Love for Brushes

[AMK721]

I'm developing a love for brushes of all kinds.  I bought a few higher end brushes and they are amazing.  They are incredibly soft and my makeup glides on like a dream.  There are so many interesting shapes. I am really interested in creating a beautiful brush collection.  Show your brushes and share any cleaning and storage tips and let us know which ones are your favorites.

[AMK721]

@SportyGirly125  that brush is so stinking cute!

[RGbrown]

What's Up Nails rebranded to What's Up Beauty (late last year, earlier this year?) and came out with an eyeshadow palette and 6 eye brushes. By chance, has anyone here tried the brushes? (I'm guessing no, but it never hurts to ask 😋)

In any case, they are made in Japan, goat hair (and goat hair + synthetic in the pencil brush). They sell individually for $20-23, or the set of 6 for $120, but they are offering 40% off through noon on the 18th (so $71.xx for the set). As someone who has been mildly interested in higher end/natural hair brushes, I'm vaguely tempted, but since I've always been extremely allergic to the price of them, haven't done a ton of research, so...I don't know what I don't know. Anyone have any input/thoughts based on their experience with goat hair in general (or these brushes in particular)? I'm looking around for actual reviews now, but any sort of "geez RG, that set looks subpar because..." or "that looks like it could be a decent intro to natural brushes" would be greatly appreciated!

[WinglessOne]

@RGbrown  Nope, I haven’t tried these brushes. I visited the brand's site to read everything they say about each brush. I have 2 criticisms: 

1. “Soft white goat hair” isn’t detailed enough (to me) to describe handmade Japanese brushes. I’ll assume these are made with either ototsuho or sokoho goat hair. The latter is more expensive than the former... hmm, since the brand says their brushes are "made from high quality natural materials,” maybe they’re sokoho. Saikoho is a step above sokoho, but I have no idea if any of these brushes contain any saikoho hairs. That’d be something to ask the brand. 
   
   I’ve criticized Rephr for this, too: on their product pages, they just call their bristles “natural hair.” But they do specify on their FAQ page that they use a blend of sokoho and saikoho hair, which is how nearly all my Rephrs feel on my skin. 
   
   
2. I laughed at the brand’s note about the ferrules being double crimped “for long lasting stability” because I’ve have 2 MAC 217S brushes quickly go all loose-ferrule on me, and they’re also double crimped. 🙄 I mean, double crimping isn’t pointless and several brands do it. But it doesn’t always extend a brush’s life, no matter how well you care for the brush. 

Aside from all that, I can’t critique these brushes much. I wish the brand would show side profiles of each brush. If you wound up buying them, let us know what you think! 

[RGbrown]

@WinglessOne 

I wound up forgetting all about them and missing the deal, and while I'm mildly sad about it, I'm not terribly upset with myself over it, which tells me I was right when I said I didn't need them. That is great info for me to keep in mind though, and I really appreciate your insights. Thank you!! 💕

[Ispend2much6]

@RGbrown   The fact that they are handmade in Japan got my attention, but...and this is a totally newbie opinion, from the picture they look like they aren't trimmed very well- like whomever was trimming the hairs and putting them together did it unevenly.

[AMK721]

@RGbrownthose are really pretty.

[RGbrown]

@AMK721 

They are! I thiiiink I've about talked myself out of them, I just don't wear makeup enough anymore to justify buying them for them to simply sit around and gather dust, but the idea is still floating around in the back of my head. If I remember before the sale ends, I might snag them anyways 😋

[AMK721]

@RGbrown  I hear ya, sometimes the money is better spent on something else.

[makeitup305]

[aviscardi]

I wanted to comment on this but didn’t know where to post lol. I nearly fainted at the prices ha. The wood is beautiful but way too expensive for the price. I wouldn’t even know what to do with it, the inside is so small

The brush set I’d get more use from but i know part of the price is for the encasement which i have no need for. I hope she makes these shapes in her permanent range because i think even the handles wood be too fragile. 

[WinglessOne]

@aviscardi  Eh, even without the box, these 2 brushes would be pricey for their materials alone. But paulownia wood (what the box is made of) ain't cheap either, so now I wonder how much the box alone is. 😄 

Sonia does have similar pencil shapes (2, I believe, not counting the Crease One) in her permanent lineup, but they're goat, not squirrel. I think the face brush is a new shape for her... I'm more familiar with her eye brushes than face brushes. I'll be curious to hear people's thoughts on that brush, so I'll try to remember to keep an eye out for reviews on the interwebs—and in this thread, if anyone here buys this set. I won't be one of those people. 

About the handles: yakusugi is just a type of Japanese cedar (sugi) that's been used to build many not-fragile things, including furniture and shrines. I don't own any brushes made with yakusugi handles, but I assume they won't be easily damaged if you're not rough with them. They may scuff/nick easier than other types of wood handles, but I doubt good brush care will result in splits, breaks, or gouges. I do agree with Sonia about not tapping these brushes against mirrors/palettes/etc. to remove excess product; that's a bad habit for any type of brush. 

[aviscardi]

As beautiful as these pieces are, they’re just not practical for my personal use. Yes the pencil 2 is possibly similar but ive had her pencil pro & it was a little bit too stiff and small for my liking, I also stopped buying her brushes that have the wide handles for storage they take up too much space. The only one that I have left is the sculpt 2 and I hope she comes out with that revamped with the thinner handle

PS- for the tapping of brushes I’ve always just tapped off on my hand but whenever I’ve seen people do it on the products it kind of hurts me a little bit ha ha

[MCSSavvy]

@aviscardi  - She's phasing out several non-tapered brushes. I believe it will be a slow process but I was a bit annoyed as I picked up 2 face one brushes earlier in the year then the handle changed and now it is part of the pro line.  There is nothing wrong with my brushes I was a bit bemused by it.   Info - from a response to a question on one of Sonia G's insta posts about the new Face Pro brush.

[aviscardi]

Yea i saw her post, I’m glad she’s changing them. I picked up the face one in the summer so when the thinner handle came out i ended up selling the wider one. Whenever the sculpt 2 comes out I’d do the same thing because they feel more comfortable to hold. If it doesn’t bother you then no sense in buying a new one. 

[Mochapj]

@aviscardi I have a number of brushes with yakusugi handles that I’ve collected over the years and they’re not nearly as delicate as she has let on.

I wouldn’t throw them around (but I wouldn’t do that with anything) but they don’t dent just from normal use or falling on the floor.

[aviscardi]

Hmm yea her post put me off. Lol but unless it came without the box i couldn’t justify the cost 

[niki172]

I'm really curious to know what this is going to be. I wasn't thrilled with the Wayne Goss holiday brush so I'm excited to see this and hopefully the Lunar New Year brush as well.

[makeitup305]

Cross posting from the hauls thread, happy to see my Smith Quill Brush set and Spoolie arrive safely from Canada!

[makeitup305]

My Rephr order came in. I got all eyeshadow brushes but might pick up #05 and #22 in the future depending on how these work out. I bought the hooded eye bundle which included #12,13,14,15,16, plus #01 and #21. #29 was a gwp.  Looking forward to seeing how they compare to my Sonia G and Wayne Goss.

[Sunnysmom]

What a beautiful purchase @makeitup305 , enjoy them!  I was gifted some and so far I love em! )

[makeitup305]

@Sunnysmom I like them so far! I haven’t tried all of them yet but most are very similar to Wayne Goss and Sonia G brushes I already own so I look forward to using them and comparing them