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Products You Need:
Ebay 10 Piece Kabuki Brush Set
Mineral Pressed Powder
24K Gold Mineral Mud Mask
144-Piece Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette
Certified Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation
KATE Mineral Cover BB Gel Cream SPF30 PA++
Mineral Pressed Foundation
Soft Touch Mineral Powder- Soft Focus
Max Mineral Naked Broad Spectrum SPF 45
100% Mineral Smooth and Poreless Matte Sunscreen SPF 40
Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo in Aprit Glow
Five Piece Mineral Set (4 brushes, 1 case)
pleasedPretzels8
I purchased an eyeliner brush for $15. It was so soft it couldn’t hold a line. It’s a mess trying to put on eyeliner It’s H3883
I washed it once and it splayed all over. Without seeing a photo the man argued with me there’s nothing wrong with the brush, it has to be sent to Japan. I said it’s defective. I will send you the photos. But it didn’t matter. We’re not giving you a credit, an exchange or a refund. This is not legitimate company. DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THEM. YOU ARE STUCK WITH THE BRUSH. I am going to report them to the BBB
decimalCur4
These brushes are the best! They are pricey but I find that the “J Series” is the more affordable series within the brand, and even cheaper than MAC brushes. Like the MAC 217 is $25 but the comparable Hakuhodo J5523 is $19 although there is no comparing the two, because Hakuhodo is just way better quality through and through.
I love brushes and have a lot of them, but these are by far my favorite brushes, along with a couple other Japanese brands and Wayne Goss has some nice ones as well, but the Hakuhodo just remain my number one.
It is recommended you only wash these brushes about once a month especially if you have Blue Squirrel hair brushes because the natural hair can dry out so easily making the brush lose it’s softness and shape. I used to freelance and I have found that these in the J Series especially to be very durable to daily washing. Now that I am not freelancing I don’t wash them everyday, I only wash them when they need it, and that just depends on use. But you can keep them clean for longer by keeping a microfiber cloth on your vanity and very gently wipe them back and forth to get the makeup off everyday, you can also run them under lukewarm water to get out some of the makeup and then gently wipe back and forth on a towel until mostly dry, this works great for foundation brushes. The water is not going to clean them perfectly or disinfect them by any means but it helps them perform better between washes. NEVER use any alcohol on them is the only thing you should really stay away from and you should be fine even if you have to clean them everyday. Alcohol includes Cinema Secrets cleaner. Big no no. When it comes time to wash them Dr Bronners castile soap is excellent, it disinfects them and conditions them so they come out super soft and clean.
The best place to find Hakuhodo is on their website at Hakuhodousa(dot)com they ship worldwide.
scornfulMeerkat5
Once you’ve tried Hakuhodo brushes there is no going back.
They are super soft and handcrafted to perfection. They do not shed, they stay in shape for ages. Hakuhodo states that they are cruelty-free and do not kill animals to obtain fur that they use.
These brushes are truly Rolls Royse of the brush world. I had owned and used MAC, Sisley, Bobbi Brown, Dior, MakeUpForever, Estee Lauder, Real Techniques, ELF, Etude House, Sigma, Ecotools, Bare Minerals none of them is even remotely close to the goodness of Hakuhodo.
I find that the easiest way to get hands on your first Hakuhodo brush is to buy it on eBay directly from Japan. If you want to try a one brush I highly recommend buying a J5523. This purchase will make you forget your beloved MAC217, I promise.
P.S. In Japan Hakuhodo brushes comes in three different handle length:
Small (SL after the brush number) is too short for daily use,
Medium (ML after the brush number) is perfect for daily use or travel,
Long (LL after the brush number) is perfect for applying makeup on someone else, this is the only version available in the USA market.
Hope it helped!
euphoricBaboon1
I purchased an eyeliner brush for $15. It was so soft it couldn’t hold a line. It’s a mess trying to put on eyeliner It’s H3883
I washed it once and it splayed all over. Without seeing a photo the man argued with me there’s nothing wrong with the brush, it has to be sent to Japan. I said it’s defective. I will send you the photos. But it didn’t matter. We’re not giving you a credit, an exchange or a refund. This is not legitimate company. DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THEM. YOU ARE STUCK WITH THE BRUSH. I am going to report them to the BBB
dreadfulOtter4
These brushes are the best! They are pricey but I find that the “J Series” is the more affordable series within the brand, and even cheaper than MAC brushes. Like the MAC 217 is $25 but the comparable Hakuhodo J5523 is $19 although there is no comparing the two, because Hakuhodo is just way better quality through and through.
I love brushes and have a lot of them, but these are by far my favorite brushes, along with a couple other Japanese brands and Wayne Goss has some nice ones as well, but the Hakuhodo just remain my number one.
