When it comes to applying cream eyeshadow, synthetic brushes are my go-to as creams as natural hair brushes can soak up liquid and creams too much and produce either sheer or streaky results (and creams tend to necessitate washing often, and synthetics can take the extra washing easily).  I find a flat, synthetic brush is necessary for all-over lid application; a fluffy, dome-shaped brush key for diffusing crease color and applying creams to the brow bone; and a dome-shaped, denser brush for depositing pigmented color into the crease.

I would love to hear about the brushes you can’t live without for brows and detail work — share your picks in the comments!

For Contouring

From day-to-day, I don’t do much contouring, so I’ll leave you with the shape I still tend to reach for when I am testing a sculpting powder: the angled brush (always reminds me of a foot…).  I also find that tapered highlighting brushes can be held at an angle and often fit well into the hollows of the cheeks!

Hakuhodo B512, Hakuhodo G511

• Hakuhodo B512 Angled Brush ($65.00) is a medium-sized angled brush that’s moderately dense and has slightly tapered bristles along the edge so that it gradually sweep and diffuse product.  The size makes it most appropriate for contouring most of the face but would be too large for contouring the nose.
• Hakuhodo G511 Angled Brush ($44.00) is a small, angled brush that enables one to get a very precise contour on the cheeks and a more diffused contour along the nose.  It’s soft, fluffy enough to blend and diffuse edges, but dense enough to lay down color precisely.

For Finishing

These are my “details” brushes in a way, as I use them at the end of my makeup application for the little things that sometimes just bring everything together in the end.

Chikuhodo T-3, Hakuhodo G6070, Hakuhodo F1230

• Chikuhodo Takumi T-3 Brush ($65.00) is a smaller, flat-topped brush that I use for buffing out edges of blush, bronzer, or highlighter that just need that extra blending for a seamless gradient of color/finish.  I like larger buffer brushes but find that a smaller one like this ensures I just get the area I need and gives me less chance of muddying everything else.
• Hakuhodo G6070 Kebo Brush (32.00$) is an incredibly delicate, feathery brush with layered bristles that yields an impossibly soft, buildable application of any powder product.  For me, I use this for that last-minute accent of highlighter on the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, or on the cupid’s bow.  It also works beautifully for applying powder underneath the eyes to set or finish concealer.
• Hakuhodo F1230 Ougi Maru Brush ($138.00) is a large, rounded “fan” brush.  It has the style of a fan brush, but the shape is significantly different.  This brush is a newer favorite, but it’s been my go-to (since trying it) for finishing powders like Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders or Guerlain Meteorites for all-over the face application.  The much, much smaller F7135 Ougi Short Brush is excellent at applying powder underneath the eyes, too.

This is the last post in my series on my favorite eye brushes, and it covers the more miscellaneous brushes for brows, detail work, and the like. These are the brushes I typically rotate through each and every week like clockwork (though there are more I use in a week, but these are the ones I’ll use first!).

I would love to hear about the brushes you can’t live without for brows and detail work — share your picks in the comments!

Brows

For the last couple of years, I’ve been using brow gel/creams to fill my brows (like Anastasia Dipbrow), and I prefer a stiff, angled liner or brow brush that isn’t too thin nor too thick. For grooming my brows, I’ve had no trouble using various spoolie brushes, but after discovering Smith’s angled spoolie, there was no going back!

Smith 214, NARS 47, Zoeva #17, Smith 205

• Smith 214 Spoolie Brush ($16.00) is an angled, spoolie brush that is excellent for grooming brows into place while simultaneously softening the brow after it’s been filled in.
• NARS 47 Angled Eyeliner Brush ($28.00) is a thin, angled brush that’s firm and stiff but in the best of ways for a really controlled, precise application of brow color.  Mine is actually the 38, but NARS updated their brushes, and it’s now the 47 (I have both and there’s no difference in the brush head, just the handle).
• Zoeva 317 Wing Liner ($9.80) is a strong, angled brush with a firmer feel that has just enough give to move in fluid strokes for filling in brows.  I have a few of these (they’re in a lot of the limited edition sets), and they’re always in my weekly mix of brushes to clean.
• Smith 205 Angled Liner Brush ($) is a small-to-medium, angled brush that’s firm without being overly stiff or rough on the skin.  It’s narrow enough to yield more hair-like strokes but gets the job done quickly.

