Today is a fan day! If you are new to my brushes (Sonia G), there are quite a few of them in the collection. I really love fans, not the unpredictable type of fans, I love fans that can save the day and bring a new perspective into our daily make-up routine.
I have been using fans for many years before I designed my own shapes. I noticed that using traditional brushes was often faster and more effortless, but, when I used a fan, the results were more polished, with a better placement and the products performed differently. This is the reason why I really wanted to explore those shapes more in depth and hopefully bring something fun, yet very efficient, into our routine.
Fans are receiving a great feedback on the reviews and that’s amazing! They can appear challenging to use but they can also help us to think differently, discover new ways to enjoy our products and to me, this is part of the fun.
So, I wanted to design fans “on steroids”, I mean stronger, more precise, capable of solving issues or capable of assisting our other favorite brushes if -or when- needed. For example when a product is difficult to build up, when you wish you could pick and apply the product in a linear manner, when you want cleaner lines, targetted blending or setting, they are also really stunning for creative and editorial type of looks.
With the Sky Face Set coming back in stock on Beautylish (also available as individuals starting on the 21st of April), I saw several questions related to the Worker Fan and how fans compare to each other.
I am going to do a few comparisons, maybe it helps with decisions should you be interested in a fan, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate 🙂
Worker Fan vs Sculpt One
The Sculpt One is quite large and fluffy, it fully splays out so it’s foolproof diffusing bronzer, whether you are applying it for an all-over bronzed look or in a sculpting manner.
The Worker Fan is the smaller version of the Sculpt One, with the same type of bristles. It has been added and tagged as “worker” in this Sky collection because this smaller version is going to be able to fullfil more tasks. It fluffs out in the same way as the Sculpt One but it’s just smaller in length and width.
What I found so amazing with this fluffy Worker Fan is how foolproof it can be and yet how much control it still allows. Some tasks he can take care of:
- Bronzer, with more precision vs the Sculpt One
- Contour, effortless and great dimensions for that purpose
- Blush, for a gorgeous application, also in layers or gradients
- Highlight
- Blending, setting, finishing, or polishing duties can also be achieved very easily
Worker Fan vs Sculpt Two
The big difference with these two here is the bristles. The Worker Fan has hakutotsuho goat bristles and Sculpt Two saikoho goat bristles, it means that the Sculpt Two has a higher and softer grade of natural bristles, but, those finer bristles aren’t able to fluff out as much as hakutotsuho and they won’t be as versatile. For this fan to be a day-to-day workhorse Worker, we need the bristles to fluff out as much as possible and we also need the strength of a thicker hakutotsuho bristle.
The Sculpt Two’s finer saikoho bristles are dyed because the dying process increases the strength of the bristles so we can give it a bit more oomph -while still feeling super soft on the skin. The Sculpt Two feels more dense and is more directional, it will not fluff out and deliver a diffused application like the Worker Fan will as it is for more targetted work.
The Sculpt Two is super helpful if you want to work with more precision and still with lots of strength. The Worker Fan is going to be more airy and fluffy, not as directional and not as heavy on first swipe.
Worker Fan vs Fan Pro
I mentioned in my last post that liquids and creams can be used with natural goat bristles but the shape of the brush has to permit.
The Fan Pro permits the use of creams (blush, highlight) because it’s shorter, therefore stiffer, it will be stronger to pick harder cream products and diffuse them properly without having to force and abuse the brush. This wouldn’t be as easy to do with the Worker Fan, it still works to a certain extent, but it’s not as precise and strong as the Fan Pro.
The big difference here is that the Fan Pro is going to be much more precise, like a surgical placement or blending of whatever you want, strong, without being rough as it is bundled with extremely soft saikoho bristles.
The Fan Pro is the same shape as the Sculpt Three. Sculpt Three is bundled with brown dyed bristles so basically just for powders, while Fan Pro is for both powders and creams.
Worker Fan vs Sculpt Four
The ferrules are quite similar but the Sculpt Four is fatter sideways, it has more density, shorter bristles (also one side is shorter than the other). The Sculpt Four doesn’t fluff out like the Worker Fan does as we have here saikoho bristles, like the Sculpt Two, but undyed.
Big difference here is precision and strength. The Sculpt Four feels like a kitten paw, it has a flatter/thicker surface compared to the Sculpt Two. You can work with its surface, applying on the shorter side and blending with the longer side for example, or the sides, or whatever angle you wish. It can work with creams too and with pressed products. I still prefer synthetic brushes for creams and liquids but occasionally, this will do the job safely.
The Sculpt Four was designed more as a problem solver, to perform tasks that maybe other brushes couldn’t (precise placement, strong but gentle buffing, etc). On the other hand, the Worker Fan was designed to fulfill daily tasks in our make-up routine.
Somebody also asked me: What is the difference between the Worker Fan and the Mini Cheek?
The main difference is the precision they provide. The Mini Cheek allows to work in smaller areas, it’s a paddle type of brush but when it splays out, it becomes almost round so you can use either swipe or circular motions with it. The Worker Fan will touch a wider surface at once so you cannot reach the same precision, the placement and the technique is more linear, you can also use the sides or the tip. In terms of results, it depends on the products used but in general, the Mini Cheek will deliver a more subtle buildable application, while the Worker Fan will deliver a heavier application faster.