It is recommended you only wash these brushes about once a month especially if you have Blue Squirrel hair brushes because the natural hair can dry out so easily making the brush lose it’s softness and shape. I used to freelance and I have found that these in the J Series especially to be very durable to daily washing. Now that I am not freelancing I don’t wash them everyday, I only wash them when they need it, and that just depends on use. But you can keep them clean for longer by keeping a microfiber cloth on your vanity and very gently wipe them back and forth to get the makeup off everyday, you can also run them under lukewarm water to get out some of the makeup and then gently wipe back and forth on a towel until mostly dry, this works great for foundation brushes. The water is not going to clean them perfectly or disinfect them by any means but it helps them perform better between washes. NEVER use any alcohol on them is the only thing you should really stay away from and you should be fine even if you have to clean them everyday. Alcohol includes Cinema Secrets cleaner. Big no no. When it comes time to wash them Dr Bronners castile soap is excellent, it disinfects them and conditions them so they come out super soft and clean.
The best place to find Hakuhodo is on their website at Hakuhodousa(dot)com they ship worldwide.
trustingDove1
Once you’ve tried Hakuhodo brushes there is no going back.
They are super soft and handcrafted to perfection. They do not shed, they stay in shape for ages. Hakuhodo states that they are cruelty-free and do not kill animals to obtain fur that they use.
These brushes are truly Rolls Royse of the brush world. I had owned and used MAC, Sisley, Bobbi Brown, Dior, MakeUpForever, Estee Lauder, Real Techniques, ELF, Etude House, Sigma, Ecotools, Bare Minerals none of them is even remotely close to the goodness of Hakuhodo.
I find that the easiest way to get hands on your first Hakuhodo brush is to buy it on eBay directly from Japan. If you want to try a one brush I highly recommend buying a J5523. This purchase will make you forget your beloved MAC217, I promise.
P.S. In Japan Hakuhodo brushes comes in three different handle length:
Small (SL after the brush number) is too short for daily use,
Medium (ML after the brush number) is perfect for daily use or travel,
Long (LL after the brush number) is perfect for applying makeup on someone else, this is the only version available in the USA market.
Hope it helped!
resolvedIcecream7
Dense but soft at the same exact time. What a great brush. I apply the buffer with an angled foundation. Packaging is absolutely gorgeous. Such a great product and great brush all of the way around. Very happy with this 🙂
cruelLion1
Best brushes ever. High quality. Expensive but the best. I own J5523, J142, G5522, SJ110, J210, Yachiyo large pointed, G5556. Love them all and will be buying some more.
wornoutCow5
Very nice brush set. I bought one set for my sis and she loves it so much.
ardentPonie4
Bestie bought me the J110 blush brush and I have not looked back ever since. In fact, it got me to purchase more and more of Hakuhodo brushes.
J110 – Blush brush
This brush is the softest thing I have ever touched. It beats MAC, Sigma, Zoeva and Bobbi Brown hands down.
The good: it is so soft that you’ll wanna use it every day. The build of the brush is very sturdy and even though the bristles are so soft, it picks up just the right amount of color.
The bad: This applies to all Hakuhodo brushes, they cannot be washed frequently but i wash them nonetheless.
G5557 (2mm) – Powder and liquid brush angled / round
I use this for my liquid foundation. It doesn’t feel soft but in fact, a bit scratchy. As the synthetic fiber extends only 2mm from the natural hair, you can expect coverage to be medium to full. One word of caution, you will have layer on your foundation. If you apply a lot in one shot, it will be one big streaky mess.
The good: The diameter of this brush makes very fast and easy application. A bit too scratchy for my liking.
The bad: The sales assistant urged me not to wash this brush on a daily basis (I use to wash my stippling brush everyday after use) and it should only be washed once a month. This, to me is highly unhygienic since liquid foundation is sticky and leaving the brush unwashed will catch dust and god knows what. Against the SA’s recommendation, I wash it every week which is a huge step back for me.
G5556 (4mm) – Powder and liquid brush angled / round
This brush has the same function as the G5557. It looks the same but with longer synthetic fibers extending from the natural hair. This brush feels much softer during application. I haven’t found its performance to be any different from the G5557 hence, if you’re looking for a softer brush for application of liquid foundation, this is it.
The good: Not scratchy, fast and easy application of liquid foundation.
The bad: Cannot be washed frequently.
J4003 – Highlighter brush angled
I needed something which I can use to contour my cheeks and apply my blush. The SA recommended this to me and I love it!
The good: The size of this angled brush is just right for my small face. The bristles are as soft as the J110.
The bad: The size of this brush may not be suitable for people with a bigger face as it is really small.
