Get Purple for Mother's Day!

May 8 is Mother's Day! It's two weeks away and I wanted to do a quick gift guide of some items that your mom may like, esp. if you're having trouble thinking of gift ideas. To kick it off, here are two items I've been using this month- the Alicia Silverstone by EcoTools train case and the Soap & Paper Factory hand cream.

	This month, the EcoTools by alicia silverstone collection launched and one of the products I got to preview was the train case. In the gorgeous purple floral pattern, the train case made of natural hemp & cotton, is the perfect sized makeup case to carry your essentials and more! Your mum will love this for travel and/or storage.
	Keep your hands moisturized and soft with the Soap & Paper Factory Hand Cream in Lavender as a gift for your mum, grandma, sis, friend or even yourself. The lavender scent is extremely calming and I love how this is natural lotion is free of parabens so you get nothing but the best for your skin.

Try these green, I mean purple-themed gifts for your mom today!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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EcoTools Plant a Kiss Lip Conditioner review

EcoTools officially launched their website this week, www.eco-tools.com, in which they showcase their new products, green beauty tips and demos, and more! I'm excited for their new Alicia Silverstone by EcoTools collection to hit stores and online such as Ulta, Amazon, etc. See my exclusive sneak peek here!

One of their new products is their Plant a Kiss Lip Conditioner made of Shea Butter, Vitamins A, E & F. This is their first lip product and I am really liking this as a base before I apply lipsticks. I love having my lips moisturized when I have to face the morning chills- who wants cracked lips, right? This jumbo-sized conditioner also makes it easier to cover my lips with only two swipes b/c it's much larger than the normal chap-stick or skinny tints. :)

What's next?
Stay tuned for my review on the Alicia Silverstone by EcoTools traincase :)

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Sneak Peek of EcoTools New Products & Website Launch in April!

Last week I got a sneak peek at the new EcoTools products coming out this year and the highly anticipated launch of the EcoTools website, with new products, social media links & videos! On April 4, 2011, simply go to www.eco-tools.com and see their new site with lots of natural makeup tips, product views as well as videos! Also, follow them at Twitter @EcoTools !

(Check out all my EcoTools reviews here.)

EcoTools, in my opinion, have the most softest & affordable makeup brushes that I have ever tried and I'm psyched about the second collection with Alicia Silverstone that debuts in April. The first collection came out at the end of '09 with a pretty pink floral pattern. All the cosmetic bags, including an overnight bag for brushes and train case, are made of natural hemp, recycled plastic lining and non-toxic inks. The new collection is a pretty lilac floral pattern that has similar items from the first collection but has a few new additions such as the makeup brushes holder & brushes (left) & tri-fold case. Can't wait to get these at my nearest Target stores!

See what else is new at EcoTools for 2011...

In addition to the Alicia Silverstone collection coming out in April, there will be some new bath accessories coming out in June of this year. This includes a Cleansing Pad which is a combination of the loofah and pouf & a MINI ecoPouf! The Mini EcoPouf is literally half the size of the regular pouf but it's great because if fits in my palms. (not shown yet) The Cleansing Pad shown below has the best of both worlds, you no longer have to decide which to use b/c it's a 2-in-1!

One side is the pouf

Other side is the cleansing loofah!

More EcoTools reviews and updates coming soon, including how you can recycle your old brushes to get a NEW EcoTool brush :) Stay tuned!

(Disclaimer: I received a sneak preview of the items above from this company's PR agency to share my thoughts with my readers.)

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EcoTools Bath Accessories - Part 2

Have you seen these EcoTools bath accessories before? Check out more sponges, bath mitts and other exfoliating tools here in Part 1. Since it is the winter, I have been suffering with cracked heels. These tools came just in the nick of time, before Spring comes so I can be heel-ready. (Nude shoes, anyone?)

EcoTools gives you 2 options- a Brush & Foot File and a Foot File only accessory to get your feet exfoliated and flakey-free.
The EcoTools foot brush & file is my personal favorite of the two. Why? Because it gives you more choices in one handle; one side is the brush that I use first and I can even scrub around my toes and top of my feet and the other side is the file to exfoliate your heels. The Foot File only accessory has two sides also- one is more coarse to exfoliate and other is finer to smooth your heels. My personal preference is the brush one but both "file" sides worked nicely. What used to be dry rough skin is now smooth and part of my actual foot! (haha)
Tip: Remember to use a heel cream after using these tools to moisturize!

The EcoTools Facial Buff is like a mini Body Buff- 2 sides for cleaning and exfoliating. This is perfect for occasional sloughing off dead skin cells and everyday wash on the smooth side. Tip: Make sure to wet the buff entirely before placing on your face. It may be too harsh on sensitive skin. There's a mini elastic strap so you can put two of your fingers in so you don't have to hold them. They're about 2 inches wide, so they're just the right size. Overall, I found the EcoTools bath and facial accessories great to have to give that extra cleaning that your regular washcloth won't give you. Having these around your bathroom also reminds you that you need to exfoliate to get beautiful, clear skin!

In addition to these fabulous products, I bought at my local retailer, two other EcoTools products that I have been eyeing.. literally! Their Eye Mask & Moisturizing Socks are made of really soft rayon from bamboo. After scrubbing my feet, of course I have to retain its moisture by slathering on bodybutter on my heels and using these socks. The Eye Mask is great to block out any unnecessary light for a night of slumber.


