The Easter Bunny seems to have skipped my house for the past decade, yet this year he made a surprise visit. Now usually I’d be pretty upset that this surprise visit didn’t include chocolate, but I had eyes only for the two little packages waiting for me and calling my name: two of The Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes.

These brushes are currently unavailable in Canada (I think. I haven’t seen them anywhere so someone correct me if I’m mistaken), but we found them in Ulta just across the border. I had been talking about these for awhile so the tricky little bunny knew to pick me up the 101 Triangle Foundation Brush and the 301 Contour Brush. These are my thoughts:

As a lover of buffing brushes and sponges for foundation application, I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the Triangle Foundation Brush. Obviously, the design of the brush and all other brushes in the collection are absolutely gorgeous, but for foundation application I find that the design makes it a little difficult. I’m into deeply buffing my foundation in, but with the sleek, long handle of the brush I find it hard to navigate around my face a bit. The bristles of the brush itself are quite long too, yet the triangular shape helps to blend the foundation in around the eyes and the nose better than a flat foundation brush. The Triangle Foundation Brush disappointed me a little, but if you like the ‘painter’ style foundations brushes (the flat ones) than maybe this will be for you! $23.99 at Ulta.

For someone a bit newer to contour, who likes when things are fool proof and easy, the Contour Brush has been absolutely amazing. The chubby little brush and bristles make contouring super easy and is a great brush for blending everything together.  Due to the shorter bristles of the brush I find that the long handle doesn’t really hinder the use like the Triangle Foundation Brush. I’m still getting use to the contour, but this brush has taken my contour game to a whole new level! Proof that it’s all about the right tools! I’m loving this brush. $25.99 at Ulta.

Overall the Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes are absolutely gorgeous and I hope to one day pick up the rest of the collection. On some occasions the sleek, long design of the handles are a hinderance to makeup application, but overall they’re known to be amazing brushes. Unfortunately they don’t hold their shape after washing as well as other Real Techniques brushes so that may be something to keep an eye out for. I’d give the Bold Metal 101 and 301 brushes a combined 7/10!

Have you ever tried these brushes? What are your favourite makeup brushes?