J5523 – Eyeshadow brush Round and Flat
I needed something which i can use to contour my nose. I got this in set, at first i was skeptical but boy, am I in for a surprise.
The good: This brush picks up the right amount of product, doesn’t leave a harsh line, perfect size for the sides of the nose and blends like a dream.
The bad: NOTHING!! I love this so much that I bought 4 of them!
I have more Hakuhodo brushes but I don’t have their numbers now. Will go home, take a look and add on to this review.
thrilledPiglet8
I have some really nice blusher brushes (Suqqu and Hakuhodo), but this one from Muji is just as awesome, maybe even more so considering the price tag.(about $6 compared to $100-300). The hair is goat, and quite soft, so application looks very natural. I`ve kind of been using and abusing this one for a few years now, but still looks and works like new. I do love products from Muji, and their other cosmetics, eye shadow quads and blushes are really nice, too.
dopeySmelt6
I’ve got the blusher brush. It is goat hair and soft (but not as soft as squirrel hair, another blusher brush I got from Yojiya). However, given the price I think it is a steal. I would not be able to buy a goat hair brush with that price. So I am happy with this goat hair blusher brush.
Very affordable, soft (this is only apparent after washing) and picks up pigment well. Unfortunately, it also smells faintly of goat. Oh well 🙂 This is the one with wooden handle.
crummyPepper4
I bought the Muji Cheek Brush. The handle is Clear and the bristles are a chestnut brown which darkens near the tip to a deep mahogany colour. The brush/bristles are flat and although dense they are very flexible. The brush is soft and does not prickle/hurt the skin when used gently. This brush applies blush wonderfully, it picks up just the right amount of product for a buildable application of colour. It is very easy to clean and removes a large amount of build up quickly and easily. This brush has not shed since I bought it and it is one of my most used brushes. It really is a favourite of mine.
As a Cheek Brush it is the perfect size- not too big – not too small – meaning that the ‘wash’ of colour can be applied to a specific area. I recommend this brush to anyone and everyone. It really is one of the jewels in my collection. I will be purchasing more from the Muji Line – they have really impressed me with the quality of this product.
insecureBuzzard1
I have the biggest powder brush by muji (wooden handle, chrome middle). It’s squirrel hair so it’s the softest brush among all including goat hair and pony hair and it picks up the lightest amount of powder where the powder is distributed evenly on the whole brush that gives the most transparent finish. I use it to apply my becca pressed powder and they are a perfect match. My only complaint / query is that it sheds like crazy now since I’m not sure if it’s because when I washed it I squeezed the water off of it with a little too much strength. Since the hair is as best as I can find, I still like to get a second one and the blush brush (same squirrel hair) and try to use a gentle hand and hope that it doesn’t shed like this one.
I have smashbox face and body brush (very dense, quite soft, but not as soft as I expected), sephora platinum white hair powder brush (not as dense as smashbox, a little bit softer than smashbox, still feels a little stiff when I brush over my entire face) bareminerals kabuki brush (inferior quality, returned it).
abjectPudding6
I have the eyeshadow brush, it’s a very affordable and does a good job. The brush is very soft as well. Will definitely repurchase.
innocentDoves7
I can’t believe no-one’s bothered to review Muji’s like of makeup brushes yet. Or maybe it’s too obvious?
Muji, a Japanese-based company, make marvellous and beautiful minimalist products of all sorts: clothes, stuff for the house (from crockery to bedlinen and furniture), bags, above all storage and filing solutions. Oh yes, and very decent basic skincare and cosmetics. Much use of neutral colours, natural fabrics, and – in their various storage ranges – aluminium, light metal mesh, cardboard, opaque plastics and nylons, and perspex. If you like Ikea and Habitat, you’d probably like Muji.
They’ve been around for aaaages, including in Europe (I first met them in the UK in the mid-90s), but so far not seen in the US beyond modern art museum shops, more or less in the “contemporary classic design” section.
Intro over: amongst other things, they make superb make-up brushes. Theirs may have been the first brow/lash-brush/comb combo available in the UK. Beautifully and simply designed, as ever. Clear perspex handles of the perfect length, synthetic (soft, but durable) heads. Good and solid. Wash well. Thoroughly recommended.
