NiceLadiesThings

For someone who loves makeup I still consider myself a beginner. I know the basics and all but way way back what matters to me the most are just these things: white eye shadows, lip gloss, mascara, powder, blush, eyebrow powder and of course my eyelash curler.

I'm a bit of a hoarder of cheap drugstore cosmetics although I never really use them. My everyday look would still be just a simple white eye shadow on my eyes (lids and lower lash line) eyebrow powder for my brows and a mascara on my curled lashes.

Since I've been home for months out of boredom I checked you tube one day and I was surprised by all the make up tutorials in there! I've watched eyebrow tutorials,  how to apply foundation and how to create smoky eyes for hooded lids. While watching  I realized one thing - I don't have any make up brushes at all! How could that be? I had to think. I acknowledged the fact that I didn't think I need them. But I remember I have a mini set before:

The Body Shop Mini Makeup brush

This set costs about Php1,200 or less - I think I got this for free when I bought cosmetics from TBS worth about Php3500. What I loved about these brushes are they are soooo soft even though they have synthetic bristles. I used the eyeshadow and angled liner brush a lot. Sadly I lost this set when my bag was snatched a few years ago.

Now I bought new brushes for myself! Since I am  a beginner I won't invest on Sigma or Real Techniques brushes YET. I decided I have to wait and use what I have.

Ecotools Lovely Looks Five Piece Set

I've read  good reviews from beauty bloggers that the Ecotools brand is a good one. I got this set online at Bonmarche for P600.


I didn't expect that the brushes were small - these are travel sized brushes. I've checked reviews online but there were not a lot - even pictures because this set was released just recently.




The set includes: Powder, Angled blush, Foundation, Shadow and Flat Eyeliner brushes.
According to the box these brushes have "soft, cruelty- free bristles, artist designed recycled aluminum ferrules and sleek bamboo handles".

I love the Shadow brush the most because of its shape and because it is dense enough making it easy to apply eye shadows and even blend them.

I love the angled blush brush too! Its size is just right in applying naturally looking color to cheeks.

The Powder brush is not that packed with bristles but I like that its just small because I can apply powder on hard to reach areas unlike when I am using a full sized brush.

The flat liner brush is okay - I have tried using it on my eyebrow powder brush but its too thick and didn't give me good results when I used it on my eyebrows. This would probably be good on a cream eyeliner as stated on the box.

The foundation brush is okay too - it performed well with my liquid foundation despite its small size.

Overall I would recommend this set for a beginner like me. Since the whole set is light I always bring these whenever I go out- the ferrules are beautiful too! I love floral designs :-)
I bought this set first before the Ecotools brand - just days apart. I purchased this set because from its original value of P399 - its on sale for P99!



The brushes are housed in a solid red silk pouch with zipper. But when I opened it I realized why it was on sale for P99. You will literally cry if you have paid for the set on its original retail price of P399 - because the brushes are of cheap quality - really only worth P99 or probably less.

Look at these photos and you'll understand what I mean.


The wooden red handles of the brush have these black paint stain on them - an eyesore. Its either the brush handles were not yet really dry when they were placed in the pouch and the garter's black color has stained it or the brushes where old and has been stuck in there for a very long time that the garter's color had eventually stained the handles. But not only this - each brush has at least 2 or 3 bristles sticking out that I had to cut them. The blush brush shape is quite odd - but at least it is soft and has performed okay. I haven't used the lip brush because it was quite deformed - the bristles were bent:


The eye shadow brush I haven't tried yet because its too big - its like a concealer brush. What I love the most on this set is the angled eyeliner brush. Its too thin it worked perfectly with my ELF eyebrow powder wax.

More pictures:

I am holding the flat portion of the ferrule - as you can see the name Avon on the handle is not properly aligned - and that ugly stain! I am OC this way.

The blush brush - has irregular shaped bristles - but at least its soft.

Handles with black paint stains.

This is the brush pouch on the outside -pure red and quite silky to the touch.

All the brushes on this set works - and if these works then they should be fine. But this is Avon that is why I am probably expecting more - common Avon what happened? If the stains were not there and brushes were made with care and quality then I would be happy. I don't know if I was just unlucky I got a bad set. But I definitely wouldn't recommend this. It would be wiser to buy other brands.