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Tuesday 3 July 2012

A Gift of Ethical Beauty: The EcoTools Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set

I've been on a makeup brush kick for the past couple of months, so I was delighted when a good friend of mine gave me just the gift to satiate this craving- the EcoTools Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set!




The kit consists of four short-handled brushes, each with a unique beautifying purpose! As you can see from the labels beneath, there is a mini kabuki designed for concealing, one for bronzer application, one for contouring the cheeks, and one for buffing in powder products. Here is a closer look at the set:





And here are some pictures of the back of the package, which outline in more detail the purpose of each brush. It also highlights that the bristles are animal-friendly synthetic and the handles are made out of recycled aluminum. Pretty neat!







Even closer close-ups!






This gift was an extra treat not only because it was a makeup-related present from a very good friend, but also because the EcoTools line is characterized by their ethical, cruelty-free practices. Focusing my hard-earned dollars on brands that shun animal testing has always been a priority of mine. A scrutinizing eye (or at least someone who pays attention to this issue) will notice that I'm not always perfect in this regard. Sticking solely to cruelty-free brands is certainly a challenge (especially since several long-established animal-friendly brands have now altered their policies for the worse- I'm talking to you Estee Lauder and Urban Decay!), but animal rights remains an issue close to my heart and I'm making efforts to be more conscious about this. One day (and purchase) at a time!


Here is a picture of the brush set without the cover:






And a picture of my cat Sadie with the set. She can never turn down a photo op, and she loves that the brushes are cruelty-free! She's even sitting here with me as I type this, making sure that I give you all the whole scoop. Kitty approved!





And here is a closer view of each of the brushes on their own. You can see that each has a unique shape and cute design on the handle!


The concealer kabuki: 





The bronzing kabuki:





The contouring kabuki:





And the buffing kabuki:





And that's it! I've actually been hesitant to try the brushes since they're so darn cute, but I think it's about time I take them for a spin (around my face, that is)! I'll be happy to write a more in-depth review once I've tried them.

Thanks for reading, everyone! :)

16 comments:

  1. Love the post, of course! But holy geez, I was totally unaware of Urban Decay's recent move into the Chinese market. I'm really sad now. :(

    I've been finding that I've pretty much been sticking to two lines lately, Yves Rocher, and Pur Minerals. Both are cruelty free. It sucks because it becomes quite limiting when you adopt a totally cruelty-free stance, but I think in your case, it might serve as a greater impetus for new product exploration! I'm happy to assist with that mission of course! And so is Sadie (although her contributions are decidedly more adorable than mine, haha) :D

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    1. Thanks! And I'm sure your contributions could be adorable too :)

      I'm definitely curious about the Pur Minerals... Their powder foundation doesn't get the best reviews from oily-skinned gals, but several other of their products are catching my eye! And I'm happy that there are still some fun brands left that are still on PETA's good list (like Tarte and Too Faced)... definitely an excuse to try out some new goodies :)

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  2. i love how cruelty-free the ecotools are.. truly amazing brushes that are suitale for different uses!

    Following u now via Goggle +. Follow me back if you like! ♥

    Say meow to me on:
    Miss Kwong: From Catwalk to Classroom

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    1. Thanks! I started following you a few days ago- really enjoying your blog so far! :)

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  3. great reviewwwwww! i need brushes like this!

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    1. Thanks! It really is a cute little set! :)

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  4. These are adorable!! I have actually been on the lookout for this little set for sometime, but can't find them anywhere near me :( Also great to see your cat loves them ;) Shes a cutie!

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    1. Thanks! I like to imagine that my cat loves makeup, but I really think she just likes being in front of the camera :)

      It's a shame that you can't find EcoTools in your area. Here's a link to the "Where to Buy" section on their website- hope you have some luck!

      http://www.ecotools.com/where-to-buy

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  5. They look like great brushes, cool blog :)
    http://thriftyfridays.blogspot.co.uk/

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  6. Cool. Loving your blog, maybe want to follow each other? If so just leave us a comment on our blog telling us that you are following us and we'll immediately follow your back!


    http://fashiono2.blogspot.com/xx

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  7. Sadie is absolutely adorable in the photo and it looks like the brushes are hers! It's nice that she's willing to share them with you. I look forward to seeing her when we visit in August. Love, Mom

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  8. looks like a great set, but are they hard to use because of the short handle? love the photo with the cat. I just started following you x

    http://kitschsnitch.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. Thanks so much for following! The brushes are actually quite easy to use despite the short handles. I find the short handles make the buffing and bronzing brushes especially user-friendly because it gives you a good amount of control over application. The concealer brush is slightly awkward to use, but I'm determined to make it work :)

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  9. I love eco tools brushes but i have never seen this set before it looks adorable! Its definately on my shopping list!
    Im enjoying your blog im now folowing :)
    x

    http://ramblingbeauty-nicolelou.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks so much for reading and following :)

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All of your lovely comments make my day! Thanks for taking the time to share your musings, ideas, and opinions. Feel free to leave a link to your blog- I'd be happy to check it out :)