What are your must-have cheek brushes? Share!
Tom Ford Cheek Brush, Hakuhodo G5543, Sephora Pro Precisio Blush, MAC 131 (for creams). For more details, you can check out my previous posts: must-have eye brushes and must-have face brushes.
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Mac 109 for contouring, Mac 168 for powder blush, Mac 224 for powder highlighter
I absolutely love my Alicia Silverstone for Ecotools blush brush (it’s SOOO soft!!!) and the ones I’ve gotten from Costco kits.
I just started using Bobbi Brown’s blush brush and now I’m wondering how I could have ever lived without it.
I’ve heard amazing things about Suqqu cheek/face brushes, so I’d love to get my hands on one of those! Otherwise I kind of use my fingers for everything… 😛
Suqqu brushes is to die for. Got mine at Selfridges. “Cheaper” than buying from Ichibankao- about $500 per brush there. Yikes. Food money.
Did you have any issues with customs, Stacey? I worried with animal hair it might get caught up in customs.
Real Techniques Multitask & Duo-Contour.
Kanebo Sensai cheek brush (powder blushes)
A small Shiseido flat brush in a half moon shape (Hourglass Dim Light powder)
A small Guerlain flat brush that came with a compact (powder highlighters)
…and still on the lookout for a very soft brush to apply cream blushes!
For powder blush – Suqqu cheek brush and Chikuhodo Z3 for contour. For cream blush – Hakuhodo Duo Fibre J4001 and Hakuhodo Mitzubake. For cream contour – Hakuhodo G5557-2m. Those brushes give the sheerest and most even, natural application.
Inglot shade 47
It’s crazy that with my rather obscene collection of makeup and makeup tools, I only have one blush brush! It’s an angled one and it’s a “freebie” that I got in a “Showstopper” purchase from Pur Minerals on the Canadian Shopping Channel. For some reason, I’ve never felt the need to buy another blush brush – I guess on the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” theory. But maybe I should start looking at some new blush brushes….
Right now, my go-to blush brushes are Real Techniques Blush brush for the most pigmented blushes and Sigma F40 for less pigmented ones. But I haven’t found my HG blush Brush.
This one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400335790984?var=670045728018&ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
— And the Real Technique Setting Brush.
Thanks for sharing this. Earlier today I was browsing ebay for a affordable blush brush and saw this but was unsure of the quality. I bought it now! Thanks!!!!!
It’s actually surprisingly good, the bristles are SUPER soft and they stay in shape quite well. The black brush is more tapered than the white, but both blends products outstandingly well, so in the end it’s about preference. I personally prefer the more tapered black brush because I like to load up just the tip of the brush with product and let the clean bristles blend it for me; and also because it’s easier to keep clean compared to the white.
Cons: The handle feels a bit flimsy to me, but that’s probably because I’m not used to yachiyo-style super thin handle. I’d also be very careful when washing, as it doesn’t have a ferrule, so if water gets on the rattan handle it may weaken both the handle and the glue holding the bristles together.
So far, though, I’m not complaining, in fact, I’m contemplating getting back-ups. I hope you like the brush! 😀
Thank you so much Ryou! I bought the Black one. I’ll let you know how it goes once it arrives.! Take care!
No worries! I’m sad to report that my white one fell apart during washing today, though. >’: Definitely wrap the handle (especially the area near the bristles) with something — Perhaps a washcloth, or maybe a rubber band. while washing and don’t tug on the bristles as you squeeze the excess water out. I certainly learned my lesson the hard way! >.<
I'm thinking of doing something to reinforce the wrap near the bristles, though, as I found out today that the glue is pretty weak.
Hey Ryou!
Awww!!!! That’s sad! Thanks for letting me know. Mine hasn’t arrived yet. I bought the black and white. Maybe we could drip some Krazy Glue around the wrap? Or some clear epoxy glue? Once they arrive, I’ll get a better feel of what could be better. Do you remember how much time did they take to arrive?
Take care!
Hi Laura!
I think we hit the comment string limit for the site, so I’m replying here, I hope that’s okay.
The brushes took nearly a month to arrive, although I suspect part of it is Australian customs running tests on the brushes (because it’s made of animal hair). The seller was very communicative about it, and they do have a refund policy for items that end up taking too long in the mail.
I think clear epoxy glue might work best, but I may need to test it first. I’m glad the brushes are affordable enough, that it’s not too painful for me to purchase replacements. At the moment I just hold the wrapping together with a rubber band near the bristles and that seems to do the trick. Do tell me if you find anything that works! 🙂
Hey Ryou!
