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Share your pick! And don’t forget to share why 🙂
Hakuhodo J5543, Tom Ford Cheek, Sephora #73 Pro. (You can read about them here in my brush must-haves post!)
Thanks to Ammara for today’s topic!
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I like the Sigma angled blush brush, but perhaps it’s only because it’s the only angled blush brush I’ve ever tried, haha.
I love the MAC 187 for blush, it makes it easy to apply very lightly and build. Other regular blush brushes always seem to leave too much color for me.
I agree, this brush is especially useful for highly pigmented blushes or for layering a blush
A readily available, cost-friendly option, I’d go with the Real Techniques Multi-Tasking Brush. It’s soft, yet dense, so it works well with soft/powdery formulas, as well as denser formulas. Plus, the shape lends itself to various techniques/face shapes. The Essence of Beauty Angled Blush Brush is great, too, particularly for creams.
In a perfect world, the Sonia Kashuk Duo-Fiber Kabuki Brush wouldn’t have been LE…
It’s a tie between the Kanebo Sensai Cheek brush (so soft, yet dense, applies precisely and blends effortlessly) and EcoTools Multi Tasking Face brush (soft, precise and great at picking up harder powder blushes).
Oops this is not quite an answer to XAMYX’ comment (I first thought you were referring to the EcoTools MT brush!) however I’d love to give the RL MT one a try 🙂
Real Technique Blush Brush is my all time favourite 🙂
I use MAC 187, I can mess up and put too much with it.
Sonia Kashuk Blusher Brush No 101 – It does the soft, round blushed cheeks look perfectly. It’s so fluffy I sometimes use it as a setting powder. On the other hand the brush diffuses color so well that sometimes the color I want washes out. I have a heavy hand when putting on makeup so the ‘defect’ works in my favor,
Sephora Collection Pro Angled Blush Brush #49 – When I want some super sculpted cheekbones. I mean woah look at that 80s bold line for blush! The bristles are denser and it carries more product per swipe.
Louise Young Blush brush. Super soft and blends really well when I’ve been heavy handed.
I don’t really have one. My Armani is ok, but I’m looking for a new one. I think for the sake of my wallet I’ll be trying one from RT.
my Suqqu cheek brush, hands down.
Tough! Mainly because I don’t think I’ve found it yet. I’ll keep an eye on all the comments and check out your recommendations 🙂
I Like Mac 116.
I’ve yet to find the brush that makes me feel like my MJB bronzer brush does with powder, but in the meantime I enjoy IT cosmetics French whatever it’s called, has a clear handle, awesome shape, a Laura geller retractable, so soft and malleable, along with a bare minerals ??? Kind that came in a set unknown eons ago from a shopping network.. I just reach for what’s there. I’m Quitting Sephora. I can’t get in to shop. I bet my brush is gone.., 🙁
My favorites are my MAC 168 and 188 brushes. The Sedona Lace Dome Contour brush is another really good one
The best was my beloved Sonia Kashuk blush brush that came with a set in a white hardcase; it was ancient. It finally died on me. I’ll probably replace it with her blusher blush 101. I also like e.l.f. Studio angled blush brush for highlighter and some blushes. I use the e.l.f. Small Studio Stipple Brush for HD blush and sometimes cream blush.
I really want to invest in a higher end blush brush, and I’ve been looking at the tom ford cheek brush and chikuhodo z4 cheek/highlight brush. Which do you prefer/ which one is more versatile in terms of working with both sheer and pigmented blushes?
IMO, the TF is denser, thicker and would need a more sparing hand to apply blush. The Chikuhodo is small, super soft and easy to control how much you get onto the brush and therefore, onto your face. If you are heavy handed like me and tend to apply too much, I’d advise the Chikuhodo. The TF is also very soft but it’s thicker, lots more hair and so will apply more product.
Thanks for the advice, very helpful 🙂 I think I’m leaning towards the chikuhodo.
The Hakuhodo J5543 is very similar to TF in shape but less dense. It’s a dream to work with because it picks up such a balanced amount of product, I can never go overboard. The size of the brush is good for all face shapes, I think.
I only have the mac 116 and 168 but the 116 its too flat and a little scratchy and after buying the 168 i realized i dont like angled brushes for blush or face countouring, will have to save up for a hakuhodo
I like MAC 168
Nars Yachiyo… ❤️
I have the Hakuhodo based on your recommendation, and while it is super soft and lovely, I don’t prefer it for everything. Maybe I just don’t know how to use it (or apply blush – I never feel like I’m doing it right). I was tempted in the Sephora sale to get either the Sephora Pro you mentioned, or the NARS Yachio, – or maybe even the Tom Ford on a big Nordstrom points day (how similar is it to the Hakuhudo?) but I just couldn’t commit to yet another blush brush (I have Eco Tools bamboo, a travel size MAC 168, and a MAC 187, plus an old pre-makeup-obsession Bobbi Brown blush brush that an SA talked me into). I’ve figured out that I don’t really like angled brushes, but I feel like the Hakuhudo and Eco Tools can apply too much, whereas the 187 hardly applies anything. I’m still looking for that HG blush brush!
