Review: EcoTools Blush Brushes

While time and again, I've always declared my love for my MAC #129 (which has always been my go-to blush brush), over the last couple of weeks, I realised that two brushes were slowly but surely catching up in reporting for blush duty.

Enter the EcoTools blush brushes. I picked them both up in separate sets - the 5-piece (the Makeup Mix Shop for ~US$10) and 6-piece (Aust trip for ~AU$23). And in both cases, the blush brush is the one I headed straight for.

In fact, I've been using these two rather frequently that it's almost quite up there in the Favourite Things category together with my #129. Awesome.

Mineral Powder Brush (aka Short-handle Blush Brush)


Okay, so this isn't really a blush brush, but heck it works perfectly fine as one. Since the set it comes in has a baby kabuki, I'd recommend you use that for powder and use this for blush.

Size wise, it's purrfect. I've been using this for my blushers of late, and it picks up blush and applies them very well. It's short handle also makes it really great for when I'm on the go, and for travelling.

Blush Brush (Long-handle)


This is an actual blush brush, which you can pick up with the set, or individually. Of course, the set gives you more bang for your buck. While the handle is longer, it isn't particularly heavy, and allows for a comfortable hold.

While the long and the short-handle brushes don't look terribly alike, they do share several similarities:

1. Both should appeal to tree-huggers, what with bamboo-handles, and recycled aluminium for ferrules. The brush itself is made from synthetic taklon bristles, which are 100% cruelty free.

2. Both brushes are also insanely and incredibly soft! It's so nice to brush it against the skin. *hehe* Granted, the brushes are rather new, but they have never felt scratchy, unlike the #129, which can be a little annoying, once it's in need of a wash. I have also not noticed any shedding or bleeding.

3. Both are really good, especially for pigmented blushers. I notice they tend to pick up a little less pigment, so using these brushes with pigmented blushers allow you to slowly build the colour up instead of going bada-bing-bada-boom on your cheeks, if you know what I mean. If your blush is not thaaat pigmented, an extra swipe or two is all you need. No problemo.

(L-R: MAC #129, short-handle and long-handle. You can see the difference in the density of the brushes here. The MAC is still the most dense, which is likely why it picks up the most pigment of the three.)

(L-R: Short-handle, long-handle, MAC #129. You can see how the brush heads are shaped from their side profile. MAC is the most tapered, but the other two blend rather well too.)

In conclusion, if you're looking for a blush brush, I'd highly recommend these two. They perform wonderfully, they're nature-friendly, and they won't burn a hole in your pocket, unlike high-end brushes which can cost anywhere between RM100 to over RM200 a piece.

My MAC #129 is facing some stiff competition indeed.