Hakuhodo Brushes VI.

even though i haven't written about Hakuhodo brushes for a while it doesn't mean that i didn't buy them - so i want to start catching up with you today.
if you're interested, here are all my Hakuhodo posts so far:

Hakuhodo
Hakuhodo Brushes II
Hakuhodo Brushes III
Hakuhodo Brushes IV
Hakuhodo Brushes V

this order only consisted of 3 brushes for my personal use:

__________K005 Eye Shadow Brush round and flat__________

the K005 is a flat and firm brush made of weasel hair. it washes easily and keeps the shape perfectly, the build quality is superb as i'm used to with Hakuhodo.
sometimes i use it to apply my eyeliner or even brow colour, but it excels any of my other brushes in applying cream eyeliner to my upper waterline (aka "the invisible eyeliner" to thicken your lashes without an obvious line). the shape, size and resilience of this brush are just perfect for that task, the flat shape is perfect for precise work, it's firm enough for an even and smooth application of colour but at the same time flexible, smooth and rounded to not irritate your sensitive waterline (unlike the MAC 231, which is a very similarly shaped synthetic brush but a bit too firm for this delicate area). it's one of my favourite brushes by Hakuhodo, i use it everytime i do my makeup.
at 18$ a real steal - you must have it.

pre-wash

post-wash

comparison

MAC 231 - Hakuhodo K005 - MakeUpShow H07 Small Shader Brush

MAC 231 - Hakuhodo K005 - MakeUpShow H07 Small Shader Brush

__________S146 Eye Shadow Brush round__________

the S146 is a small round, tapered eyeshadow brush. it's one of Hakuhodo's flagship S 100 Series brushes made with a vermillion lacquered wooden handle and 24k gold/brass ferrule. blue squirrel hair was used for this brush, so it's incredibly soft and smooth but still not floppy.
i don't use it often enough because i'm so lazy and simple with my eye makeup looks, but its distinct resilience point makes this brush great in applying dark colours precisely onto the crease/outer corner. i use a small brush like this for dramatic looks additionally to a bigger crease brush to get the perfect gradation of depth - the combination of 2 brushes makes this super easy. on the pictures below you can also see it compared to the very similar, but bigger S142 and the even smaller G5529BkSL which i use for Aegyo Sal contouring exclusively. at 38$ this is an expensive little brush, i don't think it's a must.

pre-wash

post-wash

comparison

MAC 224 - Hakuhodo S142 - Hakuhodo S146 - Hakuhodo G5529BkSL

MAC 224 - Hakuhodo S142 - Hakuhodo S146 - Hakuhodo G5529BkSL

__________B505BkSL Blush Brush M round and flat__________

the B505BkSL is an oval shaped, very tapered blush brush made with a blend of blue squirrel and Sokoho goat hair. although it's not blue squirrel alone, the two hair types are composed together with such high craftsmanship that you only feel the softness of squirrel hair touching your face. the goat hair adds body and volume to the super dense brush, makes it slightly bouncier than my quite similar G5519BkSL which is made with pure squirrel hair.
this brush washes nicely without bleeding dye, it becomes a bit fluffier after drying but i usually put it into one of my cheapo brush guard thingies to get it back in shape. it only sheds a hair once in a while. the handle lays nicely in my hand and the shape leads me to use the brush rather in feathering strokes. it handles all kinds of blushes really well, regardless of pigmentation and how firm (or not) it's pressed. i even tried it with cream blush once, and was pleasantly surprised by how nicely it applies. 
for Hakuhodo, this would be the blush brush that i would recommend if someone asks me for a suggestion - it's a luxurious investment at 84$, but it's an allrounder which performs like one that costs much more (LOL i don't love it to tell innocent people to get a 130$ brush, so 80ish seems more moderate XD) - i think Irit at Fab Forties loves hers a lot ;)

pre-wash

post-wash

comparison

Hakuhodo G5519BkSL - Hakuhodo B505BkSL - RMK Cheek Brush - Hakuhodo S111

Hakuhodo G5519BkSL - Hakuhodo B505BkSL - RMK Cheek Brush - Hakuhodo S111

from the side: Hakuhodo S111 - Hakuhodo G5519BkSL - Hakuhodo B505BkSL

cheekylicious update.

i was drooling over Jetties Blushalicious Deluxe Tag Post when i noticed that my own last blush-overview is more than 1 year old and a lot has happened in this area. so much that i was too lazy to dig all of them out to do a photographic update but i only did this for the newcomers of my collection.

so here they are, the new additions to my stash within the last year...

