Real Techniques brushes are designed by Samantha Chapman of the famous Pixiwoo. They're synthetic, cruelty free, don't shed and dry really after washing them! I had heard of these but never really used them. Before I started to really get into makeup I rarely used anything other than the brushes that came with the products. Buying a separate brush, never mind one for each section of the face, was alien to me. So when I knew I was going to be starting my course in Level 2 Makeup I thought I was really excited to find out how to use them.