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Sunday 14 April 2013

Real Techniques + Hard Candy Haul

That's right, you read correctly- Real Techniques!! You might be wondering why the extreme exclamation (since every blogger and their dog has been talking about the line for months now), but Real Techniques brushes have just hit Toronto shelves and I couldn't have been more excited to snatch some up!

Fellow Toronto-based blogger Christine at Little Red Bow gave me the heads up that our local Wal-Mart was now stocking a few of the Real Techniques brush sets, so I was quick to head over to check them out! I don't shop at Wal-Mart all that often, but these brushes were enough to get me there. Another reason I'm occasionally lured to Wal-Mart is that they're the only store that sells Hard Candy cosmetics here in Toronto. So while peeking at the new brush kits, I snagged a couple of goodies from Hard Candy as well.

Here's what I picked up:
 

In stock were Real Techniques' three brush sets: the Starter Set, the Core Collection, and the Travel Essentials. Though tempted to bring all three of them home, I opted for the Core Collection, as it included 4 incredible face brushes. Thought it was a good place to start! I'll be posting a full review of the set shortly, but I'll briefly say that the Core Collection features the Contour Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, the Detailer Brush, and the Buffing Brush. It also comes with a handy black case!



After settling slightly from the Real Techniques encounter, I was drawn to the Hard Candy display, which was highlighting some new releases for spring. Given my recent love of the Illamasqua Speckled Nail Varnishes, my eyes quickly fixated on Hard Candy's Candy Sprinkles range, which features pastel and fruity colours with multi-coloured, multi-sized glitter dispersed throughout. I ended up choosing Gummy Green, a minty aqua shade with black, white, and navy shimmer. Can't wait to do a manicure with it soon to see if it lives up to its' Illamasqua counterpart. Either way, at $3, this was definitely a score!



If you spotted my recent Wishlist, you would have seen that I've been a bit smitten with coloured mascara lately. Because I was on the hunt for a version more affordable than the Chanel mascara that originally inspired me to coat my lashes in non-black hues, I was happy to see that Hard Candy offered some coloured options in their Ginormous Mascara range. I was quickly drawn to Purple Haze, a vibrant violet. Hard Candy promises that the formula will instantly "fatten your flutter" (best metaphor or plumping lashes ever), so I can't wait to give it a go!



Overall, I'm pretty pumped about everything I picked up at Wal-Mart last week. I paid about $30 in total for all of the lovely goodies I featured here, so my newly budget-conscious self felt quite satisfied!

Will be writing more thorough reviews of each item in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled!

And yes, Sadie just can't help herself! :)



Thanks for reading! xo

55 comments:

  1. Great haul. I just bought the RT brushes as well. Hopefully, they live up to the hype. The nail polish looks gorgeous.
    xx

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    1. Thanks- can't wait to try it out! Hope you love your new brushes! xo

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  2. Glad you enjoy your lovely boughts!Actually I haven't heard about this company,but as I see their brushes look nice,thanks for the great haul hun!:*
    http://unkownrandomfashionblog.blogspot.com/

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    1. You should definitely check out Real Techniques: high quality, cruely-free and afffordalbe! Thanks for stopping by, Madleine! :)

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  3. I absolutely love RT products! The foundation brush is my favourite :)!

    xx
    http://gita-oddsandends.blogspot.com/

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    1. I can't wait to try them out! Glad you're loving them too. Thanks for stopping by, Gita! xo

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  4. I use at least one brush from the core collection every day so I'd say it was definitely worth the investment x

    Cosmetic Debris

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    1. Oooh, that's good to hear! I can't wait to try them out :)

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  5. Love the Real Techniques brushes! So glad they've hit Canadian shores so I don't need to be without them when I come back this summer. How much was the core collection? It's about £20.99 here...wondering if it is worth my waiting to purchase it till I get back home...?? xx

    elliesvanitytable.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. I bought the Core Collection for about $19 Canadian, so I think it would be worth the wait! Thanks for stopping by, Danielle :)

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  6. really cool purchases, I've heard a lot of good things about the real technique brushes!
    xx Kate

    The Style Department

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    1. Thanks, Kate! I can't wait to test them out :)

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  7. I love the Real Techniques Brushes and your cat is so cute!

