I have received these new Wayne Goss brushes recently and I have been using them non stop, I am now ready to share some pics and my thoughts.
The packaging:
Then you unzip -it’s a challenge to stay calm at this point- the set comes in this cardboard tube:
Almost there…
That feeling when you know you got 6 new great brushes to play with, is just… I am a little bit addicted, but I cannot believe that I still get so excited when I receive new brushes!
Black and white looks good and is timeless, I believe Wayne wanted to keep the price as affordable as possible so keeping them nice but simple (I am speaking about the handle) is a fantastic way to keep the price “affordable” while still giving them a sophisticated and sexy look.
This new Face Set is replacing the Face Set that I have reviewed here, so if you wanted those brown dyed goat brushes, well, they have been discontinued and I don’t know if they will ever come back.
PREVIOUS FACE SET VS NEW FACE SET
I love the old ones, I know they are dyed but I don’t mind at all, this dye on those bristles gives them more structure to the cuticle, hence an additional gripping power or slightly more firmness and fullness, this can result in a bit more precision and control. I was going to get a few more because to me they are THAT extraordinary and I can justify getting at least one backup of the 12, 13 and the14. I am not saying that these new white undyed Wayne Goss brushes are not efficient, they truly are, but my personal preference tends to lean towards the brown ones for those reasons I mentioned.
Some of you will prefer the brown ones because they don’t look dirty when dirty, others will prefer the white ones because they look more beautiful, are softer or the bristles are exempt from any dye. It really is a personal preference.
These goat brushes are all Saikoho bristles, they feel even softer and are more airy than the brown dyed bristles, on top of that this is probably the best Saikoho I came across in my recent purchases, I noticed the quality wasn’t as consistent during the last months (years even). I also see more stability in the shapes, sometimes you may notice that some saikoho brushes can be a bit irregular in shape, mainly because the bristles are really fine and more difficult to shape but these are perfectly shaped from top to bottom, from left to right and from front to back.
Don’t forget these are fine natural bristles, if you travel with them and don’t store them in a proper brushroll, their shape can be bent or squeezed (until you wash them again), if you use a brush roll or a brush guard while you are on the go it’ll be good for them.
Shape pre-wash:
After-wash shape:
The first thing I have noticed after washing them is that it looks like the layers of bristles start to build up closer to the ferrule, whether this is intentional or not, this means a bigger contact surface to work with and more capabilities of working at an angle if you so desire. Changing the angle may allow you to be more directional or to use more strength with the brush for a more efficient blending, depends on the shape of the brush.
These brushes feel like a thick silky layer of feathers, cotton balls are rough in comparison. I had saikoho brushes with me when I was talking to a close friend last week (she isn’t yet into brushes, well, she is now), her jaw dropped when she touched them. When you come from the MAC world, it is a shocking surprise.
WAYNE GOSS 10
Keep in mind that this set is a replacement for the previous Face Set = similar brushes, different hair. Almost. The only brush that is completely different is this number 10, the big duo fiber has been substituted by a mini candle shape brush 100% natural.
It was a good move, you get much more use of this new number 10, blush, highlighter, contour, powder (perfect under the eyes), it really is very multipurpose. It’s the exact replica of his 00 white powder brush, like a mini 00 with more softness and density.
I use this type brush a lot with highlight, sometimes with contour and often with blush. I have a huge lot of mini blushes and this is the type of brush that I keep in my make-up bag as I know it will fit all size pans. You can see by the state of my Wayne Goss number 02 that it has been with me a lot.
The Takumi T-5 is also candle shaped but bigger and less dense, the quality of the saikoho bristles on both brushes is great although I find the WG 10 a little bit finer. With the WG 10 you get a mini candle shape, the Takumi T-5 is a medium version and the WG 00 a big version of it. 😀
The new WG #10 has more strength and thickness than the squirrel version (#02) and is also less directional, those are the reasons why it can be a more multipurpose tool.
The Hakuhodo J5521 doesn’t splay out as much, in terms of softness you can’t feel a difference. The layers of the WG start closer to the ferrule.
WAYNE GOSS 11
There are several brushes available on the market that are shaped like this Wayne Goss, this brush is the kind of shape that is either adapted for swirling onto products or to use with its side for more control, or perpendicular for additional precision.
It’s known to be the most typical shape for a blush brush. This #11 is dense but airy, more airy than the WG #12 so the application you can achieve can go from sheer to medium, with the #12 you will get a heavier application and you will get higher buffing capabilities.
VERSUS THE PREVIOUS #11
The previous 11 feels fuller and stronger, it offers more direction and has a stronger blending capability. The new 11 is silkier, significantly softer and more airy.
