Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion
(EcoTools makeup brushes)
Related Posts:
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(Face savers…)
These napkins are a hugely indispensable part of my daily beauty-maintenance routine, because they are the best oil-blotting paper I have ever used and only Starbucks has the kind that I like.
It all happened more than 10 years ago when I forgot to carry oil-blotting paper and I had to make do with one of these napkins to matte out the shine. But, to my surprise, it was so absorbent and worked so efficiently that my remaining stock of blotting paper was then left untouched for years.
Made with 100% recycled paper in a bleach-free process, these napkins work very well as blotting paper and normal tissue paper simply can’t compare. One sheet is more than enough for a whole day running around outdoors during summer.
If you have oily skin and need several sheets of blotting paper at a single “blotting session”, do try one of these next time. But do be gentle, since these napkins are obviously not designed for the face and the texture is coarser than the usual blotting paper. (But, interestingly, I have noticed that the Starbucks napkins are getting thinner and softer over the years…)
Other things I can’t live without:
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(From left to right:
First of all, all the brushes are very sturdily made, and there has been no hair fallout in the last few weeks of trial. Among the four, the Foundation Brush and the Lip Brush are my favorites. The Foundation Brush (with synthetic hair) is very well-shaped, as the tip is flat enough for a precise application around the eye, nose, and lip area. (With a foundation brush, I usually use a combination of very short strokes and gentle taps to avoid brush marks and foundation settling into the pores. This brush works well with this particular way of application.)
When I saw the Lip Brush (with sable hair), I knew it would be right for me. Some lip brushes have hair that is too long and slightly too soft and they make it hard to pick up color from a lipstick. The hair of this brush is short and has a good bounce, making lip color application efficient and precise.
The Small Powder Brush (with raccoon hair) and the Flat Blender (with sable hair) do their jobs decently, but I feel that some improvement will make them a lot better. Despite the good density, the hair of the Small Powder Brush (which I mainly use to apply a blusher) is a little too hard for a powder brush.
Even though the Flat Blender is ideally shaped, the bristle-heads are not optimally soft to the touch for the delicate eye area.
Overall the quality of the brushes is fair and there are a couple of very good ones. If you regularly use a foundation brush or a lip brush and want to invest in a good one, the ones from Purple Dot are definitely worth considering.
Related Posts:
EcoTool Makeup Brushes
(If you are looking for a medium eyeshadow brush or a blusher brush, then do check out this review.)
My Seven Most-Used Makeup Brushes
The ONLY Eyelash Curler I Ever Need
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(Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora)Daisy is not my favorite Marc Jacobs fragrance, but I like the design of the bottle and these items are also seriously cute.
I think the two cases appeal to me the most, especially the round Treasure Beauty Case:
(Daisy Marc Jacobs pour SephoraThis is not my first time to write about Marc Jacobs, and it probably won’t be the last. I enjoyed my trip to the first Marc Jacobs boutique in the UK last year, and I think I will talk about one of my favorite Marc Jacobs fragrances later on…
(Thank you, Betsy (at Autumn Masquerade), for letting me know about this collection!)
Some doses of fashion:
“The new way of selling clothes seems to be not wearing them.”
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(From left to right: EcoTools Powder Brush, Blush Brush,When it comes to makeup brushes, I don’t mind if the hair is natural or synthetic. As long as the bristles are well-shaped, soft to the touch, and with the right bounce for the particular purpose, I think both natural and synthetic hair can potentially make good makeup brushes.
EcoTools is a line of makeup brushes and bath accessories made of materials that minimize the negative impact on the environment. With their makeup brush collection:
– The brush hair is made of animal-free taklon bristles.
– The handle is made of bamboo (which has a low impact on the environment and is highly sustainable).
– The metallic ferrule is made of recycled aluminum.
My favorites among them are the Blusher Brush and the Eye Shading Brush. The hair of the Blush Brush is very soft and dense and the brush picks up blusher powder easily and evenly. The brush is well-shaped so the blusher goes on very naturally and evenly.
The bristles of the Eye Shading Brush are soft and have a good bounce. I also like the fact that the tip of the brush is quite flat so it can help with a more precise eyeshadow application where needed.
