NiceLadiesThings

Two years ago I was into buying make-up brushes after realizing that for a girl who loves make-up, I don't have any! I had a mini travel set from The Body Shop but I lost that after someone stole my bag. Anyway, so I bought an Avon set and some Ecotools brushes but now I am trying Real Techniques.

Okay, so it was also in 2015 that I just couldn't afford Real Techniques. It is not affordable here where I live. (Philippines)
You cannot even grab one and go in stores because it is exclusively distributed by only one distributor -- Kalm Cosmetics and they don't cater to all stores - either you buy it online from their website or buy from an eBay or online seller.

But there are risks buying online from eBay or from any online seller. Here's what I found out, there are A LOT of fakes out there! When I saw these fakes, I admit I was tempted. They are half a price cheaper than the original ones! I had to see them for myself so I bought a couple of sets online and these brushes are so good its just ridiculous!

Let me tell you first that I did not write this to promote fake products. I just wanted to share some helpful information about fake brushes versus the real or authentic ones. There are sellers out there who would claim that what they are selling are authentic when actually they're not. We consumers suffer because we are not getting value for our money. Also, I wanted to let you realize that you have a choice - always. You have money? Of course go for the original! Frugal and practical? Then its up for you to decide to try the knockoffs.


I will compare the original vs the fake ones. I will share what I know about the differences of the fake to the original ones.  Ready? I will be posting a lot of pictures!

First, I bought the powder brush. Again, the following brushes are knock-offs.

Powder brush - bought at Shopee for Php250, original costs about Php550 - 600

Looks authentic isn't it? How do you tell its fake?

Label on the handle is off center

This brush looks so perfect. It is very dense and soft and perfectly shaped. Quality looks very good.

Some smear paints on the handle - a sign it is fake

Next, I bought this set because they look EXACTLY like the original ones - from the actual packaging to the brushes.

Limited Edition Cheek and Lip Set

I had to sell this set because I already have too many brushes. But they are lovely!

out of the box - again, these are fakes

The blush brush, so lovely isn't it?

The labels on these are perfect!

It's dense and soft it could pass as an original

This is the duo fiber contour brush

The lip brush also looks good

The next set I bought is the famous Core Collection. Again, because I felt that I have purchased a lot of brushes in one go - I sold this one too but photographed it ---  after a few months I bought the original version.

Now that I have the original version I can say, this one is good I wish I didn't sell it!

This is the new packaging for the Core collection though this one's a fake - but look how clear and smooth the box is!

Out of the box

A turn off for me: rubbed off label

The brushes though are soft and dense!

The buffing brush and contour brush (smaller one) side by side

Detailer and pointed foundation brush

Even the tag on the case looks and feels original - I have the original brow set and they are exactly the same!

Same look with the original one in new packaging

Smooth case - no imperfections here

The inside part - imperfect portion

Now, I will be posting pictures of the original ones side by side to the fake ones.

Original Core Collection brushes I bought from Kalm Cosmetics the official distributor of Real Techniques in the Philippines

The brush holder of the original set is soft and smooth to the touch

This is original

That embossed small S on the rubber handle (bottom part) is proof that this is authentic

Pointed foundation brush - original

The original is on top, the bottom is the knock off - its a bit wider and it does not have that pointy shape

Handle comparison - top original, bottom fake

Fake RT Core Collection set, I got this for Php250 - the original ones I bought for Php1200

fake

Top brush - fake / Bottom brush - original

Left - fake, right authentic - color of the original is a darker gold

That S embossed at the bottom of the brush is proof that its original

Top - fake / Bottom - original

Which one's the real thing here? Yes the one on the right!

They all look the same to me, but the one on the right is the original

The brush on the right is the original

S embossed on the original

The fake (bottom) is fluffier

Original (left) pointier, handle color is lighter

As of this writing (August 2017), I still use my Real techniques brushes - - fake or not, and they perform well and are almost the same, all of them are still in working condition even after several washings- some of my fake brushes, like the big powder brush and blush brush I haven't used, so I gave them to my cousin but my RT collection (old packaging, fake and real) and Sam's pick (fake) I still use and love.


It's still better to purchase authentic products, but as of this point, I feel almost all the brushes in the market perform the same fake or real. I am probably saying this because I have been using mine and they are almost the same sans the imperfections like fading label, label misprint or the bad shape of brush hairs.

I have to say this too, that my authentic pointed foundation brush label has faded without me using it that much - I was so disappointed. I bought it from the official distributor and it costs so much and yet...even the other Core Collection brushes labels, the original ones -has faded. At this point brush buying is not a big deal for me anymore. But a year or two ago I cannot find any article that would confirm/inform me if the RT brush I bought was authentic or not. Hope this one helps!

