Sonia G – The Mini Essential Handles

I’ve already shared a detailed post about the Mini Essential handles, but today I wanted to dive a little deeper, especially into the SOFT BLENDER.

The Mini Essential eye brushes launched in November 2025. Reading your feedback on these little brushes has been so interesting! Many of you mentioned how much you’re enjoying them because they’re so efficient, they are easier to travel with, or because the shorter handles let you get closer to the mirror. Whatever your reasons, your feedback is always valuable, and we truly take it to heart. Thank you so much for that!

When I was working on these brushes, it wasn’t easy to narrow the eye set down to just four brushes, you know me, I love brushes, and I love giving you options. But these four really can do so much. They’re incredibly practical for travel, they work beautifully with different formulas, and they get the job done really quickly.

I did see a comment mentioning that the SOFT BLENDER handle was ridiculously small. I realized that I hadn’t shown comparisons with other handles or other brands, so I thought it might be useful to do that today so you have a better idea.

I just don’t want anyone to be disappointed when they receive the brush. That’s actually why I wanted to share this little post, to talk about the handle length and the cost in a bit more detail.

HANDLE LENGTH – COMPARISONS

Please keep in mind that the brushes alongside the SOFT BLENDER in the next photo are from standard series and not labelled as “mini” or “short handles” -as far as I know. In comparison to these, the SOFT BLENDER is not that shorter, it is 133 mm total in length. Same length as Chikuhodo Z series, or the Takumi series, and it’s similar in length to Surratt brushes. It’s even quite close to Suqqu’s.

I also wanted to show you some of my most loved mini handles, but just for fun. Mac SH, Yojiya, Chikuhodo, and Fude do Bijin, they are incredibly cute and I love them so much! I also have one of the Hakuhodo Portable Kokutan that is even shorter than the Fude do Bijin but, I cannot find it right now… It’s funny because it’s so small and it’s definitely not the first time I loose it. I decided to purchase the entire Kokutan portable set when I return to Japan, I have probably been resisting it for almost 10 years so I think it’s time that I get it.

The Mini Essentials Soft Blender is intentionally mini, but the handle still requires the same amount of work as a full length handle. I also wanted to share a little bit more about this, just in case you are not familiar with our handles already.

MINI ESSENTIALS – MANUFACTURING AND COST

For our Mini Essentials handles, we don’t outsource production to another country. They’re made using the same techniques and materials as our standard-length handles. Even though they’re a bit shorter, they take just as much time, care, and craftsmanship to create as the longer ones.

It’s really fascinating to see how many steps go into making a single handle. It’s definitely not just the push of a button, and I want to highlight that because it is quite extraordinary, this level of craftsmanship isn’t something you see often in brush handles.

Stages 3 and 4 are different, although they may not seem to be on the photo. I am not authorized to reveal the secrets behind our manufacturing, it’s just good to know that once the handle has its final shape, it does not just go straight to painting, there are important and time consuming steps in between.

The painting technique we use is confidential, but what I can share is that it’s an extremely lengthy process. The layers of lacquer applied to these handles are unlike anything used on typical handles or with standard techniques.

On top of that, using brown‑dyed goat bristles is more expensive than using white goat bristles. Also, the ferrules are made of brass and are produced in Japan. All of these elements add to the cost, and I understand it may not be immediately obvious. But the pricing truly reflects the real production costs behind these brushes.

I hope you can feel both the performance and the craftsmanship behind these brushes, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you for being here with me and for your love and incredible support!