I also like the Eyeliner Brush. The brush tip picks up powder easily and allows a fairly precise application. I generally find an angled eyeliner brush easier to use than a flat one. Plus the width of the brush tip is narrow enough for an easy application around the lash line.
The Foundation Brush and the Powder Brush are of fair quality, but I think it would be better if the Foundation Brush had a flatter tip and if the hair of the Powder Brush could be slightly denser.
The only item that might need some substantial improvement is the Lash and Brow Groomer. I feel that the bristles are quite hard to the touch and a little too stiff compared with some other brow brushes (even though a brow brush is meant to be relatively stiff).
The brushes are reasonably priced. The most expensive piece, the Powder Brush, is priced at 7.99 USD.
Overall, most of the EcoTools makeup brushes offer good choices at affordable prices. Whether your eco-friendly mindset extends to your beauty regime or not, these brushes are worth a look.
(Please check their website (link above) for the US stock list.)
Related Posts:
My Makeup Brushes
(the sensational seven)
The Only Eyelash Curler I Ever Need
(precise and thorough)
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(Here it is.)
I bought this such a long time ago that I don’t remember which brand it is from. I only remember that it is from a very inexpensive Japanese drugstore beauty tool brand. There are many such brands in Japan as well as in other Asian countries, and it is generally not hard to get something similar.
(the narrower curler)
This is usually called a narrow curler or a precision curler. The curler itself measures about 0.8 cm. It doesn’t grab and curl all the lashes at the same time. Instead, it curls a portion of the lashes at a time.
(measuring about 0.8cm)
The best thing about this kind of curler is that it can really get to the lashes at the two ends. Also, I can have an optimal control as to the exact extend and angle of the curl I want from different sections of my lashes.
Plus, sometimes the curve of a normal curler might not suit everyone. This is absolutely not an issue here. This is something that I think everyone can use to get the most beautifully naturally curled lashes.
With all these wonderful merits, this is my first and only eyelash curler, and I have never needed another one!
If you are interested, Japonesque and Seki Edge carry very similar versions.
Related posts:
My Makeup Brush Stash
(See my beloved makeup brushes.)
You Mean It’s NOT Real?
(Have your say!)
Spotlight on Mascaras
(featuring Dior, YSL, Max Factor, and L’Oréal)
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(my most used brushes…)
One of the reasons that I haven’t talked about them is simply that I don’t have a lot of them. All I have are the basics, and I make do with them. Also, some of them are not really available now, but I will focus on what you can get your hands on.
First of all, a couple of years ago, I bought an Ayura set that included a limited-edition brush set. The brushes came in this lovely brown holder:
(my Ayura brush set)
(the six brushes in the set)
(the Sensational Seven)
(a close-up)
(numbered for you)
— #2 is Ruby & Millie Eye Brush [Large]. (I remember it costs about £9 (about 18 USD).) Ruby & Millie is a makeup line sold exclusively in Boots stores in the UK. Last year and this year, the Ruby & Millie makeup brush collection is chosen by InStyle Magazine UK as “the best inexpensive brush line“. I can definitely see why. Budget brush hunters will love some of these brushes. In particular, this eyeshadow brush is thick and dense (thicker than #3). It is good for eyeshadow application for larger areas and for overall blending.
— #6 is Shu Uemura eyebrow brush (6 OB). I’ve had this for at least 7 years and it still performs well. This eyebrow brush is slightly softer than those from MAC and Bobbi Brown, both of which I think are too hard. The brush tip is nicely slanted for easy application.
— #7 is RMK Lip Brush. This one is retractable and very easy to carry around. The very flat tip allows a precise application. I’d like the hair to be shorter and slightly denser, but it is a minor complaint for a brush that I have been very used to for years.
I have some other brushes but these are the ones I depend on the most. I am not really on the lookout for any new brush, but sometimes I fancy an alternative blusher brush (I am a blusher person) and an angled face shading/contouring brush. Any suggestions? Let me know!
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Jill Stuart Story of Fragrances Collection for 2025 & 2026 (image from www.cosme.net)
