THE MINI ESSENTIALS – SPECIAL EDITION #2

We launched the Mini Essentials Special Edition #1 on the 20th of October 2025. Today, I am thrilled to show you the face brushes for the Special Edition #2!

As I mentioned in my previous post, we aim to have 8 permanent brushes in this Mini Essentials series: 4 face brushes and 4 eye brushes. The permanent Mini Essentials Eye brushes will launch at the same time as this Special Edition #2, on the 18th of November 2025.

As we still continue to work on the Mini Essentials Face brushes that will be permanent additions for this series, the timing aligned perfectly to craft these two limited-edition pieces — the Arched Powder and the Set & Sculpt. We had the opportunity to include these two exclusive designs with this release, and we couldn’t pass it up!
I want to jump right into the details and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to connect with me in the comment section below!

THE HANDLES

Just like the Special Edition #1, these new mini brushes share the same handle shape and length as the Mini Keyaki series, but they showcase the same finish as our standard-size black and red handles.

The short handles that go on the mini face brushes are 60mm long – 35mm shorter in comparison to the standard length handles.

On the top layer of this Mount Fuji display, there is a standard length handle (95mm) and a short handle (60mm) side by side.

We adapted the gradient on these shorter handles so that there is a balanced proportion of black and red – the red stands out beautifully. These showcase the exact same lacquers and finish as the standard length handles.

THE BRISTLES

We are still working on the permanent face brushes for these Mini Essentials series, but they won’t be available until spring/summer 2026. In the meantime, we had the opportunity to create these two brushes for this Special Edition, they are opposites in size (for face brushes), and they showcase a combination of bristles that you may have not seen together before.

The idea to blend these two types of bristles came from my deep appreciation for both kakishibu and brown-dyed goat hair. These are the bristles I reach for most often and I have been wondering for quite a while how they would perform when combined.
I was eager to see the shade they would create together and thrilled to discover not only this beautiful, distinctive hue but also an exceptional synergy in how they perform. I think that this combination resulted in brushes that are both visually stunning and incredibly functional.

My current range already includes brushes that combine brown-dyed goat bristles with white goat bristles—such as the Master Face, Mini Cheek, and Face Pro. I love the airy feel and functionality this particular mix provides. However, I wanted to replace the white saikoho bristles with the kakishibu-dyed bristles on these two specific brush designs to explore whether the kakishibu dye would influence the flow and overall performance of the mix.

Brown dyed saikoho blended with kakishibu dyed saikoho bristles

Feel
After wash, the bristles open up quite a bit, yet they maintain a sense of control and structure—a quality that’s rare in very airy brushes.
You’ll feel the bristles flexing, moving smoothly together and working with even strength across the surface.

This mix has less of a firm feel in comparison to a full kakishibu brush, the surface flexes and adapts with more ease. In practice, this means that the brush doesn’t deposit too much product upon first swipe and the application is quickly and nicely diffused. This is ideal for achieving a lightweight application with consistent intensity.

Aesthetics
The final hue turned out to be more refined than I expected. You can clearly see the warmth of the kakishibu bristles shining through, especially when this Arched Powder is placed next to a Master Face brush (which combines white and brown-dyed bristles). However, the orange tone of the kakishibu remains subtle.

Performance
I did not know what to expect- mixes can totally transform the final shape of the brush, impact the purpose, or sometimes compromise the consistency and control of a uniform bundle. While some mixes don’t justify the added complexity or cost, this one turned out to be a beautiful surprise.

This mix of bristles feels more airy in comparison to a brush with 100% kakishibu bristles, or one with 100% brown dyed bristles. Mixing the two enhances the intended performance of certain brush designs when aiming for a specific result. I’ll go into the nuances in the brush comparison section further down.

When you apply pressure with very airy brushes, the bristles can flex unpredictably or unevenly. In many cases, that’s perfectly fine—especially when you’re only looking to sweep on a light veil of powder and don’t need much control or strength.
This particular brush blend is different – it’s ideal for those in-between moments: when you still want the softness and functionality of an airy brush, but with a bit more control and surface grip. It’s perfect for applying bronzer or setting powder when you’re aiming for a natural result that looks seamlessly blended.

THE BRUSHES

– THE ARCHED POWDER –

The Arched Powder is a big powder brush, it has an arched shaped ferrule that is pinched at the base of the bristles. The pinch has been carefully calculated to give the brush a generous, airy surface that glides effortlessly while still providing stability and control. When used on its side, the slimmer profile makes it easy to achieve a more sculpted, but still softly diffused application.

It’s named the Arched Powder because of its uniquely arched ferrule. I highlighted the ferrule in the name since this special brass component requires custom tooling, additional processes, and extended manufacturing time, but this detail enhances the fluidity of the bristles.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONALITY

When washed, this brush will open up considerably, but still remains controllable. It’s ideal for a soft application of powders all over the face and it’s also amazing with bronzers that have a powdery soft formula.

Although the brush is very wide, the working surface of its narrower profile is approx 25mm, this allows for the application to be a little more precise. It gives us options: either we use the sides for a quick sweep, or the surface of the narrower profile for a more sculpted approach.

