I thought it could be a fun idea to start the year with some pictures of the most exceptional brushes I have come across during 2012. I have tried to narrow down the list to the minimum but there are still so many of them !
I wanted to pick the most exceptional and unique, the ones that have surprised me the most, not exactly the most necessary. I will make sure I share at least one link where you can find them in order to get more details on the brushes. They are not in preference order, just brand by brand. You will see the picture of the brush(es) and below the picture a small comment on each.
The most lovable brush !
Koyudo designed the most creative and tempting brushes I have seen this year, I am nearly scared when they release new brushes because I know there is a big chance than an order will follow. This macaron has been released in 3 colors, there is also an orange and a purple, it’s adorable, incredibly soft, tiny, very densely packed and firm, not the most necessary brush I admit but I have to say that this one is one of the most beautiful brushes to look at.
I use it to apply powder or blush, the surface covers approx 4cm and it’s only 5cm tall.
The most spellbinding brush.
It can drive you crazy believe me. One touch and you are under… It feels so insanely soft. It’s extremely densely packed, little flexibility on the tips but it’s perfect to apply powder in a stippling motion. It’s actually very small but the surface covers 3.5cm diameter which is perfect for me, not too big not too small for powder application. You can see more details here. I really enjoy it and I am glad the quality is outstanding, the price is quite high but no problems whatsoever, no shedding, no flaws.
An outstanding achievement.
When goat hair becomes so soft that it blows your mind away. This brush is the reason why I got so addicted to Koyudo brushes, I was mesmerized with the quality of the hair, with the smoothness. This brush is my favorite of all. You can read more details here, the material is : “100% top-quality baby goat chest hair” if that doesn’t make you want it, I don’t know what does… 😛 It’s densely packed but flexible, the surface is quite flat but rounded on the sides, the softness remains even all around. The surface it covers is huge, 5cm diameter, feels like surreal angel hair on your skin…
The most perfectly balanced kabuki brush.
This brush has the softest combination of goat and squirrel hair with the perfect density and grip for a flawless application of bronzer… I was going to skip it but I am glad I didn’t, my sweet friend and follower Nikoleta ordered it and gave me a great feedback on it, I am really happy when you share your thoughts on the brushes, so I don’t miss out on them 🙂
It covers approx 4cm with the surface and is 6.8cm tall, they have the same one with different colored handles (black, white, pink and wood).
The softest brush EVER.
It’s a limited edition brush, it’s as soft as a brush can be. Works miracles with highly pigmented blushes but the tips of the hair have also a great capacity in picking up a decent quantity of blush so I love it with any blush actually, Rouge Bunny Rouge, Burberry, etc. If you are looking for the softest brush ever this is it. I have tried 2 other red squirrel brushes but nothing compares to this one, Piccasso also creates nice red squirrel brushes but they are darker and not as soft in comparison to this one.
Best performance.
I got this one when I ordered the Koyudo Christmas set but now it’s also available individually.
If you are looking for results that could come close to the Rae Morris Radiance, this brush is what comes the closest. In terms of specs, the hair length is the same, it’s more densely packed and of higher quality than the Radiance, sometimes softer does not mean better for blending so in terms of results, I prefer the Radiance but the Radiance will not work with everything, this Koyudo will and the result is amazing.
Since I got it, I haven’t even used the Radiance brush. This Fu-pa feels great on the skin, works with any foundation I tried and it’s just so easy to use. Nothing else to add, it’s a must-have brush. The surface covers 4cmx2cm, if that’s too big, well they made a smaller version of it : 2cmx3xm, or an angled one if you prefer to have a mixed flexibility on the bristles.
A revelation.
When I ordered it I was expecting a dupe for the Tom Ford bronze brush, it’s not at all. Not the same softness and the hair is thicker. I would say the hair is more similar to the Radiance than the Tom Ford.
I wasn’t thrilled by this brush when I received it but when I started using it a few days (or weeks) later I was sincerely impressed. I don’t use it with powder products just with foundation, on the website it’s actually mentioned it’s a foundation brush. The day I used it with thicker foundations I was hooked, I love when the foundation application is totally invisible and flawless and that is not easy to achieve for me when I use thicker products, this one just does the job for me.
A gigantic success.
There is nothing like it, there are similar brushes but this is a horse, I was using it every single day but then Koyudo happened and stole the show but this one remains in my top top favorite foundations brushes. I prefer it to the Koyudo fu-pa07 but the Koyudo is much more easy and straight forward to use, as I am often in a rush I automatically grab the Koyudo but I LOVE this Radiance brush, it’s a huge success and I don’t want to live without it, which brings me to the quality topic, I am just a bit worried about the quality and about the regular and increasing shedding, I think it’s a high price for the brush but I have to say that they got the hair quality/density/flexibility right, just worried about the solidity and the durability of the entire brush.
The link to the store is here, it’s sold out but there is a waiting list, you can email them and they will put you on it.
Standing ovation.
Great quality but at high price. If you are a kabuki lover these will hypnotize you, so nicely bundled, dense soft and firm at the same time. Hakuhodo released the maple ones just a few weeks ago and when you look at the handle quality you think it just cannot get better. It doesn’t.
The link to their Saikoho brushes is here.
Excellence in design and performance.
Hakuhodo released the J Series this year, ALL the J Series are amazing, truly great value for price and they all deserve a huge award. I love so many of them that a post on my favorite ones would take me ages to prepare. I have to say that the “stippling” brushes from these series are just so insanely good that they need a special mention just for them.
I really wanted to use more stippling brushes because I love what you can do with them when they are good, I had a few already but didn’t care at all for them, now that I have these J Series I do seriously care and use them very regularly. They are great with so many products, foundation, cream bronzer, wiping excess off, concealing, blending, etc etc etc. Soooo worth it.
The ONE I was waiting for : one of the biggest surprises of 2012, arrived on the 31st of December 😛
I was looking for the perfect contour/blush, small but dense, and with exactly that shape (fluffy-ish but with flat surface) so that I could do both applications. I just got it 2 days ago and the reason why I did not order it before it’s because it’s written “eye shadow” in the description, too big for any eyeshadow application but perfect for my cheeks. I can’t believe how good it is ! The hair length is 2.5cm, it covers 2.3cmx1.5cm at the tip of the head. Perfection and with this handle is double the hit. Totally and deeply utterly in love !!!!!
A masterpiece.
You are probably going to be disappointed since this brush is only available on the Hakuhodo Japanese website therefore not available to the rest of the world but I still had to talk about it here. It looks like a sword, it has all qualities that you could dream of in a flat concealer brush, or so I think. It’s firm yet soft and even though it’s flat it feels “fluffy”-flat, the hair bristles are placed in soft layers and then end to a point. Love it to pieces.
One of its kind.
It’s quite dense but still has flexibility and it allows a controlled application, so soft that it will not alter your base makeup underneath. I just think that even though it’s not a necessary brush, it’s really unique and one of the softest brushes you will ever find.
Link here.
Excellence in design.
A beautiful brush and extremely soft, but it’s Chikuhodo after all, so the best is to expect. The head of this brush is incredibly full and soft, the application of pigmented bronzers is a dream. It’s expensive but I think it’s worth it’s price, it’s art in a brush, well, Chikuhodo brushes are already art on their own but with this Kaga Maki-e decoration it’s even more unique.
An outstanding performance with an outstanding and perfect design.
This is what I was hoping the Suqqu powder brush to be : dense and soft. The Suqqu is a bit too soft and doesn’t pick as much product as this one does. Insanely soft and so efficient !
The size of the head is a bit similar to the Koyudo H005 kabuki, of course softer since it’s only grey squirrel but sizewise similar.
The best ensemble has to be awarded to the Z series.
All the Z-Series are truly amazing, my favorite are the Z-1 and this Z-8 for its versatility and its shape. Once more, perfection.
Best arrangement.
This is the shape I was looking for, it’s like we are made for each other 🙂 It’s pointy and fluffy, goat hair but it feels soft and it’s amazing for applying, blending and reaching also the sides of the nose. It’s goat so don’t expect an insanely soft brush this time but it still is soft enough and very efficient. When I saw it on the website I knew I had to have it and I don’t regret it at all, one of the best purchases I made.
Link here.
Another masterpiece.
When I first got this brush, the Hakuhodo J Series weren’t out yet and I did not know about the Koyudo White Mushroom yet so this was a first in softness, fluffyness and remains a huge winner.
Two days ago, together with my Kokutan eyeshadow L, I received the J531 that reminded me of this Tom Ford, the J531 is also a great fluffy brush and incredibly soft too, it’s angled but it’s also a great option and slightly less expensive than this Tom Ford.
Another outstanding achievement !
When I saw this brush at the TF counter I was afraid it would not last because they all looked terrible (dirty and damaged by the surrounding elements, normal when they are tested so many times a day), but actually it does last, it’s solid, it’s as good as the first day, for me it’s just the best crease brush ever.
Yet another masterpiece, an expensive one though.
I have tried to find dupes but this one has all the qualities you could wish for and can do so many things that I think it’s better to go for the real one instead of getting other alternatives in which you might just waste your money. Just my opinion though.
Not available on the USA website but I can show you a link here.
Most Promising Newcomer.
I got mine here, it’s actually very similar to the Suqqu cheek brush, pics and little review here. It’s actually even better for me but it looks like I have a weird Suqqu anyway… this Kyureido deserves all our attention and beyond !
Customer services
I have always experienced a very efficient customer service with Hakuhodo, always replying fast and clearly to my emails. The shipping is also very fast and consistent, I select the 12$ option for overseas delivery and it’s always here in less than a week.
Since Chikuhodo do not deliver outside of Japan, Malin from Kohlindo has been helping us to get these amazing brushes and I want to thank her for her honest and friendly help. It’s very important to trust where you are getting these brushes from and I have no worries in trusting the Kohlindo services 100%. I heard that their site will soon be in english.
I wish they could process the orders faster than they do today but the packaging is absolutely to die for ! Once the items arrive in their premises the shipping is fast, takes approx 3 to 5 days to reach me in Switzerland.
CDJapan (Koyudo brushes)
Their customer service is friendly and helpful, they can get you any Koyudo brush you want (or so I think…) if you ask them by email. I believe it’s a bit faster than Koyudo but I might be wrong, don’t have much experience ordering with them so I can’t give you a consistent statistic 🙂
Just a few days ago CDJapan contacted me and they thanked me for “spreading the word” about the Koyudo brushes, they are extremely happy that today their brushes are a bit more known internationally and they told me they also want to help me by providing me with samples of their brushes. So far all the brushes I have reviewed have been purchased by myself but in the future I might also review some sample ones, either way, I will always remain honest about ALL the products and ALL the brands I review and that does not mean that they can “buy” my opinion.
I just appreciate that this happened specially with Koyudo brushes because if there is a brand that has a special and dear place in my heart it’s Koyudo. I have told you what I think about most of their brushes well before they contacted me, if you know me by now, you know that I am a honest person, I feel much closer to my readers than to any company and my readers will always be my priority.
Conclusion
It looks like the brush market is opening new interesting opportunities and since I am very curious I will carry on exploring it ! I would love to know which ones have been the most amazing discoveries in 2012 for you !!!
I also want to thank you for your amazing collaboration and for the trust you have placed in this little blog, I hope I can continue sharing more with you in 2013 and wish you all the very best ! <3
475 comments
Hi Sonia,
I really enjoyed reading this post. 🙂 Your normal posts are really good but since you normally get really great brushes anyway, I want to buy everything. This awards post highlights the best of the best for me and helps me pare down my lemmings (I have so many that I can start a zoo already). I was just wondering, for blush application, do you prefer the Z8 over the Z4? What would you say the differences are? I was looking at the Chikuhodo website and to me, it seems that the bristles of the Z8 are longer but the size of brush head wouldn’t be too different since the Z4 seems to be a little more splayed. Would this be correct? And how does application differ? So many questions… LOL. I’m really thankful that you started this blog because beauty blogs usually focus on the makeup products and not the application tools. Have a great day!
Thank you Tori 😀
so cute, I see lemmings all over and all around !!!
The Z4 and the Z8 shape is almost identical, the difference is just the size and that the Z4 is just very slightly more tapered vs the Z8 that is more flat at the top of the head so you will get a slightly more gradient thickness at the very top of the Z4 but still a dense enough surface, for blush only I would pick the Z4 since it delivers a more precise application, their are both densely packed with the same firmness so no problem for soft blending. The Z4 surface of the head is roughly 2.5cmx2.2cm and the Z8 approx 3cmx2.5cm. The application only differs in regards to the precision and the surface they cover, the Z8 would be a more multipurpose brush though. Please let me know if that answers your questions ! honestly if you get one you will want the other so just get the one you need the most 😛
I am glad you love brushes too ! have a lovely day too ! 🙂
Dear Sonia,
thanks for your amazing quick and detailed response! <3 You've answered all my questions and I'm definitely getting the Z4. Hehe. If I didn't already have so many blush brushes, I would totally be tempted to get the Z8 as well… But I don't really do a full face of makeup usually so I'm trying not to collect too many face and cheek brushes. You did convince me to get the Koyudo Christmas set though. I just got Tom Ford's Shade and Illuminate but I don't really like the brush that Tom Ford sells for it. It's too thin and takes too much time and effort to blend out so the cheek brush in the holiday set really appeals to me. That brush seems to be thin enough to apply product precisely but chunky enough for effortless blending. I tried to see if there was a Fupa that was like the cheek brush but the Fupas seemed to be either goat or duo-sided (with goat on one side and synthetic on the other) so I decided to get the entire set just for THAT Fupa. So that's one lemming off the cliff… LOL.
you are very welcome !
well there is a full pink one, I mean there is a full white goat, a full pink and a double sided.
I can show you some pics that I have prepared for my review :
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/9_5_10_6_sideways.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/10_06_08_front.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/all_flat_front.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/fupas_all.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/9_5_10_6.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/9_5_7_front.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/2_7_8_12_13.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/fupa10pr010.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/9_10_11.jpg
I haven’t tried all of them yet but I believe the one that is also in the set is sold individually and it’s the fu-pa10. Anyway you won’t regret the set, the pouch is really nice and I love the lip brush too 🙂
I also don’t like the flat TF for contouring, I prefer the fu-pa10 for sure !!!
I stole a peek and before I could catch my breath I booked a flight to Switzerland and car service to your house!!!
let me know when you arrive and I’ll pick you up at the airport 😀
Ok thanks! I’ll cancel the car! 😉
Seriously I have an unhealthy attraction to Fu Pa’s for some reason! I am driving home (passenger, no need to be alarmed) working through my brush lists of wants and needs! My husband is completely unaware of the dangerous situation occurring right next to him! Your new lens/ lighting is really great!
😀 😀 😀 I can actually hear you laughing ! my boyfriend heard me and gave me a silly look 😀 😀 😀
Dear darling Sonia,
thanks for the pics. 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading your review on the Fupas… I’d thought that the 9 and 10 would be duo-sided as well, because the hairs listed on the website are goat and polyester. I wasn’t certain but since there were no pictures of the entire brush head, I decided to order the Christmas set just to be sure. Oh well… Nothing such as too many brushes. *innocent face* Hehe… I am particularly excited for my first pink-handled brushes!
😀 innocent face 😀
you will love them, it’s not just flat pink handles, they have little micro sparkles that give them some more dimension 🙂
Fantastic! The most amazing find for me in 2012 was definately Koyudo! Hand in hand would be CDJapan/ Cool Japan a fantastic company! I have an email in to them requesting a specific brush so we will see what happens!
2nd love of the year of brushes would be the J Series 😉 can’t beat those brushes or Hakuhodo’s customer service!!!!
I need to back up though and say that Sweet Makeup Temptations and everyone that goes along with it would be the ultimate find of the year!!!
argh thank you Stacy !!!
I am definitely the happiest blogger around 😀
Happy new Year 😉
Oh the H008 😀 I really want this one too. I love to hear that the quality is great like the other Koyudos you have 🙂
Oh and since i saw the Hakuodo G5518 i want it, i like the shape …. is kazan softer than blue squirrel ?
Thank you ! Wishing you a fantastic New Year too ! 😉
yes, Kazan is actually softer than blue squirrel… not hat you can really really tell but it is !
May I also nominate the best beauty blog in 2012? It would be, hands down, Sweet Makeup Temptations for me!! 🙂
I love all the brushes you listed here, especially intrigued by Kyureido. The brush looks so finely made I think I gotta order this! 😉
Thank you Carol !! 🙂 I can barely believe what I am reading… ! gosh so sweet of you 😛
well you nearly know all of my brushes now, I am glad I could just find a few new ones on the last week of December ! 😀
Ah Sonia! Your blog is so lovely and I love coming here to gaze upon your brush beauties. thank you for this round up of lovely brushes.
Thank you !! you are very welcome 🙂
oh by the way, I love your picture of the Pencil TF brush calling God 😀 got me cracking up !
🙂 Heheh!
I wanted to thank you for this amazing post. For me too, Koyudo was a great find. As Hakuhodo they manage to design new and unique brushes. I wish Chikuhodo was more inventive in shapes but the Z-8 has a special place in my heart, I’m lemming the Z-1 now. I’m quite curious about the kokutan L brush. I’ve put a small order on hakuhodo, but will certainely order the G5527 so I was on the hunt of some other brushes to complete my order, I’ll certainely check this one.
My biggest find was Koyudo for 2012 but I discovered also chikuhodo thanks to you and your blog was so helpful to choose amongst the new hakuhodo brushes. Unfortunately, unless there is something really special, I’ll try to calm down on brushes this year. I’ve just ordered a G5527 I’ve been lemming over the past year, I hope it won’t have the gap I had with the 5524. Does the 5518 have the same gap ?
Delicious post! I am interested in the Koyudo Red Squirrel but their site is in Japanese. How does one place an order? I’m proud to say you have steered my toward many of the brushes here in this post and they are all fabulous! I am eagerly awaiting Malin’s shipping of my Chikuhodo MK-2. I hope she’ll ship today. It will be my first Chikuhodo!
Hi Mimi, it’s written here or you can also contact CDJapan by email at info@cooljapan.jp they might be able to get it for you..
CDJapan did comment in the blog once so I guess they might also read your comments 🙂
oh I forgot : your first Chikuhodo is the MK-2 ? amazing 😀
Aaaaaaahhh…..brush porn 🙂
I feel like rubbing my phone against my cheeks 🙂
They all are heavenly made brushes right! Im so afraid for myself when Im in Japan, walking on brush clouds! Think it would be wise to bring cash only and leave out my credit card. I prob will have nothing left for the rest of my trip. But hey, who needs food when you have all these wonderful brushes right? 🙂
Do u know if Koyudo has a shop, like the Hakuhodo flagship store, in Tokyo? I cant find it, except for the Kumano Select Shop in Ginza area where they’re also selling other brands. But Im afraid they dont have all the Koyudos there. It would be amazing if I could see them first before I splurge on these right!
Btw, question abt yr MK2 & Z4. I got them recently, but mine had some shedding issues during the first 2 washes. Also some hairs fell out while I was using them. My heart was weeping when I saw it!! Not that extremely a lot of hair though, just a couple. I washed them twice so far. I just didnt expect any shedding with their quality!
Anyway, pls let me know yr thoughts.
And yes, definitely the Koyudo as my ultimate brush discovery for 2012 🙂 and my lovely first Chikuhodos MK2 & Z4 as my luxerious splurge for 2012.
A very happy 2013 and Im so thrilled for u that they approached u to do some reviews on their brushes!! Thats GREAT news, so we can spend some more to satisfy our brush needs:)
O btw, which angled FuPa brushes are they on1 of yr future review pics? Are they the FuPa 12 & 13? They look so much more angled on yr pics than on the website?!
Cant wait for yr review 🙂
yes I got the 12 and 13, I confirm 🙂
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/7_12_8_13.jpg
I have been using these 2 this morning actually 🙂 and also the double-sided ! they are all fantastic but I need to use them thoroughly before I can give you my final review. I can tell you that so far I am very impressed !
yeah I am the new Hugh Hefner and my girls are my brushes 😀 😀 😀 oh dear !!! 😛
You have to save before your trip ! you have to get there ready, then if you don’t buy anything that’s ok but better be ready 🙂
I don’t know about the shops, I am going to do some research since I am also interested in finding them, I will update you when I got news.
I totally understand what you mean, I am having that same problem with my new Fine Kalla ! My MK-2 is really solid and does not shed.
I believe that there is a “brushing” process done by the manufacture after each brush has been made, that process sometimes is not done 100% and some hair may still fall out afterwards. While bundling not all hair are trapped into the glue and it’s normal that they shed out (at least it’s what I understood and I don’t remember where I read that).
I am also concerned with the Fine Kalla and a few other brushes that I own, I will wash it again very gently and also make sure to rinse it well.
You are right, I think I am blessed that they approached me, couldn’t dream of a better Treasure Island 🙂
LOL 🙂 yeah Sonia and her brush bunnies 🙂 you should make a brush bunny calendar!! 1 favo brush for each month 🙂 and with all yr brushes you can make yr own calendar for the next 10 decades…..LOL
Thanks sweety!!! Would be great if u can find anything abt a Koyudo shop in Tokyo, they do have their factory shop in Kumano Hiroshima, however thats out of my travelling itinerary 🙁 I actually thought abt it but I just couldnt do that to my hubby. I already reserve some (A LOT) brush quality time in Tokyo. I just couldnt drag him on the shinkansen all the way to Kumano just for the brushes! On a second thought, why the hell not 🙂 🙂
Hmmm….I still can amend my itinerary 🙂 I just tell him that we’re going to do some awesome off the beaten track sight seeing……and then all of a sudden there happens to be a brush factory……….hehehe
I know that some stores are selling Koyudo, but usually the cleaning brushes only and some of the artist brushes. But defo not all of them 🙁
Btw, have you checked out these? Website looks like a mix of the Chikuhodo & Koyudo!
http://www.lamsamyick.com.hk/index.php?p=26&s=e2631beec1f5905edee0f012e30aa944&lang=en
This 1 looks like a lil sister of MK2!
http://www.lamsamyick.com.hk/index.php?lang=en&sp=&cat2=0&cat1=8&cat0=8&id=36&new=&more=&sp=&cat2=0&cat1=8&cat0=8&id=36&new=&more=&p=6&s=e2631beec1f5905edee0f012e30aa944&s=e2631beec1f5905edee0f012e30aa944
Sorry for the long links! The annoying thing is that they dont descripe what type of hair they use for each brush, they just mention ‘natural hair’. And I couldnt google translate the Chinese/Japanese or whatever language that is!
