Classic SGB: EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set, $13

We have yet to find other tools that are this soft and yet don't fall apart. Even the more expensive ones fall short!


I've bought a few makeup brush kits in my life, and have had my share of disappointment--the bristles fall out, the metal part comes off, or they're just not that soft. I started to think, "Are there brushes out there that are high quality, soft, not too expensive, and maybe even earth-friendly? Is this too much to ask for?" Then, Mirna showed me this brush set from EcoTools.

For $13, the EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set comes with a blush brush (pictured here), eyeshadow brush, angled brush, eyelash brush, and concealer brush--the 6th piece is the holder that keeps everything organized and protected. It even comes in a resealable plastic pouch (I put the brushes in it when I'm traveling).

These brushes are soft. I mean, really soft. And they're made really well--I haven't had any problems with bristles falling out or anything like that. They're cut evenly, which then distributes color evenly, and the handle is light and durable. Quite possibly the most exciting part is that they're earth-friendly: the handle is made from bamboo (low-impact resource), the aluminum on the handle is recycled, the roll is made from cotton and hemp, the pouch it comes in is totally reusable, and the bristles are synthetic and completely cruelty free. Awesome.

My cat approves.


Final verdict
Cost: Probably the best brushes you can find for such a low price. The cost of one Sephora brush gets you the whole kit! Totally worth it. Plus, it's available at a ton of places like Target and Walmart.
Quality: No one would believe you paid less than $20 for these. They are soft, work well, and are easy to use.
Guilt-free: Cruelty-free, natural and recycled materials, how can you go wrong?
Repeat offender?: If I somehow break one I'll definitely buy more in the future, but they've lasted me a long time! The holder really keeps them neat and clean, and after a year or so I haven't run into any problems. Makes a great gift!


-T

The Toolbox: Brow Know-How by Tarte, $18

I bought this kit on a whim, it was marked down to $9.00 and I thought it would be fun to try something different in my beauty routine. The Brow Know-How kit comes with brow powder, brow wax, brow gel, brow pencil, three brow stencils, mini tweezers, and an application brush. Everything folds up into a little box that also has a mirror on the lid. The kit comes in three different shades to match your hair color, the one I have is “dark.”


I can’t say I’ve ever tried to fill in my eyebrows or do anything other than tweeze or shape them so this was something very new to me. When I used it what I did was apply some of the brow wax to my eyebrow and then used the application brush to pick up a little of the brow powder. I was a little nervous but what I did was apply a little bit of the powder to any places where my eyebrow looked a little sparse. I dusted the powder on evenly and lightly but you can do heavier for a more dramatic effect. After applying the powder I just used the brow gel (it looks like mini clear mascara) to “seal” the powder in place. What I got out of doing this was a little extra polish to my look. It made my eyebrows look very neat and a little more shaped.


I don’t use this everyday because frankly I don’t have enough time. But every once in a while it is really fun to use this toolbox. The kit also comes with three different brow stencils that are good if you really want to change up the shape of your brows or go for a thick and dramatic look. If you have thin eyebrows and do this on a daily basis this would be a good kit to take with you on the go.

Final verdict:
Cost: $18
Is it worth it?:For $9 I thought it was worth trying, but I’m not sure I’d pay full price for it. Though if you think about it, something like this can last you a long time and the mini tweezers would definitely come in handy!
Repeat offender: I don’t think I will ever use this product up! But I love Tarte brand products so I know I’ll be trying different/new things by them.
-M

EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set, $13

I've bought a few makeup brush kits in my life, and have had my share of disappointment--the bristles fall out, the metal part comes off, or they're just not that soft. I started to think, "Are there brushes out there that are high quality, soft, not too expensive, and maybe even earth-friendly? Is this too much to ask for?" Then, Mirna showed me this brush set from EcoTools.

For $13, the EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set comes with a blush brush (pictured here), eyeshadow brush, angled brush, eyelash brush, and concealer brush--the 6th piece is the holder that keeps everything organized and protected. It even comes in a resealable plastic pouch (I put the brushes in it when I'm traveling).

These brushes are soft. I mean, really soft. And they're made really well--I haven't had any problems with bristles falling out or anything like that. They're cut evenly, which then distributes color evenly, and the handle is light and durable. Quite possibly the most exciting part is that they're earth-friendly: the handle is made from bamboo (low-impact resource), the aluminum on the handle is recycled, the roll is made from cotton and hemp, the pouch it comes in is totally reusable, and the bristles are synthetic and completely cruelty free. Awesome.

My cat approves.


Final verdict
Cost: Probably the best brushes you can find for such a low price. The cost of one Sephora brush gets you the whole kit! Totally worth it. Plus, it's available at a ton of places like Target and Walmart.
Quality: No one would believe you paid less than $20 for these. They are soft, work well, and are easy to use.
Guilt-free: Cruelty-free, natural and recycled materials, how can you go wrong?
Repeat offender?: If I somehow break one I'll definitely buy more in the future, but they've lasted me a long time! The holder really keeps them neat and clean, and after a year or so I haven't run into any problems. Makes a great gift!


-T