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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EcoTools Bath Accessories - Part 1

Pssssst, in case you haven't heard, EcoTools has some really great makeup brushes that are easily accessible at your local drugstore or retailer. I use them everyday b/c they're just too soft to not use! Plus it's a great pick-me-up in the morning when I sweep on a light bronzer or blush. :) (Read more reviews at TotalBeauty.com!)

I recently discovered the EcoTools collection of bath accessories which goes perfectly with my "New Year's - New Resolutions post." I have been diligently following a cleansing/exfoliating/lotioning routine, so I am happy that EcoTools offers a variety of accessories to help clean & exfoliate! There are 4 different types for you to choose from, and it really depends on your personal preference or two... ;)

Body Buff- This Loofah & Bamboo body buff is reversible to cleanse and exfoliate your body. There is a strap so you can slide your hand underneath to make using either side easier. Perfect for those who hate using the palms of their hands to exfoliate! It's useful and saves space! Tip: I prefer to use this with a moisturizing wash otherwise it may be too drying for your skin in the winter.	Bath Mitt- This is a great everyday bath accessory. (My personal pick!) It's soft and gentle enough to use everyday but also exfoliates when you scrub just a bit harder. It's all up to you so you do have to do a bit more work. However I like how it just covers up your hand and you can scrub a dub away. Tip: Use a clothespin to hang this up and dry!
The Loofah- This loofah is a natural plant that is hard when it's completely dry which is good to exfoliate your skin. I use this on my feet especially but also all over my body for a quick slough. When the loofah is completely damp, it's squishy and makes it easier to exfoliate your skin. Tip: Use this once a week to get a natural exfoliation, courtesy of a Loofah ;)	The Sponge- Probably the most common of all accessories, since I already have one of these in my shower. However, this is HUGE! It's got layers and layers of recycled plastic net that weave in and out to create this intricate sponge. It's soft on your skin and really lathers your favorite body wash. I have been using a sponge like this and it looks absolutely skinny compared to this one. Hence, I threw mine out and have been using this whenever I feel like using this kind of sponge.

Stay tuned for more EcoTools bath & body accessories including foot brushes to keep your heels smooth!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Super soft brushes from Ecotools

If you're a fan of mineral makeup, you know that it's super important to try brushes that are soft on your face. But for any face makeup you use, whether it is eyeshadow, blush, or eyeliner, there's an EcoTools brush you can use to apply your makeup. Through recommendations from friends, I knew I had to try EcoTools! They're readily available at drugstores at quite affordable prices - between $6-$10.

Tidbit: My first EcoTools product ever used was their cellulose sponges to exfoliate my face.
Have you tried their EcoTools Cosmetic bags by Alicia Silverstone ?

Learn more about the brushes here..

	For the past couple of months EcoTools have come out with new products, including the Finishing Kabuki Brush and the Retractable Foundation Brush, which were sent to me for review consideration. The Finishing Kabuki is a super light brush used to sweep finishing powder or a light bronzer all-over the face. It reminds me a of stippling brush but a much wider one. See below for brush density comparison.
	The Retractable Foundation Brush is a lot skinnier than I thought it would be. However, I found this tapered brush perfect for applying concealer undereye- not meant for precision though. I also like this brush when I use my mineral-based liquid foundation to conceal redness on the side of my nose. This is good for particular areas of my face because I prefer the kabuki brush below for applying foundation overall. :) The packaging is also very handy for travel.
This retractable kabuki brush is another amazing and super dense brush! Retractable brushes are great for on-the-go and touchups throughout the day. This brush is super soft and great for applying mineral makeup all over the face. (This was in my goodie bag from the Yagolicious Beauty Affair event in December.) :) I can't stress how important it is to have soft bristles for your facial brushes. You don't want anything harsh on your skin that could potentially leave scratches on your face, that you can't even see.
	See how all three brushes compare? They all have different uses so I can't even rank which one is my favorite. I probably use the retractable kabuki the most because it gives the best overall coverage- quick!

By the way, I loved these EcoTools brushes so much that I bought their Bamboo 6 piece Eye Brush Set. I already have a lot of eyebrushes, but I thought this would be great for traveling because it has a mirror and a storage case to carry 6 brushes! CUTE!! LOVE THIS!!

(Disclaimer: I received 2 products from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers. Read blog for details.)


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EcoTools Cosmetic bags by Alicia Silverstone

It's finally here! The EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone collection with cosmetic bags and brush sets are available this month (December) at your local Walgreens or online retailers such as Drugstore.com, which is cheaper than at Amazon.

(Note: Images are from Paris Presents, EcoTool's parent company.)

There are five different pieces you can choose from. All bags are made with natural hemp material and the lining of the bags are made with recycled plastic. The more I look at them, the more I want to get them!!

If you haven't tried their brushes before and want some synthetic, soft brushes with sustainable bamboo handles, you can get either:

the 5pc Brush Set & Bag	Cosmetic Brush Bag with a limited edition blush brush

The other three options are cosmetic bags only with a beautiful floral design that is printed with non-toxic inks. In order of price (high to low) and left to right, is the Overnight Bag which is not a duffel bag but just a larger cosmetic bag, the Train case, and a regular cosmetic bag.



Wouldn't you like one of these, too? :)



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