Im still lacking an angled brush! Thought of the Hakuhodo G504, do u have it? Owise think the Koyudo 12 & 13 will do fine too and its cheaper! Let me know yr thoughts 🙂
Thanks a great bunch as always with helping us out on our never ending brush quest 🙂
Ladies, I just got a reply from CoolJapan abt the Red Squirrel, FuPa013 & the H008!
Red S:
Since Koyudo is still closed for the holidays until Jan 7, they’re not sure yet if they can get the Red S brush for me. But they will ask and let me know if thats possible.
FuPa013:
Will be online next week!!
H008:
Will be online in abt 1,5 weeks!
So I assume CDJapan will be having a lot more Koyudos on their website! I also asked them abt getting the other brands as well like the Mizuho, Tauhaus or Tanseido.
Will keep u posted 🙂
Thank you !!! amazing news !
Great post and i would vote for you as Best Blog too! Any chance of you doing a quick comparison of the Suqqu cheek brush and the Kyureido fine calla 002? I have a cp arranged for the Suqqu cheek from the UK to USA in a few days and wonder if i should cancel it. Thanks!
Hi Tammy,
and thank you <3 🙂 🙂 🙂
Although I LOVE the Fine Kalla 002 there is one thing to consider :
I just got it a few days ago therefore I don't know if it's solid and if it will last, the reason why I am concerned about that is because it started to shed a bit this morning while I was using it 🙁 maybe it's normal, I don't mind if the brushes shed *a little bit* so if it stops here, that's perfectly fine, if it continues to shed I will have to seriously reconsider my opinion !
The Fina Kalla is more beautiful (shape and handle) than the Suqqu. The Suqqu does feel slightly softer but mine has a weird shape, maybe you saw it on the pictures already, if my Suqqu brush was more tapered like the Fine Kalla I think I'd rather prefer the Suqqu but just because of the hair.
If you can get a Suqqu, with the right shape (!), then get the Suqqu. You might be paying more for the brand and for the slightly finer hair but I know these brushes will last. Mine does, I got it a long time ago, although it's probably a dud that I got 🙁
I will definitely keep you updated on the Fine Kalla, it's a really gorgeous brush and I would be really upset if it starts to shed !!!
You made me want badly the G5518, I have seen it on some imats pictures months ago but was afraid it had the same problems as the G5524 with the gap between hairs and ferrule. Is it ok ? do you think it can be used for blush ? Measures are approximatively like the 210 brushes.
I’m eager to read your post on the new fupas too. I hope they will be on cooljapannow, it’s easier to order there and there are some japanese goods (konjac sponges, cute dentelle brush guards) I’m interested in too.
you can see a pic here of the brush (wet) I just took it 🙂
There is a gap but small, nothing like the one you had the with G5524 !
You can use it for blush providing that the blush color is sheer, it’s very directional and dense and if you use it with darker colors you will have full coverage ! covers half the surface than the 210 actually so densely packed and directional ! very good for highlighter or for contouring but for blush only if the blush is not too dark.
I have applied 3 times my foundation this morning just to try the Fupas, now I need to exfoliate to remove correctly everything otherwise my blood will get intoxicated with the amount of foundation I have been playing with 😀
thank you, Sonia! it seems fine. I don’t have many pigmented blushes and I can always use the side and tap off the excess, it seems quite a multipurpose brush and so unique.
New fupas will cause you a breakout 🙂 your poor face! fortunately koyudo’s brushes are so soft, think of it as a spa facial 🙂
Hi Sonia
I loved this, hearing about your favourites for the year. The best part of the post though was that cdjapan are going to send you some brushes to trial. I think that is awesome and so deserved. You have clearly helped so many people by trying so many brushes and letting us know what you have liked and not liked. I am stoked for you that you will get to try more of their brushes and stoked for us that we will get to hear more reviews. I can not wait for the review on the fu pas. I still haven’t heard back from koyudo so think I will contact cooljapan to see if they can get them for me. Maybe I will wait for your post though to see of I should add any 🙂
I would hands down vote for you for favourite blog too. And for favourite followers as well! I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Buggsiebee for all her help and huge generosity sending me so many goodies right in time for Christmas. You are both awesome!
Cheers
Becs
Hi Becs ! well it’s not really “favorites” it’s “ultimate” and “favorites”, I do have a lot of favorites that are much less expensive too 🙂
Thank you so much for your support ! I can’t believe the wonderful community around this little blog, you are all the best friends ever !!!
If you need cdjapan email here it is : info@cooljapan.jp
I am just having a problem with the fu-pas right now, the difference (purpose) will be hard to define between different shapes/sizes/materials and many products will be involved, they are all good and I am having fun using them, hope I will still have skin left after I finish 😀 – just kidding, they are soft so no worries 😀
I agree ! I have the best followers in the world 😀 I am blessed !!! we should all meet !!!
Hi Sonia, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your 2012 brush awards post — so many beautiful brushes! Although I decided not to step into the exotic land of Koyudo for now, I think I’ll get the Hakuhodo ES L and stippling brushes which have been on my ? list for a while. The kokutan wood handles are so gorgeous and such a treat to use. Wish I purchased the G537S while I was in Japan but it wasn’t on my radar screen at that time — but I’ll get it next time!
Nikoleta, what problem did you have with the G5524? I have the slightly smaller G5527 which does have a gap between the hairs and ferrule if I push the hairs to one side. It has also lost a few more hairs than is usual for a Hakuhodo brush. I actually have not used mine a lot; the hairs seem a little short for the width and I tend to grab other brushes.
Hey! I just checked my brushes and I can create a gap between the hairs and ferrule of quite a few other round ferrule brushes I have if I push the hairs to one side: the Suqqu cheek, the Chikuhodo Z2, the Hakuhodo Kokutan T for example. My J214 and 210 are very tightly packed for round ferrule brushes, but it seems to me that a gap is more the norm. Is that why most brushes are made flat??? Sonia, do you know?
you will love the Hakuhodo ES L ! from now on it will come with me anywhere I go !!!
No I don’t know about these gaps !!!
but I will see if I can “interview” someone that can answer that 🙂 and in the future I intend to visit a manufacture, when I watch manufacture (tiny) videos that I can find (or that Nikoleta sends me 🙂 ) it really makes me love them even more !
Hi, Kay
I have the same problem with the G5524, the gap was so big it has shocked me, when washed it was so ugly, one could say it has lost the half of the hairs, I have send a photo to Sonia and she told me her’s was quite the same (sorry I have tossed the photo, but it was impressive, Sonia, did you keep it by any chance ?). Marty from Hakuhodo explained it was normal for round pointed brushes but I have some and the gap wasn’t so big, smaller pencil brushes don’t have this. BTW I don’t see the reason why big pointed round brushes would have a gap and no the other round brushes 🙁 The problem is that when hairs are so loosely packed inevitably, I think, dust, humidity, etc. would settle to the bottom of hairs under the ferule and would loosen the glue thus shedding. Anyway, I love the G5524, it’ll last probably less then other brushes but meantime I’ll use it till the last hair 🙂
Thanks, Nikoleta for letting me know that yours lost hairs and that gaps are common with round pointed brushes. I do agree that it seems odd that round pointed brushes would have more of a problem — maybe it’s more difficult to shape and bundle a pointed brush and they can’t fit it into a tighter ferrule? It would great to see videos of how they make different types of brushes.
I hadn’t noticed gaps before until you brought it up and am concerned about the others such as the Suqqu cheek and Chikuhodo Z2 that have it. I guess I can’t do anything about it except be careful with storage and wash carefully and not as often. Sometimes I have done quick cleaning by wiping brushes on a dry or slightly damp towel — maybe will do that more frequently to lengthen the time between regular washes. And, oh yeah, maybe do more of the cornstarch cleaning which I hate.
Nikoleta, These are my brushes – sorry it’s blurry but I am still waiting for some material – (a “trépied”) 🙂
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/threehakuhodo.jpg
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/g5524.jpg
and here is yours Nikoleta (yes I still have your pic)
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/nikoleta_haku.jpg
thank you for the pics. obviously it is the type of shape, I’m happy I don’t have a dud. it stopped shedding after the second wash and as you, Kay, I clean it on a dry towel as I do for all of my powder products brushes and try to wash them once in a month. once a week I comb them gently, another tip I’ve learned from a friend is to put mothballs in the drawers when stored for a long period of time. I don’t have problems with moths but don’t want to take risks 🙂
Sonia and Nikoleta, thanks for the pics and comments. Mine looks like yours so it isn’t a dud either. Whew! But why do you comb your brushes weekly? I’ve never heard of regular combing recommended except after washing. Geez, these brushes are sounding more like pets the way we obsess, play with and take care of them LOL I only hope we don’t start naming them!
😀 I don’t comb them but I am very capable of naming them 😀 Paintings have real names for example and not only numbers and brushes is an art too 😀
I don’t comb mine either but I do talk to them….
Happy New Year Kay 😉
hahaha we are going to drive Kay totally crazy here 😀
I comb them after washing too but not when too damp. On the other side, I never put a conditionner, I’m afraid it will grease them (although in the soap I use there are some special preservers for brushes) To me brush hairs are like the scalp hairs, I know I’m mad 🙂 so combing them from time to time (very gently and just a few strokes) allows to get rid of dust, unknot hairs and aerate (does this word exist at least ?) them. Well, it also allows me to pamper my collection 🙂 The truth is that at our level of addiction, it is more of a hobby, a passion than of having a brush for make up.
you said it Nikoleta, we have crossed the line and even though we are happy to also use them, we are really talking about a passion.
I love the craziness! Combing them, talking to them! You two have gone off the deep end awhile ago, haven’t you? Most entertaining and a bit disturbing as I am feeling you are hitting a nerve with me and that your connection to the brushes could easily unleash a fall deeper into addiction for me. Are we psycho?
Aren’t all the great writers and painters often a bit crazy and psycho ? During the day I have the most serious un-flexible job with so many rules and regulations, I need something else to have fun and unleash the psycho beast ! 😀
But don’t be scared, have fun 🙂
2012 was really Koyudo’s year as far as my collection is concerned!
A HUGE thank you to Nikoleta for steering us in the right direction & obviously a MAJOR thank you to you Sonia for investing so much money in procuring all these great brushes & then spending massive amounts of your scarce free time testing, photographing & writing the most informative posts on all your discoveries.
Sonia, our Spanish/ Swiss SUPERWOMAN and reigning brush QUEEN of the internet.
I’m VERY relieved to see that two of the rather VERY expensive brushes ( Koyudo Hoo8 & Red Squirrel ) which I nudged you to buy ended up on your Favourites list. I would hate to push anyone into spending a small fortune on brushes which weren’t absolutely magnificent have-to-haves.
I have SO enjoyed reading the comments & getting to ‘know’ the rest of your fans 😉
…Stacy, cc, Bonnie, Becs, Kay, Nikoletta 🙂
What a wonderfully relaxed, sharing, friendly, fun & cosy community this has become!!
Wishing us all a whole lot more fun times together in 2013!!
I love that : “the brush queen” 😛
of course these two made it, they are just incredible !
This is really fun to share with you, looking forward to 2013 !!! 😉
“On ne jouit bien que de ce qu’on partage” (we appreciate the most what we share), that was a real pleasure to discover with you all these treasures and Sonia’s posts were so informative, such a professional opinion and good photos.
Yes, it is certainly the highlight of 2012 for me – being here, meeting all the wonderful people, got addicted to Sonia’s site!! 😛
Talk about obsession.. 😛 I went from 3(?) brushes in April to over 60 brushes today and another 10 coming next month! I use a microfiber cloth for face to clean my brushes daily, then comb them from time to time with a wooden comb (I use one that looks like this http://www.cnemay.com/carve-plum-carpenter-tan-red-wood-comb-p-3247.html?zenid=f0119e2c83192473154cacad8461163b ).
From very young I have dreamed of being an archaeologist.. Did you see their toolkit?? All those brushes, big and small and for precision work.. I told my hubby last month and he said, ‘See? Subconsciously you have always had big love for brushes!’ 😀 😀 I am glad he gets me. 😀
Oh, lately I am trying this Kao Biore Cleansing Oil lately for cleaning foundation brushes and I love it ( http://cgi.ebay.com.my/Japan-Kao-Biore-Cleansing-Oil-150ml?item=300638027146&ih=020&category=11861&cmd=ViewItem ). Hope this helps! 🙂
This week my boyfriend was looking at my brushes on my desk and he started playing with them, he told me that I could be the best archaeologist with these tools 😀
Your hubby sounds really very sweet 😉
thanks for the addiction Carol, you have always made me laugh but this is such a kind thought 😀
thanks also for the recommendations !
Thanks Carol! That is a beautiful comb!
Amen to all of that, Buggsiebee!
For me 2012 was really about brushes, but it was actually fabulous timing. It was lucky that I started obsessing over makeup only at the beginning of 2012, and in the process of building my collection, I stumbled on some amazing bloggers (delicate hummingbird, the Non Blonde, to name a few) and they all mentioned the importance of brushes. At that time, I hadn’t started buying brushes so when I started researching, Sonia’s blog was an absolutely FABULOUS resource from the very start! Instead of buying mediocre brushes, I had the opportunity to read all of these reviews and comments from followers that helped me invest in quality brushes from the very start. So thank you, everyone and Sonia, in particular!
And thank you Buggsiebee, as well, for sending those things earlier this year 🙂 Please let me know if you ever need anything as well! Oh, and I also bought the BB brush spray which Sonia told me that you recommended to her, thank you!
You are welcome sweetheart 😛
My Rakuten order just arrived:)) Got delivered to my door. I just don’t get the customs department!?!
Sometimes they deliver, the next time I have to wait a further week before I can collect from the local office. There is NO system whatsoever.
I had to pay a further €190,- on delivery so these brushes had better be GREAT!!
I havn’t washed them yet, but I can already tell you that the pointed eyeshdow brush is lovely! Sent you a comparison pic between this one & the Suqqu + Chiku Z10.
Do you like the “white kabuki” brush ? 😀
and what about the cheek one ?
I really don’t understand it in Germany !!! so weird !
Hey Ms Buggsiebee or Sonia, could you send me that picture? Mine has been ordered already but I would love to see the comparison….. Thanks!
A pic of the pointed eye brushes? On the way:)
Which pointed eyeshadow brush is this? I think I missed some comments, is it the Kyureido one? Because if it is, I’d love to take a look as well!
I think I need to bath all the brushes first. The toilet brush isn#t as bad as I had expected & I think your idea to try it with foundation will prove to be absolutely right.
I find the Fine Kalla brushes pretty similar to Suqqu. I do love the fine sparkles in the handles. Very pretty!!
Nikoleta, That is actually a very very good idea! I am trying to find ways to be more gentle with my collection ( I am afraid I have been too aggressive with washing my Koyudo fu pa 02 and the Christmas fu pa because both are shedding far too much!).
May I ask what you use to comb them?
This is definately a hobby/ passion!
Mimi: If you ask my husband or my friends (present company excluded!!) we are most definately in the midst of an expensive addiction!! 🙂
Happy New year to you both ‘)
nothing special, a regular comb like this for example http://fr.123rf.com/photo_8140852_outils-de-base-coiffeurs–paire-de-ciseaux-un-pinceau-et-un-peigne.html I use the larger side as I don’t want to harm hairs.
BTW my fupa 02 was shedding really badly but I have washed it like crazy the first time, I have used too much soap (never again the bare minerals one:( and have rinsed it too long, now that I have switched again to my trusted master’s cleaner, it seems OK
Okay, I tried it 🙂 I got out an old metal eyelash comb that I never use because it’s too sharp and scary to use near the eyes and combed my smaller brushes. Most of the hairs were lined up nicely so I didn’t have to tug and only one hair came out. I’m not entirely sure if the brushes benefitted but it was relaxing and quite therapeutic to groom them. But then I am a groomer by nature…loved to comb my kids hair when they were little, cut their nails, pick off dead leaves from my plants. Hmm, Nikoleta, look what you started!! For sure my husband is going to think I have gone off the deep end. He already wonders what I do when I spend so much time in my bathroom with my brushes and makeup. Yes, I think we truly are the obsessed 🙂
Thank you Nikoleta! I am using the Master’s brush cleaner as well… I know this sounds silly but how do you wash your brushes with it? I am dampening my brush, swirling it around the “soap” and rinsing and then repeating until the water runs clean… I hate to think my fu pas will go bald! I am trying to follow your advice (and Ms. Buggsiebee’s) and not wash too often but I am a dirt a phobe and can not stand to see my foundation brushes used too many times without cleaning…. The Bobbi Brown in between cleaner is good….
sorry stacy, I’ve skipped your message. I do as you and leave the soap several minutes on. I wash my foundation brushes after every two uses. My fu-pa has lost a lot of hairs at first but now it stopped shedding, I have another one to alternate and some other foundation brushes so finally I don’t use it every single day.
I’ve succumbed…couldn’t take it anymore seeing that puff ball of a white mushroom over and over. Sonia, you are the devil for sure 🙂 but I’m sure I will be thoroughly delighted! I think CDJapan should send you commission for all the business you are driving their way!
😀 😀 I might be the evil queen of brushes then 😀 😀
This white mushroom (I believe mushroom is the word for kabuki but I quite like calling them mushrooms 😀 ) feels just like air on the skin ! I hope you will enjoy it. It’s quite big so I use it for bronzer or as I just told Stacy, to set my makeup with powder or with bronzer (finely milled), depending on the bronzer it gives a matte-ish but healthy look to my skin and I am loving that.
I knew it!!!!!! Sonia, once again, you killed it :)!!!!!! Thank you so much for your thorough review! I’m so happy to see that many of the brushes you have inspired me to get are in this post (yaaayyyyy!!!!). I’m not so sure about all the others you mention, but that I don’t have (yet!), LOL.
A few days ago I was wondering about the Kokutan e/s L (remember?) – I guess that one is staying on the list, lol
I can only echo what all the other lovely ladies here have already said: you have created a wonderful community around your amazing blog, and even though we all may a bit nuts with our brushes obsessions (or hobby – exactly the term my Mom used when she first saw my relatively modest collection), but at least we know what makes us happy, and we take great pleasure in indulging. I see nothing wrong with that :D. But I also know that for my part, you have been instrumental in my indulgences and knowing which to chose, which would make me happy. Thank you.
My Koyudo journey has just begun, with only 2 brushes so far (but good ones, lol). I’m already thinking I will need a Xmas FuPa back up (how can I ever be without it???), lol. The H005 (black version) will have to be mine. I’m still looking forward to your review of the concealer FuPa ;). And I’m still searching for the perfect brush to use with my Chanel creme Soleil Tan bronzer, for a light, even, all over application, and would totally welcome any suggestion (so far I’ve been using the LY34).
I am devastated that the Hakuhodo G537S isn’t available outside of Japan. I did contact Hakuhodo about it, but no luck – even though they were really nice about it.
And I’m trying no to think about any of the other lovely brushes you have featured :D!!!!
So again, thank you. I really hope your trip to NYC is still on for this month, and that we will have the opportunity to meet, and that Stacy can make it too 🙂
yes I remember and this Kokutan is really worth it ! It will never leave my side 🙂
I am really enjoying the Koyudo fupas, I don’t think you specially need a backup of that same Christmas fupa, but if you want a backup and more possibilities in terms of results, you should get the angled version 🙂
The concealer is also very nice, I have tried it with a few different products and it always delivers a very natural luminosity, no cakey application, I also can achieve it with the Hakuhodo J125R but this Koyudo is bigger and so it’s faster. I can even use my Mac Studio finish concealer that I found too fake before on me. I am happy I don’t need much concealer but I want a sheer luminous coat and that one delivers the application I want.
But I will tell you more when I managed to try them thoroughly 🙂
Hakuhodo cannot export this brush due to regulations (kolinsky), but you can use Tenso shipping and forwarding services if one day you want to order from Japan, I totally recommend them and they are reasonably cheap ! I just got my Tanseido order (forwarded by Tenso) and it worked perfectly fine.
I will share more details today or tomorrow in a post if you are interested, but beware of temptation 😛
Well, there is no need of getting all the brushes in a rush, take your time, you know where they are and they will be waiting for you 😀
I don’t know about NYC yet, I have to wait for my manager to tell me when I will be going there for work… should be this year and I hope not too far away 🙂
oh forgot to say, for the Chanel, I use the Hakuhodo stippling brushes or the Koyudo BP013 (depends which precision you need) but the BP013 will be ultimate, it’s big but the final result is mind blowing ! 🙂
Thank you so much for all your feedback Sonia, I really appreciate it! Based on it, I have now contacted CDJapan today, and asked them about getting the concealer FuPa (it sounds absolutely perfect, and exactly what I’m looking for), the BP013, the C011, and…. the white mushroom!!! In the end, I decided to wait for the H005, as I figure that my Z1 can do the same job I would want it for beautifully, but I have nothing like the White Mushroom, and, well, it is your favorite, and that says a lot for it :). I can’t wait to hear back from them!!! I also did tell them that I was contacting them based on your kind recommendation.
