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EcoTools collaborates with Alicia Silverstone

March 30, 2011

EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone

A few month back we reviewed Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush as a fantastic tool to add to your beauty arsenal. In addition to  made from recycled and sustainable materials a portion of sales is donated to environmental organizations. Well know actress and environmental activist Alicia Silverstone has partnered with Ecotools to create a brush and cosmetic bag collaboration. The collection, EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone will launch in April 2011 at Walgreens, Target and Walmart. The collection is pretty wallet friendly with all pieces prices at under $15.99.

Let’s take a look at some of my favorite pieces from the collection:

 

4-Piece Backstage Vanity Brush Set
Ecotool by Alicia Silverstone 6-Piece Brush Set and Bag
6-Piece Brush Set and Bag

 

Hanging Valet
Hanging Valet
Ecotools by Alicia Silverstone Deluxe Pencil Case
Deluxe Pencil Case

 

I think it’s important to mention that not only is collection is not beyond pretty it’s also eco-friendly. The sets are comprised of non-toxic ink, natural hemp and tree free paper. I appreciate the sophisticated look of the collection and from prior experience exceptional performance. Are you going to give this collection a try?

5 Comments
Filed Under: Beauty Tagged: Alicia Silverstone, Eco Friendly, Ecotools, EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone, tools

Five Train Cases to Store Your Makeup, Stylishly

March 22, 2011

If you’re a connoisseur of cosmetics, you probably share the opinion that what’s in a jar, stick or pallette of color- the product itself- is only part of the experience when opening a favorite or new item. A gorgeous compact or an extra touch like a silky drawstring pouch can instantly influence you to be far more pleased with a product than you might have been without the fancy packaging.

This aesthetic influence extends past your potions themselves and over to your tools as well. Train cases serve a dual purpose in this regard- they organize and store your most treasured pieces safely, but also offer a pretty presentation on your vanity table or when you’re putting on your makeup. Here are five options for every makeup collection:

1.) Japonesque Train Case in Pink: This sleek, bubblegum pink lacquered train case wouldn’t look out of place in a fifties or sixties era starlet’s dressing room. It’s petite for a cosmetic case, with four small shelf/drawers and a larger bottom cavity, but should store any average sized makeup collection easily. (Above.)

2.) Kat Von D Adora Traincase: If the pink train case above isn’t visually stimulating enough for you, this black, white and red velvet number could fit the bill. Bedecked in the tattoo-artist-turned-makeup-brand’s signature inky style, this single level mirrored case has six pockets of varying size and feels a bit showgirly.

3.) Sephora Collection Metro Train Case in Black Diamond: Form and function are both factors in selecting this spacious, fully-featured professional-style train case. If you both travel and cannot be parted from your entire collection, the Sephora Black Diamond Train Case comes standard with both a lock and a strap to keep fellow passengers out and facilitate transportation across trains, flights and hotels. Two rows of roomy drawers open up to a huge bottom area to store even the most comprehensive set of lipsticks and glosses, and the classic black exterior has a bit of a quilted finish instead of the easily-scuffable, usual matte black.

4.) Black Soft Side Roll Down Makeup Case: Classic-style train cases have a certain allure, but if you’ve carried one any distance, you know that the hard corners have a way of knocking into your legs on jetways and taking up all the space stowed under or over seats. The rounded corners and purse-like look of this train case variant nclude the same multi-tier interior but lack the tank-like feel of its utilitarian cousins.

5.) Shany Silver Aluminum Train Case: Another classic train case style is brushed steel, and this particular model is a no-frills workhorse version. Corrugated tiers are big and wipe down easily, and the dividers are adjustable for more customizable storage.

How do you organize your makeup? Did you implement a system mainly for the way it looks, or do you have your pieces stashed in a more intuitive way?

1 Comment
Filed Under: Beauty Tagged: japonesque, kat von d, makeup cases, Sephora, Sephora Collection, tools, train cases

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

February 22, 2011

makeup brushes

Regularly cleaning your makeup brushes is key to healthy skin and a smooth makeup application. Makeup brushes can harbor bacteria and dirt which can lead to breakouts. Makeup brushes also absorb body oils and dead skin cells so they need to be cleaned to preserve the life of the brushes. It is generally recommended that makeup brushes be cleaned after each use, this can be as simple as wiping the brush hairs with a baby wipe. On a weekly basis (especially if you use your tools daily, you should wash them), now while there are many cleaners on the market here’s how to clean your makeup brushes.