CARGO

1 - Cargo Prague
2 - Cargo Siena
3 - Cargo Key Largo
4 - Cargo SuedeBlush in Gold Coast
5 - Cargo Polynesia

i also did own (and sold) Cargo SuedeBlush in Montebello, Cargo Topeka, Molokai and Louisiana during the last year. am undecided whether to sell Key Largo or not.
i still love the Cargo range - i reviewed each of them, click here to get to the overview page (or on the sidebar). my favourites are (in no particular order) Echo Beach, Siena and Tonga.

NARS

only three new Narsies in the last year:

1 - NARS Torrid
2 - NARS Oasis
3 - NARS Luster

here you can get to my complete NARS blush review series. my favourites are Orgasm, Luster and Gilda.

EDWARD BESS

bought 2 of the now 3 Quad Royales: these are Summer In Capri & South Of France.
will review them soon (hopefully).

BURBERRY

i also had the pleasure of trying the fabulous blush formula by Burberry - here are No.07 Earthy Blush and No.08 Misty Blush. really really want to get some more!

GUERLAIN

1 - Parure de Nuit
2 - Météorites Perles de Nuit
3 - Blush 4 Éclats in #05 Rose Plein Vent

CHANEL

Joues Contraste in #68 Rose Écrin
Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base/Bronze Universel
Ombres Tissées in Beiges

BEAUTY IS LIFE

blush palettes for professional use - well, i just bought them for the price advantage compared to the single pots - but don't they look lovely altogether?

warm/cold palette: upper row - Palace, Close Up, Tibet, Almond Soft Glow
                            bottom row - Poesie, Chelsea, Denver, Bolero, Opera

cold palette: upper row - Stage, Swing, Joy, Vendetta, Lido
                  bottom row - Scarlet, Baroque, Sugar, Cassis, Geisha

big review series in the next month!

EDIT: here it is: Beauty Is Life blushes x 20.

LE MÉTIER DE BEAUTÉ

1 - Crème Fresh Tint in Tenné
2 - Crème Fresh Tint in Ginger Lily
3 - CFT in Coral Nymph
4 - CFT in Poppy/Coquelicot
5 - CFT in Mystique
6 - Radiance Powder Rouge in Echo
7 - True Colour Eyeshadow in Tuscan Sunset

another new and addictive brand in my life: Le Métier de Beauté.
i have a review series of their Crème Fresh Tints going on - i own them all ^^.
click here to see an overview.

CREAM BLUSHES

a few more cream blushes:
1 - Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric #1
2 - Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric #3
3 - Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Cherub

CREAM HIGHLIGHTERS

1 - Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Nectar - sample
2 - Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Tranquility - sample
3 - Jemma Kidd Make Up School All Over Radiance Cream in Rose Gold

i'm getting some use out of my samples of Rouge Bunny Rouge's Sea Of Illumination Highlighting Liquids, maybe i should do a comparison to my full size shade in Sea of Showers.

MISCELLANEOUS

1 - Paul & Joe Blue Horizon Bronzer
2 - Estée Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood Shimmering Loose Powder
3 - Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild
4 - Dior Healthy Glow Summer Powder in Aurora
5 - Clé de Peau Blush Duo in #4
6 - MAC Blush in Style

i'm surprised that there's only 1 MAC product in this whole year.

READY TO LEAVE

a few products i bought during the year but that are already packed for current/future blog sales.

Chanel Loose Powder in Féerie, Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Blushing Pink and a Giorgio Armani Face Highlighter.



if i'd compile the past blush-year my highlights were Burberry, Le Métier de Beauté, Dior Aurora and Paul & Joe bronzers. but what truly made my heart beat faster were definitely and absolutely the amazing blush brushes i could try. this was my best brush-year ever. and i thought i was set for life when i went out of a parisien Sephora 3 years ago and held a big bag of MAC brushes in hands ;D
now i have experienced the softest softness there could be as far as brushes go (MAC brushes i would almost consider as quite scratchy now that i'm stuck on squirrel hair ones) and am overly happy to call a selection of probably the best blush brushes on the market my own. could only top it with a range of Chikuhodo Z brushes, but the year is not over yet ;)

unlike Jettie (whose blogpost i linked above) i think it's the experience of the heavenly soft brushes of the best quality pampering your skin that puts my blush application onto a whole other level of joy and delight. for me, it's not only about the final result, but also about the process of applying the refined colour to your cheeks. but that's another ramble. now -

... MHHH, THE BRUSHES!

a selection of the best blush brushes of my last year - intimidating that these are not all of them, but hell yeah, i love brushes!