I would love to have more information about Tenso, as I think I really need that Hakuhodo brush ;)! And maybe some Addiction make up, if I can figure out where to order it from in Japan, at a normal price (and not the Itchibankao inflated ones!). Yes, indeed, this is a slippery slope, LOL.
My biggest problem now, is that I don’t know how to store all my brushes anymore, in a way that allows me to have easy access to all of them at the same time – I need more space!
I really hope you come to NYC soon, and will keep my fingers crossed for that to happen 🙂
Thank you Neo, so sweet as always ! 🙂
I am glad that you are so excited about the White Mushroom 😀 I still love it just like the first day and it’s also the reason why all this Koyudo crazyness started, because with brushes like that they got me addicted.
It’s a slippery slope… 🙁 for sure… if you need help with Tenso let me know. I know Gil also used it and she is very happy with it !
I want to go to NYC, plizzzz bosssss 🙁 *begging here*
Sonia, just give me your boss’s email, and I’ll shoot him a note, explaining EXACTLY why it’s crucial he let you come to NYC soon!!!!!!
I registered with Tenso, and so far so good – ok, the registering part was easy, lol. My issue now is that it seems that you can only place an order on the Japanese version of the Hakuhodo website??? I tried using Google translate, but no luck (I did manage to get to the right brush though ;)!) as it doesn’t seem to want to translate anything beyond the first link page. Maybe it’s because I’m on a Mac? I will have to try from work tomorrow (on a PC), and if worse comes to worse, I’ll just ask a Japanese colleague to help me 😉 – I shall not be thwarted!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 But seriously, how did you do it???
What’s more scary, is that without understanding a word of Japanese, I’ve managed to fill a cart with Addiction stuff at one of the major department stores there, lol. I haven’t gone ahead with the order yet – it’s completely out of control, and I think I need to make some prioritization first….
On a totally unrelated note: I think it’s time I pick up my first TF blush this week (to truly take my beautiful red squirrel brush through its paces, you know ;)!), and I was wondering: if you could only have one, would you go for Wicked or for Narcissist?
😀 he has the blog address so maybe he is reading 😛 who knows ??
yes I confirm, you can only place an order on the Japanese site.
just a tip : enter the postal code address and the address should be filled more or less automatically.
I don’t know how I managed it, I did not know it worked 100% until I got it here 😛
So funny, we might get good at that one day 😛
I would go for Narcissist for sure !
Hey Neo! My NY trip is postponed ;( I am so disappointed but I am going to try for an early spring visit! On another note I just ordered my Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation and the pressed powder… After reading you all rave about it I just couldn’t wait to get to the counter so an “emergency” order has been placed 😉
Hehehe, yay! I hope that you will be a convert like us 😉 Btw, do you mind me asking where you ordered the KGD foundation from? I need to find a more convenient place to order it the next time I order for my winter shade.
Hi Bonnie!
As far as I know, you can get KGD stuff through their website, Sephora, and Barneys. I haven’t found other sources yet, but I’m looking 😉
Oh no Stacy, what a bummer :(. On the other hand, Spring is so much nicer in the city!
Yaaayyyyy, I can’t wait to hear all about the KGD foundation from you, and hope you like it just as much as Bonnie and I do! And I’m all for emergency orders, LOL!!!! A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do!!!!! 😀
Dearest Sonia,
I began my Koyudo journey, thanks to you, Nikoleta, Buggsiebee… thank you 🙂 I haven’t used it yet, but I am LOVING the feel of all the brushes. I have the Christmas fu-pa-10p, fu-pa-13p, the fu-pa-10p and the BP013. They are gorgeous. I can’t wait to use them tomorrow hehe 🙂
I have also decided to get the Koyudo Red Squirrel – I caved. But maybe not the White Mushroom yet… because I really don’t know what to use it for as I’m not a bronzer girl 🙁 oh well, I’m sure I can think of a reason eventually!
so, did you use them 🙂 ?
I did! At first I didn’t want to use it because it looked so beautiful, with the white goat hair, and I didn’t want to “taint” it with foundation. But I used the Christmas fu-pa today with the KGD and…. wow, it feels so beautiful on the skin and the finish is exceptionally natural. It makes the foundation adhere very well and without highlighting the little hairs or dry patches that my skin has. The size is perfect as well, big enough to cover the face in a short time, but also shaped so that I can use the top to reach into smaller places. It did shed a little bit, maybe 2 or 3 hairs but it seems okay now. I actually just finished spot cleaning it with the Shu Uemura brush cleaner and there hasn’t been any other shedding.
Thank you Sonia for introducing us to this brush!
I think I’ll use the fu-pa-07p tomorrow with the TF S&I and report back then 😛
HI 🙂
are you going to use the fupa07 with the TF ?? sure ? 😉 fupa07 is the biggest one 😛 I believe you will use the smallest pink one ?
Of course I mean that one! Now I have very dramatic…. cheekbones *nods nods* like a runway model 🙂
Haha, yes, I mean the smallest pink one, the fu-pa-10p… ooops!
😀 hilarious 😛
I’m planning on getting the fu-pa07 and was also aiming to get the fu-pa13 so I’m glad you said it’s great with the KGD Bonnie! I hope the fu-pa13 will also work well with it 🙂
It will Bea, if the Fu-pa 07 does, the 13 should be excellent !
Bonnie, I’m sure the Koyudo white mushroom would work well with the KGD pressed powder! Just sayin’… 😉
Nyuuu dont say that! I’m thinking of getting the Hakuhodo fan brush for the KGD actually, I’d be terrified of carrying around the White Mushroom for touchups! I’d be constantly checking my bag and stroking it, my friends will think I am more obsessed than they already do!
Hi Sonia. Thanks for all of the work you put into this amazing post. Also, having the links available for where to purchase helps too, although its dangerous for my wallet. Aside from the red squirrel brush, is the white mushroom the softest Kuyodo brush? Also , I live in the U.S.A., any recommendations for a way to obtain the Shu #12 brush?
Christine, a friend of mine in US got hers here:
http://us.strawberrynet.com/m/makeup/shu-uemura/eye-shadow-brush—natural-brush/59231/?src_affiliate=4461
I also found other sites as well :
http://www.thefind.com/beauty/info-shu-uemura-natural-brush-12
Good luck! Its a gorgeous brush 😀
hi Christine,
the White mushroom is the softest goat brush ever, if you are comparing it to goat brushes yes it’s the softest one for sure. The squirrel brushes are still softer (and some just as soft) but not the same material and price.
Melissa just shared some links 🙂
it’s also available on spacenk http://uk.spacenk.com/Natural-Brush-12/MUK200003105,en_GB,pd.html?start=1&q=shu%20uemura%2012
http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_lid_S-am-pid_61671W-am-cid_Make–Up-am-sid_05921877709__products.html
and there is a coupon NewYear2013 that gives 10% discount and I believe there is also free shipping…
Alternatively, if you happen to have friends in HK or will be passing there, you can pick it up there from a counter for 720HKD / 92USD~ That’s how I got my #10 and #5R! I should have asked my friend to pick up the #12 while I was at it…. thankfully, I do have quite a few who are there or will be travelling there should I ever want it 😛
I just saw it on Amazon on sale for $80. Hope it is authentic because I just bought one! I don’t know why it is not on the Shu Uemura site. I checked Rakuten and it said it is not available anymore by the manufacturer. Was it discontinued?
It’s not on the Shu site, I shall contact them…
The weird thing about Shu is that they’ve discontinued certain brushes in certain countries so while the 12 is still available in mine, the 11 is not and I really really really want the 11… But alas the 11 is only available in the US and they screen for mail forwarding companies so I’m SOL until I go back to the States.
oh shame 🙁 me too, I am really lemming that one.
It’s confusing not to be able to get a consistent offer whatever the country…
it’s on the french site http://www.shuuemura.fr/accessoires/pinceaux-a-maquillage/pinceaux-a-paupieres/pinceau-fards-a-paupieres-12-poils-naturels.aspx
well price is insane, even more expensive than on spacenk
*heartattack*
I went the Amazon route too Kay… We will have to compare notes. The seller looks good and the picture if the same as the product is correct……we shall see…
I got mine new on Ebay at half price… I asked info to the seller and also why he was selling it at that price and he (or she) said that they wanted cash… I never buy brushes on Ebay in order to limit the risk but that time it worked …
Okay, Stacy, I’ll email photos to Sonia when it arrives. 🙂
Hi Kay,
Did you get your Shu 12 from Amazon yet and what do you think of it? I orders one from them yesterdvand it shipped today. I do hope it’s authentic or it’s going back. What should I look for to know a fake from the real deal? Thanks.
Sonia, I need your brush expertise on this 1 🙂
Do u think its the white goat version of the Koyudo FuPa 01?
Its this beauty:
http://eds2.heteml.jp/houkodou/cargo/goodsprev.cgi?gno=FB-03
Love to hear yr opinion before I move heaven & earth to get this!
Thaaaaankssss……
I don’t know 🙁
since I was recently very disappointed with this white one (a different brand though) now I prefer to see it in person before I judge quality of goat hair, goat hair can be completely different.
but, let me tell you that it does really look great !! great find 😛
I saw this brush too and I thought it looked adorable. If you do get it, please let us know how it is!
I’m quite confused about this brand. They seem to have had some similar brushes as koyudo http://maquiaonline.com/blog/100club_diary/blog/club_member/444/000042300.html
I wonder if they don’t work togehter on some projects. Didn’t find much info about this. There were two-three blogs that seemed to approve quality but in japanese, google translation was surreal 🙂
ooooh surreal indeed 😀
“The top batter prestigious kore no matter how you look at it!”
at least quality seems consistent !
OMGeeee they do look the same! 1 of us better start to take Japanese lessons 🙂
Im so tempted to order this anyway 🙂
http://eds2.heteml.jp/houkodou/cargo/goodsprev.cgi?gno=FB-03
Melissa, that one looks gooood! Let us know if you order!! So seriously tempting to compare!!
it is tempting me too but It seems so complicated to order and who knows koyudo would probably offer something similar in the near future.
Newsflash!!
CoolJapan just confirmed by email that the ‘Ltd edition Red Squirrel brush’ will be online within 1-2 weeks from now together with more FuPas and H series!
So you better get your funds ready for those who are lemming for this beauty 🙂
😀 excellent news, thank you !
I received the email too! I mentioned your blog, and they said they were very happy that you were introducing Koyudo brushes to everyone.
Niiiiice!!!!! Hmmm, I haven’t heard back from them yet, I wonder if I got the right email address? I wrote to info@cdjapan.co.jp – is that the right addy?
Try this one : info@cooljapan.jp
they commented here once using that address 🙂
I used this one: info@cooljapannow.jp
I actually received two replies from them, the exact same but one from the cooljapannow and the other from the cdjapan email haha
Thank you Ladies!!! Just resent to both addresses 😉
Oh, oh, Melissa, that is good news and bad news (for me) about CD Japan. Their site is easy to use and the temptation is harder to resist! I don’t use my kinokos, long brushes or foundation brushes and I’ve already purchased the white mushroom and Shu #12…because darn it, I’m curious to see what the hoopla is about. So now I’m thinking maybe one fu-pa? Sonia, do you think there is any advantage of a smaller fu-pa instead of the fu-pa 07-p? BTW, do you know what fu-pa means?
Hi Kay, so funny 🙂
well, it depends, a smaller fu-pa could be an advantage and a disadvantage, unfortunately I haven’t tried all of them enough yet to be able to talk about all the aspect and differences, the smaller ones can be better due to more affordable price, better for a smaller face but some can be too firm and not deliver the flexibility you may be looking for, I am still in the process of testing them – having fun and I will share the results with you asap 🙂
the meaning I am not sure at all, “fu” comes from fude (brush) and “pa” could be for “foundation”, all the info I found is leading towards “a brush for blending” but I have asked CDJapan to see if they know it 🙂
I got this info from CDJapan 🙂
Thank you, Sonia for your followup 🙂 That makes sense now: brush puff = fude + pafu or fu-pa!
LOL….Kay, I know!!! It just gets easier for us to actually get all the Koyudo brushes, which is kind of ‘bad news’ for all of us 🙂
So we need another brand that we can hunt again! Think its the ‘unreachable’ that we all are after at the end. On another hand we all waaaaay passed the ‘phase of needing’ a make up brush 🙂
To make it a little bit more complicated for us I stumbled upon this website, which are selling the ‘Aoi’ brushes that looks exactly the same as the Koyudos but with a different name on it! I cant find any ‘Aoi’ out there?!
For example this Koyudo:
http://www.koyudo.co.jp/product/other/h002.html
Is exactly the same as this 1 incl all the dimensions:
http://ysservice.sakura.ne.jp/kumanohude/html/h2.html
If you look even further they have many more Koyudo twins! Now, what I think is that there is just 1 huge factory in Kumano, which has some kind of deal with certain brands in Japan. What I dont understand is that all the brands are selling almost the same exact brushes. Like Chikuhodo making them for RMK, Lunasol etc. However, their type of brushes are not the same!
So, whats with this one now?!?! Im so LOST 🙁
I agree Melissa, I have no idea… unfortunately the language barrier does not make it easy for us and we feel lost but I do feel happy to have entered this wonderful world of brushes 🙂
we will see what the future will bring 🙂
Oh dear, what a mystery! Maybe Koyudo doesn’t mind other companies selling their brushes? Or maybe Aoi is a brand under Koyudo? Or perhaps Aoi copied Koyudo’s brush? This is so very confusing. But the Koyudo is cheaper and better known so I’d go for that one.
Sonia, Im so sorry to clogg your comments page but I had to share this adorable ‘egg brush’. Too bad its goat, if it was gray squirrel I would have ordered it in a second. Not sure how, but I’ll figure out something 🙂
http://www.cosmedo.com/SHOP/EG-101.html
If you click on the left part of the page you’ll see AGAIN some Koyudo twins, ao the H008!!!!!! And its cheaper than the price on Koyudo’s website?!?! Off course I already emailed this Cosmedo abt international orders. Will let you know once they get back to me.
That is such a cute brush! Please let us know how all these orders go if you’re willing to pioneer 😛 I’m going to do some mail forwarding from Japan in the next week or so; maybe we can all try different brands and then provide feedback!
Pls I have a question. On the Koyudo Red squirel brush. I need your help. When I go to the website. To fill an international order form I need the item number. I don’t see it listed on the brush. Pls can you take a look at it and let me know if you see it. Thanks. I am in the USA.
Dont think there is an item nr for this 1 since its a Ltd edition. But u can put the name of the brush on the item description part. Im sure they will understand since its the only Red Squirrel brush they have.
So it would be: Cheek Brush red squirrel [limited edition]
Or just copy paste the Japanese:
赤リスチークブラシ 【限定商品】
Or u can wait a bit until CoolJapan puts it online in 1-2 weeks or so?
Good luck!
Thank you very much
Hi Njideka,
You just mention the name of the brush Red Squirrel Limited, that worked for me 🙂 no number 🙂
Ooooh Sonia! You changed your banner (or did I just notice it…?)! Loving the mushrooms and the fans in it 😛
sorry yes I just did, I am playing with it since my last pc crashed and I don’t have restored my old pictures yet 🙂 but it might slightly change again…
but thank you sooo much for telling me 😛
NEWSFLASH 🙂
Red squirrel brush and HSeries are online now. Think more FuPas later this week or next week!
See the New Items:
http://cooljapannow.jp/new.html?current=0&g=0&shop_id=17
thank you Melissa 🙂
I have updated the news so that whoever is interested can be informed !
Hi Melissa! Thanks for the flash 😉 Mine have been ordered! Love CDJ!
Oh dear Stacy, what you have done and are doing to my bank account! Based on your suggestions, I am in possession of Hakuhodo Kokutan, G5518 (gorgeous!), and the medium and small size Saikoho maples, the J series stipling (3 different ones), and the Tom Ford 05. I have ordered and am currently awaiting delivery of the White Mushroom, the Chikuhodo MK-2, and the Red Squirrel. I am very exciting for these three as I love, love, love the softest brushes possible! I must stop! Malin is a doll !
Ooooh!!!! CDJapan still hasn’t even answered me, and except for the White Mushroom, they don’t seem to have the brushes I wanted to order ;(. I’ve just contacted Koyudo – at least they always got back to me!
Still I can’t wait to see what everyone is getting :D!!!!!
Oooh Neo 🙁
So sorry to hear that. CDJ always answers me within a day or so. The woman who deals with me is very kind and always answering all my questions promptly.
Think CDJ got so many requests on the Koyudo that they just got a bit lost in answering all their clients with almost the same questions 🙂
Which brushes are u after? Maybe I can ask my contact abt them?
Thank you so much for offering Melissa, that’s so very kind of you! I really don’t know what the issue is, and even wonder if my emails are reaching them, to be fair. At this point, I’m sending my emails to 3 different addresses, in the hopes that at least one will work, lol.
I’ve been sending to the following addresses:
info@cooljapannow.jp
info@cooljapan.jp (on this one I always get a failure notification, so it doesn’t seem to be working???)
info@cdjapan.co.jp
Is any of the above right, or am I sending my emails into a black corner of cyberspace??? Or is the universe trying to tell me I need to get a grip and stop with the brushes??? 😀
These are the brushes I am lemming :):
– White Mushroom Brush
– FuPa11-b
– BP013
– C011
Of those, at the moment, it seems only the White Mushroom is “available” (with a little wait time, but that’s ok, as long as I manage to place my order sometime soon!) on the CDJapan website.
Thank you so much again, Melissa!!!!
Don’t take it personally Neo. I’ve been waiting in vain for feed back on the Koyudo order which I placed on 15 November!!! I assume that some of the brushes which I ordered weren’t in stock, but we’re talking almost two months now!?? I’ve reminded them twice during that time & recieved an answer only once, about 6 weeks ago. I do like their brushes, but quite frankly the customer service/ communication is the PITS!!
I’ll be in your neck of the woods as of tomorrow afternoon btw. I have a LONG list of stores to visit & places to see.:)) Here’s hoping i’m not going to be freezing my butt off every time I leave the hotel.
oooh Buggsiebee… we miss you 😉
take care and have fun !!!
I’ll be back far too soon.
It’s going to be a few days of swatch & shop till you drop 🙂
If you need anything, just send me a mail ok?
P.S. did you read this? It certainly explains why Tom Ford’s brushes are sooooo soft & fantastic!!
It was writen by Kate – drivel about frivol – so you can be sure that her info is well researched:-
Tom Ford Eyeshadow Blend Brush (review and comparison with my other blenders soon.) Excellent balanced goat-hair crease/blending brush, made by Hakuhodo.
yes I knew it Buggsiebee but Hakuhodo don’t like *or can* state on that … so… I couldn’t tell ..
but I don’t know why 🙁
well now that it’s public we don’t mind talking about that anymore 🙂
Buggsiebee!
Safe trip!!! Shop lots and bring home lots of goodies to talk about!!
xoxo
I’m so excited to see the Spring releases instead of having to wait a further two months till they finally hit Germany!
I most certainly will shop LOTS :))
Talk soon!
YEAHHHHH ! have fun ! wish I was with you 🙁
OMG Buggsiebee, that’s so bad!!!!! Seriously, so lame, and also so beyond comprehension :(. I’m not getting over it, it’s just so crazy!
And welcome to this side of the pond :)!!!! Yaaayyyyy! And you are so lucky: we are having super mild temperatures for this time of year (pretty incredible, really), and except for a possible shower on Friday, it looks like the perfect days for running around the city. I’m not sure how long you are staying, but then it will gradually cool down starting next week, and later it’s supposed to get really really cold though :(. Oh well, NYC in January, there you go 😀
Give me a shout if you feel like it while you are here, or if you have questions or need anything 🙂
Thanks for the weather report Neo 🙂
On both previous visits to New York – both in Jan – I almost froze to death so I’m thrilled to hear about the mild temps. I love to walk everywhere and I hate having to rely on taxis to get me from A to B just to escape the frozen weather 🙂
I fly back on Sunday p.m. already so the weather can cool down after that. Funnily the weather here ( Germany ) is cooling down from today!
Enjoy your shopping trip in the ‘triangle of doom’ !! Sounds right up my alley:)
I used the BP013 for the first time today with the TF Traceless Stick… I don’t know, I was in a rush today so I wasn’t really being careful, but I found the BP013 really awkward to use. I tried the TF Stick with the Christmas Fu-pa and just found it a lot more efficient. I think maybe it’s because of the size and length of the hair of the BP013 that I find hard to control. I also had the Red Squirrel and C011 in my Koyudo order, but since I got impatient… I just ordered the Red Squirrel from CDJapan 🙁
I can be patient and wait for the c011! Hope they get back to you very very soon 🙂
The thing is that the FU-pa07 is efficient with pretty much anything but the BP013 needs the right product to show its amazing capabilities, that’s why its so great when you too can report here 🙂
adds a lot of value to the reviews ! thank you <3
I hope they will be able to be faster in the near future 🙁 either that or they'll have to stop making great brushes … 😛
I gave a preliminary review of the BP013 with the TF Traceless Stick in the Face Brush post 🙂
Quick note, you say that you love using it with the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish. Do you have an idea of what the cream texture is like compared to the TF Stick?
