EcoTools Archives - Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

I love having LOTS of brushes at my disposal, so for me, affordable makeup brushes are the way to go! But all makeup brushes are not created — or priced — equally.

For face makeup brushes, here are a few that have earned my gold star sticker of approval.

5 affordable face brushes — Some of the affordable — and still awesome — makeup brushes in my collection

1. Sonia Kashuk Star Struck Large Powder Brush (Disc.)

The Sonia Kashuk Star Struck Large Powder Brush is one of the softest natural hair brushes I own. In fact, none of my higher-end brushes can apply bronzer as well as this one.

I like this full rounded brush because I can really work powder into my skin with it. Unfortunately, the set I got it with has been discontinued…and I also didn’t love any of the other brushes in the set. Still, I would re-buy the set just for this one brush.

2. Sonia Kashuk No. 29 Domed Blusher Brush ($17.99)

Another Sonia Kashuk brush, except that this one IS still available (it’s permanent). My nickname for the No. 29 brush is “the bunny butt” brush because it’s so round and soft! It’s the perfect medium size to fit into the cheek contour or right on top of the cheek as well.

This one is a little bit pricier than my other brush recommendations, but I think the plastic handles hold up very well over time.

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ecotools complexion collection — The new EcoTools Complexion Collection, available now at Walgreens

As a participant in the #EcoInspire campaign sponsored by Paris Presents, Inc., I’ve received product samples and/or compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Until the day science synthesizes that breakthrough organic ice cream-making molecule that gives you perfect skin after you eat it (you know that would be HELLA amazing!), makeup lovers like myself are left having to fake a flawless look.

Hey, that just means we get to experiment with more products, right? — which is totally fine by me, because I’ll take any excuse to play with these new Complexion Collection Brushes by EcoTools.

April is Earth Month, and I’ve got eco-friendly beauty on the brain. Like all EcoTools brushes, these four new Complexion Collection face and eye brushes are made with cruelty-free bristles, bamboo handles and recycled aluminum ferrules. Even the pouches that come with them are made from natural materials.

Oh, and by the way, the brushes are affordable (less than $10 each, and available now at Walgreens). On top of that, with every Complexion Collection brush sold, EcoTools will make a $1 donation, up to $100,000, to Global Green USA, a national environmental organization. That’s not bad considering that the brushes cost from $5 to $9 each, so a $1 donation on a $5 brush is 20%.

Walgreens is celebrating Earth Month by featuring eco-friendly brushes and other products to help you look your best. See what else Walgreens has been up to on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Really, though, as if the packaging alone wasn’t enough. Because hello! — that packaging. Look at all teh pretties…

I’m a visual person, and that teal and gold on the ferrules is totally doin’ it for me.

Essentially (in spirit, at least), these Complexion Collection brushes tell pores, fine lines, dark circles and spots to “slow ya roll!” They’re designed to work together as you use them to get skin looking as close to perfect as possible.

Oh, and did I mention that the bristles feel as soft as the lock of Ryan Gosling’s hair that I keep in my bra…?

I wish. 🙂

Step one: Perfecting Brush ($7.99)

I usually start with the Skin Perfecting Brush ($7.99), which blends BB and CC creams to a flawless finish.

Shout-out to the angled brush head, which tucks neatly into the hard-to-get-to spaces around my nose. I’ve used this brush to apply and buff BB cream, tinted moisturizer and foundation, and no matter what the formula, it blends to a natural-looking finish. None of those telltale “Hey! I’m wearing tons of face makeup!” streaks.

With the $7.99 Perfecting Brush, it’s kind of like you’re getting a beauty multitool. I use it to apply cream contour products (the angled shape of the brush head makes it easy to get right under the cheekbone), cream highlighters and cream blushes. Yay for drugstore multitasking!

Step two: Correcting Concealer Brush ($4.99)

After I’ve evened out my skin, I do spot touchups on my cheeks and around my eyes with the Correcting Concealer Brush ($4.99). Use this one to dot liquid or powder concealer on the areas where you want additional coverage.

It has a nicely shaped head…although it took me a little while to get used to it. The brush head is bigger and wider than the head on most flat spot concealer brushes. Once I got the hang of it, I liked it. It diffuses concealer in a way that looks soft and effortless.

Oh! — and I also tried it with cream concealers, and it works great with them, too.
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