Beauty Product Reviews | Page 3

I’ve had this foundation brush for several years now. After many uses and washes it has retained its shape and looks amazing. No shedding or breaking of the hairs. At first use it feels a bit rough but softens up quite a bit after a few washes. I find this to be an excellent foundation brush although the price is a bit high. There are a lot of mixed reviews on this brush and I would only say take those poor reviews with a grain of salt. I’ve never had any issues with streaks or uneven applications. Nor have I had any issues with it soaking up to much product. My best guess for those leaving poor reviews would be that unfortunately they aren’t using it properly. It happens. Not all brushes are made to be used with all products and I think that’s where the issues come into play. There are many different types of foundation formulas. Depending on the type you use will determine the type of brush you need. Unfortunately foundation brushes aren’t all made to be universally used. This brush works best with liquid foundation that isn’t to runny in a stippling motion. This isn’t meant to buff products into the skin. It’s meant to press them in. If your using a really thin fluid or thick creamy foundation this isn’t the brush for you. All in all it’s a solid brush to add to the arsenal. If your on a budget I would not recommend only because there are so many others on the market cheaper than this one that work almost as well. If your a brush junkie or Fude collector like me you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve been a Fude brush collector for many years and have an obscene amount of them from various brands in all hair types. I purchased the Complete Yano Brush Series when it launched and find them to be made exceedingly well. Photos do this line zero justice. In hand they are absolutely beautiful. The best way to describe the handles? Like a pair of sexy pair of black patent leather heels. I’ve seen reviews from other users saying they feel cheap however that is far from true. Yes, they are lightweight but that doesn’t make them look or feel cheap by any means. They are perfectly weighted in hand from the black lacquered handle with matching black ferrule to the tips of their luxuriously soft squirrel hair. It’s not listed who the brush maker is but my guess is Chikuhodo. The Yano series is every bit as luxurious as the Z Series or the Surratt brush line and makes a fine addition to any Fude lovers collection. The eye brushes are a favorite of mine. The shape and size of the 06 & 07 are very similar to Surratt however the Yano brushes are sized perfectly in between the Surratt Smokey Eye L, M, S making them a bit unique and not redundant. At the end of the day these are fabulous brushes and worth every penny.

This is such a beautiful brush. Truly a work of art. Photo of MK-SK and Beautylish Year of the Tiger powder brush for comparison. The brush head is made with lush densely packed, perfectly bundled squirrel hair that just glides over the planes of the face like silk. Add to that this beautiful Makie handle and it really doesn’t get much better. Now is this something you absolutely have to have? Probably not. Not unless your a collector or looking to start. There are many other options at a far lower price point that will work. If however your like me and can’t resist a great brush I’m very happy to be adding this to my Fude collection. The presentation box it comes in is a nice added touch. Worth the buy imo.

This powder brush is totally underrated imo. Photos do it absolutely no justice. The black glossy handle and ferrule reminds me of a sexy pair of patent leather heels. The end of the handle is slanted like the Hakuhodo S100 Series. Another reviewer stated the handles were cheaply made because she noticed there were some chips on the bottom of the handle but that’s not the case at all. The slant just makes them a bit more delicate. Like the Hakuhodo Vermilion handles these need to be stored carefully or they will indeed become damaged. Slapping them into a cup with other brushes will ensure you chip the handle. It has a unique, lush, dense head of high quality squirrel hair that’s every bit as luxurious as the Z Series. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn these were made by Chikuhodo. Cheap is not a word I would use to describe any of the brushes in this series. Luxury at its finest.

Worth it for the Powder brush alone

This set was imo a fabulous deal. Both are normal sized brushes made with quality materials that are not only beautiful but simply a pleasure to use. Add to that a very reasonable price point and it’s really a no brainer. It’s worth the price for the powder brush alone. It’s very similar in shape to the Niji Pro however it’s smaller, more medium in size and less dense. It’s soft as a cloud and for me with a smaller face much better sized than the Niji. Much the multitasking brush for sure. I’m actually surprised there are still some in stock. Very unique little set of brushes to add to your collection.

