We’ve been put on notice tonight — theNotice, that is. The delightful Rae of theNotice blog shares one of her favorite drugstore beauty products, the EcoTools Cleansing Sponge.
When Karen asked if I would do a guest post for Makeup and Beauty Blog, I didn’t know where to start (I rarely do). I asked her for direction, and she suggested drugstore beauty.
“Hm!” I thought. “I’ll have so much to talk about!”
But I thought. And I thought. And I blew the house down.
Well, no, not really. But I did come to realize that less of my makeup stash comes from drugstores than I previously thought.
But this is actually great news for you (no, really, it is). It basically means that if I’ve kept a drugstore item, it’s a darned good one.
Take these EcoTools Cleansing Sponges ($9 for a pack of 12), for instance. They’re one of my drugstore holy grails.
These sponge exfoliators, made from soybean oil and 100% cotton (sustainable materials!), are designed to remove makeup and gently cleanse and exfoliate skin.
They take the place of a dedicated exfoliating product. With these, all I have to do when I exfoliate is apply some of my regular cleanser (bar soaps work best if you want a super-thick lather) and scrub away!
I’ve been exfoliating very gently three or four times a week since I picked these up, and I love the results.
I got them for travel, initially, to bring as a cleansing sponge in place of my regular exfoliator. The cotton side is great for the undereye area or for cleansing around the occasional breakout (it’s super-soft).
I find that after using these for about a week, the cotton edges wear down and the rough sponge edges peek out. To fix this, I fold them in half and then in half again, creating a soft little wedge that’s literally perfect for removing my concealer without cleansing my eyeball.
(Which would be gross.)
The cottony side
As for the sponge side? The first two or three times I use a new sponge, it’s too harsh for me, but it feels perfect after that. I can do light little circles all over my whole face or harder scrubbing in areas that need it.
The spongy side
Just take it into the shower with you, scrub-a-dub-dub your arms and/or legs, and it’ll soften up like a charm.
The verdict? I like to think of these as a poor girl’s Clarisonic. You have to do a bit more manual labour with these, but they’re a definite don’t-miss in my book.
And here’s a little trick: I also use the soft side to apply my toner, which keeps waste down to a minimum and feels oh so soft!
This post was written by Rae, the beautiful brains behind theNotice. Beauty blogger (with a wicked penchant for lip looks), student and makeup enthusiast, Rae can’t remember a time when she didn’t love makeup.
Ooh thanks for the post! I will look for these – where did you get them?
I’ve been using the Sephora Brand Complexion Brush for the past few weeks, and it’s a really nice Clarisonic-wannabe as well.
Oooh, Rae–congrats on your guest post. So fun to read!
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… The Polka-dotted Apple’s FIRST Giveaway! =-.
I love sponge wipes/exfoliators, there is one I would like to try from Aveeno. I don’t have $$$ for a Clarisonic yet.
.-= amy’s last blog post… NOTD (Nails of the Day) OPI Nail Lacquer Suede Suzi Skis in the Pyreness =-.
Hi pinksoysauce,
No problem! I picked these up at London Drugs (I’m Canadian) but Ecotools is sold in a bunch of different places in the US: Ulta, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Target, to name a few.
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
Maggie: Thanks hon! Y’know, you really didn’t need to comment on both blogs =P
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
Hi Amy,
I know! Me neither — it’s a huge investment, and I’d really rather buy a camera
By the way, your NOTD looks amazing! I’ve really wanted to check out the matte nail trend, but now I think I like the suede finish even more.
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
hehehe tats so cute.. a poor girls clarisonic. i need to get my hands on this!
.-= Blovet Beauty’s last blog post… The genius of You Tube =-.
Oooh, how cool!! I am definitely going to pick up a few of these – they’re exactly what I’ve been looking for!
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… A Few Fleur de Source FOTDs =-.
Hi Blovet Beauty,
Haha, thanks
And you really DO need to get your hands on these, they’re fab!
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
Hi Catherine,
Awesome =D They blow expensive single-use cloths right outta the water!
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
Thanks Rae, I didn’t know you can find Eco Tools at London Drugs, I have never seen it there before. I will check this out for sure.
.-= amy’s last blog post… NOTD (Nails of the Day) OPI Nail Lacquer Suede Suzi Skis in the Pyreness =-.
Sounds pretty cool! I love drugstore makeup/beauty tools, mainly because I’m a cashier, and have the corresponding salary
.-= Rebecca’s last blog post… October Lust List (and Happy Halloween!) =-.
Hi again Amy,
Yep! I don’t know if all of them carry Ecotools, but mine definitely does — it’s in the aisle next to the Sally Hansen and Posh implements
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
Hi Rebecca,
I know how you feel x.x Full-time student without a part-time job = no makeup budget! Steals like this mean that I can save my cash for something else… like that Guerlain quad you’re lemming, perhaps?
.-= Rae’s last blog post… The five most expensive items on Sephora.com =-.
Oooh! I must go try this
.-= Christy’s last blog post… More MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief! =-.
Hi Christy,
Hope you like ‘em!
.-= Rae’s last blog post… Monday morning and the coffee’s on the brill… =-.
How much do they cost.?