Label of my pointed foundation brush (authentic) it just faded on its own without me using it that much

I purchased my Milani Stay Put Brow Color on a whim and out of curiosity. This is my first time to try out a pomade type of brow product. I was still sticking with my L'oreal Brow Artist Genius Kit which is a wax and powder type and decided to give this a shot, I bought it for P450 at Shoppee.

Milani Stay Put Brow Color in Brunette

This product, surprisingly wasn't made in China as stated on its cap label. Usually branded US products are just that - branded but made in China - this one though was made in the US.

The brunette shade is not that dark and its matte! I like it!

Forgive my face please just look at my eyebrows LOL this is my first time ever to try a pomade type of brow product.

So at first I was like, meh. It's okay. After my first try I wasn't too excited about it because I am not used to  it yet, and I thought that it was great that there was a very nice thin brush included but I noticed it kind of hurts to use it because its too thin and the bristles are firm (quite sharp) and I tend to rub my eyebrow brush when trying to draw and build color.

I find that the formula is a bit on the dry side. You have to rub the brush harder on the pot - unlike the Anastasia Dip Brow. By the way, about 2 days after I bought this, I didn't use it yet - instead I bought a fake version of the Anastasia Dipbrow (as stated on my Anastasia DipBrow review) and like I said, that prompted me to buy the original Anastasia DipBrow. I almost forgot about this thing but I used it again to compare.




















It looks decent on, but like I said, I had difficulty using this because the formula was a bit hard/dry. I would also like to note that when I got this it was on a sealed carded packaging, but I was surprised that the lid of the pot came off quickly without me having to turn it open, meaning the cap was off! Perhaps that would explain why mine was already dry?

Anyways, after a few months, I bought another one of this in a lighter shade (Soft Brown) because I was curious to try that shade on me so that if it works out, I will buy another Anastasia Dipbrow in a lighter shade than Dark Brown I have. I didn't like the Soft Brown shade on me, so I stopped using this - both shades. But I am happy to say that I have given these two pots to my brother's girlfriend and she's been using it! :-) 

This is going to be a quick review. I bought this palette last year because I have always been a sucker for brown/earth color shadows. And I also bought this because, at that time, Maybelline has a promotion that you can buy 2 items and get 1 item free :-) So I bought this and the Falsies mascara and got the Sunlit Quad eyeshadow for free!

I like that the box has instructions at the back on how you would best combine the shadows.

Look at that! The colors are so pretty!

with flash

I used this when I was just starting my ESL teaching career. I have no complaints, the eyeshadows worked well, but its best used with an eyeshadow primer. I admit that I have not used all the shades in this palette and so the more make-up I got during the year, I stopped using this. And I hate to put this away or throw it away, so I gave it to a cousin of mine and I am glad she was happy to use it :-)

Hey! I know its been a while and I haven't posted any reviews, its been months so apologies to my blog because I left it hanging. Anyway, I'm back! A lot has happened in my life during the last months of 2016 and the start of 2017 has not been kind, but hey I survived! I've been very busy at home too and have also been doing some teaching (ESL) job at night.

I have bought a lot of stuff last 2016 and I have a pile of pictures of them so hopefully I can post some reviews soon and be back on track. The products I've bought are not new in the market and there may have already been numerous blogs about these products on the web, but I will still be blogging about them anyway based on my experience.

There are items (make-up mostly) that I just couldn't afford a few years back and now thankfully I could, and after buying and using am I satisfied with these expensive products? The good thing about delaying writing about a review of something is that I am able to test the product and come up with what I think is just a fair evaluation since I've tried and tested it for quite sometime. Based on my experience, there are also products that are cheap or reasonably priced and as I use them I would say its a very good product indeed and as the blogs about it say so, until I compared it to an expensive counterpart and would realize the expensive one (let's say an eye shadow) is indeed the best compared to that affordable one.

So, in short I am trying to state a fact that "hindi lahat ng mura ay okay or quality product, hindi rin naman lahat ng mahal ay the best in quality." (not all cheap items are good, not all expensive products are better/the best either)

There were items in the past that I may have raved about, or may say HG status for me, but that may change as I move on and use another product. I promise to try to edit my previous reviews and put my current honest thoughts about these products.

Most of the products I will be posting now I have tried and tested since last year. I hope my reviews will be helpful to anyone who will read it.

Cheers!

Djoanna

Me wearing Sparkle contact lenses (gray)