Also on the makeup-assoctaed front: Muji have great foldable/standable-upable mirrors, of various sizes, in aluminium or a light white rigid nylon; also lots of small useful objects, especially for travel purposes. And myriad things into which to place, store, stash away, or display any objects of your choice. Including makeup.
contentCordial6
i ordered these from the Walmart website. you get a 22 piece brush set. they are of good quality and don’t shed. they are very soft and the handles stay on the brushes
excludedPorpoise4
I just had to leave a review for the only CS brush I own. It is the Italian Badger blush brush – no longer available 🙁 I bought it at least 6 years ago and after daily use and weekly cleanings it has never shed a hair and the ferrel is still as sturdy as ever. What a well made brush!! The only signs of aging it has after all this time is that it has lost some softness. I just can’t believe how well it’s held up! It’s held up the same as my Mac brushes. I definitely plan on purchasing more CS brushes now, I hope they are all similar quality.
wrathfulWeaver3
I’ve been using CS “BR-250” blending brush for some time now and I love it. It does EVERYTHING. I can do my whole eye make- up with this brush. It’s really soft but stiff at the same time so it won’t lose its’ shape when you wash it. I totally recommend this!
superiorSalt5
I haven’t had my brush set from them for very long but so far I’ve had no shedding(I use on a daily basis) and they pick up and put on the right amount of makeup for me
jumpyWasp3
I seriously ADORE CS brushes! I own a ton of them. Right now, my favorite is the Synthetic Crease Blender brush. It’s so dense, and blends like a dream! It’s not too big, which is perfect because I don’t have very big eyes. 🙂 I also love how the regular CS line is a black handle and silver funnel. I’m a simple color kind of woman! I’ve had a couple that I bought a year ago, and they haven’t changed one bit. No dye from the brushes bleeding color while washing or anything, and they also keep their shape! I recommend buying CS brushes 100% to anyone!
cheerfulCrane0
Overall I ADORE Coastal Scents brushes. They are by far my favorite brushes for the price and quality. (I’ve tried some MAC, sigma, crown, ecotools, ELF, sonia kashuk brushes) My favorite are the Classic Blender Synthetic, Classic Shadow Small Synthetic (I use it as a lip brush) and Destiny Kabuki on a stick. (reminds me of that Comedian) (Jalapeno on a stick ROFL)
unhappyBuzzard5
Coastal Scents brushes are by far the best I’ve ever used, next comes ELF. I have had the priviledge of using MAC brushes for a short while during a MAC workshop, and while I must admit that these brushes are pretty darn good, for a regular person (non MUA) I think I have no business paying that amount of money for makeup brushes. Some people complain of shedding, I have had my CS brushes for close to two years and the only one that sheds is the Classic Buffer Small Natural -$4.95. I use a cheapy hair conditioner on all my brushes after washing and this resolves the shedding issue!!! Definitely worth trying out.
pacifiedMackerel4
I love Coastal Scents.
I love their palettes, gel liners, lipglosses, but most of all their brushes.
They are SO high quality, and for the price, you can’t beat it!
Yes, some brushes have issues with shedding. My duo fibre stippling brush I have from them does shed, but it’s nothing major. Just a few hairs here and there. But even the High End brands have brushes that shed pretty badly. *cough* MAC 109 *cough*
Overall, I am extremely pleased with these brushes.
Unless you’re a label whore, you do not need name brand brushes when you can get ones that are of the same quality, for so cheap!
Will continue to purchace, I have a feeling all my brushes I own will be from them! 🙂
gloomyTermite8
These brushes are honestly trash. From the point of view as a consumer and an employee. Ive had a few and they dont last more than 4+ washes and start shedding ridiculously. Working at shoppers if I was doing someones makeup we had to use the QUO brushes and they were sooo bad, the entire time I would be picking little hairs off of my clients face cause they just wouldn’t stop shedding. I always enjoy brushes over spongers, but if i was doing someones makeup i would do as much as possible with the disposable sponges because the brushes were that bad. I bought one when I first started their, a crease brush, and it was so hard and scratchy, and sometimes they are soft, so their is no quality control. The professional line of brushes are slightly better, still not great but they are decent, but they are priced more expensive than mac brushes so thats not worth it at all imo.
similarWeaver6
Very expensive and it sheds bristles. I don’t like having black whiskers especially if I didn’t grow them.
offendedOil5
I think these brushes are outstanding; they are soft, well made, and other than a couple of exceptions they pick up product perfectly. The blush brush is a bit soft so doesn’t pick up a lot of product and you will have to go into your pan a few times – this can be a bonus if you are newer to makeup as it allows you to build color slowly. They come in individual sheaths which is nice but I have never saved them so not sure if those are useful in any other way useful. The fan brush is absolutely lovely for a gentle wash of highlight. The crease shading brush is a must have and the powder brush has a unique flatter shape which is perfect for many powders but you cannot use it to press powder into your face if that is how you apply. These easily rival my other brushes which include Real Techniques, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Hakuhodo, Surrat, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Lise Watier and Eco Tools. Heads-up on the price of these – they are not inexpensive when comparing to their non-professional line.