Details & Lash Line

If you’ve seen my looks, I love a good punch of color on my lower lash line, so it’ll come as no surprise that I have several picks for detail work, particularly the lower lash line. I use these brushes for depositing more intense, deeper color into my crease (typically after I’ve applied other shades) as well as for applying color and blending said color out on my lower lash line.

Urban Decay Smoky Smudger, Hakuhodo G5548, Hakuhodo B5520, Zoeva 230

• Urban Decay Smoky Smudger Brush (E208) ($24.00) is a small, rounded domed, synthetic brush that is excellent with powder and cream products for depositing color into the crease without losing opacity.  It also works well for diffusing and blending out areas for a very blown out, diffused look.
• Hakuhodo G5548 Eye Shadow Brush ($27.00) is a medium, tapered pencil brush that is exceptional for depositing color into the crease (I prefer to do this after I already have done some blending work with crease/transition shades) to darken the area.  It also works well on the lower lash line! It’s like the big sister to the B5520.
• Hakuhodo B5520 Eye Shadow Brush ($22.00) is a small, tapered pencil brush that comes to a more noticeable point at the edge, so it can deliver precise application.  I reach for this one for inner corner work as well as for when I want a very thin line of color underneath pencil eyeliner.
• Zoeva 230 Luxe Pencil Brush ($11.50) is small enough to be precise but fluffy and rounded enough to smudge and blend eyeshadow (or liner) on the lower lash line easily.  It’s not the softest of pencil brushes (though not rough/scratchy), which I find practical for smudging pencil liner in particular.

Lower Lash Line

The first brush is my go-to for applying liquid glittery eyeshadows (like Stila’s Glitter & Glows) to my lower lash line, usually on top of another powder. The other two brushes I find particularly useful for really blown out, diffused lower lash line work.

Urban Decay Tightline, Hakuhodo J5529, SUQQU Eyeshadow Brush M

• Urban Decay Tightline Brush (E213) ($22.00) is a flat, synthetic brush with a domed edge that is quite small, which makes it perfect for applying liquid and cream products to the lash line.  I tend to use it with liquid, glittery eyeshadows that function as top coats on top of my eyeliner or other eyeshadow.
• Hakuhodo J5529 Eye Shadow Brush ($17.00) is a thin, narrower crease brush that’s a bit shorter than the average tapered, crease brush that I’ve learned to love for blending and diffusing darker eyeshadows along the lower lash line for a supremely diffused gradient of color.  It has quite a bit of give, which I think works on the lower lash line but can be too much for use in the crease.
• SUQQU Eyeshadow Brush M (£48.00 / ¥8,000) is a small, tapered crease brush that I’ve found invaluable for diffusing matte eyeshadow underneath my lower lash line, especially along the outer portion of my lash line.  It also works well for depositing color into the crease and for more precise blending work around the crease area.  The big downside is (besides the price) availability, as it takes some legwork to get shipped to the US.

S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush ($38.00) is a medium, flat eyeshadow brush with a tapered edge. It is made out of Canadian squirrel, and the brush head is 15.20mm in height, 11.25mm in width, and 4.50mm in depth with a total length of 15.70cm. Unsurprisingly, it was incredibly soft and smooth, and I could use it any direction and never feel the point of an individual bristle. It washed well and held its shape upon drying, though it is not recommended to wash this brush frequently due to the type of hair.

