brush up your skills.

Now that I’ve talked a lot about slowly updating my beauty bag to include various eco-friendly products, why not also mention the same in regards to cosmetic brushes? Here are my top five favorites that are one or more of the following: cruelty-free, made from sustainable and/or recycled materials, won’t break the bank, comes in sustainable packaging. Check it out:

1 – Most affordable + most sustainable: EcoTools. Not only are these brushes easily accessible (find ‘em at Target, Walmart and Walgreens), but they’re also extremely affordable! The various EcoTools’ brushes and kits range from $6.99-$15.99, all of which contain 100% cruelty-free brushes made of synthetic taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules and bamboo handles. In addition, the company packages every product in an eco-conscious way by using reusable pouches, post-consumer recycled plastic and/or recyclable packaging. Also good to know - EcoTools is a member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that support environmental initiatives!

2 – Best sample: RAW Natural Beauty via Sircle Samples. If you’re looking to test-drive a few eco-friendly brushes (or other natural beauty products) to see how you like them before draining your wallet, I highly recommend Sircle Samples! Sircle Samples is a fun and easy way to try out samples of various beauty and personal care products custom to your specific beauty needs, preferences, and style. I recently received this trio of sustainable brushes and must say that the flat-top foundation is a real winner!

3 – Best multi-purpose: Sigma Synthetic Precision Kit. The brushes in this kit were created with a unique design made to mimic your fingertips featuring Sigma’s exclusive synthetic Sigmax fibers. I love this kit for its ability to serve a variety of purposes – you can use the brushes for concealing blemishes, stippling product onto sun spots, applying foundation onto those hard-to-reach areas (around the nose, under the eyes), blending out shadow, highlighting the browbone, plus more! For all of the makeup mavens out there, this kit is a must-have for creating a truly flawless face! (You can read my brief review on the Sigma Synthetic Essential Kit that I wrote a while back here.)

4 – Best complete kit: Sigma Mrs. Bunny Essential Kit. When it comes to this particular Sigma brush kit, I always say they didn’t put the word “essential” in the title for nothing! Containing 12 professional makeup brushes, this kit includes every brush you could possibly need to create a complete makeup look. Whatsmore, the bristles are vegan-friendly and ultra-soft (hence the name “bunny” perhaps?! hehe) Bonus - the brushes come in a container that turns into two brush cup holders for organized storage. And just how can you say no to those pretty colors?

5 – Best for travel: Sonia Kashuk “Out of the Woods” collection. This makeup brush collection features handles made from wood, ferrules produced from recycled aluminum, and a sustainable cork bag perfect for holding your brushes and other small beauty items for travel.  (I’m also in love with the Sonia Kashuk limited edition “Straight from Nature” collection which gets the award for most unique design in my book!)

What are your go-to cosmetic brushes?

five fab faves.

Say hello to my current fave items!

First up – the movie Bridesmaids, officially out on DVD as of today (Sept. 20)! If you didn’t catch this hilarious flick in theaters, make sure to rent it! Or better yet - buy it at a discounted price via Amazon and watch it over and over again.

Second, the Sigma Synthetic Face Kit. This threesome of vegan brushes provides flawless makeup application at an unbeatable price. My only complaint is that I wish I would’ve known about these amazing brushes sooner!  Be sure to check ‘em out here.

Third - the various fall-scented Mainstays candles from Walmart. For a mere $3 a pop, you simply can’t pass up these amazing and affordable aromatic candles. While the Warm Apple Pie scent takes the lead in my book, Mulled Cider and Hazelnut Creme are also excellent choices.

Number four – ASICS Gel Arianna Running Shoes. I recently bought these bad boys and couldn’t be happier. Aside from the fact that they’re super lightweight and perfectly cushioned, I got them for a steal of  deal. (They were on sale at Kohl’s for $54.99, plus I had a $10 off Kohl’s coupon, which means I managed to save a total of $25 from the orignal purchase price.)

Last but not least – Naturally Nora baked goods. To put it simply, Nora is the natural version of Betty Crocker; her tasty baked goods provide all the full-fat flavor without all of the artery-clogging hydrogenated oils and additives. Read my full review on the Sugar Loco website here.