Maybe it’s good that Koyudo takes a while to reply and CDJapan don’t have everything yet… that way, I will end up ordering less ><
So Bonnie, an important question (especially as we seem to like the same things ;)!): how do you like the TF Traceless Stick? How does it compare to our beloved KGD? I kind of hope you hate it, LOL
Haha Neo! I’m thinking whether I should lie to you or tell you the truth….. 🙂
I gave a brief review of it on the Face Brush post (on use with the BP013). But generally, I really do like it, but I think it will be better as a winter foundation as opposed to a summer one. My fault as the SA recommended that I get the liquid, but … the stick was just so much more interesting! So yeah, it’s just a bit too “heavy” for my liking right now! I think I may be a little spoiled by the KGD which I found very comfortable to wear. However, this is only the second time I’ve worn it out so I’m still forming opinions 😛
But it’s very moisturising, so I think it may very well be one of my favourite winter foundations (no dry patches yay!). I have #5 Natural, which I suspect may be your shade or #3 Fawn. It’s a tad light but I feel as if it adjusts quite well…? I think it’ll be an excellent transition shade. You will be going to the TF counter (YAY) this weekend right? Please try it on and tell me what you think about it since it’s winter where you are! And the shade you’re matched to (so I can compare to the KGD for winter shade reference :P)
And do tell me, Narcissist, Wicked or BOTH 😉
Neo!!! Here is their reply 🙂
We are in the process of adding the brushes to our website.
So all 3 brushes will be available at our store soon.
Hopefully we will upload them to our site sometime next week.
Could you check our website from the link below sometime next week?
http://cooljapannow.jp/shop.html/17
Yaaaaay!!!!!!!
Thank you so so much Melissa!!!!!! I so appreciate it :)!!! Even thoug I still wonder why they aren’t answering me – did they say anything?? Now I’m really starting to take it personally, lol
Still, I can’t wait for next week, to at least be able to place my order online, and then I won’t even need to deal with emails or anything 😀
Thank you again :)!!!!
You’re very welcome Neo…..dont take it personal though 🙂
At least we know now that almost all the Koyudo’s will be sold soon at CDJ. Now, we have to move on to another ‘hard to get’ brand 🙂
I just ordered the Red S and H008, although I have seen few other websites which are selling them as well. I still dont get it! I have to ask the CDJ rep about it I guess.
The email I used is info@cdjapan.co.jp since it was the one they had on the PP receipt and they got back to me the next day. The name of the Koyudo rep who responded to me is Mana Miyamoto. Maybe try addressing your email to her directly? HTH
I haven’t gotten any emails from CDJapan about my White Mushroom that I ordered on Dec. 29th or my Red Squirrel that I ordered in January. 🙁 So hard to know if I should keep my hopes up and wait or figure it just isn’t going to happen. Don’t know what to do. If I try to contact them to ask, if they ignore that too, I’ll just be all the more upset. Should I just wait and hope or forget about it? I LOVE soft brushes and I know that Sonia says these are the softest of all!!!! What to do?
Hi, Mimi, I’ve written by reply to the order confirmation. I had a reply two days later. Don’t give up!
Thank you Nikoleta, I hope all the waiting and anxiety is worth it.
Hi Mimi,
Same as Neo, I am sending you the details of somebody to contact at CDJapan. If anyone else is interested or has pending orders, please let me know !
Mimi, please can you send me a private email with the details (the email you sent it to) I will contact them tomorrow, Thanks !! 🙂
Hi Sonia, Sorry that I’m not much of a techie. How can I send you a private email? Thanks for the instructions (ahead of time). from Mimi
Did you manage to do what you wanted Mimi ?
Got it straightened out, thanks to you and the connection to Mana. Fed Ex called to tell me I need to sign for a package tomorrow so I believe that’s my White Mushroom! I’m so excited I’ll have to take some Ambien tonight or I won’t get a wink of sleep!
Funny how a mushroom can be so exciting 😀
Hi Melissa,
Please let me know if you wrote to your CDJapan contact already for Neo otherwise I do it 🙂
I just sent out the email. But it wouldnt hurt if they receive the same question twice right 🙂
At least they got our attention 🙂
And Im using this email so far:
info@cdjapan.co.jp
Will keep u posted!
Thank you so so much Melissa, seriously!!! Fingers crossed you get an answer, even if I don’t. If you don’t, we know it’s personal to me, LOL 😀 😀 😀
Oh Neo that stinks! I feel your pain though because Koyudo won’t answer me! I am beginning to take it personally!! ;p
You should order your White Mushroom from CDP just to start collecting the points and then every time after when you order and use the points you will be in love with them like I am 😉
I will tell you what really stinks: my husband is in NY right now and it is wasted on him! All he is doing is working!!
You work in the city right?
Stacy, you should have just joined your husband!!!!!!! I’m planning a trip to the triangle of doom (i.e. Bloomies, Barneys and BG) tomorrow after work, it would have been so much fun to go together! And a bit dangerous too, oh the thrill ;)! Yes, I work (and live) in the city – temptation at every corner!
Hahaha, I hear you on Koyudo – I’m also starting to think it’s something personal with CDJapan, but based on what, I have no clue, lol.
The thing is, I’d rather only pay shipping once and place just one order, rather than a bunch of them, which is why I’ve trying to patiently (ok, not really…) wait for them to get back to me. I wonder if there is an issue with the particular brushes I want???
I know Neo, that was the original plan but…. What are you getting/ looking for tomorrow?
Let us live through you 😉
Lol, I actually have a derm appointment, except my derm is located at the very center of the triangle of doom ;)….
I would like to stop by the TF counter and get either Wicked or Narcissist (I think the time has finally come for my first TF blush!). I’m leaning towards Narcissist, but worry I may come back with both, lol
And I may just browse a bit, here and there :D… Any recommendations of things to check out?
Yay! Get both hehe 😛
I have no idea what stores are there but I just picked up my KGD pressed powder from my friend who received the parcel from me. It’s so pretty that I don’t want to use it 🙁 The brush that comes with it is quite nice too for a stock brush.
Please let me know how your browsing goes! I wouldn’t be able to resist temptation if you let me lose there…
I can think of some 😛
on the other hand my favorite counters are probably not there.. (RMK, Suqqu, etc…) so you are safe … for now…
Soooo, just got back from the triangle of doom with… Nothing, lol! I couldn’t decide, and I would love your opinions/inputs 🙂
I loved both Wicked and Narcissist, and really would like to get both. At the same time, I’m working on an order from Selfridges, and was thinking of picking up a couple of RMK blushes. But I can’t have it all at the same time. So, should I go for the 2 TF blushes, or just one (I which case I would go for Narcissist, just because it’s an LE, but Wicked actually looked better on me…), and get an RMK blush (and here I’m hesitating between Sheer Powder Cheek 03, Ingenious Powder Cheek 04, and Creamy Sheer Powder Cheeks 01 – HELP!!!!!!!!!!!)????
I also tried the Edward Bess Soft Smoke eye shadow palette, which is lovely. And now I’m hesitating between getting it, or getting the RMK Mix Color for Eyes 08. I do favor darker eyeshadows, that can be applied sheerly or strongly…
Please, I need help :D!!!!!
Oh, and you should have seen the TF MUA’s expression when I pulled out my red squirrel brush I had taken with me to try Narcissist and Whicked, LOL!!!! Then he touched it and wet: what brand is that? Hahahaha 😀
Hi Neo,
Just wanted to drop by and say: Nothing!? I’m disappointed … haha, jk! I should probably follow your lead because I’m currently working on an order from Rakuten with products from Suqqu and Addiction. (Quick question, Neo, would you say it’s cheaper, shipping included, to get Suqqu from Selfridges or Rakuten/Tenso?)
Get Wicked if it looks better on you? I think it’s a lovely shade as well, and while I’m not getting it this time around, since it’s not LE, I’m pretty sure I’ll get it eventually. How does Narcissist appear on you? Is it too pigmented or…? I’ve only swatched them on my arm. I think Savage would also be a lovely colour to get. I don’t know about the RMK though, since it’s really not accessible here so I’m only relying on online swatches and Sonia’s advice.
Eyeshadows! I don’t wear a lot but I also favour dark eyeshadows that can be sheered out or applied with more depth 🙂 Light colours don’t work well and some shades (ie, Burberry’s Rosewood which I’m bemoaning still), just wash me out horribly.
Hi Neo,
I will be able to show you pictures of the swatches this weekend and post about the RMK, I have finally received the material I wanted for the pictures. YES !!!
I hope this will be helpful for you !
For the TF blushers, you should just the ones you really love, buying because it’s LE or a high end brand should not be the only reason 😛
It’s important that you buy the ones that look good since you will be delighted every single time you use them !
If I had to choose between the Edward Bess and the RMK (for eyes) I would get the EB palette, it’s more a daily palette that you will use very very often, and for any occasion.
I think it’s a good idea to take your own brushes to test the products 🙂 well done !
I can imagine his face 😛
When I go to a counter and I start asking questions and talking about makeup, sometimes they end asking if I would be interested to work for them, when you are passionate about brushes and makeup it’s really intriguing for them 😀
Oooh I just realised I didn’t comment about the TF MUA’s expression! I would have loved to see that 🙂 Maybe you’ll expand Koyudo into TF territory despite being made by Hakuhodo haha
Bonnie, bad bad bad!!!!!!! Fine, I’ll try the TF stick foundation on Tuesday, when I’ll be back at the counter to finally pick a blush already. But please remember, I’m only doing this to help you with your KGD winter foundation match, so whatever happens because of my trying it is ALL your fault :D!!!!!
You know, I’ve never placed an order through Rakuten for any products, only through Itchibankao for a couple of Suqqu products, so I’m really not sure which option is cheaper between Rakuten and Selfridges. The thing with Selfridges is, that if you get enough to make it worth the ridiculous shipping cost, their prices are really reasonable, as they take off taxes. A couple of friends of mine and I are combining our order so we share shipping costs (shipping is a flat rate, no matter how much you order), and then it’s really interesting, actually.maybe, if you have likeminded friends locally, you could do the same?
I had no issue applying Narcissist very sheerly with the red squirrel brush, and it was absolutely wearable and very day and work appropriate. It was really beautiful, no questions asked, it’s just that Wicked really just looked better on me! I think the thing is that Narcissist is very cool, whereas Wicked still has a bit of warmth, so it looks more natural on me (wish the glow it gives was natural, lol). But Narcissist was still beautiful enough that I’m having a hard time just deciding to let it go and not get both ;). I guess it now all hinges on Sonia’s upcoming RMK post (no pressure, Sonia!!!!! LOL) 😉
Funny you should mention Burberry Rosewood: it’s not as dramatic on me as to wash me out, it’s simply invisible on me 😀 😀 :D. I guess if we ever have the chance to meet, we only need one makeup bag to share, lol
Sonia, thank you so so much!!!!! I can’t wait for your RMK post!!!!! And you are killing me, getting the MT03, as I’ve been considering this one too. I’m so excited for your post!!!!
You are of course right about the TF blush – I just don’t want to regret not getting Narcissist and then it being gone. But I also don’t want to buy both blushes and then only reach for one of the 2 all the time. On the other hand, while Wicked may be the more flattering choice for me right now, Narcissist will probably be beautiful in summer, with a tan… Decisions decisions 😀
And thank you for confirming what I already suspected on the EB Soft Smoke – I think the time has come for me to add it to my stash 🙂
And yes, I think the TF MUA is about to place his first Koyudo order, hahaha!!!!
I have news : my boyfriend is leaving tomorrow morning for a week which means a week alone at home with a few days holiday in between and this means lot of free time 😀
I will finally be able to post them Neo 😛
Funny 🙂 touching a Koyudo can be addictive !!!
Nyawww, I don’t want to be responsible if you do buy the stick foundation! Well, just to let you know again, the SA did recommend that I buy the liquid not the stick… but I have a good feeling about it for winter. It’s just that right now, it feels slightly too heavy and I start feeling itchy and uncomfortable when I can “feel” my foundation. I think it’s psychological because I haven’t had breakouts from any foundation I’ve worn and they usually work… just not all the time. But really, thank you for trying out all of these for me <
I have a feeling that Wicked would probably be "better" because it's warmer. However, I reminded myself that when I first tried it on, I had Ravish on the other cheek, and Ravish was perfect. Blew Wicked way out of the water for me. So I know that if I was tossing up between Ravish and Wicked, I'd wear Ravish, and since I already have it… I might as well get something completely different. At least.. that's how I'm justifying a bright purple blush …
As for Burberry Rosewood, I think that I'm probably a little so it stood out quite visibly on my slightly tanned skin, very silvery and gray in a not pleasant way. I also have fairly large and mobile lids, and Rosewood was used all over :S
Nah, we need two makeup bags from which we can both rummage through haha!
And finally, world domination by Koyudo!
Bonnie,
Tomorrow I will send you swatches of Rosewood compared to Flashtrack 🙂
I have prepared all my material to take pictures tomorrow, so as soon as my boyfriend leaves I am going to get wild 😛
all my Suqqu palettes are lying on the table, will post the swatches for all of you !
Awwwww a reason to get up! Hee hee!
Yaayyyy Sonia!!!!! I mean, I’m so sorry your BF is leaving you alone this week… LOL
I literally can’t wait :D!!!! I was wondering if you could be so kind and please email me comparison pics if you take them before your post is ready, by any chance? I worry that Tiziana’s assistant, who has been very kind and helping me with my order in Tiziana’s absence at Selfridges, is getting fed up with me… I keep on delaying finalizing my order, adding stuff, removing stuff, etc. I kind of told her I would finalize my order over the weekend, and would love to not hold her up even longer…
Which reminds me: I was wondering if you ever got the email I wrote you earlier this week? No worries if you didn’t have time to answer me, I would totally understand, but I was just wondering if it even made it to you (the CDJapan situation is having me getting a bit paranoid, lol) 😀
And I would lie if I said that your Suqqu/Addiction post doesn’t have me a tad worried too, LOL
😀 I know… LOL
I will ask my other contact in Selfridges if I can share her email address 🙂 maybe it’s the same ?
Sure, I will see how it goes but I think I can post it today, it’s basically nearly only swatches with very little comments so should be ok.
I tried to find your email but didn’t … I think I lost it 🙁 do you mind resending it to me please ?
This last week has been hell, I didn’t even had lunch breaks (that’s when I try to organize my replies but I couldn’t even do that), I am really happy to have a few days off as of Wednesday !!!
Well, you know you shouldn’t be worried about the Suqqu post, or should you… 😉
Bwahaha, Neo, you know I’m indirectly influencing you with that Suqqu/Addiction post 😛
Sorry Sonia and Neo that I begged for the swatches! I feel very, very guilty in too many ways ^^;
Nevermind on the eyeshadows: I finally found your swatches of the RMK Mix for Eyes in 08 Sonia, and it’s definitely not for me, lol! I would be curious about it in 04, but can’t find one single real life picture of it, nevermind swatches… So I guess it will be the Edward Bess Soft Smoke (plus I saw on your “Matte Shadows” post that it was a must have, so there ;)!)!
Of course, that doesn’t solve the blushes issue…
I will come back to you on the blush issue this weekend 🙂 I have actually two more on their way to me, the MT-03 and the P-11 !!!
Just can’t get enough !!! 😛
Hi Neo, I have just asked Melissa if she already contacted CDJapan, I can also do it.
They always replied promptly, when their reply took longer (because sometimes my questions need to contact Koyudo – or the manufacturer) but they always came back to me asap with an answer.
The only reason(s) I see is that they might be either trying to get hold of them or waiting for a reply themselves, either way I can contact them too and ask.
What I can tell you is that CDJapan told me they are delighted with your interest, really happy with all the requests they get from “my friends and followers” 🙂
I hope they can keep up 😛
LOL, thank you so much Sonia, I really appreciate it!!!! In the end, it’s not like I NEED those brushes immediately, but I want my mushroom too :D!!!!!! LOL
I was wondering if maybe the brushes I was asking for were a bit different from the requests they were receiving lately, and so may take more time to get back to, but was hoping they would at least acknowledge receipt (i.e. give me a sign of life, lol).
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I hear from them soon 😉
I understand 😀
I have no idea what’s going on but I hope you will get your brushes soon !
I am also very excited for you 😛 I want to know if you like them too and if you are not disappointed, you know, I feel a bit guilty making you all spend so much money and I want you to be very happy with them 🙂
Fingers crossed ! 😉
Koyudo hadn’t replied yet to confirm my Red Squirrel order so I just went and bought it off CDJapan because I’m impatient. Now I’m thinking how to be polite to Koyudo when they finally invoice me!
can’t wait till you post your review on these brushes .. I think I might go for 02 and 06. ( smaller and bigger). (since RM radiance is sold out I might get 3 now) . let us know what you think.. ohh cant wait..
Hi Sonia!I just come to say that you are my 2012 amazing blog and personality.I’m not English,so hope you can understand me;)) I read all your posts and always want to write you(even if I don’t know how to comment you correctly and feel shy about my crazy grammatical and other mistakes) want all these brushes that you show us.as for me,I just love Paula dorf brushes especially for eyes,they are fab!I wrote to koyudo 3 month ago and they still not answered;)(
Hi Margaret,
I am not english so no worries 🙂 please don’t let this be blocking, I can perfectly understand you !!!
I have only the crease brush from Paula Dorf and I love her line, one of my favorite glosses is from Paula Dorf actually.
I should try more of her brushes too 🙂
I am very sad that Koyudo haven’t come back to you, can you please send your email to this address : info@cooljapannow.jp and let me know if they reply to you ?
CoolJapannow should be able to get you most of the Koyudo brushes.
thank you for your comment, we’ll speak soon !
Sonia,
I have been on the Japanese ‘brush hunt’ the last couple of days and found ones that I have never heard of. Shall I email you all the websites that I found so maybe you can put them under the ‘store/shopping link’ or something?
Think that would be great for all of us to see whats out there and start a new ‘brush hunting season’
🙂
yes please,that would be fantastic ! thank you !
I’ve got the G5518 alongs with the G5527 and two J brushes (210 and 544). I’m so happy with the G5518, in fact when you use the sides you cand do contouring, blush, with the point highlight, put powder it’s hevenly soft. I don’t like the G5527 a lot, it does its jobs but I found the G5524 more efficient for my shape of eyes. Thank you for recommending the J544, it is a multi-tasker as I like. If you get the smaller G545, you should use the flat side (as a paddle brush) to put in concealer otherwise it can seem too big (I pat first then blend in strokes).
BTW for those on the hunt of synthetic cheaper alternative to shiseido foundation brush, I found a kose foundation brush on adambeauty. It is not the most nicely made brush as I had some longer hairs (I had a dud probably) but it is quite soft and gives a good finish (see on this blog http://clubedanecessaire.blogspot.fr/2012/08/um-pincel-de-base-incrivel-conheca-o.html)
bisous
Nikoleta, thank you for sharing the brushes you got from Hakuhodo and which ones you really like! The G5518 is in my cart and it is really helpful to hear that you are loving it too!
Thank you for the feedback Nikoleta, I really appreciate your effort coming back to us with your thoughts ! I will have to try the G545. I actually think there is still room for more new J Series, I think we already said in the past, a J5524 would be a dream…
and as always : thanks for the links and the recommendations ! 😀
bisous !!
Oh my goodness! I am still looking thru your brush posts but I am so glad I found this blog and other Japanese brush nuts like me lol. I have just started on the Koyudo road. I am so glad I saw the links to your Fu-pa series pics as I put in an order with CDJapan for the pink Fu-pa01 brush but I wanted to add a couple more and couldn’t decide on which ones. My collection is mostly Hakuhodo so it’s awesome to find like minded people to discuss Japanese made brushes but now I am reading about these other brands as well. I can’t wait to try them all! Aaaand… I can’t believe there are even a some people who use KGD products like I do lol. What a great blog and followers you have here. 🙂
Hi Bea,
Neo and I are in love with KGD <3 Glad to meet a fellow KGD fan yay!
Ok ok ok, I have to try that KGD now !!!! 😀
I am looking for the right shade for me now, I am going to read all your previous comments about that 🙂
FYI 😉
Koh Gen Do Aqua pk-1 = Ellis Faas 102 and TF Fawn and CDP B20 and Dior 020 and Armani Maestro 4.5
And all that = Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation 112 (according to the KGD rep. I haven’t received the Moisture foundation yet).
Also, my two cents in the TF stick. You of course will need to try it because you are a researcher ;). I can’t imagine using it as a total cover foundation as it is very thick and shiny in finish. I use it along with my TF Traceless. I use a thin layer of the Traceless applied with my beloved Fu Pa and then with my LMB concealor brush I apply the stick where extra coverage is needed. It works well for me. Just for you I wore it today and used the fu pa for the stick application as well. It was a tad thick for the fu pa IMO. Just my thoughts…… ;p
Stacy, that’s interesting – and surprising! – on the KGD shades. I don’t know about the others, but Ellis Faas S102 is a perfect match for my winter skin, and PK1 is way too light for me. I was matched with PK2, which is the right shade for me right now, but I was also surprised, as I am very definitely yellow toned. When you see PK next to OC, you can tell it has pink in it. On its own though, you would say it’s definitely neutral, lol.
I’m sure you are all familiar with this, but it has (again surprisingly – I seem to be easily surprised today, lol) worked spot on for me in identifying the right foundation shade in different brands (don’t know why I haven’t thought of it earlier):
http://findation.com/searches
So you like the TF Traceless Foundation, uh????? I can smell trouble 😀
And yes Sonia, I’m happy to forward you the KGD swatches I have if you want 🙂 (for once that I can do that for you!!!!!)
Hello Neo!
Those foundations are just what I can wear/ looks good on my skin tone …. The suggestion for the KGD M Moisture came from KGD customer service beauty advisor. We shall see…. I LOVE the findation site! CC introduced it to me a while back and I have to say they are spot on! Which is why “we shall see” with the KGD MM selection…
I do like the Traceless TF 😉 It looks like I am going to need to try the By Terry Teint Delectation now as well! I will never stop trying until I find one that takes 10 years off ! As for the brushes coming my way from CDP: Red Squirrel of course, HK 008, BP26 and that is it for the moment.