SIDEWAYS
SIMILAR OPTIONS
SIDEWAYS
I often use my WG 11 either with bronzer or with sheer blushes when I don’t necessarily need precision and want to cover a larger cheek zone.
If you already have several blush brushes shaped like this and want to experience something different, you better pick another brush from his Face Set, but if you don’t have any similar blush brush or if you have to pick just one brush to offer as a present I would recommend you this new 11 as it is the easiest and the one that potentially will work for most people and most products.
WAYNE GOSS 12
This brush is denser than the WG 11 and has a flatish surface that you can use to place and blend. You can also pick the product on one side of the brush and blend with the other as you apply.
I use this brush mainly for contour as my contour products are not very pigmented so there is no risk I’ll go overboard, but I do love a polished look and this flat dense surfaces are excellent, when I start using it I don’t put it down for weeks!
If you go for a thinner more precise application of contour, better use the number 10.
VERSUS THE PREVIOUS #12
The previous #12 has more grip at the surface but again, the new #12 is softer.
SIDEWAYS
They both have great density and splay out really nicely to end up having a very similar surface.
VERSUS SIMILAR OPTIONS
This #12 brush is more precious to look at than the previous version because of the gorgeous black and white combination, however, if I had to chose I will definitely stick to the old 12, for contour it is a tad stronger for blending, there isn’t much difference though so if you prefer how the white looks you should not regret the brown.
The WG 12 has a smaller ferrule than the Tom Ford 06, a quite similar shape but it’s not as soft as the WG.
The Smith Cosmetics 115 that you see here has synthetic and goat bristles, not at all as soft and it’s a foundation brush (more airy and rough) but I wanted to show you what similar shapes could be available out there.
The Hakuhodo J5543 looks like the WG but again, the layers start closer to the ferrule on the WG. On this brush it doesn’t change much its functionality but gives the WG a tiny bit more surface to play with and to use for blending.
WAYNE GOSS 13
This is a huge hit, such a gorgeous little fluffy, extremely dense and absolutely crazy soft brush. One of my favs ever from WG is this one and the old 13, the new is great but I still don’t want to put the previous 13 down…
VERSUS THE PREVIOUS #13
The new WG #13 really feels like silk and its finer bristles do follow better the face features and distribute a softer and more equal pressure compared to the old 13, the previous 13 has a bit more grip on the surface.
The size of the 11, 12 and 13:
VERSUS SIMILAR OPTIONS
The Kashoen is bigger, the bristles are stronger and thicker, not as soft as the WG at all. Actually it’s their brush for washing the face, not applying blush or powders… but I use it for powders. It has big blending and buffing capabilities (no kidding) so I like it for buffing, although sometimes my skin feels extremely sensitive and I cannot use it.
I bought the Takeda many years ago but it’s incredibly rough, I was hoping this would be ok for foundation because it’s stiff and dense but not overly dense, however, it is just too stiff. I don’t even know the number..
The WG is similar to the Hakuhodo LE that should be like a J210 but again the layers start closer to the ferrule, I have more surface at the top and on the sides to apply and blend.
The Hakuhodo 210 is much more rough, strong and densely bundled in comparison to the WG, I can’t use it on myself today for make-up application but I see other uses, massaging the forehead for example sounds crazy, but feels good when you are having a bad headache.
WAYNE GOSS 14
When I got the old brown #14 it was a revelation, a huge hit for me. At first I used it a lot with blush and today I also use it with bronzer which I never thought I would, but it’s a match made in heaven.
VERSUS THE PREVIOUS #14
The new WG #14 feels slightly softer and splays out a bit more so you get a less directional application but it’s still perfectly fine for a blush application, if you use it perpendicularly the point will deliver the perfect placement for a blush .
VERSUS SIMILAR TYPE OF BRUSHES
That Hakuhodo G5540 is also a dream, today I could not even live without it, it’s so freaking fantastic for highlighter or setting powder in small zones or for the lightest contour, the WG is much bigger but to use with bronzer or pigmented blushes it is simply one of the best.
If you use very pigmented blushes, this brush is perfect to pair with them, whether they contain shimmers or are vibrant colors, the application is always effortless AND foolproof.
WAYNE GOSS
This is a brush that I would just buy because it’s pretty to look at, then I would repurchase for its efficiency.
VERSUS THE PREVIOUS #15
The previous #15 feels a bit fuller but in terms of results, it is the same.
Compared to the Hakuhodo, the WG #15 feels very slightly thicker if you press the sides together.
This one I just use for highlighter or to swipe away powder but it is still so worth it! I saw other beauty gurus using it for blush or bronzer or contour, it will depend on what type of products you use or what application you need.