jumpyCockatoo4
I was in a jam and needed some brushes quickly. I was coming back from vacation and the airline lost my luggage 🙁 but assured me that they were working on getting me the luggage asap BUT my makeup brushes were all in my luggage!! What’s a girl to do right?! Well I didn’t want to spend alot of money because you can’t return them and my brushes are all from Morphe but I decided to try the Quo brand from shoppers…long story short they can’t even compare to my other brushes! I almost felt like I was a kid getting my first makeup brushes to “play with” lol.
wearyCamel5
I bought these bruses as a set at Shoppers about 3 or 4 years ago now. It came with the powder, lip, crease, lid, eyeliner, and blush brush, and the eyelash/eyebrow comb. I clean them regularly with shampoo and lay them flat to dry on a towel. I didn’t care for the powder brush – it’s too small – so I use it as a blush brush instead. So that renders the blush brush useless. I also didn’t like the lip brush, it was too “floppy” and didn’t apply my lip gloss precisely.
However, I LOVE the all-over shadow, crease, and eyeliner brushes. The eyelash comb is good too, but I don’t use it. In retrospect, I should have just bought the 3 brushes instead of the set. I use the all-over lid brush every day and it’s held up quite well over the last 3 or 4 years.
Overall, they’re good-quality brushes and don’t leave too many stray hairs on your face.
I will purchase them again when they fall apart.
culturedChamois3
I had heard good things about Quo brushes, so I picked up the “Quo Master Brush Set” from their Holiday 2010 collection. I got it after Christmas for half price, so I paid about $30.
It included 6 brushes: blush, foundation, crease blender, shadow, liner, and concealer.
I was really disappointed in the quality. The eye brushes feel scratchy and the ferrules are coming loose (I don’t even wear makeup that often!). They don’t even pick up or distribute product very well.
The set included a bulky, metallic purple brush case with purple plastic studs sewn onto the front- I personally think that it is hideous. The studs are starting to come loose even though I keep the case in a drawer.
I ended up buying a new brush set from Costco (of all places!) It’s softer and feels like better quality.
p.s. I think that the Quo brush reviews should be split up into ‘regular’ and ‘professional’. They are 2 different lines with 2 different price points. The professional brushes only seem to be sold in the stores with higher-end beauty boutiques.
troubledJaguar9
I received a set for xmas, and was soooo excited to play with them all. I found that they are easy to use and of very good quaility. I have has some real fun. I am curious how they will wear over time with application and cleaning. So I may do another reveiw once they have been used and abused to see how their longivity lasts.
cynicalMoth7
I have the travel set. Really great for keeping in your bag. #winning
betrayedPear6
The Inglot 6SS is my favorite blending brush ever! It is an exact dupe for the original Sigma E40 and MAC 224 brushes, just a better version. Inglot exceeds them by far. The bristles are sooo soft and do not shed at all. I can’t even use MAC brushes anymore because they feel scratchy on my eyelid compared to the Inglot brush. I feel like this brand is so underrated, but it’s definitely worth the price. I will be purchasing back up brushes soon.
drearyStork3
This review is for the Inglot 6ss brush. Okay. So I saw some reviews online stating that this brush was a good alternative for the Mac 217. People were singing it’s praises primarily because it was cheaper than the 217.
I don’t live near an Inglot store. In fact the closest one is in New York. I decided to buy one a couple of month’s ago when I went on vacation in NY. The price of this brush was $19 dollars and change before tax. The MAC 217 costs $24.00 before taxes. So not that big of a price difference.
The Inglot 6ss doesn’t blend as well as the 217, but it blends well. It actually can be a dupe for the MAC 224. It retains its shape after being washed, and it didn’t shed alot. The bristles are soft and it’s not as tightly packed as the 217. All in All it’s a good brush but I probaly won’t purchase another one since I don’t live near a Inglot store.
worldlyPonie9
I own 6 Inglot brushes and I love them to bits! 🙂 I don’t own any MAC brushes so I can’t really compare the two, but I think that they are simply wonderful. (Cheaper than MAC and my Inglot store gives 20% if you buy 3 or more!)
I own: 25SS –>Kabuki (SO SOFT! I love petting it when I’m not using it! lmao)
27TG –>Stippling (Pretty good, I experience some shedding the first time but it’s stopped now.)
20T–> Angled Foundation Brush (Made from synthetic bristles but still really soft. Applies foundation flawlessly.)
28PO–>Large Shadow Brush (Very soft. Deposits a good amount of shadow on your lid)
6SS–>Large Crease brush (Again very soft, blends and applies my shadow like a dream)
80HP–>A little bit larger than a pencil brush (Smudges and blends little details nicely. Perfect for smoking out your shadow)
Overall I really love them. I would love to add more to my brush collection. When washed, I experienced very little shedding or bleeding and they retained their shaped once dried. 🙂
The only downside is that MAC has a wider range of brushes than Inglot.