I use the Real Techniques Contour Brush to apply my blush. Often that’s all I need. Occasionally, I may be a little heavy handed and put too much blush on. I’d then use the Real Techniques Blush Brush and Guerlain Meteorites to tone down the blush.
I like RT Blush Brush.
The Koyudo Red Squirrel. Unfortunately a LE released around the end of 2012 with a reprise in 2013. I am praying they release it again this year so I can get a second! But I always wanted a Suqqu Cheek, everybody says it’s The One, buuuut kind of hard to get and way more expensive.
I have both the Red Squirrel and the Suqqu. Both are fabulous and I wouldn’t be without them. Delicious!
Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush (now called the Large Duo Fiber Multi-purpose Brush no. 115)
MAC 188!!!! I use my hourglass no2 for fool proof blushes.
I have found that the best blush brush depends on two things: how pressed the powder is in the compact and how pigmented/sheer the blush. If the blush is more pressed, then that takes precedence over whether it’s pigmented/sheer in which brush I choose. More pressed blushes require using a denser brush such as Hakuhodo J5543. If the blush isn’t as pressed in the pan, then whether it’s more pigmented or sheer determines which brush I use: if more sheer, I use the Hakuhodo J5543; more pigmented, Chikuhodo Z-8.
The reason that I don’t use the Chikuhodo Z-8 for more pressed or packed powders is that doing so would destroy the bristles. But hands down, the Chikuhodo Z-8 is the absolute best brush for more pigmented blushes that aren’t too packed in the pan (such as Tom Ford’s).
The perfect blush brush seems to elude me. Chantecaille’s is super-soft (I think it’s goat hair) and has a smallish head, which I prefer, but sheds like nobody’s business and the bristles in the middle crush no matter how gentle I am. Laura Mercier’s Cheek Colour Brush is even softer (I believe it is squirrel hair), but the head is a little larger than I ideally want and it is so dense that I have to be really careful with highly-pigmented blushes. But, the LM does not shed at all and it holds its shape beautifully. It also lays down blush evenly and beautifully, so it’s my go-to.
I’ve been eyeing both the Hakuhodo and Tom Ford. Too bad Sephora doesn’t carry either brand as 20% off sure would help 🙂
Sonia Kashuk blusher brush #02 is awesome. I love the shape
Zoeva #128,Bobbi Brown Face blender
Hakuhodo Z8 is beautiful.
I don’t knowwwwwwwwwwww. I am waiting for the Surratt cheek brush to arrive from NYC and then compare it with the Suqqu brush. So excited.
Really like Zoeva 127 luxe sheer cheek.
Somewhat surprisingly (given my makeup weakness), I only have 1 blush brush…honestly! And it was a freebie. It came in a “Showstopper” and it’s an angled blush brush from PUR Minerals. It does the job but I keep thinking maybe I should try something else. I have really liked all the Sephora Professional brushes I’ve purchased and will probably buy their angled or regular blush brush one of these days….
RT Blush Brush for pigmented blushes, although it’s a little big for my face. Ecotools for less pigmented blushes and when I want to use the same blush for blush and contouring (in fact, everyday). But, actually, I don’t have found my HG blush brush.
I bought the Hakuhodo J5543! It’s well worth the extra effort because every blush I apply diffuses so beautifully with it. The brush picks up just the right amount of pigment to give soft colour to the cheeks, and then i just layer on more product if I want to. Also, it is so soft, I didn’t think brushes could be this soft; it hasn’t once irritated my cheeks.
Hakuhodo medium rounded yachiyo. I like it for blush more than the suqqu cheek brush for blush (unbeatable for contour though).
This is a difficult question because I tend to reach for different brushes depending on the texture and level of pigmentation of the blush. If I had to choose one I’d say the ELF Studio Blush Brush. The size is perfect for my cheek and since the bristles are black it’s easy to see how much product/ pigment you’re applying.
I haven’t invested in any pricier blush brushes yet, but I love my Eco Tools tapered blush brush! I love that I can use it to pack on blush, yet it’s soft enough to blend it nicely. I can also pinch it and use the tapered end to contour my cheekbones. I have Real Techniques blush brush, but I actually don’t like it for my cheeks as it’s way too fluffy and usually applies blush very lightly (which isn’t what I usually go for). Great for bronzing, though.
My holy grail blush brush is Chanel ‘s #7. It’s discontinued but I am on my third one. I have been using them for like 15 years. It is the perfect size for my cheeks; I have not found anything even close.
Chikuhodo Z-4 Brush. I have fair skin and the softness of this brush really sheers out the product so that I don’t end up with too much blush. This way I can really build it up to the desired intensity. I also like the Sigma F40 Large Angled Contour, and the Wayne Goss #02. 🙂
I love the Real Techniques Blush Brush. I have a heavy hand with blush but it’s almost impossible to overdo it using this brush!
Bobbi Brown’s one.