Cruelty-Free Brushes:  EcoTools Bronzer Brush

EcoTools Bronzer Brush ($9.99) is a large, dome-shaped bronzer brush that’s really more of a multi-tasking face brush than specifically a bronzer brush.

It’s great for pressed or loose powder, buffing, bronzer, and even liquid foundation if you don’t mind washing it often! The brush is so dense that it feels more like a kabuki brush, actually. I personally liked to use it for buffing and application of loose powder to set my makeup. It’s easy to clean and wash (and no funky smell or bleeding dye!), though expect a longer drying time with such a densely-packed brush (much like any kabuki!). Your best bet is to wash it after you use it, so it’s ready for the next day.

I appreciate the earth-friendly packaging, but I do feel like the handle is a little too thick. I could go for a slightly thinned out handle so it doesn’t feel chunky in my hand. Otherwise, I can’t think of any complaints about the brush itself! The softness and density of the brush itself make it nearly fool-proof to use to apply your favorite powder products.

EcoTools makes their brushes with sustainably grown bamboo for the handles, recycled aluminum for the ferrules, and Taklon bristles, which makes them 100% cruelty-free.

Celebrity makeup artist Meredith Baraf uses the bronzer brush in this video…

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you’ve been wanting a kabuki/buffer brush but haven’t wanted to shell out $40+ for one, EcoTools makes an excellent, affordable alternative.

Availability: Drugstore.com

See more photos!

Beauty Brands Go Green & Natural

Looking for some beauty products that are made with more natural ingredients or are more earth-friendly? Here are brands and their products to consider!

• Yes to Carrots (A personal favorite brand!) offers a full line of body and skin care with attention paid to using natural ingredients. I am particularly fond of their body butters and lip butters.
• Alba is beauty care line that offers products that use pure plant proteins, natural botanicals, vitamins, and sea enzyles, plus inspiration from Hawaiian islands, to create their range of products.
• Giovanni is all about PureOrganic Technology, patented by Giovanni. I like this particularly brand for its availability in mass retailers, which makes it easier to acquire!
• Eco-Tools (Available at Target) is an eco-friendly line of cosmetic tools at low prices without sacrificing quality.
• LUSH — A cult favorite when it comes to beautifying youself in a more earth-friendly way.
• vedaPURE — This is a fabulous line for those concerned with chemicals in their beauty products, especially moms-to-be. (Also, if you’re already a mom with little ones, offers several safe and natural soaps and hand washes for kids.)
• Revolution Organics — Check out their new Freedom Glow Beauty Balm and Freedom Glosses! (Also, their Balm is fantastic. Just ran out of mine after several months!)
• Suki is a line uses 100% pure and organic formulas. It supports fair trade, organics, and local soucing while remaining cruelty free. They avoid leaving any carbon footprint by making products fresh by hand. They use glass packaging instead of plastic packaging to reduce waste. Even their packaging and shipping materials use organic cornstarch peanuts and unbleached newsprint papers.
• Josie Maran is offering an Earth Day Kit, which contains a deluxe sample of Argan Oil, Daring Plumping Lip Gloss, Sunrise Cream Blush, Black Mascara, and Black eyeliner for $48.00.
• Sally Hansen is now offering eco-friendly nail boards for just under a dollar each. It is made with recycled and natural materials, like a pressed paper and coating of natural mineral abrasives as opposed to artificial abrasives and layers of foam.
• Rimmel London recently launched their Lasting Finish Mineral Powder Foundation. It is designed to be “makeup-as-skincare.” It is a sheer but buildable formula that goes on smoothly.
• L’Oreal’s EverPure line of hair products are 100% vegan and sulfate free.

Try shopping at eco-friendly (and eco-chic!) boutiques like Vert for your green beauty needs.