There is a lot of mixed reviews on this product and I think it’s just one of those foundations you either love or hate with no in between. One thing I’ve learned over the years is to take reviews with a grain of salt. Everyone is different. I’m in my early 40’s with skin that seems to get a little dryer each year. I keep a daily skin care regimen and exfoliate accordingly. I was blessed with good skin which helps. No acne, scars or major skin discoloration. Aside from a few blemishes here and there, some faint lines and a couple darker spots my skin is nice and smooth. Dryness is my only battle. That being said finding a good foundation that checks all the boxes is not easy. I’m also a foundation junkie and like trying new ones. I absolutely love this! It’s not one to wear in the winter months but in the heat of the summer this stuff really shines. It’s on the runny side but a little goes a very long way. It’s very highly concentrated and gives instant full coverage. Once I’ve applied my skincare products and primer (used Armani Luminous Silk or Marc Jacobs Coconut Hydrating primer) I like to apply this with a brush and find that with these liquid type formulas either duo-Fibre, kolinsky or Weasel hair give the best results. Start small and build up where needed. I find I don’t even need concealer when I wear this. I lightly set with Hourglass loose setting powder and Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray then smooth everything with a sponge. It truly looks like skin once dry. I’ve not had any issue with applying my other products. It stays put. It doesn’t claim to be waterproof or anything but it can hold up to high humidity and a day at the pool. The more I sweat the better it looks. It’s crazy. Now I don’t recommend this on dry skin in winter. It almost sucks the moisture out and can look cakey easily but it was made for hot weather.

I wasn’t that impressed with this brush when I first got it. After all it’s just your basic blush brush. Heck I didn’t even use it for the longest time. It was when I started working my way through a brush declutter that I decided to give it another chance and boy am I glad I did! I’ve learned over the years that some brushes don’t reach their full potential until after they have been washed and used several times. That’s when they finally start to loosen up and bloom out fully. That was the deal with this one. It just needed more time to shine! Made with Saikoho Goat it’s silky soft and while fluffy it has this fantastic snap back that can be hard to find with bristles this long. Koyudo doesn’t get enough love as a whole. They make great quality products at an affordable price point. It’s a shame the BP Series has been discontinued. Get it while you still can!

The Surratt brush series was my Fude Splurge long ago and it’s still in my top favorites. Total luxury in a brush set. The handles have a gorgeous purple & teal shimmer that fades to black as it goes up. The matte black ferrule blends in beautifully. The Cheek brush is round, medium in size and made with super soft grey squirrel hair. Has great density with a really nice spring to it. All the Surratt brushes have this amazing snap to the bristles that make them stand out from others with the same hair type. They just seem to work more efficiently and aren’t floppy at all. Even the Face brush! I don’t know how they do it but I love it! The cheek brush gives surprisingly great color payoff and blends smoothly. I would repurchase every brush in this line if I had to. They are all that good. There are of course other brushes that are similar in shape and size while also costing a great deal less. No dispute on that! This line isn’t going to be for everyone at this price point but if price isn’t a factor for you they are worth every penny. Shown with Chikuhodo Artist 18-2 & Houkodou G-C6 for shape and size reference. All are made with the same hair type.

The T-6 is in my top 5 favorites for large eye brushes. So much so that I have multiples of it. Not only is it amazing for all over eye color or blending it makes for a nice precision highlighting or concealer brush. It’s also one of the only brushes from this series I didn’t destash. A must have imo. The Takumi series as a whole is attractive with the matte black handle, red lettering & matching ferrule making the undyed Saikoho stand out. The bristles are soft and the T-6 are soft, dense and once washed nice and fluffy. The Takumi brushes are very lightweight, almost hollow feeling making them a bit on the delicate side and can be easily scratched or dented. You can’t really go wrong with any of the eye brushes. Shown with Chikuhodo GSN-07 (grey squirrel/goat), Takeda WFSH12SQUR (red squirrel) & Bisyodo Yoshiki Large Eye (grey squirrel) for size reference. Density wise it most resembles the GSN-07.

The Passion series from Chikuhodo is…okay. The brushes are made well and the dyed Sokoho goat hair is soft enough. The price is good and it’s a great starting point for beginners. I’ve since sold off all but this blush brush which imo is the standout of set. It’s a round domed shaped brush with good density to it. Works well for a small powder or blush brush and makes for a great all over blender. The pink handle and ferrule aren’t my personal preference and the lettering does wear off over time. No issues with shedding and it washed well and retains its shape. All in all a solid little brush. Shown with Chikuhodo KZ-4 & Koyomo Nadeshiko Pearl Pink Cheek brush for size reference.