BOTTOM LINE
There are no duds in this set, all the brushes are useful, great quality, so ordering the set does make sense. If you don’t want or can’t get the set, the individuals should become available in the future.
IMHO, the most unique brushes to own (and my own personal preference) are :
- the 14,
- the 13,
- the 10,
- the 12,
- the 15,
- the 11.
The difference between the previous brown brushes and their counterpart in white is not very significant, or not enough to justify both sets, however if you love white brushes, yes it will be a gorgeous and very useful set to add to your collection. If you want just the number 10 you should wait until it becomes available individually.
If you get the whole set, you get several blush brushes (12,13,11), several bronzer brushes (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), several powder brushes (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), several highlight brushes (10, 13, 14, 15) several sculpting brushes (10, 12), you can assign one brush to one purpose, or assign one brush to one product, so many possibilities!
This is how I love to use them the most:
The #10 with the Surratt contour and highlight.
Number 10 and 13 with my IPSA palettes, these are small pans which require natural dense brushes.
The number 11 with nude or sheer blushes that I want to apply on a less precise zone (here Natasha Denona #15 and Marc Jacobs 504):
The number 12 with neutral bronzers that don’t have shimmer (TF Terra), contour powders (Surratt again) or SKII or Koh Gen Do. Also with neutral blushes like the Gucci Nude Fresia (it’s almost like a contour/dimensional blush).
The number 14 my fav products to use with it are shimmery bronzers (TF Gold Dust of By Terry Sun Designer):
Also with very pigmented matte or shimmery blushes. With the very pigmented matte it will deliver an application that you just can’t fail and with the shimmery blushes it will not accentuate the shimmer.
I also pair it with setting powders that have a little glow to them (like this Clarins Cotton Flower) but I apply so little of it that this kind or brush doses the product for me.
The number 15 with Dior Glowing Gardens or the Courrèges from EL, but also with all my other highlighters when I just want a very light application.
They can be used with powders or creams but I only use mine with powders, I have used number 13 with cream blush but since I have his duo fiber brush (#01) I prefer to use that one. I admit I haven’t paired all these brushes with creams, I just tried the new #10 and the #13 but I prefer to use stronger or synthetic brushes for that purpose and keep these extremely soft ones for powders. It’s great to know that should you wish to pair them with creams or liquids, these will not bleed.
The set is 250$, if for example you were to get similar kind of brushes from Hakuhodo, you would roughly pay 20$ more and not all would be saikoho, so the price IMHO is reasonable.
If you are new to Japanese handmade brushes, this is as good as its gets quality vs price.
I will update when I’ll know about the individual availability. Wayne’s video can be watched here and he will explain all about them.
Thank you for reading me if you made it till here… hope this was helpful and if you have questions, please don’t hesitate!
It is available here on the Beautylish website.
This set was sent to me for my consideration.
31 comments
Wonderful review! Love your honesty as always. 🙂
Thank you Jessica 🙂 hugs!
This is a comprehensive review! Thanks again!
Hello!! my pleasure!! happy you enjoyed!
So great to read your post. Hope the baby is well. Greeting from Allen, Tx.
Hi Allen, thank you 🙂 Baby is teething right now.. haven’t slept for 3 days in a row!! hopefully she will be better soon, thank you so much for asking! 🙂 xoxo
Yessss saikoho! Sonia, your posts are always so in-depth and excellent, I love all the demonstration and comparison pictures next to other brushes and make up. Your reviews are an inspiration for me, perfect shopping guides for us fude addicts. 😉 I was never drawn to Wayne’s tea dyed brushes.. I have a couple, but they’re not my favorite. Nothing wrong with enjoying dyed brushes, but white goat hair is the sexiest thing I know, makes my heart skip a beat every time I see a super soft fluff with white hairs. Now I NEED at least the new #10 and #13 – they look so soft and multi purpose. Thank you again for your honest review, love you!
xx Laura / Laurantaina Beauty Blog
Hi Laura, oh yes then you definitely need those! I am so happy you enjoyed and that this was helpful to you! big hugs sweetie!
Hope you will be reviewing the new Rae Morris 🙂
xoxo
oh yes I will… I have already been using part of them and will see when I can share!! xoxo
I have to be honest I was skeptical of the WG brushes out of the gate…the whole YT beauty guru trend these past years has been a bit much. However Wayne never steers anyone wrong with his reviews. He is OG!
Well, I was gifted the new #15 brush by a fellow makeup junkie, when she heard I was questing for the perfect highlighting brush. AND I love love love it! My experience with that along with your review has the new face set on my must/lust list!