Against my eye, it ended up being rather large, so it did not find its way into my personal must-haves, but it is a great brush for all-over lid color application, especially for those who prefer medium, buildable pigmentation than true-to-pan, one layer opacity. It also worked well for diffusing edges and gently layering one eyeshadow over another when they had more powdery textures. The flatter shape, which had no fluffiness, did work best for laying down color over blending. I liked it for patting on loose powder underneath my eyes (over concealer), though I would likely reach for a larger brush normally.

This brush would be best for someone with medium or larger eyes (particularly someone who has a lot of lid space) and wants something incredibly smooth and soft to the touch for laying down sheer to medium coverage powders.

S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush ($35.00) is a medium, dome-shaped eyeshadow brush with light fluffiness and moderate density. It was similar in overall width compared to the S127 but ultimately has a fluffier feel, thicker edge, and is shorter, which also made it more manageable on my eye size. It is made out of Canadian squirrel, and the brush head is 15.70mm in height, 11.00mm in width, and 4.80mm in depth with a total length of 15.70cm.

The bristles always felt soft regardless of the direction I used it in, which made for a comfortable application. The brush was smooth, soft, and easy on the eyes for laying down color on the lid, blending along the edges, and even applying color into the crease or on the brow bone. It might be a little larger for some eye shapes, and it would be more of a go-to brush if it was smaller for me.

S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush ($24.00) is a flat, medium-sized eye brush that has nearly the same width from base to edge with a subtle rounding a few millimeters before the edge. It is made out of goat and horse hairs, and the brush head is 16.90mm in length, 10.90mm in width, and 6.20mm in depth with a total length of 15.15cm.

The brush was much denser than the goat version of the same style and lacks the give of the goat version that makes it excellent for blending and diffusing out color. I struggled to find ways to use this effectively, as it just seemed to drag color around too quickly or harshly rather than getting a more gradient-like blend. When I tried using it to deposit color into the crease, it did a good job of initially laying down the color, but it did not blend it out well, so I had to reach for another tool for that purpose. I had the best luck using it to blend out cream eyeshadows, where the firmer, denser brush made more sense. I did not find it worked that well for applying brow bone color or blending out eyeshadows after they have been packed on–it was adequate but the same shape but in goat hair does a significantly better job all-around.

S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered ($47.00) is a medium, tapered highlighting brush that flares out from the ferrule and then tapers to a rounded edge about two-thirds from the base. It is made out of goat and horse hairs, and the brush head is 32.00mm in length, 22.35mm in width and depth with a total length of 16.50cm.

The combination of goat and horse hairs makes it a much more resilient brush, giving it more spring and more effortless blending while able to take more washings with ease. It had moderate density with some fluffiness, but it wasn’t so fluffy that it lost precision or its ability to sweep on color where one wanted it. The texture of the bristles was still soft without being pointy or scratchy, but it was not as soft or as smooth compared to the same brush in goat or squirrel, which was expected and not a downside/con to the product. This one worked better with firmer or denser products compared to a softer natural hair (like squirrel), and it picked up a lot more color/product.

I find this shape to be great for applying highlighter, blush, and for subtle bronzing. It’s one of my favorite shapes and a style that I like across ranges. It can lay down color, sweep it upward, or blend and diffuse edges. The more tapered edge makes it usable for contouring the cheeks as well. If you are someone who is heavy handed and needs to be lighter, I would recommend trying goat or squirrel in this shape rather than this one, but if you are light-to-medium handed or have a lot of sheer, buildable products, this one would work well.

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S127Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S133Bk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5523BBk Eye Shadow Brush  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo S5521BBk Highlight Brush Tapered  

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered ($53.00) is a small-to-medium sized brush that flares out from the base and tapers to a rounded point. It is made with a mix of blue squirrel and goat hair. The brush head measured 18.00mm in width, 32.00mm in length, and 18.00mm in thickness, and the brush had a total length of 6.77 inches / 17.20 centimeters.

