's such a new subject, with heaps of elements that I haven't ever learnt before so it's definitely a challenge, but also something that I look forward to every week. The transition is very different and I'm still getting adjusted. I feel kind of panicky cos I never know whether I might just fail a course or whatnot. Plus, the homework is so unclear - it's all very reliant on how much you do for yourself to pass. In addition to that, I've been working 3 jobs. Yeah, most of you ask, how the hell do you manage that? Well, I don't. In fact, I've been getting increasingly buried under pressures of everything, which is why I haven't been very involved in social media. I love working at all of them, but have finally decided to quit a few so that I can get back on track and study hard to stay in Uni, which is the most important thing for my now. That's something I can't stress enough to students who are currently trying to overdo and completely pack out their timetables with commitments. Leave some time for yourselves to relax and concentrate on the big picture otherwise you'll end up having a nervous breakdown. 

Anyway, this post wasn't meant to be about my life so far, but I thought that we needed that catch up right? This post is really all about a few great makeup brushes that I received from 360PR company. They sent me two different brands, both are reputable and popular. Firstly, I got a set from Real Techniques, and then I also got a few items from EcoTools. At the moment, I think I'm using a Zoreya brush set, which is ok but not really the high quality that I'm looking for. So I was really glad to be sent some brushes that are known for their soft touch and great application. I'm still learning a lot about the usage of brushes - I used to think that one brush could do all. Sadly, this isn't the case, but I find it fascinating to learn about how the different shapes or texture of brushes can change which feature they are best used for. 

I took sooo many photos hahaha, it's been a while since I got all made up and nice looking for blog pictures. Gotta make the moment last!

So first set was the Real Techniques travel set pack. It contains 3 different brushes and they come in this cute, foldable bag so it's very convenient to take around with you when you go on vacations! It's like a critical, basic set to have to fulfil all your makeup needs ahaha. The travel essentials provide everything needed for creating flawless, airbrushed looks at home and away. It enables a makeup look that is pixel perfect even in harsh light with it's ultra plush bristles. They're specifically designed by makeup artists and Youtubers Sam and Nic. If you want to check out their videos on how to use these brushes, you can do so at www.realtechniques.com 

The panoramic case also doubles as a stand. It's a dual carrier that helps to keep the brushes organised on the counter and on the go. It allows me to carry my brushes with me easily, due to its flat and firm casing, yet also works as a stand for when I'm actually using the brushes. 

So the set comes with 3 brushes, each used for different parts of the face and different techniques. From left to right: essential foundation brush, domed shadow brush and multi task brush. They're colour marked so you can easily identify which one is used for which. The set is $18.00 and can be bought on the RealTechniques website: http://realtechniques.com/shop-collection/travel-essentials

I've read that these brushes are 100% cruelty free. Furthermore, their aluminium handles allow them to be light and easy to use. On the website, 32 out of 32 buyers have recommended the product, with an average rating of 4.9/5. I've heard from friends as well that these brushes are really great quality and tend to be extremely durable. They're a wonderful set of brushes that are worth the price paid for. 

The Real Techniques essential foundation brush helps to build flawless custom coverage with liquid foundation OR concealer. It's so useful to have as a basic brush to spread your foundation nice and evenly across the face and ensure that there aren't any patches or blotches. The brush is quite firm and I personally found it very easy to use and create a finished, airbrushed look for the skin. Hahha tbh, I've been using my fingers before this, to apply my foundation, but the brush makes it so much more efficient! 

The pink handled brush is the Real Techniques multi task brush, which is used for effortless application of a combination of powder, blush and bronzer. With it's big, fluffy brush end, it will flawlessly add a dusting of powdery materials onto the face. The brush bristles are so soft and comfortable to pat on the skin, I've been mindlessly brushing it against my face for the past few minutes now hahahah :)

Overall though, I'm excited to start properly incorporating these brushes into my makeup routine and really brush up on my application technique!

The second brand I received, where I got 2 products, was from EcoTools. EcoTools is also a well-known, quality brand. In fact, I specifically asked if I could review them since I've heard great things about them. I love that they are so 'green' and environmentally friendly! It's such a refreshing thing to hear from a beauty or makeup brand. 

So they sent me another travel pack. I got the EcoTools Six Piece Essential Eye set. I love that you get so many small, different brushes in the pack and they are quite miniature in size so they're easily packed into a suitcase or travel bag. These brushes are beautifully soft with bamboo and recycled materials. This set is numbered 1227, and can be bought for just $8.00 for the whole set at https://ecotools.com/brushes/brush-sets/essential-eye-set! They are mainly designed for eye application. 

The essential eye set brushes are made from soft, cruelty-free bristles, recycled aluminium ferrules and sleek bamboo handles! So VERY green. The eye set contains a large eye brush for blending a base shadow, an angled crease brush for adding definition to the outer crease, a petite shading brush for accenting colours, a highlighting brush for the brow bone and inner corners and a smudge brush to complete the look by creating a smokey finish. Just with this set, you won't need to have any other brushes for your eyes! 

The brushes are very soft and shaped well, but they don't feel quite as firm or high quality material as the Real Techniques brushes. Thus, I'm worried about the durability of these, as I have also heard that you need to take care of EcoTools brushes really well, otherwise they can wear out quickly. 

The second item I got from EcoTools was the Skin Perfecting brush from the Complexion collection. It's found on the EcoTools site I linked earlier, for just $8.00. This brush is primarily for use with bb/cc creams to create a beautiful soft look for an even skin tone. 

It aims to maximise beauty as each brush is uniquely contoured for smooth and flawless application. They have dual fibres with the same cruelty-free, soft bristles and recycled materials. It will perfectly boost the benefits of your BB/CC cream or tinted moisturiser due to its hand cut, angled edges that permit precise coverage around the nose and under the eyes. It's a very, very soft and big brush that I am loving to use at the moment with its fat handle and fluffy touch!