Struggling a bit with colored pencils- how much do my materials matter?

I want to get really bold, defined colors and good blending with colored pencils but I’m really struggling to get a good blend. When I start really pushing on my paper to get the pencils to blend, I’m often having the paper rip apart.

Any tips? I am using some random supplies I got from an art store in Quito Ecuador - Alpen Brand Block de Arte para Lápices, and Cretacolor Karmina colored pencils.