Becs: I will have to say (IMO) KGD pk-1 is a tad (professional term 😉 ) lighter than Ellis Faas s102. I can wear them both at the same time of the year but I will have to say the pk-1 is probally my better winter match. I have NO pink undertone to my skin, definately lean more “yellow”. I like to consider myself a neutral….. My confusion is the color for the KGD M Moisture. If the rep’s choice doesn’t work then I will try the Findation choice for me of 002
Hi Stacy,
Try the By Terry but careful with the smell, I LOVE the smell but it’s very very strong !!! This foundation feels a bit like oxygen on my skin, very pleasant to wear.
I don’t know why I am looking for more foundations because I am using quite good ones but I think we are looking for a miracle here 😀
Curiosity killed the cat 😀
Sonia, you are killing me!!!! By Terry, huh? I was all set to get my behind to a counter tomorrow to give it a try, but then had a brilliant idea and called first – turns out BT is phasing this particular foundation out, booooo. So now I don’t know what to do? Go try it anyway and risk falling in love with it (I’m still crying after my beloved EF that broke me out so bad, and would love to find something similar), or just skip it?
What to do????
“phasing out” = discontinuing or reformulating it ? do you know by any chance ?
well, I love a few By Terry foundations but this one I would be sad if it goes 🙁
You could go have fun and try the Delectation plus :
Sheer-Expert
Light-Expert
Loving these 3 By Terry, for a sheer smelly face 😛 😀
Hi Stacy! 🙂
I can’t wait for you to get your KGD, and tell us all about the match, and also how you like the moisture foundation!
And I knew you would say that about the TF Traceless foundation, lol. Nw I’m going to have to try that one too, no no no no no no!!!!! 😀
Becs, I agree with Stacy: I have no pink whatsoever in my skin (redness yes, but no pink undertones whatsoever), and lean rather yellow (although neutral tones fit me best, in the end). But PK2 just melts into my skin, with no separation mark anywhere to be seen. I find PK pink only when compared side by side with OC, which is very yellow/golden (will probably be perfect come summer).
Sonia, the person I talked to about the BT said phased out as in discontinuing, but also said that it would probably be replaced by something else that would be better (in my experience, new is not always better though).
I tried the Sheer Expert foundation a while ago, and it didn’t agree with my combo skin at all – it pretty much transformed me in a grease ball (and I don’t have oily skin). I have to say that I always want to love everything BT, but of everything I’ve tried from her line, only Beaume de Rose has truly agreed with/worked for me and blown away. It just doesnt seem to be working out to well for me, and doesn’t really agree with my skin. Something in the way it interacts with my skin or something :(.This is why I’m also hesitating. But I guess I won’t know until I try, huh?
Hi Neo, well that’s the problem, we all have different skin and different needs, and my dry skin “eats” anything I put on it, the foundations I get have to be appropriate for very dry and dehydrated skin, otherwise they will flake or create awful dry patches. Even “beauty assistants” (what’s the name for them in english?) are shocked with me, they make me waste so much time because they think that their “expensive-researched-patented” product will solve all my problems but when they see it doesn’t their world collapses 😀 😀 😀
If you have the possibility to try, go ahead ! I am lucky to have By Terry products here and they always give me many samples so I can make sure I am not wasting my money anymore.
I agree with it being quite thick, definitely hard to move around. However, I’m not finding it very shiny or dewy, more matte than the KGD (which is the only foundation I’ve been wearing for the last weeks so it’s the obvious item for comparison). At the moment, I’ve only been wearing the TF by itself to test wear, and I don’t mind the finish I get, still very natural for how it feels. However, in future, I will probably use it more like a concealer as you said. I also used the fu-pa today and I found still found it easier to work with than the BP013, but I must say, I think I prefer the finish of the BP013… must test again tomorrow!
Funnily on shades, when I first went to get matched at the TF counter, the SA (who looked very…bored), suggested I get the liquid and matched me to 03 Fawn! At that time, I was also matched to Maestro … 6.5 I think, and GA LSF 5.5. Go figure… granted, I very much disagree with the Fawn match; 05 Natural is definitely the better shade for me right now, if just a bit light (EF 104).
Neo, what other foundation shades are you? I used to be GA LSF #5 and Guerlain LdP 02, but that was in the depths of winter after a year in China where I didn’t see sun. I’m pretty sure my “typical” Australian winter will be darker, because I’ll still retain some of my summer shade, and…we still have sun 😛
Bonnie, I’m sure this is way too much information, but please remember you asked for it, lol!
My various foundation shades and tries:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B30
Ellis Faas Skin Veil foundation in 102 (104 when tanned). The most beautiful foundation ever, IMO. Just makes you look like you have absolutely gorgeous skin, not a great foundation, really amazing. Unfortunately, it made my skin break out like crazy, so that’s that…
Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation in Vanilla – perfect color match, but unfortunately did not look good on me.
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau – sadly, there was no good color match for me in this one. 02 Beige Clair was too light, 03 Beige Naturel too dark. 12 Rose Clair wasn’t too light nor too dark, but too pink. Still, a beautiful foundation, very “liquidy”, that could be applied in a very sheer manner (half a pump can easily be stretched to the entire face) or easily buildable without being cakey, as it is very pigmented.
Yves Saint Laurent Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation in 5 Peach – good color match (not peachy at all, except in name, lol), overall very pretty, VERY sheer foundation, gives a nice luminosity and glow to the skin, evens out tone somewhat.
By Terry Sheer Expert Foundation – also not the best color match for me. 02 was the right tone, but too light, 04 the right shade but a tad too pink. Also, made me oily and kind of slid off my face after 2-3 hours (first foundation ever to do that to me).
Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer in Bliss – Beautiful natural dewy finish, covers everything that needs to be covered (redness, blemishes), but still manages to let the skin show through (I can still see my freckles!).
Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation – #4 (could get away with #6 too, gave me a slightly more bronzed me, very nice, but I felt more comfortable with #4). Beautiful foundation, the name says it all: sheer coverage, gives a beautiful and luminous finish. Sadly, it broke me out, so I had to take it back and move on to something else.
YSL Touche Eclat Foundation – BD40 in the summer. I wanted to love this one, but it made me an oily mess within 2 hours of wear and I quickly gave up…
Cle de Peau Refining Fluid Foundation – O20 in winter and O30 in summer. O30 is a perfect match when I’m tanned, but I find O20 a tad too pink on me when I’m at my palest. I love this foundation, but I suspect it’s also a bit too rich for me, as it does bring out the shinies by mid-day, no matter the season. Still, beautiful and luminous finish, this one will stay in the rotation for sure.
Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation – PK2 (as we know!) in winter, and I suspect OC2 to be perfect for me for summer, with a combination of both in between.
I have combination skin (normal/dry in winter and oily/normal in summer), in a light-medium, with neutral undertones (so in a pinch I can get away with both yellow and pink based foundations), but slight yellow looks somehow healthier/more natural on me 🙂
Gosh Neo, thank you for sticking with us and sharing all those experiences !
thank you 🙂
I saw it in Barneys and Sephora and there is a Barneys in Miami so my boyfriend might be able to get it.
Now it’s just a question of “moisture or aqua foundation” … 🙂
By the way, did you try the eyeshadows already ?
Omg Neo!
Well, to quickly match your shades back (I’ll try not to write too much!)
No Chanel!
Ellis Faas 104: Yes I have this! I really love it too and 104 is my summer shade. I got matched to 103 by the SA during the transition period but now I’m wondering because of the pink base lolol
Guerlain LdP 02 Beige Clair: I should have bought this in Asia where they have an Asia-specific shade, something like Ambre Clair? That was a better match for me, but I can just get by on 02 Beige Clair…it’s not perfect though but I guess if I wasn’t into the Asian whitening effect, this would work 😛 However, I haven’t been this light in ages so… 🙁
By Terry Sheer Expert: this is funny… I was wearing 08 Intense Beige during transition period and it was a fairly close match! Is there a reason for the massive difference between our matches?
Chantecaille: I was matched to Glow in the Just Skin and it’s my list to buy. I own Cream in the Future Skin 😛 I was however matched to Vanilla during winter.
Burberry Sheer: I wear Trench No 5
YSL Touche Eclat: I was matched to B40 and I was going to buy it, but I ended up buying something else at that time… I think it was the Ellis Faas actually. I can also wear B50.
Other shade references, GA LSF #5 (winter), GA Maestro in 6.5 (I think… I can’t remember any more, it was a match during summer), RBR Milk Aquarelle in Chestnut, EB Cream in Nude, Tom Ford Traceless #5 Natural… all shades matched at different times so it’s a bit confusing!
Hi Sonia 🙂
This is payback for enticing us with all these beautiful hard-to-get products LOL. Nah, we love it!
Neo is doing swatches on KGD for me, but their shades are very confusing! She can forward them to you as well if you need help. I’m still stuck 🙁
😀 yeah I see that !!! but we are loving it !!!
Hi Bonnie,
I have several other foundations that I like including a Lunasol one but my face likes the KGD. I think it is probably due to my really dry skin. I have to mix two shades together to match my skintone but I don’t mind because in the summer I get darker so I can easily adjust it. I also love their Maifanshi lip gloss. For some reason it actually heals the wounds that sometimes develops from a dry cracked lip! And of course the makeup remover is one of their star products. I use that or the Bioderma for my very sensitive/reactive skin. 🙂
Hi Bea,
Which shades do you mix for the KGD and what other shades do you wear? I was originally leaning towards PK2, based on Neo’s description, but having just seen her swatches, I’m wondering whether it would be too pink (because I still feel that I’m quite “yellow” haha). However, OC1 looks too light :S
I was also looking at the Lunasol but I will be good and hold off for a while 🙂
Shout out to Neo: THANK YOU!
Pleasure Bonnie, and glad it helped :)! And come on! I know you want that Lunasol ;)… LOL
No I don’t…..
The next foundations on my list to get are the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer and the Chantecaille Just Skin. I’ve been meaning to get the Just Skin for one but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I am Asian and am medium in complexion. All those colour/shade wheels say so lol! I have yellow undertones of course but sometimes I can use a beige foundation. My KGD shade in winter is 123 in the Maifanshi foundation and I use OC2 in the Aqua. I mix 123 with 03 in the summer time. As for other foundations, Ocher30 is the closest I could find to my skintone in the Shiseido UVWhite. I am MAC NC35 or NC37 in winter and NC40 in summer. I must say I have never found a foundation that was an exact match for me. 🙁
Oooh, I wear OC-2 now, but I wouldn’t say I’m quite as dark as a NC40. I’m probably around a MAC NC30-35, darkest. Hmmm…
@Bonnie I just used my KGD Aqua foundation in 0C2 (haven’t put it on in ages) and it’s a little dark on me. I guess I must be a NC30 in MAC during winter then? I’m confused now lol. I don’t have any MAC foundations I just got matched at the counter and maybe it was during summer when I was darker hence the reason for the NC35/40. Maifanshi 123 is practically dead on though.
thank you Bea, I totally 200% agree with you: I do have the best followers 😛 I am the luckiest and happiest blogger around 😀 *jumping*
and… I think I NEED to try this KGD !!!
Hi Bea! Welcome to brush heaven :)!!!!!! As Bonnie said, we are totally with you in the KGD fan club :D!!
Sonia, just come to NYC, I’ll take you to the KGD counter and they’ll have you sorted out in no time 😉
If only I could 🙁
I am praying for my boss to send me there asap 🙂
But the day I get there, we will have so much fun !!!
Neo, a friend of mine goes to NYC with her husband on occasion and I usually take advantage and ask her to stop by the KGD counter to pick up one or two things for me lol. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. This place is doubly (KGD/brushes) dangerous for me haha! 😀
Nice Bea! So sweet of your friend to get you your stuff! And I know what you mean: I really want that KGD tricolor pressed powder, but I’m trying to talk myself out of it, and trying to convince myself it’s not that different from the Guerlain Meteorites – but really, who am I kidding, it IS different, lol
Hi Neo 😉 thought I would give you my take on the KGD tri powder: Do you have the Chantecaille HD powder or the CDP pressed two pan powder (now discontinued)? I find it comparable to those but IMO 😉 not comparable to Metiorites. I am sure all of the other KGD aficionado’s could give more thoughts.. My ultimate favorite in the winter is the Chantecaille HD. It gives a flawless porcelain finish where applied and adds no color or shimmer. Not matte just skin. I love the CDP in the summer because it has a little color and faint faint faint shimmer.
It’s more portable 😛 and I’m quite liking it but I never have any particular opinion about pressed powders lolol
Oh, oh Melissa. Your news flashes are dangerous! 🙂 Not even a week has gone by since I ordered my white mushroom and I’ve already put in a second order for the red squirrel. There is something about a limited edition that makes it all the more desirable…and the fact that so many of you are loving it. I can’t wait for them to arrive!
Hi Kay
I got my Shu 12, you? Mine looks great.. Glad to finally have picked one up 😉
My Red Squirrel is on its way along with some other beauties!
Hi Stacy, I sent Sonia an email with photos to forward to you. Mine looks good, too. I also ordered a natural 10 from the Shu website…I’m curious to find out why it’s such a favorite.
oh fantastic news Stacy !!!
you are right not to skip this Red Squirrel, it would be sad if you did 😉
Stacy, you are going to love that red squirrel ;)! Pray tell, which other goodies are traveling with her???? 😀
I have done two CPs with this girl for my Takeda and Tanseido brushes and they both went well . Her name is Tommy. She has always had Jill Stuart makeup on her site but I noticed she does Addiction as well. Just thought I’d mention it for those who might like to try going this route to acquire some Japanese products 🙂
http://bringblingjp.blogspot.jp/search/label/ORDER
thank you 😀 that’s a great tip for us addicted to Japanese brands !!!
Yikes I am more confused than ever with Koh Gen Do colours after reading all of that. I am so desperate to try this foundation working out colours is hard.
Neo I love that findation site too. So helpful when I can’t test brands we don’t have here. Although this is where I’m confused I think I am MAC 20. I have EF in 102 which I really like and was matched to chantecaille future skin in ivory. On findation it says I would be PK-1 and in the moisture 013 (this changes depending on which foundations I enter). So just wondering if you also are Ellis Faas 102 whether I should be looking at PK-2? In tge swatches you did for Bonnie if you have these colours would I be able to get you to email them to me too? That would be really helpful. Also did you try the moisture one or just tge aqua? Was there a reason you chose the aqua over the moisture? Sorry for all the questions.
Sonia and Buggsiebee thank you so much for the Ellis Faas rec. I am really liking it. I had a sample from the le métier de beaute classic foundation which I tried the other day and it felt so heavy compared to the EF. By the end of the day I couldn’t wait to scrub it off.
Also Sonia am loving the brushes you recommended for me. Can’t wait for the fu pas to come on CDjapan as I never heard back from koyudo. I think I wrote to them in November so I have given up on getting a reply.
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Hi Becs,
Fantastic news about the brushes 🙂
Could you please ALL of you that have not received a reply from CDjapan send your requests to me (my private email is in the about page) ?
I will try to see that with my contact person (that has a contact in Koyudo), I would like to know what is causing them not to reply to customers !
I am in between EF 102 and 103 (neutral) so I guess it will be pk-2 for me… we’ll see 🙂
Glad you are also loving the EF by the way ! easy to wear and natural results so it’s still a great one for me for any occasion !
For those of you who love EF but cannot wear it, a similar one is By Terry Teint Delectation “Plumping Fluid Foundation Intensive Moisturization”, very comfortable, very healthy dewy looking too 🙂 love it!
Hi Sonia,
just to add in my 2 cents, I’m OC20 in Shiseido’s Refining Foundation and Ellis Faas’s shades pull a little too pink for me (though the pinkness in their concealer works great to neutralise the blue of my dark circles and is HG material for me). I’ve tried the foundation before and was between 102 and 103 too, though I probably could get away with 103 in the summer. I have KGD’s aqua foundation in OC-2, though it’s a little too dark for me now, since I bought the foundation almost at the end of this past summer, so I think I’m again between shades OC-1 and OC-2 (again!) though I would more accurately place myself as OC-1 during the winter. So, you might find yourself between PK-1 and PK-2 too, since we seem to be of a similar fairness, albeit with different undertones. I would buy a bottle of OC-1 to mix up my correct shade but to be honest, I don’t LURVE this foundation. It’s a little too cakey for me and I see the foundation. But my mom loves the finish of it; I think that it’s her favourite foundation out of my entire collection. So YMMV. I hope this helps! Buying foundation sight unseen is always a pain!
thank you Tori, it’s really difficult to select a foundation without trying it and I am quite difficult with foundations due to my terrible dry skin !
I’ll keep this precious info while I am doing my research ! 🙂
Sonia I just sent off an email to CDJapan earlier today before reading this. I wanted to add another brush to my first purchase from them before they shipped out my order. I sent it to info@cdjapan.co.jp because that’s what was on my Paypal receipt. Let’s see if I get a response 🙂
Fingers crossed 🙂
Hi Sonia! While I have had news thanks to Melissa’s kind help, CDJapan still never answered me :(… Maybe it’s the universe telling me to stop the brush madness???? Not I’ve any intention of listening, LOL
I will do my best to understand what is causing that 🙂 certainly not the universe talking to us 😀 although I am a DR WHO LOVER and I would happily travel the universe with him looking for more brushes to conquer 😀
Becs, that’s really a hard call to make! I would go with the Findation recommendation – it did recommend PK2 for me, and it was right, even though I had a hard time believing it (the PK three me, lol). And I’m also darker in the Chantecaille (I’m a Vanilla), so maybe the PK1 would work out well for you?
I do have PK1 and PK2 in my swatches, and would be happy to send them to you too, or for Sonia to send them to you, which ever is easier for you Sonia :). I’m just really sorry as the weather has been dreary here (not super cold, but super grey and dark 🙁 ), so my pictures are not the best 🙁
I only got the Aqua foundation. I was drawn to that one from all I had read because I favor a sheer coverage and a dewy finish, and the Moisture was described as having more coverage and a more satin finish. I tried the Aqua and liked it, so I stuck with it, lol. BT to be fair, I haven’t even tried the Moisture, so I have really no clue. I’m counting on Stacy to tell us all about it 😀
Hmmm, funny, Vanilla was my Chantecaille winter match… ages ago.
Help! I am still confused about the KGD foundation shades. Would it be possible to post Neo’s KGD swatches? If not, I would love to be emailed them. I did the foundation finder but no KGD popped up as a recommendation. 🙁
I tried ordering the $20 trial set from kohgendocosmetics.com which includes sample sizes of 3 moisture foundations, 3 bases, powder and puff but it won’t let me, probably because UPS shipping to outside the continental USA costs more than the kit! I’ll call tomorrow during business hours and see if USPS is an alternative and if they can send samples of the aqua foundation shades also.
Why, oh why do we want stuff that is so hard to get? 😛
Kay, I think Sonia is forwarding you my swatches, and I hope they help! BT in the Findation site, if they don’t recommend the KGD, you can still pull it out yourself: when you get the results (after having entered all your known color matches), there is a place on the left side of the screen where you can “request” the right match in any particular foundation. Not sure if I make sense, let me know if that wasn’t clear, I’ll give it another try 🙂
Thank you, Neo for the swatches and tip! I did go ahead today and order the trial set from their website over the phone and asked for samples of their aqua foundation as well. It will come via USPS which is cheaper than UPS for me. I read on another beauty forum that people have emailed them and requested samples without purchasing anything so that may be an option.
Hi,
Thank you so much for the extensive brush reviews. I’m planning on trying some Japanese brushes for the first time but am torn between hakuhodo or koyudo. Which brand do you think is superior in general between the two? I’m particularly interested in finding a good liquid/cream foundation brush for full coverage air-brushed look and a multi-tasking blush/powder/buffing brush.
Hi Yona,
I will soon be posting on that particular subject, if it’s not urgent and you can wait a few days, you might get a lot of info in that post, would that be ok for you ?
Both brands are good but each brand has it’s own speciality so I will talk about that in regards to your question.
Sonia, I have emailed you all the websites 🙂 Just wanted to make sure it didnt get into your spam folder!
I have been going thru my Hakuhodo brushes. If I could attach the G5518 brush to my hand all day long so I can stroke it whenever I want to, I would do it haha! 😀 I have the G5524 & G5527 as well and I love those too. Sonia, do you have the G503/G504 brushes? I am wondering how they compare (hair width/thickness/softness) to the Fu-pa12 & Fu-pa13 angled brushes?
Hi Bea,
I have the G504 but I use it more with powder, the fu-pas angled are more for liquid in my opinion, I still have to try them with powder 😛
will keep you updated on that and will address it in the post.
Hi Bea and Sonia, just wanted to add a comment about black brushes. They are dyed and Hakuhodo does not recommend dyed brushes for liquid/cream products although many people do use them successfully. I used one of my black brushes to apply liquid foundation after I had applied Clinique Pore Minimizer on my nose. Well, my nose immediately turned gray! One of the reasons Hakuhodo came out with white brushes is so people can use them with liquid/cream products.
Thanks Kay, now that you mention the dyed hair, I think Marty from HKD did say that to me one time. It rings a bell now that you say it. I tend to stay away from powders due to my very dry skin. I’ve used my G503 for contouring with my cream Chanel Bronze Universel but that’s about it. I’ve never noticed any bleeding with any of my black HKD or other Kumano brushes in usage or washing thank goodness! I don’t trust other non-japanese made brushes on that though lol. I still don’t have any J series. I have several of the white G series though. I have a list of what I plan to get and I want to ask Marty if he can get the eyebrow palette for me. I’ve been planning to have him bring it in for ages but never got around to it. After seeing it in Sonya’s review of the xmas set, I noticed they have updated the palette.
oh dear 🙂 !!! thanks Kay, I agree, I totally avoid using black brushes for liquids but some black brushes do not contain dye which is nice.
