This didn't work with my budget, so I used to keep brushes for years and just wash them frequently, but when a brush gets old, it's not as effective. Nor is it good for your skin. I realized that a little while ago, when I really looked and saw the sorry state my foundation brush was in.
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Some of the inside bristles were warped and wouldn't lie flat anymore, no matter what I did. This shouldn't have been a surprise because the brush was over seven years old. It was time to replace it.
I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the brush, so I started looking at my local drug and big box stores. I first tried a couple of Elf brushes, and they weren't any good. One brush broke, and the bristles on both had an odd smell that wouldn't go away.
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Next, I tried EcoTools. I decided to try them since I follow EcoTools on social media and have seen their brushes in the store.
EcoTools is an eco-conscious brand that makes its brushes from natural materials like bamboo for the handles and cruelty-free bristles.
I opted to buy the EcoTools Lovely Looks Brush Set, which was around $15 before tax. I bought the set online and was surprised when it arrived, and I saw the box the brushes were in. I didn't realize the brushes were short. I had thought they were full-size. I considered returning the brushes, but knew I (really) needed some new brushes and decided to keep them. The set includes five brushes
- A foundation brush
- A powder/blush brush
- A shadow brush
- A flat eyeliner brush
- A lip brush
So far, I've used four out of the five brushes - foundation, powder/blush, shadow, and flat eyeliner brushes. I don't wear lipstick much at all, so I haven't used the lip brush.
Why are they a favorite?
- The smaller size makes the brushes perfect to use when traveling
- The bristles are soft and don't irritate my skin
- The foundation brush gives even, medium to heavy coverage
- I can use the foundation brush for my powder foundation, and if I ever decide to switch to liquid foundation
- The powder/blush brush is great for blush or bronzer
- I love the application I get with the shadow brush. It allows me to easily apply eyeshadow and get an even finish
- The flat eyeliner brush is great for blending and smudging eyeliner and eyeshadows
Related read: Why I Prefer Wearing Mineral Foundation
While there are many things I like, there are a few negatives
- The brushes are so small it can sometimes be hard to use them on a daily basis
- The bristles on the powder/blush brush are a bit flimsy and aren't good for applying powder foundation
After spending several minutes in the beauty aisle at Walmart looking at the many brush options, I decided to buy the Real Techniques powder brush. Mostly because it says it "can evenly apply powders and mineral foundations to provide smooth, high-definition results." The brush was about $10 before tax, and I saved $2 with an Ibotta app coupon.
Related read: Earn Some Extra Cash With These 5 Reward Apps
Before using the Real Techniques Powder Brush, I washed the bristles with a gentle shampoo (I do this for all my brushes) and let the brush air dry. Since then, I've been using the brush during my morning foundation application.
Why it's a fave
- The bristles are soft, but not flimsy. So they don't bend or give when using the brush on my face
- The brush is long, which makes it easier to use
- I can use the brush to apply a light or heavy layer of foundation
- You can access a video tutorial for using the brush on the Real Techniques' YouTube channel
- It's affordable
Some of the negatives
- The bristles had a slight smell that went away after I washed the brush
- The brush is so long it's almost too long for my makeup bag
- It's not as easy for me to get a heavier finish
What are your favorite makeup brushes?
This is great!!
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