I’m hoping that will change in the near future. 🙂
selfishPolenta5
I have one Inglot brush only – 4ss. The design is similar to MAC’s which I like. The handle is long enough to make the application convenient.
I use the brush primarily for blending out spot concealer. It makes the finish more or less flawless. I tried using the brush for blending my eye shadow, but I find that this brush does a worse job for this purpose compared to the other brushes I own.
eagerEland8
Wondeful brushes I bought 29PO eye brush and it’s amazing for packing on colour and blending and everything I LOVE IT <3
alertSausage5
I have it in 6SS (dome eye shadow brush similar to Mac 224) and 4SS (bigger version of 6SS). The brushes come in black handle with metal ferrule, very similar to Mac’s and Sigma’s brushes. They are very good quality but the range of brushes are much smaller compared to Mac’s.
The bristles are very soft, much softer than Mac’s and Sigma’s. I can only compare 6SS with Sigma’s SS224 as i do not own the Mac version. The bristles are longer, more pointed and tapered, softer. Very good quality and cost less than Mac’s brushes.
4SS is a bigger version of 6SS, i use it to set my concealer with powder, apply powder highlighter.
I would definitely recommend Inglots brushes, they cost less than Mac’s brushes and in my opinion, comparable in quality. I will be getting more 🙂
Update: I recently purchased a new Inglot brush that is just released- 16BJF. Its a flat top brush like Sigmax F80. Its made of real animal hair, not as densed as F80 and because of that it does not drag the skin during buffing. It also does not absorb foundation and works like a dream. I love this the most.
kindWeaver8
I adore Hakuhodo. They handcraft every single brush and the quality is superb, unlike anything you can find here in the States. They’re the Louis Vuitton of makeup brushes. Their face brushes can get pricey but they are all priced fairly according to quality. The eye brushes are perfectly priced and if you’re trying to decide between MAC or these there is no contest – Hakuhodo is far better.
J5523 (eyeshadow crease brush) $19 This brush is amazing, it’s great for smaller lids and is SO SOFT on the eyes and blends perfectly! Can’t live without.
J5522 (eyeshadow blending brush) $20 This is a large blending brush that’s great for blending everything together. Those with very small eyes may have trouble using this. Just as soft as all the others!
J163hsh (eyebrow brush) $19 This is the best eyebrow brush I’ve ever used! It’s smaller than im used to but it made my brows look so much better than usual. Highly recommend this one, it’s perfect.
G503 (angled contour brush) $60 LOVE. This brush is beautiful to look at and just as great to use. Gives great results when sculpting the cheekbones and can also be used to contour the nose. Some may not like the short handle…I think it’s just gorgeous.
J5543 (flat top blush brush) $63 This is identical to the Tom Ford cheek brush. It is incredibly soft and pillowy and just a pleasure to use. You could use this for blush, bronzer or contouring. Really nice brush.
K002 (blue squirrel powder brush) $82 Is an amazing large finishing brush. It is NOT a powder brush. If you use it to set your powder, the delicate squirrel hairs will stick together becoming unusable. I use this for my meteorites and it’s absolutely delightful.
K020 (blue squirrel blush brush) $68 This is a mini version of the one above. Unlike its big brother, this one is amazing even after washing! This one didn’t lose its silkiness and is such a pleasure to use. It applies a light, natural wash of blush and feel incredible. It could also be used to apply highlighter. One of my favorites!
J007s (eyeliner brush) $15 Amazig eyeliner brush, works so well and great size. Really nice, love it.
All these brushes are made extremely well and seem like they will hold up for many years. The only thing I’m worried about it that the hair is so nice that it seems fragile (especially the blue squirrel) so if these bushes were to deteriorate I’m sure it would be the hair that would go first. You’re supposed to wash them as little as possible and very gently with a mild soap. I’m also worried about the writing on the handles as I’ve heard it wears off, and this happened to my MAC brushes. Im going to put some clear nail polish over the writing to hopefully prevent it from wearing off. This is one thing Hakuhodo (and MAC, and countless other makeup brush brands) should really fix.
Overall I’m so happy with these brushes. Theyre drop dead gorgeous, sooo soft and I definitely plan to order more!