Also, I wanted to say your brush temple is the bomb! It helped me select my first set of high end Chikuhodo brushes. I purchased from the T series and again…the softest brushes I have ever owned…love love love! So thank you Sonia! 🙂
oh Thank you Elise!!
yes that is such a gorgeous brush indeed!
Sometimes we have to try new things and we discover true wonders and then we ask ourselves how we did without them!
Thank you regarding the brush temple, such a shame I don’t have time to maintain it and add more brushes in there! so happy it helped you!
wishing you a lovely day sweetie!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the review, thank you Sonia. I discovered the Wayne Goss brushes last year and have been steadily adding them to my collection. I am somewhat disappointed with the new version of the eye set and would dearly like to obtain 2 of the brushes from the discontinued set, namely the paddle brush (not sure of the number) and the old number 20. I wonder if there are any of these brushes out there wanting a new home that I could purchase please? I suspect I may not have any luck in this quest. In any case, I look forward to reading more from you. Good luck with Baby and hope you are getting some more sleep by now.
This post has been so helpful! thank you!
Hi Sonia
This is an amazing review. I am planning to get one high end brush to start with and I was wondering which one you’d recommend. I’d like one that applies blush beautifully (I have a blush obsession ) but can also be used for bronzer and possibly other powder products. I’d like one that’s quite precise as all my current face brushes are quite large. So far I’ve been thinking of the Chikuhodo Z4, Wayne Goss 02, 10, 11 or 14. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Laura,
Thank you!!
I would chose the WG 11 because of its shape and density, you can be more or less precise with it and is quite versatile, imho it’s the most versatile of his collection.
Only issue is that it may be too large depending on what precision you require, do you have a brush that you use that I can refer for reference of size?
Thanks for your quick reply Sonia. I am currently using the Ecotools blush brush which I find way too big. I think I have quite a small face. I like the look of the WG 11 but as you say I wonder if it maybe slightly too big. It also looks quite flat on top which I’m not sure about. Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
I have been watching a video of that Ecotools brush and it looks same size as the WG 11.. The WG is not flat, it’s layered to a tapered shape with a thick belly, the 12 is the flatish one, also the 13 actually 🙂 But if that ecotools is big the WG 11 may also be. In that case I would direct you towards the Z-4 which is an excellent choice! Hugs!!
Hey Sonia, thanks for the review as always. I wanted to ask about the #14: I have the G5538, but which is softer between the two? Or are they comparable? I love the shape and airiness of the brush, I feel like its perfect for a light dusting of powder. I haven’t been able to find a similar one in squirrel and #14 is a tempting upgrade if its even softer than G5538.
Hi Lily,
I don’t own the G5538 unfortunately 🙁 so I could not compare softness. I have compared size (ferrule and hair) based on Haku’s website and it’s similar. Bristles also. But even though it’s same bristles, it will depend on the batch of bristles at that precise time of building the brush… so there is no way to know for sure which one feels softer.
I own the recent WG14 and the old 14 (brown dyed goat) and love them both, I use them for blush, powder and bronzer, powder is the best usage for it because it helps suck up the excess oils without looking like a greasy mess afterwards. I can check if I see one similar in squirrel, I believe you are looking for something airy ? This is really a good price for the usage you get out of it.
Maybe the Hakuhodo G6070 might be a good squirrel option. It has that loosely packed airy look to it. Thanks Sonia!
Hey Sonia, thank you for all your amazing reviews!
I’m strugling to choose between the WG (11, 12 or 13) and the Tom Ford’s cheek and cream foundation brushes.
I read your comparisson between the WG 12 and the TF cheek but I could not make my mind because I heard that TF is going to change all his brushes bristles to sintetic ones. So I’m afraid that I let them pass now and may regret this decision latter.
Anyway, I’m entirely new do high end brush world until this point the more high end brushes I own are mac and marc jacobs. I ordered a TF bronzer brush but did not received it yet. Also I live in Brazil and Tom Ford is not and available so can’t test any of them before purchasing (and since I have to order them through someone else their final prices are approximatly 25% higher for TF ones).
So if I may I would ask for you friendly recomendation: should I take TF cream and cheek brushes (with natural bristles) while they are still available or should I rather the WG ones?
Thank you soo much for your attention and kindness.
Hi Ilka,
To be honest with you I prefer Wayne Goss because they are a bit less dense and softer, the only reason why you would regret TF is because they won’t be available in the future (and I actually just ordered some as backups…).