  1. Gather all of your used makeup brushes, a clean towel and baby shampoo
  2. Turn on the faucet and allow the water to reach a lukewarm temperature. Run the bristles of the brush under the flowing water. (You may start to see the makeup tinted water.)
  3. Now apply a small amount (a drop or two) of shampoo into the palm of your hand and gently massage the bristles in your palm.
  4. Rinse the bristles until the water runs clear.
  5. Gently squeeze the water out of the brushed from base to tip, lay the brush down on a flat surface and reshape it. (Do not ever use a hair dryer to dry your brushes!)

Lastly do not boil, microwave or use conditioner on your brushes, that will damage them. It’s also best not to dry your brushes in an upright position because the water can seep into the base and loosen the glue that keeps the bristles in place.

So I’m curious, how do you keep your brushes clean?

4 Comments
Filed Under: Beauty Tagged: beauty tips, How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes, how to wash makeup brushes, makeup tips, tools

Review: Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush

December 15, 2010

Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush

A love of makeup generally comes hand in hand with a love of makeup brushes. A good brush can make a bargain bin powder go on more smoothly and look more polished, and a bad brush can suck the joy out of the most finely-milled, high-end shadows. But price is no indicator of quality, and some of the best brushes I’ve owned have been the kind that are part of limited-edition sets, were picked up on a whim at an arts and crafts store, or even found their way into my makeup bag through a random drugstore encounter only to be dusted on my eyelids until their poor little bristles fell out.

One brush missing from my arsenal for years was a good, multi-purpose Kabuki brush. I knew the Kabuki brush was an indispensable tool with many applications (finishing powder! mineral base! blush!), but it seemed that most were far out of my price range. (This did not stop me from wistfully stroking their exotic bristles every time I came upon one.) It was with much trepidation and excitement that I anticipated receiving the Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush from Amazon after finding it at the irresistible price of $7.19. Pictures suggested a full-bristled, soft and sturdy tool, but experience suggested similarly priced Kabukis often fell short.

I’ve had a chance to use the Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki for about two straight months now, and it seriously outperformed even my stringent needs for a heavy-use Kabuki. Bristles are soft, but the brush is full enough that they provide a sturdy base for application- holding up to heavier-coverage uses, like full-face mineral powder foundation.

While “retractable” wasn’t even on my original Kabuki checklist, the sleek metal tube into which this puffy brush disappears means it comes with me everywhere for touchups. And when it’s un-retracted, it poofs back up to its full-size, unaffected by travel time. The Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki also has the soft feel of far, far spendier brushes, and there has been no measurable shedding despite my near constant use of it.

Overall, the Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki is a fantastic tool. At this price? Totally worth stocking up.

2 Comments
Filed Under: Makeup Tagged: brush, Ecotools, kabuki, tools, travel

Shu Uemura Florescent Fall Makeup

August 11, 2010

There are just some things that I lust for and makeup palettes are one of those things. Palettes are an easy way to care your favorite essentials in a neat (pretty) little case. Shu Uemura has two gorgeous eye and cheek palettes for the Fall, Florescent makeup by Uchiide. The first of these two floral set is the Graceful Bloom Palette which includes four pressed eyeshadows, two cream eyeshadow/eye liners, a cream blush and two applicators. This palette features a beautiful gradation of purple shades and an accent of green and yellow, just like a flower!

shu uemura graceful bloom palette
Graceful Bloom Palette

The second palette for the Fall is the Dreamy Petal palette which is much warmer with shades of red, pinks and gold. This palette also includes four pressed eyeshadows, two cream eyeshadow/eye liners, a cream blush and two applicators

shu uemura dreamy petal palette
Dreamy Petal Palette

To top off this fantasy floral inspired look, Shu Uemura brings out Partial Floral Feather eyelashes. These lashes combine purple and red “feathers” to give the illusion of fluttering petals with each blink. These lashes will give you that wow factor when you really want your eyes to “pop”.

With purple being HUGE this Fall, the Graceful Bloom palette should be a big hit. I love how the outside of the palette is beautifully decorated with floral designs bringing the theme of the palette full circle. I am looking forward to Fall especially for the beautiful makeup and fashion that I love so much. Which of these two palettes is your favorite?

shu eumura partial floral feather eyelashes
Partial Feather Floral Eyelashes

Each limited edition palette retails for $65 and the eyelashes retail for $25. All products are available on the Shu Uemura website.

1 Comment
Filed Under: Makeup Tagged: Blush, dreamy petal palette, Eye Shadow, Eyeliner, graceful bloom palette, tools

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