My personal preference is to work with less pigmented products, or products that are more hardly pressed in the pans. I love to apply them gradually and build up the application, this gives me longer lasting results, more polished, more natural. I love to see the glow but not the product.
Whatever brushes we use, it’s wonderful when they inspire us to be more creative and to fully enjoy these little moments we have for ourselves.
Thank you so much for reading 🙂 🙂 🙂
5 comments
Dear Sonia,
Thanks for this new post that comes at the right time for me. Let me explain.
Yesterday, I received my last order from Beautylish in which I received (among other things) the Cheek pro, the Inochige and the Designer that come to add to the Face One and Two (here, I’m not talking about eye brushes that I must all have and that I simply love). These brushes, as I have already mentioned for those concerning the eyes, have literally changed my makeup. They are incredibly soft which makes scratchy the sweetest of my brushes that I had before yours and which, unfortunately, I can no longer use now.
I was looking forward to receive this order that was to precede the next restock, the Blue Face Set that I look forward to. Thus, I was able to test, test, and of course validate these little jewels knowing that I will not be able to resist the purchase of these little blue jewels.
However, I keep asking myself about the Fan brush: will I buy the complete set, or will I buy them individually without it? That is the question !!! I’m not at all comfortable with fan brushes and I’m not sure that this gesture of use will fit easily into my routine. At the same time, its size seems reasonable to me and I think this could be an opportunity to test. I must confess that it would break my heart that he stays in his pot, unused. Not because it will not be effective because, for that, I have no doubt. Here, it’s not brush that I doubt, but my ability to use it. Also, I will read and reread your posts and see and review my favorite videos by the 21st in order to manage to decide me: Fan or not Fan?
I take advantage of this message to repeat what I have already said: the love I have for these brushes (Face and Eyes) that have literally changed my makeup. I am not MUA but I do not think it is necessary to be to dare to make such investments. On the contrary. I am passionate about makeup and I like to be able to degrade the shadows between them. These wonderful tools allow me to do it for sure and make up for my mistakes when my hand is too heavy. They even allowed me to reappropriate blushes or bronzers or shadows that I had left out because difficult to collect or work with. My only regret is that I didn’t invest earlier, but at the same time, it wouldn’t have allowed me to compare as I do now.
Thank you to the craftsmen who work patiently to allow us to hold such beauties. Thank you for these intuitive shapes. As Alicia (@kinkysweat ) says, it’s impossible to be wrong.
Finally, I could not finish this message without offering sweet thoughts to all for these difficult times that we are all going through. As far as I’m concerned, make-up and these beautiful brushes are a way to escape and think about something else for a few moments.
Take care of all of you. Kisses.
Thank you for such an informative post!
I am new to your brushes, though I have been dying to try them for a long time. I recently took the plunge with the Sky Eye set and instantly fell in love. I’m patiently, not so patiently, awaiting my delivery from Beautylish for my Face Pro and Designer Pro and can’t wait to try them.
I’ve never tried a fan brush before and desperately want to own one of yours. However, I always thought the Sculpt One might be too big for my face, so the Worker Fan seemed absolutely perfect! Your brushes are quite an investment for me so I want a multifunctional brush that I could also safely use cream products efficiently. But after reading the above, I’m thinking maybe I should stick to the Classic Cheek instead?! Decisions, decisions! I might just have to get both 😉 along with the Mini Cheek of course!
Hope you are staying safe, take care xoxo
Hi there, I have a question. I’m considering getting the fan brush from the sky set. However, I was hoping you might be able to tell me how it compares to the Hakuhodo F1312, which I own. I recognize that the F1312 has more of a sloped design but I was curious if in general they are around the same size (fluffiness).
Hi Marlana,
Thank you 🙂
The Hakuhodo F1312 which I also own, is denser, it is goat (I believe sokoho grade) and synthetic. It is more directional and does not splay out as wide as the Worker Fan (which is only natural bristles). The bristles are about the same length in average shorter and longer side. The F1312’s ferrule is wider and thicker but because it doesn’t splay as much the head is still about the same size. In terms of application the Hakuhodo will deliver a more heavy and directional application with the edges not as diffused, depending on what you are looking for this can be good or not 🙂 With regards to the fluffiness (splaying out), the Worker fan has a wider splay out range versus its ferrule size (it’s more airy). I hope this answers your question 🙂 virtual hugs and thank you!!
Hi Sonia!
I love reading your posts and appreciate the effort you take in making them as informative as possible! A huge applause to you for everything that you do!!
I’m an amateur makeup enthusiast and madly fantasize good quality makeup tools. On the top of my favorites list are yourself and Wayne. However, I’m not someone who’ll just buy and buy and buy stuff. I like to invest in brushes that are versatile, practical and try to avoid repetition. Hence, I’m seeking your assistance. If you had to recommend one fan brush (more like an all rounder) which would it be? For bronzing/contouring and highlighting. I understand they’re all your babies and sometimes it’s difficult to pick one. But no one would be able to do that better than you cause you know them best. My apologies if I’m going to make you repeat something you’ve already said, but I’m really confused!
Thanking you in advance!!