Hi Sonia,
I wanted to let you know that I ordered the White Mushroom from CDJapan on Dec.29th and the Red Squirrel on 1-8-13 but I haven’t received my White Mushroom yet. I know they got my order, though. Now, when I look at the site, it says the brushes will be in in 1-3 weeks but when they acknowledged my order, they didn’t say they were out of stock at that time. So, I don’t know what’s going on. Can you help?
Thanks, Mimi
I have the same problem with an order for a pink fupa, it’s still not shipped. You can contact them directly, Mimi, on the mails Sonia provided, it’s what I did. They are probably a little bit overwhelmed by our sudden orders 😉
Thank you Nikoleta, I just don’t want to be forgotten.
I had a reply from cdjapan, they would ship my brush today, I hope you had an answer too.
It will be easier once they settle their business with Koyudo.
I’m curious about their eye brushes too.
Great news !
I have a few of them and I am very happy with them (squirrel, goat), I also have a few pony ones but I don’t use them although for pony they are the softest pony I tried !
I was waiting to get a few more before I do a review but I feel it’s going to take time…
Hi Sonia
The fu pas are on CoolJapanNow. Yay! Just wondering what your thoughts are between the fu pa 12 and 13. Are you liking one more than the other? Do you use these to apply liquid foundation too? Sorry I know you are preparing a post am just being curious. No hurry though I should just wait for your post I can’t get them till next week anyway if I use the rent money my hubby will kill me.
Also just after your opinion again on a powder blush brush I have been using cream/liquid blushes and love them but have had my eye on a few powder blushes (mainly the RMK mix cheeks). I want something that will apply quite subtlety and easily. I never used to wear blush I always was terrified of looking clown like. Since finding your blog and delving in to this world I am now a little obsessed with blush. I still want a fairly light application though so it is very natural so I was thinking between the red squirrel and the Z-4. What do you think?
Thanks Sonia
Becs
Hi Becs,
😀 😀 so funny !
I would say that the 12 is more multipurpose (contour, hightlight, foundation) and you will get more use out of this one, I actually don’t use them with powder (yet) 😛
The red squirrel is very unique, I would say to try to get it if you can, definitely !
Got a reply to my order inquiry from CDJapan. She said anywhere from 2-4 weeks for the new Fu-pas to actually be available on their site. She couldn’t be more specific because she said Koyudo hadn’t given them exact dates. I see on the listings it indicates 1-3 weeks wait time.
J’adoooooooooooooooooore votre site!!! Je viens de passer une commande sur cdjapan pour avoir le red squirrel cheek brush!!!!!! merci pour vos précieux conseils!!!
Merci Laurence! ça me fait plaisir que vous l’aimiez ! c’est génial, j’espère que vous l’aurez car elle est vraiment extraordinaire !
Faut pas être pressé car elles sont faites précieusement à la main mais ça vaut tellement la peine.
N’hésitez-pas à me redire si vous l’aimez, c’est super utile d’avoir un retour de ceux qui l’ont acheté 🙂
I am jealous that you can speak English and French so fluently. One of the many benefits of living in Switzerland. What other languages are you fluent in, if I may ask?
😀 😀 Thanks Mimi, I would rather speak one really well and not some so-so like I do !!
I speak Spanish, Italian, I fully understand Portuguese since my Spanish dialect is Galician (very close to Portuguese), and I can manage my way out of trouble in German but if I really really need to 😛
To be honest with you, I deeply wish I could understand Japanese 😉
thanks for your interest Mimi, but when you change country as a child languages are easier to learn, specially when you arrive in Switzerland, you can’t go very far without switching to a different language here 🙂
How wonderful! I have taught myself about 30 words and phrases in Japanese and it seems like a very sensible language and not as hard to learn as one may think. If you put “ka” at the end of a word it makes it a question instead of a statement. If you put “sen” at the end of a word it makes it negative. So all you need to learn would be like this, “I want to go to sleep.” To say, “I don’t want to go to sleep.” you would just put “sen” at the end of the word sleep. To ask if someone wants to go to sleep, again you would simply make the statement “You want to go to sleep ka” to make it a question “Do you want to go to sleep?” It seems like a well set up language. I’m no expert but it’s fun!
oh interesting 😀 it sounds fun too ! do you know why they write -san at the end of a name by any chance ?
I don’t speak Japanese but I think it’s for politeness because referring to only the customer’s name would be rude. It’s like a genderless Miss or Mister. There’s a similar word in Korean, ssi, which is used at the end of names to generically refer to customers or address people who are of the same age group but you’re not that friendly with.
And it’s amazing that you speak so many languages. 🙂 I cannot do romance languages to save my life…
Thank you Tori ! and good to know 🙂
Hi Sonia, Yes, “san” at the end of a name is a courtesy. To leave it off is a “dis” meaning disrespectful) and is insulting so always say san at the end of a name unless you know the person well enough that they understand that you mean no insult, like a close friend. The Japanese are more formal than we are. We are friendly and casual and mean that as a way of bonding with someone like calling someone “Cindy” instead of “Cynthia” but they don’t feel the same. If you are overly friendly and not formal enough, they take it as you are being presumptuous. Always use “san” when doing business with a person. The use of the word “dis” in America means “to be disrespectful”. It comes from the African American lexicon so if someone is rude, you would say that they dissed you or “I got dissed today by so-and-so.” Hey man, don’t dis me! Like that.
Thanks Mimi, we have a branch in Japan and I can see emails with -san so I was wondering 🙂
glad to know it now ! precious info 🙂
Cant remember who it was but the Shu 10 and 12 are being sold at Rakuten Cosmeland store for HALF PRICE!!! Shu 12 is now 4250 Yen instead of 12600! Also the Shu 10 for 4983 instead of 7140.
Links:
SHU 10
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/cosmeland/item/100736/
SHU 12
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/cosmeland/item/100735kk/
HURRYYY 🙂 🙂
It’s a good thing Rakuten is down for maintenance or else… lol. I am hell bent on ordering the Koyudo brushes and the Houkodou one and it is already making quite a dent in my wallet. Thank goodness I have my Tanseido and Kihitsu kolinskies or else my wallet would be comatose by now teehee! 🙂
😀 it’s not under maintenance to me }:)
WHAT ?? that’s so insane ! I hope they are not faulty but that price would be amazing !
I want these but they must be shipped to a Japanese address. How does one get around this?
that’s right.. I tried and they only ship to a Japanese address, Buggsiebee and myself have tried the Tenso services and it worked perfectly well ! Maybe it’s time you try to create an account with them for an eventual present or future use… who knows 😉 they are very efficient and fast and for an order it costs around 20$ if I remember right, can be a good deal depending on the items you want.
I used the Tenso forwarding service again yesterday, after splurging on a whole bunch of brushes with beautifully colored handles 🙂 Tenso sent me a mail a few days ago offering 50% off international shipping of a Rakuten order when using Tenso as a forwarding agent, so it will be even cheaper this time round. Their service fee is so low, but they are soooooo efficient. Thanks again to you for suggesting them Sonia!!
My pleasure 🙂
I will certainly use them again … soon….
Were we talking about new year resolutions at some point ? I am glad I am not the only one that can’t resist, it would be depressing 🙂
Well, I’ve started back at the gym so that’s one of my resolutions 🙂
I just can’t resist a great looking brush with such a gorgeous handle.
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/cosmedo/item/j-f02/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_02_en
yes, I already have a brush with a similar / identical form, but that handle 😀 !!!
Well, 1 of my resolutions this year is having more ‘me time’ for myself, so I guess splurging on new brushes is part of the resolutions right 🙂
I tried registering my Tenso address with Rakuten, but didn’t know what was the street address or province etc since it was all in Japanese. How did you figure it out?
Carlyn, do you still need help ? let me know and I will contact you by private mail, thanks !
If I remember well, I entered the postal code and it filled the address automatically… to be confirmed.
Eeep, I really do hope they’re genuine or… not faulty. They’re so many products out there that are faked and they look so real. I know, because I’ve lived in China for a year and seen what things they can do!
You’re right Bonnie 🙂
After my initial excitement I decided that the risk of getting a fake at that price is pretty high.
I bought my first Shu brushes years ago. I bought them from a US based Ebay store for about $500,- plus shipping & plus the 19% tax on top once they arrived here. It wasn’t cheap, but way cheaper than buying from a regular store. Anyhow I was thrilled intiially, but as I got more & more into brushes over the years, I had to admit to myself that I had purchased a set of fakes 🙁 It was a hard lesson, and one which I don’t want to repeat.
My friend ordered few Shu brushes from Rakuten Cosmeland in the past and they were genuine. I also got my Shu 20 from them and thank god it was the real thing.
I took the plunge and ordered the Berry Red FuLi02 and the their Red version of H008, just for comparison sake to the Koyudo 008, which has delivery time of 3 weeks 🙁 Both were in stock and should be delivered within 2 days! YAY 🙂
Im just praying so hard that both will be as good as the Koyudo. I already have the Koyudo FuPa02, so I can compare them once I receive the FuLi02. If they are, these will be my next line to discover for 2013 🙂
HAPPY BRUSH HUNTING LADIES 🙂
Hey Melissa 🙂
Thanks for the FB on Cosmeland!
I’ll take a chance on the Shu then 😉
Can you please link me to their version of the Koyudo H008.
I also ordered the Berry Red FuLi02 😀
YAY!!!
Thanks too for letting us know 🙂 I might try the Shu 12 then. Thankfully, I got my friend to pick up the 10 at a Shu counter in HK, so that way, I’ll definitely have peace of mind and it works out even cheaper than buying it off Cosmeland, even without the discount wooo!
I want the Berry Red FuLi02 as well… 🙁
Buggsiebee, sad to hear about those fake Shu brushes of yours. Sometimes it’s just so hard to tell. Even when a seller says it’s 100% genuine, sometimes you can’t guarantee it. I ordered some cosmetics while I was in China, that were guaranteed to be 100% real, and the products were almost entirely identical and the quality was excellent. But it would be like a tiny, tiny misspelling or detail that would let you know it was fake. Argh!
Hopefully they still be in stock for you!!!
Here is the Rakuten Cosmedo H008:
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cosmedo/tt-01/
However, seems that they are out of stock now. Maybe I snatched the last Red one. But maybe they will be restocked again on Monday! will cross my fingers for you!!
and the same brush on Cosmedo website:
http://cosmedo.com/SHOP/TT-01.html
Ooooohhh Buggsiebee……..it was you who snatched the Red FuLi02 last night. First time I checked there were 4 in stock, after that only 3 🙂
Melissa!! You are a wicked MONSTER!!
Stop with all these links……please 🙂 !!!
I already placed an order this afternoon based on your links…….and now I feel the need to place ANOTHER order!
I love my Shu 10 & 12 sooooo much that a backup at this price would be more than welcome. Thanks for the heads up.
Rats!!! Rakuten is down for maintenance right now 😉
I’ll have to stalk them till they’re up again 😀
I agree… a wicked MONSTER 😀 😀 😀
😉
Im so sorry Buggsiebee 🙂 Have been on a huuuuge brush hunt lately! Guess who to ‘blame’ 🙂
I was about to check out on Rakuten and the site got down for maintenance indeed from 0200-0730am their time zone (abt 2000-0100 CET). I’d prob still awake by then and determined to get the Red FuLi02 🙂 and maybe their Red H008 version too 🙂
The fuchsia brush was delivered within 2 days at my Japanese shopping service and sent to me the day after it was delivered, it took 3 days only all the way to Holland using the airmail small packet, not even EMS! so, all in all I received my brush within 8 days from the time I ordered it!!! SUPER DUPER FAST…….Compared to Koyudo thats lightning FAST!!
Are the Shu 10 and 12 kolinsky? I could only see where they are natural hair, but I couldn’t see where it says kolinsky.
I can only purchase the Shu brushes using Tenso forwarding company. Not sure if I want the brushes that badly.
Buggsiebee, the site is up now.
Really ? they do ship to Switzerland directly..
Sonia, is it me or is this brush exactly the same as the HK Kokutan e/s L??
http://www.yojiyacosme.com/products/detail.php?product_id=48
Dimensions are also the same?
Brush length 140mm, 27mm hair length, 14mm shaft diameter
Yes Hakuhodo makes the Yojiya brushes. My friend was in Japan a few years ago and picked one up for me in their store at Narita airport. I got him to pick up the brush there because it was one of the ones which couldn’t be imported into the US anymore.
yep thanks for answering 🙂
It’s just SO COOL to be able to get all this info with you, I mean it, SO COOL !
Thanks Bea !!! Im soooo going to get ALL of them when Im in Kyoto 🙂
Especially the flat ‘radiance’ brushes. The price difference is sooo huuuge comparing to HK!
Melissa, I’m not sure Yojiya has all of the HKD brushes? I was under the impression it was only the Kokutan series but I might be mistaken. 🙂
Bea, unfort they dont have all the HK brushes 🙁 So far they have many Kokutan brushes, the vermillion Kinoko flat for 6000 Yen instead of $96, Koniko round w black handle for 6100 Yen instead of $120!!, Yachiyo brushes (3 kinds), Mizubake for 1790 Yen instead of $52, and the biggest price difference is the Itabake X-Large: 3150 Yen instead of $96!!! Yojiya has also the smaller Itabake brushes for much cheaper!!! Insaaane right!! I already asked Sonia if they could be a dupe for the Radiance, unfort they’re not! But I will get them anyway and hope they’ll be of the same quality as the HK brushes.
Gosh….I just hope that they all be in stock by the time Im in Kyoto 🙂 They dont have many Yojiya shops outside Kyoto, so I’ll make sure I visit ALL the Yojiya shops until I find all my brushes…….poor hubby….. 🙂 🙂
I’m sorry to say that I think that I’ve finally managed to talk myself out of ordering anymore Koyudo brushes. It just shouldn’t be that hard to spend so much money!
Neither CoolJapanNow/CDJapan nor Koyudo ever answered my emails. I know I shouldn’t take it personally, but there it is, I do. Obviously, they do answer some, and chose to not answer others. I’ve always been extremely polite in my emails (even when supremely frustrated, lol), and in the end just asking if they could simply please acknowledge receipt. Still nothing.
I had thought to not write anymore, and just wait for the brushes I wanted to order to be available online on the CoolJapan site and order, but the BP013 still isn’t available, and I can’t even get an idea of when it will be, as I know they won’t answer my email if I write a query. Then Mimi’s experience of ordering close to a month ago and never hearing back from them just goes too far. I understand that Koyudo is a small company, and that they may have a hard time keeping up with foreign orders and emails written in a foreign language. But CDJapan is geared towards the international market, and it shouldn’t be so hard for them. I just find it very rude and disrespectful, beyond being plain bad CS, towards people who are spending a lot of money on their products.
I may make one last attempt through Koyudo, but frankly, I’m not sure it’s worth the aggravation when I yet again don’t hear back from them. I think instead I will go buy some more TF blushes, at least I can get those immediately 😀 😀 😀
But I really really wanted to thank you Sonia and Melissa for trying to get answers to us, and taking the time to write to them and convey their answers back to those of us here who weren’t worth an answer from them, you ladies have been so super sweet!!! But you shouldn’t have to do that either, you are not responsible for their companies’ shortcomings. I’m sorry this post isn’t my usual enthusiastic and happy self, but I still felt I wanted to share how I feel about all this with you ladies, as I feel we’ve been through this all together, and I know you can understand my frustration about this (most people would think – these are just brushes, what’s the big deal, LOL).
Rant over, I shall now get back to more fun postings, I promise 🙂
Oh Neo, I do understand you !
They should reply, there is no excuse to that, they should at least say they are waiting for the brushes because I know they are… they have to rely on Koyudo’s reply and that’s something they don’t always get easily.
However, I just want to tell you something that might cheer you up a bit, not much, but a bit 😉
I have been on the waiting list for the Rae Morris Radiance since 6th November 2012, but it wasn’t available for some time before that already. Still no news about when it will become available, and this is just ONE brush.
I don’t know if you are aware of what happened to me with the Rae Morris sets I received… the first one was terrible, absolutely terrible, some brushes I had to throw away, I have spent 600 euros on brushes that half went directly to the bin “or the bin drawer since I keep them as a souvenir…”. They sent me a set to replace it, the new set costed me 250euros in taxes only !!! for what ? rattling brushes !!!! and the answer of Rae about that : “oh you got a brush that is rattling, it’s because I made it myself but I forgot to glue it” oh how cool, so you’ll replace it ??? well no, she just finds that normal, although she is a talented artist I cannot use a brush that rattles and I cannot afford wasting anymore money or energy on that.
I am used to wait for things that I ordered and I prefer to wait for brushes that I will use all my life than to get brushes that would make my life hell and make me waste money.
The only thing that I am sad about is that they don’t update you all, but waiting for brushes that are handmade with all this handcraft I don’t mind.
I will still talk to them just to ask them to update their customers 🙁
Thank you for your kind understanding Sonia – I just hate being so negative!
I totally hear you on the RM brushes – for shame!!!!! Seriously, how rude of her – what kind of a response is this? I have to say that I have been inquiring about the Radiance brush since last August (how crazy is that?), and while I have given up on that particular one a while ago (I mean, I understand that it takes time to make handmade brushes, and I too prefer to wait and have an exceptional product rather than get rushed sub-par quality – but really, are they plucking all those goats with tweezers or what?????) , but at least they have always always answered my queries, and been polite about it (Jim and I have a special relationship now, I feel 😀 😀 :D).
But yes, like you I have no problem waiting – but with Koyudo and CDJapan I have the feeling that I’m shooting in the dark, and not that I’m waiting for something that will come. And that’s what really gets to me – the complete lack of responsiveness!
Thank you again, for trying so hard to help us – it means a lot 🙂
Awwwwww Neo!!! Im feeling soooo sorry for you. Brush hunting should be FUN and certainly not a frustrating experience. I wish I could get there and pick up your BP013 myself! I will look out for this brush for you cause I think I have seen the BP series being sold under a different brand as well. I’ll get back to u as soon as I figure out where I saw them before. I have seen too many brushes lately 🙂
But yeah, I do understand your frustration! I just go brush hunting myself while Im waiting for Koyudo to deliver my Red S & FuPa. It helps me getting my mind off the Koyudo 🙂
Thank you Melissa, you are always so nice and helpful, and I am very touched and grateful.
But I agree, this should all be fun, and lately it has just made me sad, which is why I want to give up.
I love every single brush I have gotten based on Sonia’s recommendation, and use them all regularly, some of them daily (hello BillyB 9 and 11, how did I ever live without you?? :D) – since getting my FuPa 07, I haven’t used any of my other foundation brushes (I’ve even thrown one of them away! It was shedding like crazy, but I always thought “you never know” – now I know: I would have never used it again, lol). But I figure I have the essentials now (and them some ;)!), and maybe I need to take a break? And who knows, by the time I’m ready to give it another try, maybe Sonia, you, Nikoletta, Dena, Bugsiebee and all the other great ladies here will have discovered other brands, more easily available 😉 😀 😀 😀
I find it so interesting, that other brands are making the exact same brushes as Koyudo, or maybe they just sell them under a different brand? How do you find them all?? You are good!!!!!!!!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your red squirrel and FuPa get to you super fast!!!!!!! They are wonderful brushes (also part of my daily rotation ;))!
Hi Neo,
I got a reply from CDJapan, I will send you her details so that you can contact her (him?) directly.
Thank you Sonia, I really appreciate all you are doing for all of us, and I will definitely follow up on that!!!! I’m just really sorry that you have to spend so much time on this, and wish this whole process could be as pleasant as the daily use of their brushes (or at least not as painful as it is, lol)… 😉
Let me distract you from your brush woes: How are you liking that La Mer foundation???
I love both of the Koh Gen Do’s! Seriously, why won’t I just stop? I surely have the best of the best…..
Buggsiebee: Do you think blue tint hides wrinkles?
Stacy, you are totally distracting me, and it’s more than welcomed ;). I’m just not sure you won’t hate me after my answer… I LOVE the La Mer! I feel like it was made for me, seriously! It’s so good, that I’ve actually returned the KGD (and now EVERYBODY here hates me )… I still wonder: how comes this gem of a foundation has stayed hidden for so long?
It doesn’t look as if I have a wonderful foundation when I have it on, but as if I had amazing skin. It feels very light on the skin (as if I weren’t wearing anything), and is comfortably hydrating without making me greasy (combo skin here, so every single foundation tends to make me a bit oilier in the t-zone, but not this one!). It also stays from morning when I put it on to evening, when I take my make up off (which I’ve been doing using the Sulwhasoo cleansing oil, but now you made me want the Tatcha one, thank you!).
Let’s put it that way: last week, while I was wearing it (still in testing period at the time, lol), a friend of mine exclaimed that she really thought I looked so much better when I wasn’t wearing any foundation. Today at lunch, another friend commented on how my skin had gotten so much better (it’s not that bad, to be honest, but I’ve been dealing with food allergies that cause breakouts, and every once in a while I consume something I shouldn’t, often unknowingly)…
So for me, it’s definitely a winner, and dare I say it… HG material!!!!
Just to add to the La Mer love, I think that the loose powder is lovely too, though there are limited shades if you don’t want to use the translucent version. The cleansing fluid, which my mom loves, is also very nice. It goes on as an oil but rinses off with a really clean feeling. It also looks like something a mermaid would use and looks very pretty on my bathroom counter, which is sometimes the only prerequisite for making purchases for some of us. 🙂 LOL.
