Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set Review & Photos
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
A Travel Set of Exquisitely Soft Brushes
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set ($69.00) includes a silver brush case that includes four short-handled brushes. The largest is the cheek brush, which is made out of pony/squirrel hair. Then, there are two eyeshadow brushes, one is made out of nylon and the other out of sable. The last brush is a lip or eyeliner brush, which is made out of sable. The four brushes were made in Japan.
I’ve been using these brushes for a couple of days, and for a travel set, they’re really quite nice. The blush brush is dense and soft against the skin; it doesn’t feel scratchy at all. It does a nice job of both applying and blending out cheek color. The nylon eyeshadow brush works well for cream eyeshadows, while the sable eyeshadow brush is better for applying powder products. I thought the latter brush was a little large and would have preferred a squatter brush. I used the smallest brush for both applying lip color as well as applying shu’s Painting Liner, and it worked nicely for both applications. I liked it a bit more for lining around the eye, just because it felt a smidgen too small against my lips (but would be nice for someone with thinner lips).
All four brushes have been washed twice now, and I haven’t had any problem with dye bleeding, funny smells, or the like. The blush brush hasn’t had any shedding problems either. As far as the bag goes, it will get the job done; I think it’s a little thin overall. I liked the way each brush had its own pocket, and there’s enough room in it to stick a couple more brushes in there if you want (or a few other products).
See more photos!
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Mini Brush Set
The brushes look good, but I’m not entirely sure I would want to support someone like him in anything he does. ;/
why do you say that?
IIRC Lagerfirld has made some anti-Semitic comments in very public forums.
Wasn’t that John Galliano?
Karl is rather outspoken on other topics though!
Karl Lagerfeld says *alot* of “controversial” things for shock value. Apparently, it works; many still buy his things, and we’re still talking about things he’s said some 20 years ago. Do I agree with what he says? No; however, I feel a person has every right to say what they want, and I don’t judge *anyone* on their opinions. If I did, I’d have no friends. Everyone I know feels differently about different things. That’s what makes life interesting.
I don’t know… Something about it doesn’t really appeal to me. I think it’s the overall styling that’s just not my cup of tea.
Agreed! I was so curious to see the results when I heard about Lagerfeld collaborating with Shu Uemura, but the end design looks just a Tim Burton character with bizarre evil Gir robo-eyes. A little more “ew” than “aw” in my book. (And I disclaim by noting I love Tim Burton!)
Haha 🙂 Yeah, I’m a Tim Burton fan too, but Karl’s attempt at something TB style is just not right, hehe. Come on Karl, you should have stuck to what you’re known for and good at! Sleek, elegant, chic.
The brushes are cute, but that price tag for a travel set? Not liking that so much.
If the price was right I guess I could be swayed, but honestly I take with me a fairly large back for all my toiletries and my regular brush roll can fit in there fine.
OMG as a fan of asian doll culture, I’m so suckered into this whole collaboration. Must resist cutsey brush kit. I’m seriously aghast at myself.
I love your brush reviews, Christine. I’ve never come across a brush made in Japan that wasn’t top notch, and I’ve yet to own one from Shu so I’m looking forward to trying these. But even the generic brushes in the drugstores are super super soft and well-made!
Cute, but just a bit too pricey. I realize the brushes break down to about $17-18 apiece, which would be fine for brushes I leave on my makeup shelf, but when I travel, I inevitably lose something, so I have a set of Eesence of Beauty brushes that actually work quite well.
Whatever brand it is, the first product of that brand is always awesome. Then it goes down hill from there. I own Shu Uemura brushes. And I have the compact minature brush set like this which I bought over 11 years ago. It came in a black pouch. The first one I got was in a leather case. I even bought it for someone else at that same time. Then I bought another one, same brushes but the black case was in vinyl, not leather at about the same price. I miss the original Shu Uemura when the original creator when he was alive…a real genius. This collaboration is cute but looks more like something a teenager would get….and I do like Japanese doll pictures. Even though the brushes are made in Japan, they look cheap. Thank you Christine for taking pictures at every angle sideways, upside down, and all around including the box. I get the picture of the entire package. And Christine does presents the pictures well. 🙂
Agreed. This looks too teenager-y for me.
I find this very cute, but pricey! At least the four brushes are high quality :). I believe Shu Uemura products are not sold in Mexico, but I´ll be sure to check – I´m curious not only about this collection, but about their other makeup products as well.
I have the Shu Uemura/Tsumori Chisato collaboration travel brush set, which looks like it’s exactly the same product with different styling, and they are easily the nicest brushes I own despite being travel-size. I was initially grumpy about the face brush because it’s pretty rough, but then I used it for blush a few times, and now I’m convinced it is that texture because that texture is AMAZING at applying blush.
I also love the little case because it’s small enough to tuck in anywhere, but large enough for me to cram a few things into it. I can fit a lipstick, a mascara, and a MAC quad in there with the brushes. If I want to drag something around with me for touchups, the little case is fantastic.
It’s not cheap and I probably wouldn’t have spent that much on myself, but I got it as a Christmas present and it’s fantastic.
I do want a travel brush set, but this isn’t really appealing to me, I don’t know why. I’m also not a huge fan of Karl Lagerfeld, so that may be part of it. I’ll keep looking (although if anyone has recs for a good set, let me know!)
I have a couple of Essence of Beauty sets (CVS) that I find to be quite nice. I haven’t experienced any shedding or bleeding, and they are quite soft. They are pretty plain, though. If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, you can try Sonia Kashuk (Target). I have a set I bought a while back, and I actually find myself reaching for these brushes most often, even at home. Posh are really good, too, although I haven’t tried any of the “travel” brushes. They, too, are inexpensive, and I found mine at Bed, Bath, & Beyond.
I was at Ulta the other day and ended up getting a set of EcoTools brushes – they come in this great case where the brushes are in their own compartment with a clear plastic cover and zip close, and the other side is a bag that fits (mostly) my to-go makeup stuff. It’s a lot more convenient than what I was using, and the brush set includes a blush brush, foundation brush, mini face brush, eye brush, and spoolie. I took the spoolie out and replaced it with a different eye brush because I don’t need it. It’s the EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone bag, I think.
I’ve been thinking strongly about getting a travel set. I don’t really like the case that comes with this though. Sephora has some cute looking sets that I’m interested in.
The charm girl reminds me of those Japanese horror movies (which I love because they’re not just your standard blood/ghosts/gore.. they’re incredibly creepy!) but cartoonized. I saw the eyelash curler with the charm but now that I see this.. I’ll probably get this set instead because the girl is on the case instead of just being on a charm (which I have enough of!). I’ve been looking for a nice set that includes a blush brush, and though the price tag is steep, I have SO many memories with my friends that revolve around Japanese horror movies, and well I can’t pass up makeup with sentimental attachments right? Argh, my wallet creys.
Does anyone know if they are handmade or if they are like all other travel sets being made by machines?
Meh I wouldn´t buy a bunch of brushes that are that expensive,depending on the product I might consider that price, but for just brushes no, the elf ones I have are ok.
My first thought on looking at the handles was “no”…..just, no. I don’t know, to me they look cheap. I agree with the poster who said they do sleek and elegant better.