The shape is comparable to many highlighter brushes available, which isn’t a bad thing, as it is versatile and is a shape many may be familiar with. It does mean that there are other options available at lower price points, including in Hakuhodo’s J-series, where it is made solely of goat hair, for $38, for those who do not need the extra silkiness that blue squirrel offers. I like blue squirrel or the mix in this brush for more shimmery and frosted highlighters, as it builds them more gradually and seems to diffuse the shimmer more evenly (just by a bit). The tapered shape enabled the brush to sweep gently across the cheek bones to lay down highlighter more precisely, and the rounded tip applied highlighter nicely down the nose and on the cupid’s bow.

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat ($63.00) is a medium-sized blush brush that is flatter in shape, so it is not as round and full, with a tapering, rounded edge. It is made with a mix of blue squirrel and goat hair. The brush head measured 33.90mm in width, 38.00mm in length, and 18.7mm in thickness, and the brush had a total length of 6.85 inches / 17.40 centimeters.

The brush seemed light-to-moderate in density, so I had some flexibility and give near the edge of the brush, but it didn’t flop around or splay too readily if I used greater pressure with it against my face. The flatter shape seemed to work best for someone who likes more sweeping motions and light circular motions, but it will not buff out color as well as a more rounded brush shape or a fuller brush head overall. The bristles felt incredibly smooth and silky against the face, and I didn’t feel any of the individual bristles despite heavy pressure and trying a variety of directions and motions. It is a bit larger than your typical highlighting brush, but I liked it for subtle to moderate highlighters as well as blush and bronzer (which is what it is designed for). The brush worked well for applying initial color and blending and diffusing the edges of the color. This brush does not seem to have a goat-hair only version in Hakuhodo’s range.

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat ($98.00) is a medium-to-large blush brush that is full, thick, and fairly dense with a rounded edge and tapering bristles. It is made out of blue squirrel and goat hairs. The brush head measured 34.20mm in width, 38.25mm in length, and 22.80mm in thickness, and the brush had a total length of 7.00 inches / 17.80 centimeters.

The fullness and greater density of this brush means it packs on a lot more pigment from the get-go, but it also can blend edges more readily. While it is a flatter blush brush, it is thicker and much denser compared to the G5545 (to me, it seems double the thickness, but it’s only ~5mm thicker). I can easily do sweeping and circular motions with it, so I can buff edges or diffuse color outward. The brush is, unsurprisingly, silky and smooth with nary a loose bristle or unpleasant sharpness regardless of the amount of pressure or the direction it was used in. I like it more for sheerer formulas or more powdery ones where the denser, larger surface area means I can get an even amount of color on the brush without a lot of product getting caught in the interior of the brush. It also works well when you want to apply color to a larger part of the face, like bronzer along the forehead and the like. This brush is also available in the J-series as a mix of goat and synthetic bristles for $72.

See more photos & swatches!

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo B5521BkSL Highlight Brush Tapered

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo G5545BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush Round & Flat

G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled ($44.00) is a small, angled face brush that’s lightly fluffy, moderately dense, and thick enough to blend and apply color, and it was designed to be used with highlighters. It is shaped a lot like the traditional contour powder product, but this is smaller than average. It is 29.10mm in length, 21.75mm in width, and 13.90mm in thickness with a total handle length of inches / centimeters. It is made out of blue squirrel and goat hair, and I’m a huge fan of mixing the two types of hair, because you get a lot of the softness of blue squirrel with a little more durability and blendability of goat hair. It is, of course, incredibly soft, silky, and smooth, and I could never feel any individual hairs against my skin.

I’ve always liked the more angled brush head for really good sweeping motions and applications, as it really helps to diffuse the color across the skin. I think that’s why it is great for applying a soft, gradual, and luminous highlight. The softness of the blue squirrel helps apply more pigmented products in a more gradual way, though the smaller size can give one more precision as well. I particularly like using this size when I’m layering highlighter on top of blush or bronzer.