EDIT: After returning one brush I thought I should add a warning. Hakuhodo are perfectionists and this not only applies to when they’re making brushes but also when making returns. They tell you to return unopened brushes packed carefully. I returned one carefully in bubble wrap and they wrote me the same day to say the way it had been packaged had damaged the wrapping (must have wrinkled it, I guess?) and it would have to be sent for repacking. They didn’t charge me for it this time but next time they would. So beware of this when returning. Apparently they only want you to return them in the original box, if you ask me they should specify this. So if you’re returning be careful.
lyingGnu3
I had never tried these brushes, but came across the brand while trying to find a blush brush that worked for me. Wow, it’s a lot of work, a lot of data, and a lot of information to go through. Since the company has a very strict return policy, you have to do the work, otherwise you could get stuck with something you don’t like. I highly suggest the website hakuhodousa.wordpress.com, to see the different brushes lined up against each other – even though there were several that weren’t available on the order site, it was still a very helpful tool for me. Additionally, I went on many forums, blogs, and looked at a ton of google images, because while I/m not someone who has a ton of makeup (mostly, because I/m so sensitive, nothing works for me), I do believe in good brushes.
B110 vs J110 – I was going to order the J110, but as crazy-in-love as everyone is with this brush, when looking online, it looked like it really explodes once it’s washed. And while some people love that, that’s not what I want. I ordered the B110BKLSL, since dyed goat hair can be soft without the fluff. The B110, from what others have said, is not quite as soft, but still softer than most brushes, and in the package I could see it’s not quite as dense as the J110. The shape of both, is a little flatter at the top, than say the MAC 116, and a little larger, but not as big as the MAC 129. If you want fluffy and big, go for the J110, if you want something similar to the 116, but a little bigger, go for the B110. I ended up sticking with my 116, because it is the perfect size for me.
J142 -Once washed, I found this to be very similar to J5523 in size, only round at the base and tapered at the tip. It exploded when washed and got quite large and fluffy, making it more of blender, than an applicator. It’s beautiful, but I wanted it to apply in the crease, and this is too fluffy for that purpose. If you have larger eyes, this might be a great applicator.
S142 – This is the squirrel version, of the above, and I have to say, I really hated this brush – it was too flimsy, and didn’t have any depth to the bristles, it seemed very thin. It-s the right size and shape, and had they done this in the goat/squirrel mix, it might have been perfect, but the squirrel is too soft to be of any use. You can-t use it for concealer, because squirrel can-t really be used for cream/liquid. What a waste of $30.
J146 – Many people say that if the J142 is too large for your crease, this will give a more precise application, because it’s smaller. It’s much smaller, probably half the thickness of the J142. It doesn’t have a lot of “body”, and I found I really hated this one, too.
J242G – I love the MAC 239, but it’s a bit wide for me, and this is narrower and thinner – which is what I wanted . I like it very much for the outer “v”. It’s a mix of goat and synthetic, and the 239 is not. I didn’t find it replaced my 239’s, but it’s has it’s own purpose and bought 2.
J004G – Longer than the 239 in length and wider, but narrower. I’m on this fence with this one, it’s a little too flimsy, but it’s okay for crease color that I want more diffused, but I rarely reach for this one.
G5523 – I ordered this because I was thinking about a paddle brush for my crease, and since its goat and blue squirrel, it’s soft, but not as fluffy as its J counterpart. This is a bit wide for that, and I returned this one, without opening the package, since I could see it would be too wide for what I wanted.
J5523 – Some say it’s more tapered or fluffier or softer than the 217, but it really depends on the individual brushes you are comparing. I would say, they are generally almost identical, this has finer hairs, and therefore, is a little fluffier, but at the same time, it is a bit flatter, but only a tiny bit. If you have a 217 you love, this is probably not better.
G5533 – This is goat and squirrel, and is similar to the above, but a more rounded tip, versus the taper the S142 has. This is not as wonderful as it appears in the images I’ve seen. It’s not as dense as you would think and the tip is somewhat raggedy. I wasn’t impressed.
In the end, I think their brushes are okay, but when reading all the blogs and reviews, it’s easy to get caught up in everyone’s enthusiasm, and I found myself thinking, I have to have these brushes! While they are fantastic in their quality, I didn’t find them to be much better than other brushes, and honestly, if I could, I would probably return all but the J242G. They’re almost too soft, and not dense enough, to be functional for me. What they offer, is a tremendous selection with shapes, types, versions, and materials, which makes this brand awesome when looking for something specific or different – but be prepared to be overwhelmed. If you need a particular brush because you’re not happy with what you have, then yes, you might want to see what they have. It also sounds like the quality is more consistent, from brush to brush, although I did see one or two reviews that talked about a little bit of shedding, which I think can be expected with any brand. Finally, I don’t use face brushes, so I don’t know personally, but from what I’ve read, their face brushes are probably what sets them apart from other brands and might be worth the expense of replacing what you have.
amazedVenison9
Finally I decided to purchase Hakuhodo eye shadow brushes. I have been thinking about this for a while and tried to do as much research as possible, read the online bloggers that I trust and then made my decision. I bought two, the J5533 and J5523. I wanted a pure blending brush and another one that was like the MAC 217. They are not that expensive, the J5533 at $18 and the J5523 at $19. Hakuhodo charges $9 for shipping. It seems quite expensive, but I will say that they arrived quickly, coming from California and arriving in Florida in two days. That was impressive.