I don’t think you will regret it in terms of functionality because WG is better imho but the TF will be collector items.. I would say to get at least one TF so that you won’t have regrets (in that case get the cream one from these two you mention). Oh.. I just read you have ordered the TF bronzer already (that is the one I would advise you to get first actually), I would stick to WG then, unless you want to collect the other TF! 🙂
It really is a personal feeling and preference…
I use the WG all the time, the TF not really… except for the eye brushes (and the bronzer brush), if you like eye brushes get the crease one 😉
I hope this helps you …
hugs!!
Hey Sonia!
Thank you soo much for your help.
Your input really helped me a lot!!!
I will follow your advise. Wayne Goss here I come 🙂
Xoxo.
Hi Sonia, I just got into handmade makeup brush and would like to buy 2,3 brushes to start my collection. I have been eyeing Hakuhodo J110, Wayne Goss 11, Koyudo BP016 and Chikuhodo Takumi T4. How do they compare with each other in terms of hair softness and blending power? J110 and WG 11 are so identical, do they have the same density and hair quality? Will really appreciate your opinion on it. Thx.
What a fabulous and detailed review. Thank you so much. I have the Face 1 and the Sculpt 4 and love them both. Regarding a comparison between TF brushes and WG. Would you say the WG 12 is the most similar to the TF 6? It appears that way from your photos. The Beautylist associates are telling me that the 11 is more like it. Help! Thanks.
Thank you!!! glad you love them!!
So, regarding the TF, the WG 12 is definitely the most similar to the TF 06.
What is funny is that in the Tom Ford website, their TF 06 looks more like the WG 11 but in real life, the WG 12 is the actual closer one!
In terms of ferrule size, the WG 11 is closer but in terms of shape of the hair, density, application, the WG 12 is more similar (it’s just thinner sideways).
I hope this helps 🙂
Hi Sonia, i love your review. which one of the WG brush that similar to TF brush no 2? I’m looking for a sculpting brush for cream product, could you please give me suggestion which one of WG brush is suitable for it?
Thank you.
Hi Nita, the most similar to TF 02 is the WG 12 but it’s quite bigger. I would apply the cream product with the fingertips and then blend softly with that WG brush, the pro is that it’s flat at the top and that helps with blending. I often blend with a duo fiber like the WG 01 if the cream is hardly pressed but if the cream is not that hard to blend it’s better to use something like his number 12. Otherwise WG 02 is also really good, more precision but more candle shaped, not same shape as the TF you mention but it is more efficient with precision application and blending vs the WG 12. Not sure this helps, please let me know!
hello I loved how Wayne show me how to put different stelys on make up on as when working in kitchen your not load to use make -up so when I not working I forget to put on , but watch the clip on you tube I found time for me and being in covid 19 and at home like a house wife my children grown up and my baby girl with her dad so I time to put make -up and now try look good , will Wayne come out with power as I got oily skin and some clip he tell you what to do and to put on , but I have senvistive skin and not for a long time use make -up much but will Wayne come out with more cream , and power for mums on the go , see I stop wearing make-up when I work in a kitchen then when my son was born I did not have time to put on in morning deal with my son house work and husband so I stop wearing , then I be came a singal mums and then came the school runs to get in car house work when not working at collage very bussie mummy so dose Wayne have make -up for bussie mummy and mummy that children grown up so there not in a rush but still look good and is quick and easy to put on in the morning if you have a husband that wonts your time for breakfast and be for he gose to work singal mums are very bussie mummy they don’t have time for make up until school run over or nursey too house wife are different there bussy too but they have help with children with there husband so there can look good in the morning and now I got time on my own not on school runs as my son 18 year old I’m find time to put make on again but , need little help with cream and bleamsh hide as in kitchen work you don’t wear make-up I think it the jobs we do that tell you what you can wear on you your face and be a mum too some mums can do both time for make and some mum to rush bussy you need make up that time on long to put on thank you Miss Jane Mumbray xxx
Hi Miss Jane!
We always need to take the time to feel good, wear at least some make-up or skincare, if it makes us happier, it will also make the people around us happy!
I am sure Wayne will come up with a powder, I hope so! I did not see what he has been working on so I am not sure but I definitely know he will release more products and knowing Wayne, they should match quite well the needs of more sensitive skin.
I am a mum, with not much time to put make-up on so I try to find products that are multipurpose, like a cream that gives some blush and glow at the same time, or powders that look very natural that can give some natural coverage without looking like make-up.
Are you not allowed to wear make-up in the kitchen (work) or can you wear it but you have issues with the products being long lasting? I am not sure if I understand correctly. Is it a problem for you finding products that are long lasting or do you want to wear products that are not looking like actual make-up on your face? 🙂 I hope you are well! Take care and stay happy!!