It’s large enough that it can still be used to contour cheeks and the jaw line with ease, but it is too large to contour the nose with any sense of precision. It will enable you to get a more precise contour under the cheek bone, but the smaller size works well for subtle, more diffused blending that doesn’t blur the contour product too much. If you tend to be more heavy handed with products, though, you might prefer something with less density and a slightly larger size. It worked well with all sorts of color products–blush, bronzer, contour, highlighter, setting powder–and is versatile.

B512BkSL Highlight Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlight Brush Angled ($65.00) is a medium-to-large sized angled face brush with moderate density, a little fluffiness as the bristles taper toward the edge. The brand says that it is supposed to be used to apply makeup around the eye and to use it with light strokes. It is 35.00mm in length, 35.40mm in width, and 22.30mm in thickness with a total length of inches / centimeters. It is a mix of goat and blue squirrel hair, which gives it the silkiness of blue squirrel with more durability and resilience of goat hair. I noticed that this one had several bristles that splayed from the edges after washing, which is a rarer issue with my Hakuhodo brushes, so you might find a brush shaper necessary with this one.

This brush works well when you want to apply sheerer coverage over a larger area or for blending out products after they’ve been applied. The larger shape is harder to work with when you have a very pigmented highlighter, blush, or bronzer, as it tends to over-apply color. Similarly, it’s too large to contour the hollows of my cheeks and will likely be too large for most (it is noticeably larger than the average-sized contour angled brush), but it will work well for blending and diffusing a contour in sweeping and light buffing motions where product has already been applied. In some ways, you might think of it as an angled buffing brush, as it blends out powders exceptionally well.

B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat ($59.00) is a small, flat brush with a rounded edge that comes to a very gentle point that is designed for highlighting and achieving sheerer coverage. This brush uses blue squirrel hair, which makes it incredibly soft and airy on the skin. It is 28.50mm in length, 20.48mm in width, and 9.25mm in thickness with a total handle length of inches / centimeters.

The shape works well for patting and lightly sweeping illuminating powders on the high planes of the face, like cheek bones, as well as for applying powder underneath the eye. The softness of the blue squirrel makes it so the bristles do not disturb the under eye area, which gives a better finish and minimizes the chance for the area to look dry, over-powdered, or crepe-y. It can also be used to apply blush at sheer to medium coverage (as desired), blending out edges of various cheek color products, and so forth, but as it is a smaller brush, it may lay down too much color in one spot with more pigmented products or may feel like it takes too long to apply if the area is larger.

S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat ($67.00) is a small, flat brush with a rounded edge that comes to a very gentle point and is meant for highlighting. It is exactly the same as the B116BkSL and the J116 ($35.00). I meant to get the S113 but inadvertently managed to get the same brush twice, the only difference between the B116BkSL and the S116Bk is a gold ferrule (24-karat gold plated brass vs. nickel brass/silver). It’s a lovely brush, and lucky enough, it is versatile for me. The J116 uses goat hair instead of blue squirrel, so the J116 is more resilient and durable and has white bristles.

Choosing the Type of Hair for Your Brushes

I often get asked what type of hair is best for what. There are a lot of preferences to take into account, but here is a quick primer on common hair types:

Synthetic is best for cream and liquid products, as it doesn’t absorb them and is very easy to clean without worrying about damaging natural fibers. I often find synthetics can kick up excessive powder in the pan and do not catch the powder as well in the fibers, so the application can be heavy and/or uneven. Most synthetics are pretty soft, but they can have sharp edges if not made well.

Horse and pony are more resilient and durable, so they require less care and can be washed regularly. The softness can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but can be softer than you might expect.

Goat is the most common type of natural hair used, and it is usually white, though it can be dyed and is often dyed black when it is. There are different types of goat hair (based on where the hair was taken from), so softness can range from incredibly silky to mildly scratchy. In general, most of the Japanese brush brands I’ve used have very soft goat hair brushes, but the goat hair I find in more mainstream brands (like MAC) is noticeably less soft/silky. Goat offers good durability, moderate give and flex, and works particularly nicely with powders but can be used with liquids and creams as well. It can be washed more often and requires less babying over time.