Now I need to go try that foundation…
Hey Neo! My specialty is distraction by new purchases! I will for sure try the La Mer next! FYI 😉 I just recently heard amazing things about La Mer Hand treatment cream. Hmmmm I for sure need to check that out too. I LOVE both my KGD foundations! Funny that we like the same foundations because I have dry skin even though I live in humid land!
Let me know if we need to “distract” you further from brush trauma!!
Hi 🙂
I have La Mer, still not sure about it for me, now that my skin is back to its normal dryness (but without flakiness) I have to give it a second round of tests, will keep you updated !
Neo, I have asked CDJ abt other brands selling the Koyudo brushes and here is their answer:
“Yes it is possible for other brands to
order Koyudo brushes and to sell them under their name.
(Of course, this is under Koyudo’s permission)
There are a couple of cosmetic brands like the one in your link,
who uses Koyudo’s makeup brushes under their label name without
any Koyudo logo on the product.”
And I asked them abt actual delivery time. Their answer:
“Actually you should not expect these brushes to be fulfilled
soon. If Koyudo does not have any in stock, they will have to
make them for you so we can not confirm that it will be fulfilled soon.
Hopefully within 3 weeks but since we can only add the newly added brush at the
end of this week, (eyemake/bp042) may make your order to be shipped out later
than 3 weeks.”
Sooooo………bottom line is we all should expect delivery time of at least 3 weeks or even longer before CDJ confirmed that the brushes have been shipped 🙁
Oh well, that gives me more time to explore other brushes in mean time………
However, I dont get it why they havent replied to you or Mimi?? I hope that you will get any answer from the person that Sonia gives you! Mean time I’ll check out the BP series elsewhere for you 🙂 Maybe the other brands have even better brushes comparable to the ones that you are lemming 😉
You’re a star Melissa 🙂
I’m so excited about my Berry Red handled brushes!
I picked up the ‘H008’ and the ‘H005’ both of which I use every day so I’m more than happy to have two of each. Based on your positive experience with Cosmeland I also decided to take a chance on the drastically reduced Shu #12.
Next time you post some exciting new link PLEASE warn me to close my eyes first. Once I’ve seen exciting new brushes I simply have ZERO willpower. ZERO!!!
Thank you Melissa by the way 🙂
Oh Buggsiebee… welcome to the Z-WP club !
Thank you Melissa. I finally got an email today that one of my brushes, the White Mushroom that I ordered on Dec. 29th has been shipped. They had no mention of the Red Squirrel but I ordered that in Jan. so I guess it will not be included in this shipment. My love is softness, and Sonia said that the White Mushroom and Red Squirrel are the softest so I don’t have plans to order any more brushes from CDJapan. Can’t take the frustration. My next plan of attack is to get more of the Z Series Chikuhodo. Malin sent me the MK-2 which totally blew me away!!!! Wow, what a fabulous brush! Unbelievably soft, think, plush, luxurious beyond your wildest dreams! I must have more! The four brushes that I want are out-of-stock but Malin will get them in February. I’m fine with that because I know I can trust Malin and she won’t forget about me. Also, it gives me a chance to pay off my Christmas bills before I get the bill for the Chikuhodos so my husband won’t squak at me!
Yeah, its such a shame that delivery time is so frustrating! Owise Koyudo/CDJ would have made huuuuge profits out of all of us!! Its the FuPa brushes that makes Koyudo so unique at the moment. But I wont be surprised if other brands will be selling all the FuPas as well shortly. I plan to get the Mushroom from another brand after I’ve finished my ‘research’ 🙂
Malin is THE BEST!! I have the MK2 & Z4 and they are indeed 1 of the softest ones I own. I recently got the fuchsia Cosmedo gray squirrel cheek brush, which can be a dupe for the Z4. I used it for the first time today and it feels like silk! No shedding after her first bath 🙂 and I just love the color! Im a huge sucker for brush handles 🙂
If my hubby finds out what all my brushes cost I’d end up in a divorce 🙂 🙂 But I’ll make sure I keep my brushes during the negotiations………LOL
Yes! I know what you mean. My husband would be incredulous if he found out what I’ve spent on brushes (and other things) but we only live once so we gotta grab some enjoyment, right? I’m going to check out the Cosmedo you mentioned!
thanks girls for being so funny.. needing that right now <3
Thank you thank you thank you Melissa – like Buggsiebee said it, you are truly a star!!!!!! It really does make one wonder though, about how they prioritize their orders, you are absolutely right – and obviously, neither we nor CDJ are at the top of their lists, lol.
I did send yet another email to Koyudo last night – unsurprisingly I haven’t heard back from them yet…
I also browsed the Cosmedo website for a bit – there are some cute brushes there!!! And I am testing using Tenso right now: I ordered the Hakuhodo concealer brush last week (and got an email this morning that it had shipped – I think, so I will now wait for Tenso to get in touch with me :)). If all goes well, I may get bolder and order more 😀
I’m wondering how it would work if I were to order from Koyudo, but instead of sending them the excel sheet by email for an international delivery, just ordered locally and had it mailed to Tenso??? Hmmm, I think I need to think about that one and see if I’m ok with paying the difference in terms of taxes…
Anyway, again, thank you so much Melissa :)!!!! And please keep us updated with all the new brushes (or old under new brands) you discover :D!
I hear you Neo!
We ALL hear you & you are absolutely right to be fed up.
You are are also 100% correct in saying that Sonia should definitely not be feeling responsible for the Koyudo communication shortcomings.
The order I placed on 15 November is FINALLY on its way. Over two months of waiting & wondering whether anything was happening on the other side at all.
I know that will order from Koyudo again because I simply cannot resist their brushes, however I really do wish that they would pick up their game in the communications department.
Their lack of feedback on pending orders turns what should be a pleasureable experience into feelings of major frustration & resentment.
I am certain that this can NOT be their goal!!
I’m pretty certain that the brushes which Melissa has been spotting for us lately are all produced in the Koyudo factory so perhaps you can find the same brushes elsewhere.
I’ve ordered a number of the Koyudo ‘dupes’ and will give some FB as soon as I’ve compared them to the original purchases.
To order from these other Japanese shops you will need to use a forwarding service but I find that it works out cheaper than shipping internationally directly from cdjapan anyway.
Hang in there…….:)
I couldn’t agree with you more Buggsiebee! I have been waiting since Dec. 29th and I thought I had it bad! If you’ve been waiting since mid Nov. I’m surprised you haven’t given up in frustration. You are so right, what should have been a pleasure has almost been ruined by frustration and resentment. I do not plan on ordering from them again. Part of my enjoyment is instant gratification. If I have to wait long for something, I sort of figure maybe I don’t really need it after all. Just my way of thinking and feeling.
Thank you Buggsiebee!
Wow, that’s crazy!!!!! 2 months for them to get back to you? And in all this time they never ever got back to you to let you know what was going on or anything? That’s just not ok 🙁
Still I do admire your patience! I tend to be like Mimi: I still want those brushes, but at the same time, I figure I’ve already lived without so far, so I can continue without them too (even though I’d obviously prefer to do with, lol).
In all cases, I will follow up with CDJ tonight, and get in touch with the person Sonia kindly recommended, and we will see what comes out of it!
But I so appreciate all the kind support I am getting here. I know we keep on saying it, but I think it can be said again: what a fantastic group of Ladies has Sonia brought together here! The best, really!
I’ll “second” your post and let’s included dear Malin, she’s a doll!
OK, now that we all know that Koyudo is selling their brushes to other brands as well. I wonder how they prioritize the incoming orders? I understand that from the company’s point of view they make more profits when accepting orders of 500-1000 brushes from local companies! Nevertheless communication is KEY! No matter what they must update their clients.
If there is indeed no stock they should mention it on their website so we dont have to bother ordering it because we know beforehand that the brushes will not be ours in just a few weeks plus shipping time from Japan to our countries. Unless you are willing to wait for such a long time. And so far they havent met their goals regarding the delivery time of 1-3 weeks either!
I have ordered at Cosmedo twice now, and both experiences have been a breeze! It was clear to me whether the brushes were in stock or not, they didnt mention a timeline. So if the brush isnt in stock you just have to wait ordering them until they’re back in stock again. I find that more convenient when ordering, since I can purchase other brushes which are actually in stock without having them holding my credit card payment until they have shipped my items (like CDJ/Koyudo does). Both Cosmedo orders have been dispatched within 1 business day after I placed my order!
Hang in there girls, we will get every single brush that we wish for! Sooner or later 🙂
I have always understood that the Kumano brush companies do OEM (ie. Hakuhodo made some of the MAC brushes, Chikuhodo makes Suqqu, Lunasol, Artisan & Artist,etc.) so I automatically assume Koyudo does the same. What I find strange is why Koyudo doesn’t seem to be able to keep up with demand? CDJ is their customer but the rep told me that they can only estimate 2-4 weeks to get the brushes in because Koyudo didn’t give them an exact date of when to expect them to arrive? I was a little surprised by that statement. I placed my order for the fu-pa01 on Jan. 8 and just got the email notice that my brush is shipped this morning Jan 21. I can’t wait! 🙂
Bea, this is exciting news to me!! I placed one of my orders on Jan 10… I feel like I just moved up in line!!!!!!!!! 😀
@Stacy: YAY!!! 🙂
Please don’t go holding your breath Stacy!! I don’t think the ‘blue in the face look’ is one you’ll be happy with 🙂
I placed my order on Jan 18th and don’t have my hopes up that they’ll be delivered before a month has passed. I did like the ease of ordering from CDJapan, so I’ll see how the rest of it goes. Ordering the Fine Kalla cheek brush from Rakuten went smoothly, although it’s a bit anxiety provoking since emails are mostly in Japanese. Can’t wait for my brushes to come.
I’m so glad I found this blog, none of my friends understand my love for brushes and it’s great to find other like minded folks out there. Thank you Sonia for all your hard work, time and dedication.
you are very welcome Carlyn 🙂 thank you <3
I also received an email today that my CD Japan order of a white mushroom made on January 4 has been shipped! Hooray!
I understand the frustration that many are experiencing and truly empathize. I expected a well made Suqqu brush and received a lousy one and it was a terribly upsetting experience. But I want to say a few things.
First, I want to thank Stacy for her advice of training herself to not expect expedient service which has helped me tremendously in not feeling aggravated. Also, I saw a Japanese television program where people who put in their orders for handmade goods wait a long time, even years, before it is hand delivered because it takes a long time to make. I am not making any excuses for Koyudo or CDJapan but I wonder if there is a cultural difference in expectations, of quality before speed? Lastly, I don’t know if this applies to brush making and whether this a factor in our slow orders, but I know that there are fewer and fewer craftsman who make traditional crafts; many younger people do not aspire to make labor intensive goods. Anyway, just wanted to share a few thoughts that have helped me.
I am in total agreement with you, over this. I’ve seen traditional craftsman working before and believe me, the amount of attention they pay to detail, to every individual item is astonishing. I know I would lack the patience to sit there just like that! I would definitely prefer something that is well-made, than something they’re making just to fulfill orders. I’m really hoping that Koyudo won’t sacrifice their amazing quality just to get our orders to us quicker, especially in light of the recent issues. I’m sure they won’t though!
I think the problem is not so much the moment this time, but rather the lack of communication, which is definitely understandable. I believe that Koyudo is worth waiting for, especially if it’s something like the White Mushroom and the Red Squirrel. And I don’t mind waiting for goods, especially if they’re handmade. I understand that these products have to be handmade individually, so I expect that I will wait longer. I do agree that they should keep us up-to-date though; even if they tell us to please wait 2 months, as long as I have some peace of mind, then I’m fine.
However, I’m still happy waiting because I love what I’ve received so far. And honestly, I think it must be so stressful for them as well! Koyudo has probably never had to deal with this volume of orders, and it’s just been the Christmas and New Year break!
fantastic Karen !
I will keep up with the comments tomorrow… sorry ! we had problems with our dog and we had to urgently operate on her, I’ll be better tomorrow, she should be fine hopefully ! but I am a mess right now…
🙁 I hope that your dog is better now. Poor baby.
I’m sorry about your dog. It’s so stressful when something serious happens to a loved one. I hope all goes well. At times like this, suddenly things like brushes aren’t so very important any more. In fact, “things” aren’t important no matter what they are. Just to have your dog all better is really all one truly wants. My little 7lb. dog was attacked in our back yard in Oct. by a bobcat and nearly killed. He was all torn up all over his body and neck. It took the veterinarian 4 hours to sew him back up. We weren’t sure he would survive or in what condition but 4 days later he started to get better and is good as new now. We’re very thankful for that. Good luck with your dog and I hope everything goes your way.
Thank you Mimi, she is very strong although not that young, I am sure she will recover well !
We lost our other dog two years ago and then just after the cat, they were very old so we knew it would happen but it still is awful when it happens… 🙁 I think the saddest thing was leaving this dog alone without company of the other two, that was breaking my heart !
Thank you Tori, yes poor baby.. she never complains even when she is in huge pain !
She still wanted to play during the weekend, begged for me to play with her and she looked so happy, but she always looks happy ! she wasn’t eating much but she prefers to play and she never cared much for food. It’s just when she started peeing blood that we got it 🙁
arghhh dogs 🙁
she got an operation yesterday and I could see her and even walk her 2 minutes outside the vets, then they put the perf back on her leg but if all goes well I will take her home today ! *relieved*
Oh no, poor doggie (luv dogs) and poor you. 🙁 I would be a mess too, but I’m glad he/she will be fine.
I hope Bea, it looks like she will ! she was sleepy but happy yesterday !
I really hope that she’s okay too, coddle her for a bit and maybe stroke her with a few brushes! Just don’t let her teeth get near them 🙂
She is too well behaved, she would never eat my brushes ! 😀
So sorry about your dog, hope she’s on the mend.
I am convinced she will be fine, she looked happy, we just need to be able to feed her now !!!
I feel with you Sonia. It’s awful when animals have pain because sometimes you have to put them through more pain & stress to get them better but you can’t explain this to them. It’s heartbreaking. I wish you all a speedy recovery from your ordeal & that she will soon be healthy & happy again while romping in the snow.
Thank you to all of you for your messages, so sweet of you !!! you are all so thoughtful !
So happy to hear that your dog is doing well now!!! It sucks when such things happen. Give her a big hug from me 🙂 sounds like a very sweet one you have there!
Hi Sonia!
I just wanted to report back that I have followed up with CDJ as per your kind advice, and the person you referred me to got back to me within half an hour of me sending my email!!! The answer I received was extremely polite and very informative. I was advised to place my order with the brushes that were already available, to get them going, so to say, and that I would be able to add the BP013 to my order when it becomes available on the website, at the end of the week.
So I bit the bullet, and placed my order. I will now try to forget all about it (well except to add the BP013 later this week!), and hope that I will receive my brushes, or rather that they will ship, in a month or so (fingers super crossed!!!).
In the meantime, I will enjoy those wonderful brushes I already have (this week I’m reuniting with my MK2 after having cheated on her last week with the Suqqu face brush :D), and hope to read all about those ladies here who will be receiving their orders in the meantime, hoping that all love their new beauties as they arrive 🙂
Bonnie, you are totally right: the issue here isn’t about waiting for a beautifully made product (I think all of us here appreciate the time it takes to make such a gorgeous and perfect tool), it’s about the lack of information and responsiveness which lead to so much frustration!
Thank you again Sonia! <>
Neo!!! SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT!! Yay…! Cross my fingers that yours will be shipped within the 3 weeks time line. Yeah, just get off yr mind from Koyudo for few weeks and browse for new blushes or foundations or something 🙂
I have never cheated on my MK2 since the day I met her 🙂 its up until now my truly HG tool to create that ‘flawless’ glowy finish! However, Im on the hunt for a twin since I dont want to wash her that often. And I just cant afford 2 MK2s right now 🙁
I cant wait to do my reviews on my new ‘babies’ . I expect to have them all within 1 week from now. I promise to give detailed reviews and lots of pics which I will email to Sonia 🙂
thanks you Melissa, I have the impression that it’s going to start raining brushes soon 🙂
you are welcome Neo 🙂 I have already waited a year for something 🙂
I really hope you will love them, that’s now really important, to be happy with your purchases!
I’m reading these comments with a lot of interest, as I placed an order with CDJ recently.
I’m prepared to wait patiently and I’ll let you know when they actually arrive.
Please do Sylvia !! thanks !
every time I’ve placed an order on cdjapan it took over a month to come and by this time there wasn’t much trafic on their site (koyudo wasn’t known to export their brushes) Thank’s to Sonia the brand is well-known now by brush junkies. But as Bonnie said I prefer waiting for a good well-made brush. CDjapan service is very good, you get mails in english, purchasing is easy, point system is good, they put 1-4 weeks of delay to ship, I think pushing them before that delay is useless. Probably if one prefer using forwording service, putting an order directly on koyudo or some other brush company is faster. I’ve tried tenso yesterday but have to admit is too complicated for me, I’m afraid I won’t put everything when making order and get lost in japanese. By the way, do you pay double shipping (once to ship from the manifacturer to tenso and then tenso shipping fees)?
Nikoleta,
Im planning to place an order directly on Koyudos website using the Japanese name & addy of my shopping service, just to see what happens. Cause when I placed my order at Cosmedo’s website I was able to put in the Japanese name & add while using my Dutch CC, which obviously is issued in Holland! Thought it wouldnt work, but it did. I was never being able to do that with US online shops since a lot requires an US billing add.
Re Tenso shipping fees, yes you pay for the domestic shipping once you checked out plus shipping from Tenso to your country. However, at some shops you get free shipping when spending over a certain amount.
FINALLY just received my White Mushroom! I ordered it on Dec. 29th. Wow, it’s delicious! I don’t have anything like it size-wise so this will be a good edition to my collection. So soft it feels creamy! Yum! Can’t wait to try as I’m off to the dentist 🙁 but I’ll let you know how fabulous it is! Thanks Sonia for letting me know about the White Mushroom!!!!
Yaaaaayyyy Mimi!!! So happy to hear that!! I guess its worth the waiting right 🙂
Now, go on and get ‘high’ with your mushroom 🙂 ENJOY!!
Ha Ha! Yes, I will go get high with my mushroom! I sent Mana an email explaining our customer dilemma about the waiting time to receive our orders. He/she thinks that customers are not noticing the “1-3 weeks” info. I explained to Mana that I do believe that customers see that but are mis-interpreting it. What they mean to tell us is that the product will not be in stock for 1-3 wks and after that, it will be shipped. I explained that in the US the customer assumes that they business has the item and or will put the words “In Stock” near the item and that they will ship it out immediately. The confusion comes in when we do not hear from Fed Ex that they have our item with an expected delivery date, we begin to worry as we are not understanding the process and don’t know where our brush is. I told Mana that in the US, a company would state, “Back Ordered 1-3 wks” so the customer knew it would take 1-3 wks before the company received the brush from the manufacturer and then it will be shipped. Once my White Mushroom was ready, CDJapan gave it to Fed Ex and they emailed me to expect it in 1-4 days. It actually arrived on the 3rd day. So, I hope this makes the process a little easier to understand for one and all.
thank you Mimi 🙂
I received an email from Mana this morning. He/she shared my explanation with his/her team and they are working on using the words “In Stock” and “Back Ordered” to help the customer understand the process of how long it takes them to get the brush and then send it. Hopefully, soon we will all be on the same page with CDJapan and our orders will proceed more smoothly. No more frustration or mis-understanding. Yay!
yeah !!! amazing ! It would be fantastic if that could be put in place, sincerely appreciated by most of us all the effort they are putting into their organization.
Mimi, hope the mushroom helped with the dentist 😀
Oh yes! I have been stroking up and down my throat with the White Mushroom, then across my forehead for soothing the “third eye”. How wonderful! That, and some salt water rinse is helping immensely!
😀 crazy woman ahead 😉
I would definitely go crazy if something happened to this brush though 🙁 how weird is that… maybe I should pick up a backup … no I should not ! *convincing myself it would be unnecessary*
One never knows…….perhaps better to be safe than sorry or am I being a bad influence? Crazy woman? Yeah, but I know another one! That’s why I like your blog, birds of a feather flock together! 🙂
Another one ?? where ?? who ?
we just help and support each other 😀 happy to have you here 😉
Just received my first (certainly not my last) Koyudo brush yay!! I ordered the fu-pa01 pink on Jan 8, it shipped on Mon Jan 20 and arrived just now Jan 25. I adore the little thing lol!! I thought it would be bigger but it’s absolutely perfect! Thank you Sonia for introducing me to this little baby. Now to get my hands on more! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Once you start it’s a bit difficult to stop 🙂
I saw a review on the fine kalla http://www.okayokmakeup.com/2013/01/first-impressions-fine-kalla-cheek-brush.html#more It seems you’ve made it work for kyureido too, Sonia 🙂
😀 😀 😀
yes … looks like 😉
AMAZING!!!!!!! remember I ordered the 18th of january the red squirrel cheek brush on CDJapan, I received it today!!! super fast shipping for a small fee compared to the sites I’m used to shop on!!!Very easy to pass the order, the packaging is super cute and about the brush: what can I say!! I’m completely in love! I never ever owned a brush that is sooooo soft!!! thank you very much Sonia
Oh Laurence, that’s so awesome. I placed my order on the 18th and the Red Squirrel has been ready for a few days now, but my other two brushes are still pending so I have to wait until those are ready. I’m so glad you’re loving your Red Squirrel, I’m longing for mine.
YAY!!! It makes me so happy to hear everyone love their Red Squirrel brush so much:)
It really is a very special, silky soft but efficient little masterpiece.