1 - Lunasol Powder Brush N sometimes for bronzer
2 - Lunasol Blush Brush N
3 - Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush M round and flat
4 - Hakuhodo G5519BkSL Blush Brush
5 - Hakuhodo G5552 Powder & Liquid Brush round/angled for cream, gel & liquid formulas
6 - Ipsa Brush 2 sometimes for contouring
7 - Ipsa Squirrel Brush L
8 - RMK Cheek Brush
9 - Chikuhodo Z4 Blush Brush
10 - SUQQU Blush Brush




37 products are gone or almost gone since May 2011 (plus about 15 that i'm undecided about). i have sold them in blog sales, have them prepared for future blog sales or gave them to friends and family. there's also a bunch that i just stored away and now that i see the photos of them again i realize that i don't reach for them anymore and also haven't missed them (mental note for the "to sale"-box). makes my balance quite humble with "only" 37 new blushes - ok, not so humble anymore if you count each Beauty Is Life blush from the palettes individually = 55 products.


and this was my stock 1 year ago...
(copied from my "Cheek product heaven"- post. products that i don't own/use anymore are crossed out, products, that don't get much love are bracketed)

first come the peachy blushes: 

1 - Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Orange Blossom
2 - MAC MSF in Stereo Rose
3 - Chanel Joues Contrastes in Espiègle
4 - theBalm Hot Mama
5 - Illamasqua cream blush in Rude
6 - Estée Lauder Sea Star Bronzing Blush
7 - NARS blush in Gina
8 - MAC Hipness
9 - MAC Melba
10 - Chanel Joues Contrastes in Candy
11 - NARS blush in Gilda
12 - MNY 301
(13 - Kryolan TC 2)
14 - Benefit Coralista
15 - Cargo The Big Easy
(16 - Maybelline Pure Blush in Mineral Coral)
17 - P2 Home Sweet Home Cream Blush Stick in Fresh Apricot
18 - Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in 02 Peach
19 - Cargo blush in Cannes

the red/coral blushes

1 - MAC Highlighting Powder in Marine Life
2 - NARS blush in Amour
3 - NARS Orgasm
4 - NARS cream blush in Cactus Flower
5 - Kryolan blush in R 6
6 - Cargo blush in Rome
7 - Cargo blush in Mendocino
8 - Rouge Bunny Rouge Blush in Orpheline
9 - Essence eyeshadow in It's Up To You
(10 - Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Cardinal)
11 - Yves Rocher liquid blush in Coquelicot Léger
12 - MNY liquid blush in 112A

the neutral blushes

1 - Guerlain Blush 4 Éclats in Rosée du Printemps

(2 - Catrice blush in Light Burgundy)

3 - NYX blush in Taupe

4 - MAC Harmony

(5 - NARS Madly)

6 - MAC Mineralize Blush in Happy Together

7 - NARS Zen

8 - Guerlain Blush 4 Éclats in Caresse de l'Aube

9 - MAC Cubic

10 - Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in #2

11 - MAC Blushbaby

12 - Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in #10

13 - MAC Mocha

14 - Cargo blush in Tonga

15 - Cargo Beach Blush in Echo Beach 

16 - Cargo Beach Blush in Cable Beach

17 - Cargo Beach blush in Miami Beach

the pink blushes

1 - NARS Deep Throat

2 - Guerlain Blush G

3 - Benefit Bella Bamba

4 - MAC Dollymix

5 - P2 Home Sweet Home Cream Blush Stick in Soft Pink

(6 - NARS Angelika)

(7 - Top Shop Cream Blush in Pinch)

8 - NARS Desire

9 - MAC Mineralize Blush in Gentle

10 - oops, i somewhat forgot this number, so we'll go on with:

11 - NARS Mata Hari

12 - MAC Pink Swoon

13 - MAC Well Dressed

14 - MAC Pinch O'Peach

(15 - Top Shop Cream Blush in Flush)

(16 - Top Shop Cream Blush in Neon Rose)

17 - Clinique Tuxedo Plum

18 - YSL Crème de Blush in Powdery Pink

19 - Bobbi Brown Pink Coral

20 - Chanel Joues Contrastes in Pink Explosion

21 - MAC MSF in Petticoat

22 - Essence eyeshadow in Go All Girlie

23 - MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

24 - MAC Mineralize Blush in Rhapsody in Two

25 - MAC Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose

(26 - Maybelline Pure Blush in Moonlight Mauve)

27 - Cargo Beach Blush in Sunset Beach

28 - Cargo Blush in Catalina

29 - Yves Rocher liquid blush in Corail Nude

30 - Essence Blossoms etc. Liquid Blush in Flowerkissed

31 - MNY 111A

(32 - Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink)

some bronzers

1 - Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Bronzer in Daydream

2 - Chanel Bronze Rosé

3 - NARS Bronzer Multiple in Cap Vert

(4 - Terra Del Sol bronzer in #4)