It’s also an excellent brush for applying blush across a larger area, for example to give structure and dimension similar to what you’d achieve with bronzer, it will deliver a very natural result.

I love pairing this brush with soft powders and bronzers that require a delicate touch, the same type of products I’d normally apply with a blue or grey squirrel brush. While the Arched Powder isn’t as soft as squirrel hair, its goat bristles deliver a light, airy application while the extra grip at the tip creates a finish that’s smoother and more polished, which I absolutely love.
This Arched Powder also gives me the confidence to work with bronzers that I find a bit too dark or pigmented for my skintone but that I still really want to use because I either love their undertone or formula.

I have extremely dry skin and live in a very dry climate, my skin is going to feel uncomfortable very quickly. While I use the best skincare for my needs and it works well, I need my make-up application to start on a very moisturized base. Applying bronzer on tacky, or very moisturized skin, can be tricky, and that’s where these two brushes help me. I wanted to share this in case you face a similar challenge.
Natural goat bristles have the ability to absorb excess oil and moisture, they can handle the blend more effectively in comparison to a squirrel brush. The Arched Powder and the Set & Sculpt have the lightweight approach of a squirrel brush, but with the convenient characteristics of goat bristles.

COMPARISONS

The Arched Powder is similar to the Traditions TF1, they have the same measurements, but different bristles and aesthetics. If you prefer big brushes with grip and determination, the TF1 is the best of these two for you. If you’d rather go for a brush that is more similar to how soft squirrel bristles perform, then the Arched Powder would be the one.
The TF1 works with more power and precision in comparison, it’s firmer and stronger. The Arched Powder works with a more airy feel and delivers a softer application.

The Mini Niji is much shorter and denser, this is a brush to use for buffing, polishing or to work with more difficult/harder formulas.
I love to work with shades close to my skintone so I enjoy a brush with density that can quikly get the job done, one of the reasons why the Mini Niji is always with me everywhere I go!

THE SET & SCULPT

The Set & Sculpt is a small face brush for detailed work, it has a slightly arched ferrule that is pinched at the base of the bristles.
The shape of this brush and the pinch of the ferrule have been precisely calculated to allow control both with the sides of the brush and with its tip.

It’s an airy brush but it’s so powerful. This shape has enough body and structure to keep the surface of the brush stable and give you feedback when blending. You can change the angle and feel precisely where the brush is working, adapt the pressure and go for a soft wash or a more intense application.

It may not look like a complex brush, but it was one of the most challenging to create. I’m deeply grateful to the artisans for their dedication in perfecting the bristle flow and snap to achieve this exact result.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONALITY

When washed, it will open up really nicely, but it’s not a floppy brush. This brush is ideal for highlight, powder, contour and blush application depending on the product or the precision that you aim for.

The almond-shaped profile allows the brush to glide precisely under the eyes and around the nose, making it perfect for setting small areas, for evening out or building a placement. With this exact shape and airiness, it’s an incredibly versatile tool, ideal for touch-ups on the go.

BRUSH COMPARISONS

The bristles on the TF4 are 100% kakishibu dyed saikoho, the Set & Sculpt is a blend of kakishibu and brown dyed saikoho. The Set & Sculpt and the TF4 have a similar type of arched ferrule, but a different pinch, a different brush shape and different bristles, they are both small face brushes but quite different from each other.
The TF4 has a very dense body and a firmer, flatter surface, it’s almost like a mini buffer.
I love the TF4 so much, its unique shape and density, combined with the flow of the kakishibu bristles, make it truly special. It is one of my top favorite brush designs since the very beginning of my journey! I think it’s rare to find a small face brush that feels so firm and powerful yet moves so smoothly. The TF4 is perfect when you want to create bold, artistic statements, but equally amazing for polishing and perfecting a placement.
The Set & Sculpt is more airy, it doesn’t have the density and power of the TF4 but it allows for more precision and finesse.

The Set & Sculpt has little bit of each one of the brushes below: its shape is like a baby Designer Pro, the size is close to the Omoi brush in the Voyage set, the functionality is close to the Mini Cheek in the SKY series, the ferrule is similar to the TF4.

If you love small face brushes and you are looking for a brush that is super easy to use, airy but powerful, the Set & Sculpt is such a gorgeous little multitasker.
Creating this brush with a shorter handle and a unique bristle blend became an obsession, and we were determined to perfect it.

SET & SCULPT vs CLASSIC FACE

They look similar in shape but this will show you the size difference, the Classic Face is a bigger brush with a more generous surface and more density. The Set & Sculpt will allow for more precision with the placement and with the blending.

SPECS

AVAILABILITY AND PRICING

Thank you again so much for reading this long post, for continuously supporting me and everyone behind the scenes, we are sincerely grateful and so excited for the journey ahead!

We all hope you’ll love these two Special Edition face brushes! The Set & Sculpt and the Arched Powder are both limited editions, we are working on the permanent face brushes for this Mini Essentials series for a release around Spring-Summer 2026, but it’s worth the wait! They will be beautiful workhorses with stunning shapes and so much functionality, we are so excited about them!

Thes Set & Sculpt and the Arched Powder will be available on Beautylish starting on the 18th of November 2025 at 10am PT.