Hooray for Koyudo & thanks to the little red squirrels ;P
Hey Buggsiebee! My red squirrel brush arrived a few days ago and I am very impressed. The hair quality is absolutely superb and I love the gorgeous red color! Thanks for letting us all in on your find! 🙂
Sonia, unfortunately I can’t say that I feel that way about your fav, the white mushroom. Mine arrived smelly and is still noticeably stinky after a couple of washes. Not the most lovable at this point 🙁 I’m wondering if you or others have had brushes that smell, if the smell eventually went away or if you did anything to help deodorize it. Other than the smell, it is a very nice brush!
oh nooo ! how sorry I am !
Mine has never smelled and believe me I know what goat smell is because I got a few in the past that are still under quarantaine…
The white mushroom I got never had any smell, again I am sorry that this happened to you (again…)
I can contact whoever sent it to you and ask for a replacement, please let me know !
Hi Kay,
through trial and error, I’ve resorted to first letting my Chikuhodo Z brushes (the ones with more hair like the Z1 and Z4) air dry. Then when the brushes feel dry but smell, I dampen a kitchen towel with alcohol, let it sit for a minute and run the brush over it, concentrating on the bristles in the center. I then let the brush sit and dry completely. I know that some people don’t like to use alcohol on their brushes but from what I’ve deduced, the smell comes from bristles that are wet and the smell lingers if the brush doesn’t dry quickly enough. The alcohol helps the bristles to dry more quickly. I’m still trying things out but I am optimistic that the brushes will stop smelling after a few washes. I hope this helped!
actually, I also use alcohol, not with squirrel hair but with goat brushes. Well I don’t feel the need at this moment to use alcohol with the squirrel brushes so I won’t take the risk.
Once I wash my brushes I remove as much water as I can, really as much as I can, gently pressing white tissue but for quite a long time. Once they start to dry they actually look almost dry (i do that just because I don’t have the patience to wait…)
Then with all my goat brushes I do spray some alcohol on the bristles once they are dry but this is to kill bacteria.
I did have a few that are smelly but the smell is now back to normal. Except for ONE brush…
Please try again Karen, but please let me know if you wish to contact cdjapan… <3
thanks Tori ! So am I, still trying new washing techniques 🙂
Thanks, Tori! Those are good ideas. I’ve been thinking of trying alcohol, too, as I’m speculating that residual goat oils are causing the smell. I’ll try that tomorrow and maybe my Shu Uemura cleaner. I’ve never used that cleaner on big expensive brushes because it contains alcohol and some other strong smelling ingredients but it would be worth a try.
I did some googling and found a video by EnKore who uses a recipe of 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp fabric softener, 1 tsp vinegar and 1/4 tsp baking soda to deodorize smelly brushes. I soaked it right up to the ferrule and then washed it again. I also combed through it with a lifting comb so it left open spaces so it could dry quickly near a window with a breeze. I think his concoction helped as the smell is not as pungent.
Sonia, thanks for your offer of help. These things happen and I’m not so bummed out this time. I’ll see what happens first with repeated washings or remedies others may suggest. If I can get the smell down to a tolerable level, it should be okay…I think. 🙂
Do you mind sending me a pic once dry ? I would like to see if it really looks like the one I got.
Nice to know ! I will try that with my smelly goat brush 🙂
I thought the Chikuho Z series was Blue Squirrel, not goat. I don’t want to order if they are going to smell! I am writing about the comment Tori wrote in response to Kay.
Hello Mimi,
The Zseries are grey squirrel 🙂
Kay, you’re welcome! I used to use the Shu brush cleanser when I first got into brushes but I’ve heard that it can melt plastics (and probably paint as well) so I stopped using it. I was tempted to use it on my Z1 but was worried that it would eat away at the ferrule (Shu brushes all have plain metal ferrules) so I didn’t.
Did the EnKore method help? I’ve tried it and it didn’t work so I wrote to Sonia in a tizzy that very night… 🙂 I’ve developed a theory that stinky brushes can smell for various reasons so each reason would probably call for a different solution. Irony of ironies, I’ve never had a problem with goat haired brushes but the Z series and me, we don’t get along that well when they’re wet. And my dogs HATE water. Maybe there’s a theme there. LOL… Don’t get carried away washing the brush though! I did and now the Z1 sheds every time I wash it… I’m going to get a new one once I get the washing routine down pat.
Smell aside, what do you think of the white mushroom? I’ve never owned a kabuki brush before and there’s something about the shape that appeals to me. I’m trying to decide on one (which will probably be my only kabuki since I do a full face of foundation mebbe once a month) and this one is strangely attractive: http://www.koyudo.co.jp/product/other/hbk001b.html. Not the kitten paw or kitten or Micky Mouse but this one… But if the white mushroom does an amazing job of application, then I’ll just suck it up and get the white (and maybe dye the bristles green… Kidding!)
Sonia, I usually don’t use alcohol on brushes, especially squirrel brushes, but the squirrels I just got smelled soooo bad after their first wash. They smell lovely now so it’s a tradeoff, I guess, though I have no idea what the long-term effects on the bristles are. I don’t use alcohol on the Z2,3 or 5 because they smell perfectly fine. 🙂 Thanks again for responding to my crazy desperate question so many weeks ago! <3
Hi Tori, I think the Enkore method helped a tiny bit. Not sure if the vinegar and baking soda helped remove some odor or the fabric softener is helping to mask it. Maybe both. Hope the alcohol method works on my brush like it did on your Zs!
As for performance of the white mushroom, I think it’s good for loose powder application. I can buff the powder which is something I can’t do with my squirrel brushes. And it is softer than any other goat brush I own. I don’t think it can do foundation well, but maybe Sonia can help answer that question as I am a novice at using brushes for foundation. Sonia, any advice?
As for kabukis, I know many love them but they are not my favorite. I have 3 and they are not the first I pick up. I still prefer brushes with handles as they are easier to maneuver. For firm powder application, I love the Hakuhodo goat and squirrel brush — the goat provides firmness while the squirrel adds silky softness.
Hi Kay and Tori,
This is how I use the white mushroom :
-for bronzer, the most often with the TF Terra (I like it to give just a hint of color when I am too pale)
-for powder (I use it with the Suqqu setting powder)
-for highlighter (with the RBR Sweet to touch, for a subtle all over glow and setting at the same time)
-for the Mac mineralize skinfinish in medium plus (sometimes when I know I will have face to face meetings or I will be outside in very strong daylight instead of wearing a medium coverage foundation, I wear a very sheer coverage foundation – a tinted moisturizer for example – and I add some coverage using the white mushroom and the Mac mineralize, it adds just enough coverage for a more polished look but without it looking like powder or fake coverage)
As you see I don’t use it for foundation.
I would not use it for liquid foundation, it’s too soft for that in my opinion and it’s a shame to use it with liquid products (it would get very dirty very quickly and I don’t want to have a too regular washing maintenance)
I haven’t tried it with powder mineral foundation but again it’s a bit too soft, it can provide coverage but might be a bit too sheer and I like thicker bristles for that.
I wish I could tell you more about it and foundation application but haven’t use it for that yet and I think there are better options for that.
hope that helps though 🙂
Has anyone tried drying their brushes with a hair dryer on a warm (not hot!) setting? I wonder if getting it dried gently to the point where it is still barely damp, and letting it air dry the rest of the way would be a good idea? I know that is what they tell women to do with their own hair if it is fragile. Do not dry it completely, but leave it a little damp so you don’t over-dry and damage your hair. Also, if you concentrated the warm air to the middle of the brush after gently holding the hair apart so you are drying the core of the brush, that may help eliminate the smell. Just a thought. I’ll have to go sniff my White Mushroom as I don’t recall that it has a smell.
Even as cold, I wouldn’t take the risk, it may alter the shape and the quality of the hair.
It can happen that brushes (any natural hair) have some smell but usually it doesn’t last and it shouldn’t be too strong, I do have one that I have to keep far far away from my face though but I will try vinegar with it !
With natural hair it goes with the territory, but it does go away eventually. I don’t get worried especially with my Japanese made brushes. I’ve only ever had one brush that absolutely reeked and that was a cheap Crown. And there was only one other (Royal & Langnickel) that just bled dye so profusely that no matter how many times I washed it, there was still colour coming out! I had bought both at IMATS and of course ended up throwing these two brushes out. My japanese brushes have never done that, period. The saying is true…you get what you pay for.
The ones that were really smelly for me were the Rae Morris and one Fine Kalla (the white kabuki that is actually still quarantained). The Rae got better.
I am sorry that the white mushroom that Kay received smelled and that it still does after a few washes, I hope it gets better ! 🙁
Thanks for letting me know not to try drying them with a hair dryer. I’d be really upset if I harmed one of my pretties!
Sonia, I was wondering if you think I need the Z-1 if I already have the MK-2. Is the brush head the same size etc and only the handle different? Thanks!
they are completely different Mimi, see here :
http://sweetmakeuptemptations.com/2012/10/29/chikuhodo-z-1-z-9-and-mk-2-more-pictures/
you can maybe get either the Z-9 or the Mk-2, but the Z-1 is much denser and rounded 🙂 better for a heavier application.
I have to admit that I use the three of them equally and that means something to me…
although you could have only one of course, you can get a lot of use of the three of them…
Oh goody! Just what I wanted to hear! Thanks Sonia!
why don’t you try to rinse it with water and vinegar ? I rinse my brushes always with vinegar to protect them from hard water, then squeeze them in a towel and dry them head down with rubber bands, comb them after one hour or two and none of them smell after few washes.
I have also had a smelly brush now & again. In fact two of the Fu Pas I recieved yesterday are of the pongy kind, but it doesn’t freak me out that much. It goes with the territory if you use natural hair brushes!
Animal hair which doesn’t smell has probably been put through a more stringent cleasing process before being used in production, or the brushes have been standing around in storage for a longer period of time to allow the natural odours to disperse. I don’t think that a bit of moderate alcohol application will harm the hairs & the smell will diminish with every additional washing & drying anyway.
😀 that’s true…with us no time for the brushes to rest in storage rooms 🙂
Hi, thanks all for your advice and reassurance that time and repeated washing will work. 🙂 I’ve never had a brush so stinky so this was a first for me…and I don’t have a sensitive nose! But I can tolerate mild animal smells so I’m hoping the odor will diminish enough so I can enjoy using it.
My G5557 Hakuhodo had a very strong goat smell which did go away after 4-5 washes. I use Dr.Bronner’s soap in Lavender to wash my brushes, sometimes adding a drop or two of organic hair conditioner. I agree, blow drying brushes may not be a good idea, it may alter the shape of the brush or cause the glue in the ferrule to loosen. I usually run my clean fingers through the hairs every hour or two to help air circulate while they’re drying.
Hmmm that’s true, I remember my G5557 smelling a bit but it went away by itself after a couple of washings.
Stacy and Kay,
Based on your good experience with buying the Shu 12 natural brush from Amazon, I took the risk and ordered one as well as the Shu 15 kolinsky. i compared them to photos and dimensions online and they do look genuine. They are extremely soft for such dense brushes and no matter how hard I tried, i couldn’t poke my eyelid with either of them, the tips are not at all scratchy. I did a full eye makeup using only these two brushes and i have medium sized eyes with small lid space; the 15 does an amazing job blending when used in a lateral movement with the flat side. I am so impressed by these two. I’m waiting for a discount at the she website, I really want the 10 natural, the 5R and the 11.
Sonia, the Shu 18 natural goat is lovely with the Tom Ford S&I. Thanks for the recommendation.
Carlyn I am so glad you got the Shu! I feel very comfortable that the 12 I have is authentic… I need to go check out the 15 now! For sure I need the 10…….
You must get the 15. I’m using it for powdering the under eye and T-zone, for blush and for blending eyeshadow. Loving it!
Ladies, I miss my brush chat quality time with all of you 🙁
Work has been crazy busy lately. But…..I have received the 4 brushes that I spotted and expecting to receive the Koyudos (Red s, FuPa12) before Friday this week. So Sonia, I will bombarding u with pics of my new babies this wkend and my reviews on them. I dont think my review will be as perfect as yours but I’ll do my best 🙂
I can tell u now that this 1 is def a must have for foundation. Its everything I hoped it would be. Its really the FuPa01 in crazy soft white goat hair:
http://eds2.heteml.jp/houkodou/cargo/goodslist.cgi?in_kate=24
Translation doesnt say its baby goat but it looks and feels like it is made of baby goat hair!!
I dont have the Koyudo mushroom yet but I can imagine its as utterly soft as this gem.
And my berry red Cosmedo FuLi is soooo gorgeous, matching the red Cosmedo H008 version. A friend ordered the Koyudo H008, so I def will do a comparison of both!
Im so happy to hear everybody is receiving their Koyudo gems!!! Cheers to our new babies Ladies…..
Yahoooo! Melissa I’m so glad you said that about the Houkodou!! I am going to also compare it to my Takeda brush which is smaller (about the size of the HKD 210). Aaaaand I did not hear what you said about the H008 and the Cosmedo. O_o 🙂
Thanks so much for the feedback Melissa 😀
I’m off to customs this morning to collect my berry red brushes which I couldn’t resisit after you posted the links.
I had been wondering why you had been so quiet because I was sure that you had recieved your brushes already. I took it as a bit of a bad omen & was prepared for the worst today. However, thanks to your comment , I am now VERY excited to collect & open my parcel!! I have the H008 and LOVE it, so I’m praying that the Berry Red brush will turn out to be the same high quality.
I also got the Shu #12 which was so much cheaper, so I’m most interested to see how that will compare to the one I have already.
Here’s hoping that the pressure at work will slow down soon & give you time for your new fluffy treasures 😉
Yes, please let me know how they compare, because if mine are knockoffs, they’re fantastic, I couldn’t be more pleased with the performance.
Well all I can say is that Koyudo = Comedo = Koyudo!
The brush heads are exactly the same perfect quality we have become accustomed to with Koyudo. Only the handles have been given a different finish & / color.
These are beautiful!! Thanks for the link Melissa. Are you happy with yours? Stupid question 😀
OMG Buggsiebee why did I have to look this up?! I saw the red fu-cho1, fu-li02 and the H008 dupe,ugh. I have to have them :X
Uh oh …..sorry Bea. BAD Buggsiebee 🙁
Actually let me just blame it on Melissa for the fatal Cosmedo link & for Sonia for providing the platform which enables us to communicate our craziness 😀
Here’s an unbelievably silky soft Cosmedo blush brush……
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cosmedo/pk-c03
This is a brush for the MOST pigmented blushes! I think it’s probably too soft and not dense enough to pick up any hard / less pigmented blush.
I’m not certain that I like the pink/ brown combi much though and it’s a short brush, which not everyone will appreciate.
VERY nice to have:)
😀
if you are interested in the ones I just ordered here are the links :
http://eds2.heteml.jp/houkodou/cargo/goodslist.cgi?in_kate=24
http://www.chomotto.com/goods/4901008192376.html
http://www.chomotto.com/goods/4901008191065.html
http://www.chomotto.com/goods/4901008192475.html
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000043
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000042
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000089
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000060
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000061
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000059
I will soon be able to tell you how they are and how they perform.
tomorrow I should finally be able to go to the po to pick up some Tanseido and some Fine Kalla, I will post pics during the weekend 😉
Eeeep! More brushes! O_O I have several of the Chomottos. I see that HKD has made the slanted duo fibre foundation brush for them as well now. I haz 1 or 2 of the Kihitsu eyeshadow brushes made of kolinsky. Why do the Kihitsu brushes with the pink handles look like the Koyudos? Are they made by them??
It seems to me that the Koyudo factory maufactures for a multitude of companies. I’m seeing Koyudo brushes wherever I look!
Well if this ain’t your cutie Mushroom – Avec Plaisir 😉
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000045
VERY nice choice of brushes you’ve selected 🙂
It’s great to have a CP who can take care of orders where the companies don’t accept credit cards or only accept cash on delivery orders.
This is a really cute idea……..
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000079
…..pity that the hair looks so coarse 🙁
I know 😀 😀 😀 “avec plaisir”
great to have a CP but very dangerous 🙁
THANK Heavens for SOLD OUT signs :-
This is the kind of set that gets my heart beatiing faster, my pulse racing & has me hitting the purchase button before I can think straight about the purchase price & all those nasty import taxes & duty!
http://www.kihitsu.jp/?cn=100081&shc=10000130
that one is …. x_x RÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ *agonising*
Buggsie, is it the one in your pics ? does it compare to the Suqqu ?
thank you 🙂
Just sent you a comparison pic. Suqqu is smaller, flatter & firmer.
thank you !!! gosh, is it even possible to be tempted like that by every single brush ???
I need a doctor… 😮
smh…Another enabler lol. 🙂 Hmmm, polish and brushes Buggsiebee? We are dangerous for each other bahahhaa! 🙂 🙂
I’m really hoping that one of you lovely ladies will find the dup for the discontinued Suqqu eye brush S. It will be a happy day when that happens.
Sonia, can’t wait to hear what Fine Kalla brushes you hauled. I really love the cheek brush.
It’s what I am doing… so I’ll keep you updated 😉
OoOoOoOo………….Sonia, cant wait for those brushes to arrive!!!! Happy u took the plunge for us so we can splurge on new ones again………and sorry for tempting you with all these hidden gems!!! I’ll email u the pics this weekend 🙂
Buggsiebee! Im sooooo very much in LOVE with my Cosmedo Berry Red FuLi and the fuchsia pink gray squirrel. its the twin sister of the Koyudo FuPa!!!
Meantime I have discovered some other gems as well……hehehe….Will send you the links so u can add those to the shopping section 🙂
Help please… I am trying to order the red fu-li02 on Rakuten and signed up with Tenso but when I check out, even if I select the Domestic Shipping box it is still asking me to fill in my address details? I am confused lol.
Which Fuschia Pink grey squirrel are we talking about??
Did I miss something 🙂
Nöööööööööö ………….no more links!!
Its this 1 Buggsiebee….but I thought u ordered this 1 as well? Sonia has my pics. Im so head over heels with this 1. Its the silkiest 1 I own, yet to receive my Koyudo Red S though.
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=nl&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.nl&sl=ja&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cosmedo/pk-c03/&usg=ALkJrhj8tU42JzjJIFJpgSFaX8d1bGaCQw
They just restock (19 pcs)!
the pics will be up later on today 🙂 I am preparing the page for uploading them.
this is pure hell girls, they are very tempting 🙁
_<
Or can I order the red fu-pas from the Cosmedo site itself? I can’t seem to see them there, just the H008 dupe.
Hi Bea 🙂
You must fill in the address TENSO sent you. If you look on your TENSO ‘ My Page’ there’s a info button ‘how to enter your TENSO address’ . You will see that it is your address which appears in all the examples. Scroll down till you see the example for Rakuten ( written in english- YAY!! ) . Now it’s easy 🙂
When I hit checkout it’s asking me to enter my Rakuten ID and password? I have to register with them too I guess. It’s so hard when I can’t understand anything on the page lol.
Yipp, you have to register with Rakuten too.
Actually it’s letting me order as Guest. What I’m puzzled about is I thought I could use Paypal but I don’t see an option in the checkout for it so I’m having to put in my cc details. :/
Well that was quite the exercise! But at least I got my fu-li lol. I wanted to get it now because it said there was only 1 left! And I also wanted to try out Tenso since you girls have been using it 🙂
YEAH !! Bea crossed the threshold to SERIOUS Japan splurging 😀
TENSO is super efficient & really so inexpensive. They can’t help with all the Japanese shops though so your Tommy is a BIG win.
Oh geez nooooooo lol. There are a lot of things I would like to buy on Rakauten. I used to browse on there ages ago. O_O
Thanks for the avant-premiere of the latest additions to your brush family!
How very inconvenient when real life forces you to go out for a while right in the middle of this VERY important brush business 😉
Looking forward to your post & yes, I think a collection of everyone’s brush pics would be a grand idea.
Just FYI for those interested, the Rae Morris Radiance brush is back in stock. I don’t think I’ll get it though, I’m loving my Fu-pa08p and her angled big sister will be mine as soon as she can be made and shipped to me.
Thank you Carlyn, yes and I have ordered it already, I want to show you the difference between the old and the new one asap 🙂
Actually somebody here did it for me because they don’t deliver to Switzerland 😉
Hey Carlyn:)
Thanks for the heads up! I’m sure there are many who are still keen on picking up the Radiance before it goes out of stock again.
Dear Sonia,
I have just discovered your blog and I must say that it’s amazing.
As concerns the brushes, I am a beginner so it’s quite difficult to use the information provided.
I would appreciate if you could make a post for beginners and recommend only 1 – 2 brushes for foundations, powders etc. Just a suggestion.
Regards,
Elena
Thank you Elena, I am posting a huge article on brushes (my HG and favorites), it may help, but basically, if I can use them, You can definitely too !
If you have any questions, either for more affordable options or more easily available, please don’t hesitate to ask.
The article should be uploaded in the following days, just a matter of finding the time to complete the comments 🙂
The white mushroom sounds so amazing. Do you know if they make a smaller face brush with the same hair? The mushroom seems to be too big for my use.
with the same white goat hair that has the same shape and flexibility I didn’t see any, they have others flat and super dense kabukis that have the same hair (H011) http://sweetmakeuptemptations.com/tag/koyudo-h011/ but not same function 🙁
If they had more of them like the white mushroom, I would get them all 😀
Oh yes, the white mushroom’s hair in different shapes and sizes!!! That would be like a vanity table in the sky with small woolen clouds caressing one’s face 😀
The BP016 and smaller and also smaller more pointed brushes (like Rae Morris’s mini kabukis) would be ordered right away to my house *dreaming* 😀
yep, me too, that would be creepy dangerous if they multiply the mushroom into different versions 😀