My big concern is always that brushes not irritate my sensitive skin. Of course, I want quality and performance, but if a brush is going to be scratchy on my skin that it’s of no use to me. The softness of these two brushes is quite exceptional. A pleasure to use on my eyes. I did not think there could possibly be a true dupe for the MAC 217, but the J5523 is that and more. I think it’s shape is somewhat flatter than the MAC 217 and that provides a bit more control. It is brilliant for applying color to the crease and also for blending. It’s quite extraordinary. I think with natural hair brushes, you really do get what you pay for.
The J5533 is perfect for blending color in the crease. I also use it for transition colors. I never bought the MAC 224, so I have no reference point for comparison. However, I did buy the Sigma E40 and it’s not in the same league at all. Not even close. I love the ease of using this brush and its effectiveness.
I am thinking of purchasing one or two more Hakuhodo eye shadow brushes and possibly one of their face brushes. I wanted to try these out to see how they were, if they lived up to what I read about them. I can say without exception that they have exceeded my expectations. They keep their shape after washing and I make sure to use a brush guard to keep them that way.
I am extremely happy with this purchase. There is no denying the quality of these brushes. I can use them with confidence, knowing that they won’t irritate the delicate skin around my eyes and that the final result will be flawless.
sadPiglet2
I have written numerous reviews on the Coastal Scent brushes, so I figured I might as well give an overview of all the CS brushes that I owned/purchased. First, please know that ALL the brushes available for sell by CS are made/marketed (and also sold, sometimes for a lesser price) by Crown Brush (www.crownbrush.biz) and the company has 10x more brushes available than what is sold by CS.
On to my collection of Crown Brushes that I purchased from CS.
1. Black Deluxe Shadow from Crown Brush – this is good all over color brush and I use it to apply a highlighter under my eyebrows.
2. Pink Round Crease Eye Brush from Crown Brush – this is an OK crease brush but not my favorite and I barely reach for it anymore.
3. Blending Brush from Crown Brush – this is an OK blending brush.
4. Italian Badger Deluxe Fan Brush from Crown Brush – this is a good brush, I use it to sweep away eyeshadow fallout; and to apply a light dusting of blush and/or powder to my face when I am in a rush.
5. Deluxe Buffer Brush from Crown Brush – this super soft brush that shed like a Pomeranian and is somewhere in city dump where it belongs.
6. Pink Flat Top Bronzer Buffer Brush from Crown Brush – this is a very good buffer brush.
7. Black on Black Sable Shadow Chisel Sable from Crown Brush – this is OK (borderline on good) medium-size eyeshadow brush but I don’t reach for it often.
8. Pro Eyelash Defining Comb from Crown Brush – this tool has revolutionized the application/wear of mascara for it gives my lashes separation & lift while de-clumping them. I use it everyday that I wear makeup and it has become a HG product for me.
9. Synthetic Concealer Shading Brush from Crown Brush – this is great concealer brush which can double as an eyeshadow brush in a pinch.
10. Pink Kolinsky Lip Brush from Crown Brush – this is good lip brush/spot concealer brush.
11. Oval Camouflage Brush from Crown Brush – this is a great conceal brush.
12. Synthetic Shadow Brush from Crown Brush – this is great brush which I bought to apply my pigments – it’s an excellent eyeshadow brush as well – and I reach for it often.
I hope this review helps someone who needs good inexpensive brushes and I would highly suggest you check out Crown Brushes’ website for they have even more makeup brush options than what is sold by CS.
insecureGatorade6
I got the brush that was supposed to be a dupe for the MAC 226.
To be fair, it’s very soft, and the shape is good. But, it started shedding before I even washed it. It sheds all over my eye, and all over the tissue that I wipe it on. Yuck.
betrayedSalami1
This is for the IB103 Flat Bronzer. Use this to apply mineral makeup foundation and veil. I have two of them, so when i skip out on washing one, i grab the other. Very little shedding. The flat top can pick up alot of product at once and buffs wonderfully into my skin. Cuts the application time in half due to only having to dip it once!! 🙂 This brush allows for heavy coverage faster that trying to build it using a dome kabuki. I’m going to buy more in case they get discontinued, i don’t know what i would do without it. 🙂 This is my absloute favorite brush, my friends use this too with their bare escentials stuff. 🙂 🙂 🙂