next i want to show you is the ÍPSA Brush 2.
this is also ordered from bonboncosmetics.com and costs 48.99$.
i could only find very few information about this brand on the internet, also the google translator wasn't helpful at all. but these brushes seemed so interesting to me and my trust in japanese brand's brushes is quite high, so i took the risk and ordered them. because the € is rather strong these days, the costs relativate in comparison to the scratchy goat hair brushes you can get on the german market.
the IPSA Brush 2 is a small sized powder brush with a round shape and a domed top. it's made of utterly soft squirrel hair and packed very dense (for example in comparison to my A'Squirrel brushes). it's softer than baby skin but still is fluffy and slightly bouncy. it doesn't shed while usage and also not while washing, it didn't bleed any dye and kept the shape quite well after drying.
it's shape makes this brush ideal to use as a face blending brush, i like to blend in setting/finishing powder, blush, bronzer and powder highlighter with it for a flawless finish. it's so soft that it glides on your skin effortlessly and doesn't interfere with your foundation so tugs the powder particles just into the unevenness of your skin to make it appear smooth and even. of course, the right powders will help it to achieve an airbrushed look. it applies products just as well, i used it for blush, contour and face powder with the same delight.
it's a sturdy and well crafted brush with a thin glossy lacquered handle and a black matte metal ferrule.
one fantastic tool. love it.
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| pre-wash |
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| post-wash |
comparison
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| A'Squirrel Pure Squirrel Angled Blush Brush - IPSA Brush 2 - MAC 109 |
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| A'Squirrel Pure Squirrel Angled Blush Brush - IPSA Brush 2 - MAC 109 |
I was making also post about brushes:)
ReplyDeleteI would be so very curious to see how this brush compares to the Suqqu Cheek Brush, craft wise, shape, length & performance wise, softness etc, the whole deal basically :) I would be very pleased just with a brief comment, not demanding any comparative study posts here! :D
ReplyDeletehi Néphèle!
Deletei have both laying here now. they are quite similar in size and shape, the ÍPSA brush contains more brush hairs, the brush head is wider at the ferrule and it's completely round while the SUQQU is a bit pinched. the brush hair in the SUQQU brush is a bit shorter. handle and ferrule length are comparable, the ÍPSA handle being 1/2 inch shorter. the hair quality seems very similar - unbelievably soft that is. you can tell that the SUQQU material is slightly more luxurious, but facing the price gap it's an unproportional quality difference. in fact you get a wonderful brush with ÍPSA at the price which doesn't need to shy away from a comparison with a brush icon like SUQQU. performance wise they are quite similar also, i use the tip of the brush with both and apply the product in circular motions.
the only downside of ÍPSA is the lower build quality compared to the ultimate craftsmanship of SUQQU. mine once even became lose between ferrule and handle so i had to glue it back on with hot glue. ever since, i can't complain at all, though.
if you're on a budget and are not an insane brush fanatic like me, you can rest assure with ÍPSA.
You rock, thanks so much for the prompt reply and the detailed response, I truly appreciate it! I wish I could return the favour :) You know what, I think I might succumb to the ÍPSA one, I am really interested in its round shape and soft bristles more than any other feature of it. In fact for a while I thought that the Suqqu one is completely round as well, completely unpinched, and that has been part of my temptation towards it. I find that I prefer round brushes for blush and contouring, rather than pinched, almost flat ones, but they are so hard to find!
DeleteHave you been satisfied with the website's service? :)
thank you Néphèle!
Deleteweirdly, i'm also always drawn towards round brushes. i've bought numerous brushes which i wouldn't have if they were pinched. maybe because the most popular brush shape is the oval one so the round shape seems special again, maybe because only the luxury of brush hair soft enough that you can touch your face with its tips without a prickly feel can afford a shape like this...
the SUQQU cheek brush is most slightly pinched, their face brush is completely round, though.
for a long time, i also used the ÍPSA as contouring brush, it does a great job with all tasks, though.
i was always very satisfied with the service on bonboncosmetics.com, the contact with them was nice and prompt, they helped me to get many products that weren't listed on the site and the free shipping (30$+ orders) is great as well. i also never had to pay extra duties with their packages.
Danke sehr, ich hoffe daß ich nicht aufdringlich oder lästig war :) x
ReplyDeletenever ever! not at all. i could talk about brushes the whole day. ^^
DeleteAhh we're so lucky to have you, so willing to selfishly share your experience :) Have a lovely night and a great rest of August!