Squirrel is very soft and silky, and it is often a little airier on the skin with more give. This type is better for sheerer applications of powder products (and manufacturers warn against using this hair with liquids and creams) or very, very sensitive skin that can’t handle the texture of even the softest goat hair. You are really not supposed to wash it more than a few times a year. (I do not adhere to that, and I accept that my brushes may need to be replaced in 10 years instead of in my next lifetime. I am okay with the cost of that decision, if it proves true!)

If you’re looking to try natural hair brushes, I would start with a quality goat hair brush to see how you like the texture and feel against the skin. Squirrel is undoubtedly soft and silky against the skin, but it is costly, higher maintenance, and is less versatile compared to goat hair. Synthetics are also a good option for more affordable brushes, particularly if you’re just getting to know your application style, size and shape preferences, and so forth.

Hakuhodo is my go-to for natural brushes, as they have a large variety of shapes and styles, but they also make shapes in different materials, so you have more choice in terms of hair type and price point–some of their natural hair eye brushes are much more affordable than you might expect but most medium and large face/cheek brushes will be pricey. If you need the comfort of a good return policy, opt for Wayne Goss or Chikuhodo, which can be purchased via Beautylish.

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo G511 vs. B512BkSL Highlighter Brush Angled

Hakuhodo B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B116BkSL Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo B116BkSL vs. S116Bk Highlight Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Brush Collection consists of five face brushes that are made out of synthetic fibers. All five are on the larger side and dense with a lot of spring/give (particularly the Large Teardrop brush, which seems almost floppy as the brush tapers). The edges of all five brushes was very even, and I didn’t have any issues with scratchiness or feeling an odd bristle while trying the brushes in multiple directions. The fibers don’t seem as fine as they could be–IT’s Velvet Luxe line is softer and smoother in feel against the skin. I’m uncertain about some of the shapes and how versatile/useful they will be, but that is a personal call based on my own preferences, but you may want to see them in-store if you can.

It was apt that all but one brush was specifically named as a “Powder Brush,” because these seemed to be best with powders. Their density, though, made then prone to picking up and applying quite a bit of product, so you’ll want to use a light hand or use this with your sheerer to medium coverage products. I do not recommend using this with a bright candy apple red blush, for example, which is my personal test for seeing how much powder is deposited in a pick-up as well as how well the brush blends the color out (red blush is unforgiving, it gets splotchy quite easily without good application). As a side note, all of that intense red blusher washed right off with no staining (which is as expected).

Despite being a synthetic material, which often lends itself to liquid application, the Kusabi (Wedge Sloping Powder Brush) worked poorly with liquid/cream foundation as is very streaky, while the Kusuriyubi (Angled Concealer Brush) must be used to pat concealer into place rather than any sweeping or blending motions as it will leave slight lines. I think the Kusuriyubi is rather large, so it only worked okay underneath the eye (larger area), but it doesn’t fit as well into the grooves of the nose, around the mouth, under the brow, or for concealing acne or spots.

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Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Otsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Small Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush (Kotsubu)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Fan Cheek Brush (Ougi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Wedge Sloping Powder Brush (Kusabi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Angled Concealer Brush (Kusuriyubi)

These beautiful brushes feature an innovative synthetic bristle material—the first to benefit from exclusive technology—that creates a softer, fluffier feel with actual bounce while retaining the benefits of synthetic bristles. As a result, these brushes are soft as cashmere, yet deposit more product onto the face due to less absorption and are more hygienic than natural hair. The result of the first ever collaboration between a beauty company and highly-skilled traditional Hakuho-do craftsmen, these brushes benefit from the expertise of the Sephora Pro team and are handmade in Japan using a traditional, 200-year-old manufacturing technique. This ensures the highest quality design, materials, and assembly for astounding results.