5 - Rimmel matte bronzer in Sunlight

6 - Benefit Hoola

one is still missing and on its way - the Dior Aurora Bronzer.

highlighting products + some shimmery finishing powders

1 - Dior Amber Diamond

2 - MAC Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl

3 - MAC MSF in Blonde

4 - Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Mosaic

5 - MAC MSF in Perfect Topping

6 - MAC MSF in By Candlelight

7 - Kanebo Transparent Loose Powder

8 - Chanel Poudre Libre Universelle in 50 Peche

9 - Guerlain Météorites Pressée in 01 Mythic Parfait

10 - Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 01 Teint Rosé

11 - Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 03 Teint Doré

12 - NARS Albatross

13 - MAC Beauty Powder in Too Chic

(14 - Lorac Perfectly Lit highlighter in Spotlight)

(15 - Shiseido blush in BE206 Soft Beam Gold)

16 - Essence eyeshadow in Mystic Lemon

17 - Manhattan highlighter from a LE

18 - Rival de Loop young highlighter pearls

19 - FAKE benefit high beam

20 - The Body Shop Tinted Glow Enhancer in 02

21 - real Benefit High Beam (to go version)

22 - Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl

23 - Rouge Bunny Rouge Seas of Illumination Liquid Highlighter in Sea of Showers

24 - Guerlain Perles D'Or Highlighting Pearls

25 - Guerlain Terra Inca

26 - MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder in Truth & Light

quick tip: dirt cheap Brush Guard dupes!

a few months back the lovely Sarah @ Saloule shared this tip which i immediately followed and now want to pass forward to you. there are actually many dupes for The Brush Guard on ebay, for dirt cheap (about 1-3$ a pack) and mostly with free shipping. just enter something like "cosmetic brush cover" and various sellers will pop up. they all are shipped from Hong Kong or China, so please calculate some weeks of waiting.
the original Brush Guard is basically a flexible tube of plastic mesh which sleeves your brushes and can be used to protect them generally and/or especially after washing to help them maintain their shape, minimise splayed hairs etc.
in my brush-care-guide i already mentioned that i'm not a fan of covering the just washed, damp brush hair because the circulation just is not as good as letting them hang free. this may cause mould or loosen up the glue in the ferrule due to the stagnant moisture and damage the brush. with the 10€ drugstore brush maybe i'd try to see the long-term results, but with a 200€ Suqqu one i'd rather not risk it. smoothing the damp brush into shape is totally fine.
i recommend to use such brush covers on the dry brushes, though. especially if you store your brushes standing up in an open glass, circulating dust and powder will fall on the surface and inbetween the bristles of your unused brushes (i keep my used/dirty ones separate). this not only contaminates your clean brushes, but it also can cause harm to your brushes in a long-term perspective.
in this case i think it's fabulous to just cover them up with these "brush guards" to have less surface for any environmental influences to attack. i admit though that they will look less attractive in your brush holder on the dressing table.
another good use is as a packaging-layer if you sometimes sell or swap your brushes. for travelling purposes only, if you pack the brushes really tight, because if the brush guard moves around, it would cause horrible splaying to your brushes and in the end the opposite of what we wanted.
so all in all i think such brush guards have a reason to exist, but the price for the original version is just way too high. i mean 5€ for averagely 6 tubes of crappy plastic net? are you kidding me?
with the ebay-version, which i believe to be nothing different from those scam-guards, you pay 1.50€ and get 15 tubes. or, as a DIY-version, 1m length of product.

here the set-version. ignore the asian-english and you'll get a pouch which contains 15 tubes of brush covers in 3 different sizes, large for bigger powder brushes, medium for blush brushes and small for eyeshadow brushes. my test objects were a Hakuhodo B509BkSL Powder Brush M round (not reviewed yet) - a classic round, big and fluffy powder brush, Hakuhodo B110BkSL Blush Brush round and flat (not reviewed yet) - your typical rather big fluffy blush brush and the MAC 217 as the eyeshadow brush everybody wants to get into the right shape.
the medium size had the best fit and tension and the eyeshadow-size is ok to keep some shape, but quite loose (in fact even looser than the medium size). the powder brush size is a bit loose, too, and could also be used on bigger brushes like face kabukis.

the other version available is a 1m band of plastic mesh. pro: you can cut it the length you want it (i found the other tubes a bit too long and wasteful). contra: there's only one size, no slimmer tubes for eyeshadow brushes.
but: i actually prefer this version! it's a medium size you could fit both your powder and your blush brushes in and the material is much more substantial compared to the version above. there's a good tightness when i insert my brushes and the tubes get back into shape better if i don't use them.
with a 1m length i can get about 11-12 brush covers.

hope that helped! will you buy some for yourselves? have you bought the original Brush Guard before? share your experiences!