Yes! Thank god they are relatively inexpensive! I imagined that they would take around a month to arrive. Which is bad because I’m crazy curious now to see them and used them! Since we are in the topic of bargain brushes, I can share with you these that are suuuper soft and dense. I love them!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261324108994?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
I’ll keep you posted! Take care! = )
Hi Laura,
Thank you for the recommendation! The brush set looks really good, and since the bristles are all synthetic I don’t need to worry about them smelling or splaying everywhere. Score! 😀
Some of my favorite affordable brushes are from abbamart.com, do check them out, they have a really nice selection. I’m partial to the Tulip Blush Brush, myself, it feels like cotton ball on my face. <3
Hi Ryou!
I got the black brush today! It looks very nice and sturdy. I was super careful while giving it its first cleaning. So far, I’m liking it alot! Thanks for the tip! = )
Hi Laura!
Glad to hear that! I hope yours last a long time. 😀
the IT cosmetics blush brush for blush, the Eco Tools Powder brush from their Day to Night Clutch Set for dustings of powder and diffused bronzer, Real Techniques blush brush for contour (it does work great for blush too), RT stipping brush for any dabbing on any super pigmented or cream blushes before blending
Hakuhodo G5519, S110 (go-to blush brush), G544 (pigmented blush) and G5552 (cream blush), J5521 (contour), J4002 (highlight), MAC 134 (bronzer)
I just ordered the hakuhodo g5543 so I’m excited to get that. My MAC 129 is just too scratchy and my skin has become more sensitive. Christine, can you recommend a good brush for my MAC Studio Fix Powder which I set my foundation with, I’m currently using a round/dome medium density powder brush so I need something very similar but softer. I think I considered either the j104 or j110 but it didn’t seem dense enough. I’m also looking for one for my guerlain pressed crazy meteorites, I’ve just been using my MAC 129. Last, I need one for finishing with my MUFE HD loose powder. I’m open to different shapes for the last two, I’ve been looking at goat hair, mostly white, the Tom Ford Bronzer brush, and hakuhodo brushes.
Hi LU!
Maybe MUFE #128!
The blush brush i had wasnt good enough to consider it a must have, but i bought the mac 116 yesterday, washed it and didnt shed a single hair so i have a feeling that one is going to be a must have 😀
MAC 129, MAC 187 and Real Techniques Multi-Task brushes
(1) Sigma F10 for powder Blush. (2) Real Techniques contour brush for contouring. At first I thought it was too small but actually it’s perfect. (3) My Smashbox fan brush for highlighter.
As with eye brushes, it really depends on the product. I primarily use an Essence of Beauty angled blush brush for NARS Multiples & MAC creme blush. I also have a Sonia Kashuk domed blush brush that came in a set (Summer 2013-Morrocan Collection) that I reach for when using denser powders & hoglighters; SK doesn’t sell this particular brush on its own, or I’d have 3 backups… For softer powders, I reach for Real Techniques blush brush or multi-tasking brush.
I don’t know if contouring brushes fall under this category, but I can’t be without my Sonia Kashuk duo-fiber fan brush for powders, or e.l.f. angled foundation brush for creams, and SK flat contour brush to blend it out.
Suqqu Cheek Brush, hands down!
Mac 116 & 129
For blush application, I love the MAC 187, the stippling brush. I really fair and it’s way too easy to go overboard on blush, the 187 makes it easy to apply just a little and build.
For contour, I like the little stippling brush, the 188 and for highlighter, I think it’s the 109, a smaller angled contour type brush.
MAC 138 for blush and the MAC 109 for highlighter. When I bronze up my cheeks a bit I like to use the MAC 187 because it doesn’t pick up too much product.
Mac 187, Mac 136 (so sorry they discontinued this), Mac 188 for highly pigmented blushes and Marc Jacos “The Blush” brush for contouring.
My go to blush brushs are mac 129,168 and my old school billy B # 1and #3 brush. highlighting mac#188 and contour mac 109 & mac 163(LE)
MAC 129 and sigma f88
illamasqua blusher brush 1 is the best!!
Suqqu, Chikuhodo, and Hakuhodo are my favorites. I always by the Blue Squirrel hair because I love super soft brushes and have very sensitive skin. I also love the way the soft brushes apply product sheerly so I don’t overdo the color. Works for me.
These are my 3 favourite brands too!
I like the Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush (now called the Large Duo Fibre Multipurpose Brush #115) for applying blush.
I’m really surprised no one mentioned the NARS Yachiyo brush (which Hakuhodo has a similar one for cheaper)!! It’s like seriously the only brush I use for blush.
I have this, and I don’t like it. I also have the Hakuhodo one, which is better, but I don’t love either personally! I find them irritating/rough 🙁