Favorites | EcoTools

Hey! When I sit down to blog I ask myself, "What am I passionate about right now?" and today the first thing that came to mind was "ahhh those make-up brushes!" then I tried to tell myself that was silly and that I just did a make-up post and that I really should find something else to post about.

But here I am, pumped to share with you the tools that have, oddly enough, brought me a lot of joy lately. The following are affiliate links to Amazon, but you can also find some of these at Rite-Aid or Walgreens. The above picture is one I posted to Instagram to show the products I used to create an everyday bright-eyed look.

Make-up brushes. Once upon a time I thought they were all just about equal and couldn't figure out why some were hundreds of dollars when you could get the same shaped ones at the dollar store. So, when it came time to expand my collection so I could play around with different looks, I went on Amazon, found the best value with the best reviews, and ordered 15 make-up brushes for $11, e.l.f. brand. I already had the EcoTools MINERAL 5pc Make Up Brush Travel Set that I loved, but I wanted to save some money so I bought the e.l.f. brand.

Big mistake. They are rough and shed a ton. I use maybe 3 of the 15 brushes (and hope to replace them soon) and basically wasted my money. For Christmas, I asked for all the ingredients to begin to make my own natural cosmetics, so I threw in a request for new make-up brushes as well. I evaluated my make-up needs (we've talked about that before) and chose brush sets that would work together to meet those.

First up, I needed a brush for liquid foundation:

The EcoTools Retractable Foundation Brush (Pack of 2). The shape is perfect for all-over coverage (even around the eyes) and I love that it retracts; I can throw it in my make-up bag and it won't make a mess! The foundation pictured is my first attempt at making my own-- I think I made it a little too red and the oil (almond) I used is slightly greasy, so I'm still working on the recipe.

Next, I needed a powder foundation brush:

EcoTools Large Powder Brush Mmmm... so. soft. Works very well with the loose mineral powder. Pictured is my first attempt at a homemade powder. I really like the shade and the consistency, so I'll be sharing the recipe at some point. :)

For blush, I've been using the mineral powder brush from the EcoTools MINERAL 5pc Make Up Brush Travel Set. 

It's a travel size, so it's perfect for hitting my cheekbones with a little color. Even if I do nothing else for make-up, I wear mascara and a little blush. Pictured is some hand-me-down blush from my great aunt. She sells BeautiControl. I plan on making my own natural blush soon, but I'm using this in the meantime. :)

Also in that travel set are two smaller brushes that I use for eyeshadow, choosing the shape depending on the look I'm going for. 

The last brush set I have is the EcoTools BAMBOO 6-pc Starter Makeup Brush Set.

The only brush I don't use regularly from that set is the big blush brush and that's just because I've gotten used to using the mini one I mentioned above. :) The Starter set has several eye shadow brushes that are great for creating pretty much any look you could want. Pictured is another BeautiControl handmedown. :)

So, to sum up, if you're looking to get started with a general full-face mineral make-up routine, here's the brushes I recommend:

(Click on the image to be taken to the Amazon page)

The approximate total for these is $30.28... a perfect high-quality, simple investment. No need for 15 different brushes to take up space in your make-up bag. 

If you feel like it, you could also pick up the EcoTools MINERAL 5pc Make Up Brush Travel Set, which has my favorite blush brush. :)

There you have it-- my rant about soft bamboo brushes. :D I hope this post was helpful to you whether you're looking for a new brand or just trying to know what types of brushes you may need for the more natural make-up looks.

Do you have a favorite brush brand? What is your most-used brush shape?