Deletethank you, you too! i'd love to hear your feedback if you received the brush ;)
DeleteNo need to publish this one, but once again, I really, really thank you very much for kindly taking the time to respond to each and every one of my messages on the trivial subject that is a makeup brush, I truly appreciate it, and if there is anything I could ever help you with, I would gladly return the favour. Of course it'd have to be something I expertise on, so I would be guessing something Greek or Arabic related :p Still, one never knows, so please take my words into consideration :)
DeleteI will most definitely let you know when I lay my hands on it, I have looked and looked for a round, unpinched cheek brush, and if it weren't for your blog, I'd still be looking :)
xx
Okay- this seems to be the post du jour today :) I got the brush!It took 10 days to get here, which is completely fine.
DeleteMy goodness, it is ridiculously soft! So soft and cuddly that it really makes me wonder how on earth it's ever going to be able to successfully pick up pigment!
It's also so delicate that I was really scared while washing it that I'd accidentally yank at its hair and damage it :p Honestly, I never knew this soft brushes existed. Wowza.
Its shape is exactly what I wanted and although I was prepared for a short(er) ferule, I was taken aback by how small and lightweight it is. It does feel comfortable in hand though. I hate chubby handles (or at least I am not too good friends with them) so I appreciate its elegant shape and thinness.
I have yet to try it, because I only received it today and I had to wash it first and I did not even want to test is by swirling it into any blushes unwashed, but oh well it's been drying hanging down since this afternoon and by tomorrow morning it will be completely dry- being located in Greece and all :)
Thank you for your meticulously provided help on the matter and I will be reporting back after some use x
waaah i'm so happy that you got it! receiving a new brush is always so exciting! you're happy that it's yours and you can hold it in your own hands but you still can't use it since it needs to be washed XD
Deletethe first time touching the soft squirrel hair was also intimidating for me, i also was surprised how delicate it was and was afraid that i'd damage it ;) with less pigmented products you surely will need some layering, but believe me, you'll love to layer because this brush feels so amazing on your skin ;) and suddenly, the blushes aren't as dusty as before and melt with your skin much better! i'm sure that you'll love it!
I am sure that I will! It has love written all over it :) I have no idea how I ever used Mac brushes before. The 129 and the 116 and the 109 and the 150- oh my gods. I know this is too much of a posh statement, but oh wow, I never knew! Still going through squirrel hair shell shock I suppose :p
DeleteOn another note, the ÍPSA logo on mine is written in a blue-ish colour, as opposed to yours.
Hi - your site and reviews are so helpful. i'm in France and didn't know about BonBonCosmetics. Can I ask you a question too? I'm looking for a fairly short handled cheek brush, but round like Suqqu, and that could maybe double up as a powder brush too. Would you recommend the RMK Cheek S for that? How does that compare size and shape wise with Suqqu? (I've read nearly all your related posts!) I can only afford one, and not the Suqqu...it's for using with Chanel joue contraste blush, and I like to apply only a subtle amount of blush. Thanks ever so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Jo!
Deletethe RMK Cheek S is fairly small, if you like a small brush for powder application, i think it would be perfect. it's a mix of goat and squirrel hair, so it's not as soft as SUQQU and also not as soft as other goat+squirrel brushes by Hakuhodo i've tried - still, it's a lot softer than MAC, Chanel, Bobbi Brown etc. and the hair structure is suitable to pick up the rather hard and low-pigmented blushes like Chanel JC (the europe baked version). shape-wise it's much flatter than SUQQU (which is only slightly pinched) and has slightly longer hair. if you want to try a brush as soft as SUQQU, i'd recommend the normal RMK Cheek Brush (paddle shape) - not the "S" version or the IPSA Brush 2 (round shape). of course they are so soft that it might take some more layering of the Chanel JC to get the desired effect, but they guarantee a subtle application withh all kinds of blushes.
Thank you so much! After replying I decided I wanted the regular RMK. I just don't want a big brush. My new Bobbi Brown brush is too big for my liking. I've been obsessing over photos all over the internet and trying to work out the size! Also, where do you buy your Hakahodus from?
ReplyDeleteyou'll LOVE it, believe me!!! do you want me to check up the measurements for you?
Deletei always order my hakuhodo brushes directly from their site: hakuhodousa.com
oooh that would be so FAB if you could check the measurements, thanks!!
ReplyDeleteno problem! here the measurements right at the ferrule: 2cm wide, 1.5cm thick and 3.7cm hair length.
Deleteit doesn't spread out too much since the hair is very fine and smooth.
(I just measured the Bobbi Brown which is 4 x 4 x 2.5 - I *think* (brush head only)
ReplyDeleteAs Nepehele said higher up, you rock! Thanks, you've made my purchase a lot easier. :) :)
ReplyDeletethank you Jo! i'm always happy to help, especially with brush-matters ;)
Delete