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.
Step three: Eye Perfecting Brush ($6.99)
For concealing under-eye circles, I grab the Eye Perfecting Brush ($6.99). With this one, it’s all about the shape. The pointy head fits into the corners of my inner eyes and along my lower lash lines like a puzzle piece.
Compared to some concealer brushes that remove most of the product when I start buffing, the Eye Perfecting Brush blends concealer in way that keeps most of the product on my skin.
This brush, like the Skin Perfecting brush, multitasks like a boss. You can also use it to…
- Apply moisturizer or primer on the eyes and under-eye area
- Blend cream eyeshadow on the lids
- Quickly sweep powder eyeshadow into the crease (GREAT for transition shades)
- Highlight the inner corners and brow bones
- Highlight upper cheekbones, nose and Cupid’s bow
- Diffuse and smudge shadows along the lower lashes (handy for blown-out eyeshadow placements)
Step four: Mattifying Finish Brush ($8.99)
And finally, to finish, I set my foundation in place with the Mattifying Finish Brush ($8.99), which works with loose and pressed powders. I like that it lays down a soft veil of powder — not so much powder that my makeup looks heavy. I think it’s also a fab bronzer brush, because the fanned shape is easy to get under cheekbones.
These are well-designed brushes for the price, and they’re easy to find because they’re available now at Walgreens.
To learn more about EcoTools and the new Complexion Collection brushes, check them out at ecotools.com, and/or say “Greetings, fellow Earth lovers!” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Agata says
April 21st, 2015 at 9:52 amAll these brushes look really awesome, especially the Eye Perfecting Brush and The Perfecting one. I will definitely look for them next time I am at Walgreens!
Agata recently posted … 6 Things you need to know about the $6 NYX Intense Butter Glosses
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 11:15 amHi Agata,
Both are great brushes to have in your collection. While you’re there check out the kabuki brush too. I’ve had that one for years and it’s a winner.
Happy Tuesday!
gio says
April 21st, 2015 at 10:55 amThe Eye Perfecting Brush intrigues me. Sounds quite versatile, and is so pretty.
gio recently posted … 3 Signs You Are Overdoing It With Skincare
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 11:14 amHi Gio,
It’s a cool brush! Do you guys get EcoTools in your country?
gio says
April 21st, 2015 at 11:46 amNot here in Italy. I get their brushes from UK online shops, but they sadly never have the whole range. *sighs* I hope to find this collection somewhere. I’d really love to try that blush. 🙂
gio recently posted … 3 Signs You Are Overdoing It With Skincare
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:44 pmI hope you do, too! These are lovely and they last a REALLY long time. I have an EcoTools Kabuki brush in my stash that I’ve had for 6 years!
Lulle says
April 21st, 2015 at 11:50 amThey’re really pretty! I hope they launch other brushes with the same ferrule design in other colors, like green, pink, purple… That would be cool!
The Eye Perfecting brush would be a good addition to my brush collection. It can be hard to apply high coverage concealer flawlessly under my eyes, and it could probably help.
Lulle recently posted … Throwaways Vol I
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:43 pmThat is such a good idea! I’d be all over the pink ones in a second!
Vanessa C says
April 21st, 2015 at 11:51 amI’m loving these new brushes! EcoTools is stepping up their game 🙂 They were my first brush line that I ever bought about 7 years ago; I still have two of them and use them to this day! (a blush and a large powder brush)
xxxo, Vanessa
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:43 pmHi Vanessa C,
So glad to hear you’re a fan. 🙂 I have an old EcoTools Kabuki brush that I’ve loved to bits. Their stuff holds up well!
Happy Tuesday to you. 🙂
Denise S says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:24 pmThese look pretty and don’t cost a lot which is great! I’m going to check them out at Walgreens,
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:42 pmHi Denise,
I love how these look too. 🙂 Seeing them on my shelf makes me smile!
Have fun at Walgreens, by the way. When I worked in San Francisco I was seriously there EVERY DAY.
nai says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:33 pmthat imagery of the lock of hair in your bra reminds me of how my mom keeps mini medals of saints pinned to her bra. so pinay catholic! happy aloha tuesday, karen! i love ecotools, too! pretty sure your reviews in the past are what got me to try them!
Karen says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:41 pmLOL, Nai! That’s where I got the idea. My Lola does that. 🙂
nai says
April 21st, 2015 at 1:32 pm…and that’s yet another reason i fangirl you!
Allison C says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:50 pmI like ecotools brushes a lot. Great value for the $. But these seem to take it to the next level. Love the ferule and the fluffy looking bristles. Nice
Allison C recently posted … Dinnertime Comfort with Stouffer’s New Mac & Cheese Varieties
Janine says
April 21st, 2015 at 12:55 pmMakeup brushes can be so expensive. I have several Ecotools brushes that have lasted years. I’d be so curious about the eyeshadow brushes as I have a brush I use for blush and a contour brush. For the price, they are great and especially before you are ready to invest in brushes that 30.00 and upwards.
Janine recently posted … May 2015 Giveaway – Anastasia Artist Palette (Details Coming)
Fancie says
April 21st, 2015 at 2:38 pmI just love the design! I think it’s so cute. The Skin Perfecting Brush and Concealer Brush look really interesting though. I might have to try those if I see them in stores.
Fancie recently posted … Too Faced Melted Metal Metallic Lipstick Swatches
Kwmechelle says
April 21st, 2015 at 4:31 pm“Ryan Gosling’s hair in my bra….” You never cease to crack me up! I think you’re the unofficial president of the unofficial Ryan G. fan club. The Perfecting & Correcting brush are calling my name. Been looking for a new foundation brush. And I love the point on the Correcting brush. And these are very pretty. You know, the level of addiction I have to your site + my level of addiction to all things makeup & beauty related = you keep me broke, Karen. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve no problem being broke for a good cause. Keep doing your part for #maKeUp addicts everywhere!
Holly says
April 21st, 2015 at 5:03 pmI’ve been craving new brushes & I love the EcoTools brushes I already have, so this is a timely review. I haven’t yet used brushes for blending liquids or creams since I don’t wear them on a regular basis; these are a great incentive to try some new techniques!
Erin says
April 21st, 2015 at 6:25 pmI like all the Ecotools brushes I have, these look great!
Erin recently posted … Wojo Nutrition
Sandy says
April 21st, 2015 at 6:28 pmA stop at Walgreens this week? I think so!
Rachel R. says
April 21st, 2015 at 10:11 pmI really like the Ecotools brushes I have, especially the eye brushes. Their Mineral Blending Brush is one of my favorites for doing my eye crease. It fits in there just right.
The teal ferrules on these are pretty.
Twyla says
April 22nd, 2015 at 5:44 pmHi Karen!
I managed to snag the corrector brush, but also the konjac facial cleansing sponge!It’s soft, like rubbing a crumpet on your face (but not really because I’d never waste a good crumpet). Have you seen/tried that yet?
zVintageFashionizta says
April 22nd, 2015 at 5:59 pmI saw these at Ulta and was tempted by the color (love everything teal/turquoise/aqua), I was interested in the mattifying finish brush but did not purchase it because I thought that it would probably be a cheap quality but the next time I see it I will probably buy it.