    Emily x
    http://emilyandlife.blogspot.com

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    1. Aww, thanks! Sadie loves being part of my blog :) Glad you're loving the brushes! xo

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  8. Take a picture of the nail polish as soon as you use it, please :). I'm curious of how it will turn out on the nails :)

    K.
    xx

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    1. Will be doing a manicure with it tomorrow, so a Nail of the Day will be coming soon! xo

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  9. Hard Candy sounds like such a fun brand! x

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    1. It's great! It used to be a high-end brand, but has since moved to the drug store market. Super colourful, affordable, and good quality. You'd love it! xo

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  10. Ahhh I'm so tempted to go to Wal-Mary tomorrow! I love the nail polish shade you picked and can't wait to see what it looks like on.

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    1. Ah, I have to apologize to your wallet! Will be featuring Gummy Green tomorrow :)

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  11. You have lovely products, would definitely be looking out for hard candy products!

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    1. Thanks so much! Hard Candy is definitely worth checking out :)

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  12. Aww, what a cute cat you have, sorry I couldnt stop looking at it :)

    I'd love to try that hard candy nail polish, have no idea where to get it online :(

    x

    http://holaflo.blogspot.com.ar

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    1. Aww, thanks! Sadie really is a cutie :) And I think you can find the Hard Candy polishes on the Wal-Mart website? Hope you can find them! xo

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  13. You're going to love the Real Techniques brushes!

    dreamdustx | Urban Decay Giveaway

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    1. Tried them today for the first time- loving them already! xo

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  14. Replies
    1. I'm really loving it! Will be doing a Nail of the Day with it soon :)

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  15. Those real technique brushes are amazing, i recently go them and i am in love!:)

    http://laurenlovesmakeupxoxo.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Glad you're loving them! I tested mine out for the first time today and so far, so good :)

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  16. I love Real Techniques brushes!!! And I'm definitely going to try out that Hard Candy polish because I agree it is a dupe for the Illamasqua Speckled nail polishes :)

    Have a Magnificent Monday!
    xoxo
    Crystal

    My Blog, Crystal Chizoba
    My YouTube Channel

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    1. Yeah, the new Hard Candy polishes are definitely worth checking out! Can't go wrong with the price. Thanks for stopping by, Crystal :)

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  17. The real techniques buffing brush is the best thing I have ever bought, totally changed the way my foundation looks. Enjoy! xx

    http://hollslucy.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Amazing! Glad you're loving it. Can't wait to test it with my foundations :)

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  18. oeh beautiful make-up and items

    <3

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  19. You won't be disappointing by the brushes they're amazing!
    http://thelipstickthegirlandherwardrobe.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. That seems to be the consensus! So excited to have them in my collection. Thanks for stopping b y, Eleanor! :)

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  20. I love the Real Techniques brushes! Their amazing :)

    Love your blog, following you!

    Alara x
    http://thevanitylondon.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Glad you're loving them too! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  21. I really like the brushes..for the price absolutely amazing!

    http://jezzdallasmakeup.blogspot.com/

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    1. I've heard nothing but good things! Thanks for the comment, Jezz :)

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  22. Wow, can't believe how cheap those brushes are. Thanks for sharing!

    WWW.ROXTHEFOX.COM

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    1. Definitely! Thanks for stopping by! xo

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  23. so cool you get to try the real techniques brushes now! I got this set at christmas and they're the only brushes I've used since! I love them! X

    http://aztecdoll.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Yes, I'm super excited! Glad you're loving them :)

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  24. love the polish!

    Jessica
    http://www.jumpintopuddles.com

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    1. Thanks, Jessica! It's really a great shade :)

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  25. I've been wanting a colored mascara for years now, but I want one in hot pink.:) I don't think I'll ever get it though... You have to test this purple one out and show us!! And that minty aqua polish too, it looks really cool!

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    1. Ooh, hot pink mascara would be killer! Just did a post of the Hard Candy polish and a feature of the purple mascara is in the works :)

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  26. I'll definitely have to go pick up that Gummy Green polish. I really liked the Illamasqua line but didn't want to shell out the money for it.

    Jillian
    Jillicious Cosmetics

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    1. Yeah, the Hard Candy polishes are an amazing find for the price! The Illamasqua varnishes are great, but way expensive for sure. Thanks for stopping by, Jillian! xo

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  27. I sooooo want to buy some Real Techniques brushes! I almost ordered online yesterday, but right before I was about to hit ''confirm order'' I closed my laptop. Hardest thing I ever did, lol ;-) ;-)

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    1. Yes, I waited forever to pick these up. But once I saw them in-store, I couldn't pass them up! xo

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  28. love my real techniques brush - such a good buy

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    1. Glad you're loving them! Mine have been great so far :)

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All of your lovely comments make my day! Thanks for taking the time to share your musings, ideas, and opinions. Feel free to leave a link to your blog- I'd be happy to check it out :)