Concealer Brush ($30.00) (Limited Edition)

This beautiful multitasking brush can be used to apply blush, contour, or for more detailed application and can also create an ideal natural look. The innovative synthetic bristle material is the first to benefit from exclusive technology that creates a softer, fluffier feel with actual bounce while retaining the benefits of synthetic bristles. As a result, these brushes are soft as cashmere, yet deposit more product onto the face due to less absorption and are more hygienic than natural hair.

Fan Cheek Brush ($40.00) (Limited Edition)

This beautiful multitasking brush can be used to apply powder, contour, or for bronzer. The innovative synthetic bristle material is the first to benefit from exclusive technology that creates a softer, fluffier feel with actual bounce while retaining the benefits of synthetic bristles. As a result, these brushes are soft as cashmere, yet deposit more product onto the face due to less absorption and are more hygienic than natural hair.

Wedge Sloping Powder Brush ($54.00) (Limited Edition)

This large angled powder brush—a brand-new shape developed by the Sephora Pro team—can be used for the self-application of powder, bronzer, or for neck shading. The new shape is designed to sculpt and provide maximum control when applying makeup to yourself. The innovative synthetic bristle material is the first to benefit from exclusive technology that creates a softer, fluffier feel with actual bounce while retaining the benefits of synthetic bristles. As a result, these brushes are soft as cashmere, yet deposit more product due to less absorption, and are more hygienic than natural hair.

Small Teardrop Pointed Highlighter ($38.00) (Limited Edition)

This beautiful multitasking brush can be used for precision contouring and highlighting. The innovative synthetic bristle material is the first to benefit from exclusive technology that creates a softer, fluffier feel with actual bounce while retaining the benefits of synthetic bristles. As a result, these brushes are soft as cashmere, yet deposit more product onto the face due to less absorption and are more hygienic than natural hair.

Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush ($49.00) (Limited Edition)

A large pointed powder brush to apply powder, contour, or bronzer.

Availability: Now at Hakuhodo x Sephora PRO Brush Collection (early access for VIB Rouge/VIB)

Hakuhodo J004G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat ($20.00) is a small, dome-shaped, flat eyeshadow brush made out of goat hair. The brush head is 10mm in length, 9mm in width, and 3mm in thickness. It had a total length of 145mm with a pinched, metal ferrule. It’s incredibly soft and silky–it feels like the brush moves at once, so I never felt the individual bristles–and excellent for packing and patting on eyeshadow or blending two shades together. For me, this shape and style of brush is a workhorse, because it can be used to apply, blend, and diffuse eyeshadow all on its own, so it is a true multi-tasker.

It is the most similar brush I’ve found in terms of general shape and feel to MAC 239 ($25). The 239 has a flatter edge with a bit more firmness, while the J004G has a slightly fluffier, lighter feel and is a bit bigger overall. The J242G (reviewed in the next paragraph) is narrower and flatter in comparison to the 239. The 239 is more like a mix of the J004G and J242G, but both are worth considering as alternatives to MAC’s 239. Just for reference, the measures of the 239 are as follows: is 8.5mm in length, 9.5mm in width, and 3mm in thickness. It had a total length of 170mm with a pinched, metal ferrule. The 239 is also much longer in total, as Hakuhodo’s handles run shorter.

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat ($18.00) is a small, flat eyeshadow brush with a slightly tapered edge made with a mix of goat and synthetic bristles. The brush head is 9mm in length, 7mm in width, and 2mm in thickness. It had a total length of 144mm with a pinched, metal ferrule. It’s a narrower eyeshadow brush that’s great for packing or patting on eyeshadow on the inner portion of the lid or for more precise color application if you’re applying more than two shades on the eyelid and want them to be more distinct. The brush is soft and silky, never rough or scratchy, so I also like it for patting on color along the lower lash line using the edge.

Hakuhodo J004G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J004G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J004G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J004G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J004G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

MAC 239 vs. Hakuhodo J004G

MAC 239 vs. Hakuhodo J004G

MAC 239 vs. Hakuhodo J004G

MAC 239 vs. Hakuhodo J004G

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat

Hakuhodo J242G Eyeshadow Brush Round & Flat