I am soooo behind on updating this site and my YouTube channel. There are so many drugstore brand beauty products I need to review (they’re piled up in a corner), but there are so many things going on in my life and I’m currently in the process of moving to a new place (a new city, actually), so that’s been my priority. Anyway, I wanted to review Target Brand Cleansing Towelettes a.k.a. make-up remover pads, which have chamomile (an anti-inflammatory, which soothes redness and irritation) and Vitamin E (an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals). I don’t remember how much I got it for, but I’m guessing it was around $4. The package says it’s comparable to Pond’s Clean Sweep, which I was using prior to this. I bought this when I ran out of the Pond’s stuff since this was cheaper, it being a generic brand. I am happy to say I’m glad I picked this up. I honestly feel it does a much better job of getting rid of all my make-up. It’s more moist, so that could be why. Not only that, it’s softer against my skin. I don’t normally have sensitive skin, but even the Pond’s one was a little scratchy for me. Another thing I liked about these towelettes is their scent, which I feel is better than Pond’s (sorry!). Now, these wipes are no M·A·C wipes, but I have to say, I really like them and I would definitely repurchase them. Just another reason why I love Target!

Eco Tools is distributed by Paris Presents. These brushes can be found at Target (that’s where I found mine for under $11), Walgreens, Ulta, and probably other places. The brand is composed of beauty tools, as well as bath tools like sponges and loofahs. The best part about their products is that they are cruelty-free and they are made from natural, recycled, and/or sustainable materials. This is perfect for those who are conscious about helping the environment. I, myself, have been trying to do my part in taking care of our planet (I recycle and I try to limit my use of water, like when I brush my teeth I turn off the faucet), so I was pleasantly surprised to find this item during my visit to Target.

PRODUCT INFO

“This earth-friendly brush set is packed with the 5 high-quality brushes you need to look beautiful. And, it shows respect for the planet:

• Bamboo handle has a low impact on the earth’s resources as it is a highly sustainable plant.
• Synthetic taklon bristles are 100% cruelty free.
• Sleek ferrule is made from recycled aluminum.
• Cosmetic case is made from natural cotton and hemp.”

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You may or may not know this, but I love going to Target and browsing the cosmetics aisles. It’s what I do first when I get there and no matter the reason for going there, I make those aisles my first stop. There are so many hidden treasures that you never know you’ll find. Take, for instance, this Wet N Wild MegaEyes Eyeshadow Trio that I got [in Belgian Chocolates] for around $2, which is a steal. I was skeptical because I’ve bought inexpensive eyeshadows before and the quality was not that great, but I have a Wet N Wild MegaLiner liquid eyeliner that I love, so I figured I’d give the company another chance. This eyeshadow trio is different from other drugstore brands that I’ve tried (CoverGirl, to name one). It’s quite pigmented and with a good base (I put this over a M·A·C paint in Bare Canvas, but you can use your preferred base), it will last for a long time and it won’t crease. The color I chose is perfect for those wanting a neutral look. I used the lightest color at the top as a highlight, the bottom color on the inner 2/3 of my eyelids, and the darkest color in the middle as the crease color and on the outer 1/3 of my lids.

The great thing about the trios is that they’re a no-brainer. You don’t have to figure out what colors go with them because they already complement each other. It also comes with a mirror that you pull out from the side (not shown in the picture) making it a perfect item to throw in your purse and allowing you to touch up on-the-go. I must note, the shadows have a soft and chalky consistency, meaning when you swipe the color with a brush, you’ll see bits of the powder. It’s almost like a cross between a pigment and an eyeshadow. One thing I didn’t like was the tiny sponge-tip applicator it comes with because it doesn’t do much but absorb all the colors rendering it almost useless and it falls out upon opening the flip top cover. Other than that, it’s really no problem. It’s a great buy and I definitely recommend it.

PS These are cruelty-friendly. :)

This is an addendum to my review on Coastal Scents brushes, which I received last week. I have used them twice when I did make-up for someone’s dance show [two days in a row] and I’ve used some of them on myself because they’re so soft I couldn’t resist! I’ve washed the brushes using baby shampoo two more times since the initial wash because I hate seeing white brushes look dirty. They still don’t shed like crazy. When I used the Duo Fiber Powder Stippler and Italian Badger Buffer Brush (Large), there were a couple of stray hairs that got on her face, but that’s it. Overall, I’m really happy with them, so I’ll definitely be buying more.

Most of us started out putting on our eye make-up with those sponge tip applicators that come with drugstore brand make-up and using the powder puffs that come with powder compacts on our faces. Over time, we eventually learn that the better—-best, even—-way to put on make-up is to apply them using brushes. They are essential tools in achieving a flawless (or close to it) application. Finding the right brush can be complicated. You want one that has good quality, but at the same time, you want to be sure it’s decently priced. There are so many brushes out there and you find yourself asking, “How do I know that I won’t waste my money on this?” I’ve had my fair share of brush shopping. I’ve brushes from Sonia Kashuk (from Target), Costco/Kirkland/Borghese, and I slowly made my way up to Sephora and M·A·C. [I also have one from Essence of Beauty found at CVS Pharmacy.] I’ve acquired what I feel to be a great set of brushes, as well as some not so good ones.

Now, I have my favorite brushes from the aforementioned brands, but I have to admit the ones that get the most use are my M·A·C and Sephora brushes (as well as my EoB angled blusher brush). Sometimes you have to spend more in order to get the best quality. [People need to know that if the brush is scratchy and hurts your face, it's not worth keeping, so trash it and find a better one.] It’s not that easy, though, because it’s just not realistic for most of us to drop hundreds and thousands of dollars on M·A·C. We need to be able to eat and pay the bills too.

Enter Coastal Scents. I was intrigued by how inexpensive their brushes were (I’m not going to use cheap because it has a negative connotation). Seriously, $1-something for a brush? It has to be good to be true, right? I’m sure a bunch of people who saw that were as skeptical as me, but I figured, it couldn’t hurt to try. If the brushes suck, at least I know I didn’t spend $20 or more for just one of them. So…I kind of went crazy. I ended up buying 11 brushes and a brush roll. The total? $57.03 (subtotal of $49.38 + $7.65 for shipping). Yes, you read that right. That’s pretty much equivalent to one M·A·C 138 brush ($52), plus tax.

Before you read my review, I have to mention a couple of things: 1) I was not asked to review these brushes nor did I get them for free. I bought them with money from my own pocket, 2) These brushes are not equivalent to the ones found at M·A·C. They are not intended to be. If you’re expecting M·A·C, then go to a store and get a brush from them. It’s not fair to both companies to put them on the same level, and 3) I have not gotten a chance to use them yet. I ordered them at night on April 10, got the shipping confirmation on the 11th, and got them yesterday (they are fast, I just chose the regular parcel post option; I’m all the way in California, while they’re in Florida). I’ve touched them and compared them to my M·A·C brushes, but I haven’t actually used them on my face in conjunction with make-up since I washed them right after examining them. At the moment they’re still drying already dry (took about four hours, wow!).

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