Beauty Brands Are Giving Back for Earth Day

• Amala is a 100% certified organic skin and body care line. The line is formulated using only whole plant ingredients with each custom distilled to manage its potency. All ingredients are ethically harvested from fair-trade farm partners around the world. You won’t find chemical perservatives, petrochemicals, parabens, or genetically modified ingredients in their products. 5% of net profits are returned to Amala’s fair trade growers and sustainability projects each year. (I am, thus far, LOVING their line!)
• Zirh is donating 5% of all online sales during the month of April to The Elephant Sanctuary, which is a non-profit organization that provides a haven for endangered African and Asian elephants just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
• LUSH is giving away complimentary Seed Bombs from April 13th through the 26th. Each bomb contains soil,s eeds, water, and clay. When planted, flowers native to North America will start to grow.
• Jurlique is offering a travel-size sample of Purely Age-Defying Eye Cream, Purely Age-Defying Facial Serum, or an Herbal Recovery Neck Serum with the donation of three empty Jurlique products to a local Jurlique store from April 18th through April 25th.
• Smashbox Cosmetics is pitching in at The Surfrider Foundation’s Santa Monica Beach cleanup on Wednesday, April 22nd from 9 to 11AM. You can join them in helping to keep California’s coastline clean. They will also have Trees for the Future plant a tree for every Mother Earth Palette purchased.
• Kiehl’s is celebrating Earth Day by partnering with celebrities to help raise funds for Waterkeeper Alliance. They partnered with Adrian Grenier, Erykah Badu, Kelly Slater, and a team of students from Parsons The New School for Design to create four limited edition bottles of Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion, with 100% of net proceeds to benefit Waterkeeper Alliance. Visit www.kiehlsgivesback.com to learn more.
• Paul Mitchell Schools are offering hair cuts for $10 to 15 from April 20th through April 24th, and the schools will donate hair clippings to Matter of Trust, an organization that creates absorbent hair mats to soak up oil at oil spills across the country.
• Neocutis Skin Care is donating $1 to the Sturge-Weber Foundation for each unit sold throughout the entire month of May.
• Lisa Hoffman Beauty is giving 20% of the proceeds from the Spa Bath and Spa Shower Collections to the Rainforest foundation.
• Fresh is offering a 20% discount on select best-selling items that contain their iconic, natural ingredients. They will also donate 10% of the day’s in-store and online proceeds to The Climate Group.

5 Ways to Style Your Hair Without Electricity

Celebrity hairstylist David Babaii wants you to go “au natural” in honor of Earth Day. He’s given us five different looks/ways to achieve natural hair as easy how-tos!

How to Get Curls and Texture Without Styling Tools

For long hair, follow these steps:

• After shampooing spray your entire head with the David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray scrunch and/or twist sections then allow to air dry.
• Once dry, if added texture or volume is desired flip your head over and back, give it a quick shake.
• To set it all in place, lightly spray your hair with hair spray.

For short hair, follow these steps:

• Towel dry freshly washed hair thoroughly to begin the foundation.
• Spray your entire head with a Beach Spray and allow to air dry.
• When hair is dry apply some David Babaii for WildAid Molding Paste and arrange texture until you are happy with the look.

How To Keep You Hair Fresh Without Shampoo

In order to avoid excess oil or buildup (and save on water use), use a bit of baby powder throughout the hair acting as a dry shampoo, which helps eliminate oil and leaves a fresh scent throughout the day. Alternatively, you can use a cosmetic damp cotton pad and dab it around the hairline and roots to eliminate any excess oil. If you wish, mist the pad with a light oil free fragrance or squeeze a few drops from a fresh lemon to give hair that fresh smell

Find out how you can wash your hair the night before and wake up with a great hairstyle, style for stick-straight hair, and what household products you can incorporate into your beautifying process.

How To Wash Your Hair the Night Before and Wake Up With Style

• Wash your hair the night before to save time and electricity
• When hair is slightly damp, create multiple sections and braid your hair tying the ends with an elastic band (depending on how much texture you want, make the braids loose (less texture) or tight (more texture)) *the braids do not need to be very precise
• Next, spray the braids with David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray and go to sleep
• When you wake up, undo the braids, give your head a little shake, and add in some additional Bohemian Beach Spray to achieve desired texture and volume – this creates a great Bohemian Look.

or…

• Place all of your hair in a messy ponytail – be creative and twist sections tight or loose to achieve various textures
• When your pony tail is secured, spray with a Beach Spray and sweet dreams
• When you awake, undo the pony tail for an effortless but eco-chic look

How To Create Style for Stick Straight Hair

For super straight hair, it’s is all about using fun accessories. Play around with different head bands, hair pins, and clips to achieve a fun and playful look. Alternatively, you can tie your hair in a sleek low pony tail.

