I hate to think about the number of makeup brushes I have been through in the 15 or so years that I’ve been wearing makeup. In general, I’m just too thrifty to spend a lot of money on those brushes that they claim last forever (I think I also just don’t believe that they will really last long enough to justify the cost). However, in retrospect, I have certainly spent more than what I would have on a nice set of make up tools over the last decade or so, going from ineffective brush to ineffective brush.

I was really intrigued to learn about an affordable set of makeup brushes that Alicia Silverstone has put out called EcoTools. EcoTools sent me the EcoTools 6 Piece Essential Eye Brush Set to try out and tell you all about. The brushes are distinct among all makeup brushes out there for their cruelty-free taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules and bamboo handles.The 6 piece eye brush set is priced with the frugalista in mind, at $7.99. It contains a large eye shadow brush, angled crease brush, petite eye shading brush, domed highlighting brush, smudge brush and a compact cosmetic case with mirror.

There’s only one thing I don’t like about this set, and that is the hemp and cotton carrying case. I keep my makeup brushes in a cup so that they are all standing up, plainly visible, and ready for quick use. The carrying case is something that I personally would never use as it takes up quite a bit of space in my makeup bag and it only holds the eye makeup brushes, and not all of my other brushes. So that went straight to the donation pile, unfortunately. I know that some women out there like to keep their brushes in a palette, and if that’s you, then you’ll like it.

Now for what I do like about the set: the brushes! They really do a great job! I confess that I’ve never really had eye make up tools that were so distinct. I just use the same applicator for everything, which is perhaps why my eye makeup sometimes looks so boring. I was a little bit concerned that I’d quickly lose track of the purpose for each brush. Fortunately, each brush has its name on it so that I don’t have to remember! These tools do a nice job of gripping the makeup and releasing it evenly on the lids. Perhaps my favorite tool in the bunch is the smudge brush, which has enabled me to create a smoky look that I haven’t achieved before. I will say that using these brushes means spending more time on your makeup, but in my experience, the extra time pays off in the form of eye makeup that looks great!

EcoTools offers some terrific instructional videos to help folks like me update their looks using these brushes. I learned several cool tricks when I watched them!

EcoTools has also joined with 1% For the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental organizations that create a healthier place to live. I love it when a business puts its money where its mouth is as it relates to environmental stewardship. Way to go, EcoTools!

Buy It!: EcoTools are available nationwide at retailers such as Target, Walgreens and Amazon!

If you have tried EcoTools brushes, what did you think about them? Have you tried any other products from this line?

Disclosure: I was provided with product samples for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links