The Art Of The Brush

London-based make-up artist extraordinaire Sam Chapman knows a thing or two about putting your best face forward.  The name behind Real Techniques make-up brushes is something of a rock star in the UK, where she is half of the Pixiwoo duo, the UK’S #1 YouTube beauty channel. Chapman’s work has appeared in Harpers, Elle, and Cosmo and she has powdered such celebrity noses as those of Paul McCartney and Charlotte Church. I caught up with Sam recently to talk about all things make-up and brushes.

Why come out with a brush line as opposed to a make-up line? 

Because brushes are really more important than the make-up you use. They are my number one most important thing. We, as make-up artists know how important it is to use brushes, but a lot of women don’t. You can actually use a cheaper product and have it stay on all day if you layer the product with the right brush.

Tell me about your line of make-up brushes…

We wanted to create a brush line that is affordable to every woman, especially every woman on line who watches us. The quality of these brushes is as good as a higher price point brush.

The brushes are color coded so you always know which brush to use, but what else makes these brushes special?

They’re synthetic, which is brilliant, because it means they’re super-soft. With a real bristle brush, I don’t know if you know this, but the more you clean it, the more brittle the hairs become and the more scratchy it becomes. The hairs eventually weaken and snap off, so you end up with a much thinner brush, where as the Real Techniques brush stays really full, really plush. They’re also 100% cruelty-free.

Since we’re talking make-up application, how would you describe your beauty style?

A little bit undone. It’s not perfect. I like make-up that looks like you’ve been wearing it for a few hours. Not too polished. I want to look like myself. Anything that looks a little bit worn—like real women.

What make-up trends are you most excited about for the Spring?

I love orange lips! Orange lips are huge for Spring and I also love that kind of naked, nude eye, with a bright pop of color on the lips. That’s beautiful!

You can find Sam’s line of brushes at Ulta or pick up some pointers in her exclusive video tutorials here. Watch for my product review of the Real Techniques brushes in an upcoming post.