• After tying it up, take small strands of hair and pin them on top of and underneath the pony tail to achieve the illusion of having volume for those with super straight hair.
• You can also try my favorite half up style:
• Section off the sides and top while leaving the back of your hair down.
• Secure the top and sides with an accessory or simple bobby pins.
• Allow a few pieces of hair to fall naturally to give you a soft natural look.

How To Use Items Around the House to Achieve Glam

A new and un-used toothbrush is a great household product; it can be used to back brush close to the scalp area for volume or even sweep away those fly-a-ways. Going back in time, an old soda pop can still do the trick of setting hair and achieving large lopped curls.

Other ideas are to use household rubber bands for your messy ponytails or braids. And, don’t discard those dryer sheets. There is usually some fragrance left over to wipe your combs and brushes to not only freshen them but help with static as well.

Finally, use ribbons, scarves and other items you have lying around (or even ones that wrapped a gift!) to add some jazz to your ‘do. A ribbon can make a regular ponytail flirty and a scarf can make just about any look more eco-chic. This all helps to reduce the amount of household waste and makes for a great environmentally friendly choice for DIY hair.

Recycle Those Beauty Products!

• Butter London is asking you to Turn In Your Toxins. They invite you to be one of the first 500 customers to log onto www.butterlondon.com on Earth Day (today!), and you will receive a free nail lacquer of your choice. Say goodbye to formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP — dubbed “The Big 3.”
• Bond No. 9 invites you to bring any and all empty perfume bottles to Bond No. 9 stores or counters. When you recycle, you can get a free purse spray with purchase.
• MAC Cosmetics has a strong recycling program called Back to MAC, which allows you to receive a free lipstick when you turn in six empty MAC products. At freestanding stores, you may be able to get a free eyeshadow, lipstick, or lipgloss for your empties.
• Origins invites you to bring in your empty beauty products, jars, bottles, etc. of any brand, and Origins will have them sent to be recyled or used for energy recovery. As a thank you, Origins will treat you to a free sample of one of their skincare products (depending on availability).
• LUSH asks you to bring in 5 empty black pots to be recycled (and you might get a freebie, too) — thanks ChrissyCupcake!

Did we miss a brand that participates in recycling old beauty products?

10 Ways to Help the Environment Through Beauty

Expert in green beauty, Carole Tessier, shares her top ten tips to support positive environmental change.

1. Seek out products with minimal packaging or biodegradable and botanical packaging such as boxes embedded with seeds which you can plant in your garden, as well as lipstick tubes made out of polyactic acid (a corn-based material).

2. Put your best face forward with organic, chemical-free, synthetic-free products. Avoid synthetic or petroleum derived ingredients, artificial fragrances, parabens, dyes, flavors, petrolatum, phtalates and preservatives.

3. Support companies with green business practices such as printing with eco-friendly soy-based ink or using renewable energy sources.

4. Before purchasing your beauty products, look for the USDA label. In order to be labeled “organic,” all valid certifying agencies must comply with USDA standards.

5. Utilize multi-use products such as color that can go on eyes, cheeks and lips.

Get five more tips on making your beauty routine more environmentally friendly!

6. Choose nail polishes that are free of dibutyl phthalate (a chemical banned by the European Union).

7. Apply your makeup with fingers or brushes and avoid using cotton swabs and disposable sponges.

8. Save water by skipping a wash or limiting your shower time. And don’t forget to turn the water off while you’re scrubbing your face or brushing your teeth over the sink.

9. Save energy by unplugging all of your beauty tools after you’ve finished using them (they still zap electricity when turned off). And limit the use of a hairdryer or curling implements. Try letting your hair air dry or curling your hair with Velcro rollers.

10. Buy in bulk. Most beauty products can be purchased in large sizes. Not only will you save money, but it also cuts down on the amount of packaging.