Monday, September 26, 2005

Finding environmentally friendly makeup brushes (all natural makeup information)

Sometimes finding a more environmentally friendly product can take a bit of sleuthing! One example of this is my search for more eco-friendly makeup brushes. Now though I advocate using all natural products over synthetic ones, since they are much friendly to the environment, there are times when synthetic is better! My criteria for eco-friendly makeup brushes are ones that are made of synthetic hairs, and that are cost effective; that is ones that don't cost an arm and a leg for this budget concious grad student!

I use mineral makeup, and there is a big debate whether animal hair brushes or sythetic taklon brushes are better; a lot of ladies prefer animal hair brushes over the taklon for the mineral/powder foundation, and taklon for the eye shadow. So it was a bit difficult trying to find a taklon foundation brush that was under $20.00.

I finally found a few good choices. Aromaleigh (a mineral makeup company) recently started carrying a nice taklon brush for foundation; their 'Total Coverage Face Taklon' brush. It is only $17.55. I am thinking of getting this, as it's gotten good reviews on Aromaleigh's forum (f.y.i. their mineral makeup is mainly natural and vegetarian, but be sure to read ingredients lists as some products contain parabens, synthetics, and carmine).

For eye shadow brushes, one thing that I did, was go to my local craft store (Michael's), went to their paint section, and bought a lot of taklon paint brushes (be sure to get regular taklon and not golden taklon which in my experience generally has harder bristles). I got like 12 brushes for $6 onsale (value packs), because Michael's have weekly 40-50% coupons! I did not, however, find a brush that fitted my foundation powder needs, as the taklon open stock brush heads were not dense/big enough for me (they were out of a lot). But other Michael's and craft stores in different areas may have different selections, so some one else may have better luck than me.

Overall I think my taklon brushes work really well with my mineral eye shadows because they really grab/hold onto the color.

For those who prefer animal hair over sythetic bristles, be sure to get ones from comapnies that have attained the hairs by cruelty-free methods (so the animals don't die). Some companies I've found are Aromaleigh, Monave, and Cory Cosmetics.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eh, skip the makeup all together. Drink a lot of water, and add a few drops of tea-tree oil to witch hazel and use it as an astringent.

Your skin will glow and you won't need makeup at all! (Well, perhaps a good moisturizer and eye cream and a natural lip balm)

Solarkat said...

Hi Anonymous,

Thanks for the tips :). I love tea tree oil, though sometimes witch hazel is slightly too drying for my skin.

Well true, I don't NEED makeup, but it's just so much fun!

Cheers,
Solarkat

Anonymous said...

I am using a fabulous taklon foundation brush that I bought at CVS. It works great and is very very soft. All the other brushes I used in the past were a little scratchy but not this one. It cost $10 or $15. I also saw Avon recently came out with a taklon foundation brush but I haven't tried it.

Solarkat said...

Hi Anonymous,

Thanks for all the suggestions! I did manage to find a large taklon brush at Michael's (once they restocked their brushes) and use it; I love it but it's still not dense enough! One of my favorite mineral makeup companies, Monave, is supposed to be coming out with taklon foundation brushes soon, but haven't yet. I'll try looking at my local CVS and see what they have. :)

Cheers,
Solarkat

Toucouleur said...

Regarding other eco blog and eco cosmetics, woul be thanksfull if you could read and telle me what you think about this aticle Eco freidnly cosmetics. thanks a lot Solarkat by advance

Béengère

Solarkat said...

Hi Béengère

Thanks for posting :) . I looked at the website you sent me; I wasn't sure which article you wanted me to look at? The link just went to what looked like their main page and there was a list of articles. I glanced at a couple and they looked like articles with good/okay info.

Cheers,
Solarkat

Unknown said...

Hi Solarkat,

This is a bit outside the scope of your article, but if you're interested in wind and solar powered web-hosting, check out:

http://www.thinkhost.com/?p=c263b314&b=6f43286c

It's pretty sweet! I'm trying to spread the word so we can get some earth friendly blogs helping the world :)

Solarkat said...

Hi Joshua

Thanks for posting! :)

You read my mind! I'm not sure if I should move this blog off of blogger (because my blog pops up on google search a lot and I'll lose that if I switch hosts since my url will change if blogger is no longer my host) but I am definitely using a green webhost for my future green cosmetic business and was thinking of using this company. How is the service from them?

Cheers,
Li

Anonymous said...

I found something about Paris Presents ecoTools makeup tools. I haven't tried them out yet, but it says that they're super cheap, are environmentally friendly from top to bottom, and donate money to the environmental group 1% for the Planet. This is the full article: http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemID=102305/ecotools_bamboo_eye_shading_brush/Unlisted_Brand/Makeup_Brushes

Solarkat said...

Hi Anon

Sorry for the late response (working on my thesis)

Thanks for the link. I'm not a member of makeup alley so couldn't read the article, but I'll be sure to join soon.

Cheers,
Li

Anonymous said...

I have tried the Paris Presents "Ecotools" makeup brushes and they are awesome! Check them out at Ulta.com or even Walgreens! They are so inexpensive (don't let the price fool you!) but they are amazing! I really love my set and wouldn't trade them.

Solarkat said...

Hi Erravan

Thanks for posting! Sorry for the late response (thesis and business). I am not familiar with this brand but will look into them more when I have time! :)

Cheers,
Li