Review: EcoTools | Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set |

EcoTools - Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set - £15.99

It was actually completely random that I picked up this brush set - I was going down to Exeter and had forgot to pack certain brushes so picked up this set at Waterloo station. EcoTools had been on my radar before this purchase but surprisingly I'm really stingy at buying new make up brushes so had put off delving into the brand. 

There are five brushes included in this set, all with a different purpose so it was a really nice place to start when trialing this brand. They are all super soft, feature taklon bristles and are cruelty free. The long bamboo handles make controlling these brushes easy and the matching ferrules are made from recyled aluminium. I also love that they come in a super cute cotton and hemp carry case.

Blush Brush: I find this brush a bit big for blusher (I have a small head haha) but I've really enjoyed using it as a bronzer brush instead. I'm not sure whether it is down to the cut or density of the bristles of this brush but I find that it gives just a wash of colour no matter how pigmented your powder is which is great for those who are more heavy handed. It also makes for really easy blending too. As the size of the brush is not too large its been great for popping in my small make up bag for my hand bag to use for powder touch ups. This is definitely my favourite brush in the set.

Eye Shadow Brush: This has thick close cut bristles which makes it easy to pack on colour over the whole lid. I find it quite similar to the brush you get in the Urban Decay Naked palette in shape but I wish it was a little denser. 

Angled Eyeliner Brush: You can use this for your eyeliner or filling in your brows but my favourite use is the former. This brush is super thin and angled so makes drawing a thin line of gel eyeliner or eyeshadow really easy. It is the best eyeliner brush I've tried so far and am really pleased with it.

Lash & Brow Groomer: This is my least used piece in the set as I find the lash part actually makes my lashes more clumpy and the brow groomer is a bit stiff for me. I want to persevere with this though and get it to work for me.

Concealer Brush: I wasn't expecting it to be but this brush is actually my second favourite from the set. I'm normally faithful to the Real Techniques Crease Brush for that job but this blends in under eye concealer really well without shifting it around your face and also make it easy to layer up concealer on your face. 

I'm pleased to say that this brush set pleasantly surprised me and I get use out of nearly all these brushes on a daily basis, making it very cost effective. It's also nice to know that by using this brand I'm not damaging the environment and they are also pretty on my dressing table.

Have you tried any brushes from EcoTools? xxx

Review: Real Techniques | Expert Face Brush |

Real Techniques - Expert Face Brush - £9.99 - Available at Boots

Real Techniques brushes are one of the most talked about budget brush brands and for good reason. I have the core collection and starter eye kit and both are of fantastic quality and contain multi-functional brushes. For a really long time I have wanted to add to my collection by purchasing some of the stand alone brushes so I was really pleased when I finally caved and picked up the Expert Face Brush.

I never thought I'd say this but I think it has replaced my beloved Buffing Brush as my favourite base applicator. The synthetic taklon bristles are densely packed and stiff, unlike the buffing brush which is quite flexible so I found it a bit difficult to get used to at the beginning. However, this design delivers a flawless base with minimal effort. Normally I take a long time buffing in my choice of base to make sure it is all blended in but this brush cuts that time in half and basically does all the work for you. I've also found I use a lot less product as the Expert Face Brush works it into the skin so flawlessly you don't need as much to even skin tone or cover redness. It works really well with all cream and liquid bases, from light to high coverage, but my favourite at the moment is with Estee Lauder Double Wear, which I mentioned in this post recently.

The light weight and tapered middle design of the handle is another plus point which makes it easy to maneuver and grip, again aiding application. The brush is also really easy to clean which was a surprise as the bristles are so dense I thought product would get easily trapped in between them.

The Expert Face Brush leaves you looking naturally airbrushed and it just a winner all round - a great value product which you won't regret having in your arsenal.

What is your favourite Real Techniques brush? xxx

My Very Late September Favourites

Hi guys, sorry this post is so late I've been meaning to get it up for ages but was waiting for the weather to perk up a bit to take some half decent photographs of the products. They still aren't perfect but seeing as we are heading into the darker months it can't really be helped. If only I had the money for some studio lighting! Anyway, as you can see I have quite a few favourites from the month of September, which are basically all make up related products compared to last month's which were more hair orientated.

001. Bourjois Bronzing Primer: When I first picked this up I used it to warm up my complexion all over my face before popping over a lighter base during the summer. However, I've really started to enjoy using it as a cream contour. I'm no expert in contouring so I find this product makes it really easy to build up the colour and blend in to make a much more natural finish. It's a really handy little pot which has a lot of uses. You can read my full review by clicking on the product name above.

002. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Metallic Pomegranate': I am in love with these paint pot dupes from Maybelline and have nearly all the colours now. I picked up this shade months ago and it has really come into its own now that the seasons have changed. A deep purpley pink with hints of glitter, it looks lovely all over the lid by itself or as primer for similar shades of eye shadows. I can't wait to do a full review of this soon and show you some swatches.

003. MAC MSF in 'Soft and Gentle': I'm already reviewed this in full a while back but it is still a staple in my make up bag. I love it most for evening looks but if applied with a light hand it is beautiful in the day too. A lovely warm toned highlight, it perks up my complexion and completes my look. After pretty much daily use since I got it, the dome has only just flattened so it is great value for money too. Highlighters are one of my favourite make up items (after lipsticks of course) and this is a must have for any collection.

004. Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons: Another Bourjois favourite this month is the recent release of their lip crayons. The concept of these type of products in general is a winner for me, but what pleased me most about Bourjois' offering are the shades which, although limited, are all so pretty, and the super glossy finish. They also last really well and are perfect for day or evening wear. Again I will be putting up a full review with swatches in the near future.

005. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush: Real Techniques are the perfect brand for affordable but fantastic quality make up brushes. While the buffing brush is the star of the core collection this brush in particular is amazing from the eye set as I find it so multi-functional. Not only is it fab for blending and all over colour, the soft dense bristles make it perfect for blending under eye concealer which is now its main use. 

006. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation: A long lost favourite from last year, I pulled this out of my foundation box to replace the super light bases of summer. Full coverage that can be sheered out, blendable, matte and long lasting, this is definitley one of my favourite foundations ever. The only negative is the flash back face it gives but for days when flash photography won't be in use this is perfect for long, busy days.

What were your favourites for September? Do you like any of my picks? xxx