It appears that I totally got sidetracked by all the palettes and forgot that I have a bunch of brushes to be reviewed. To think of it, my new found interests in eyeshadow palettes goes hand-in-hand with my brushes: Better brushes = more enjoyable application = more palettes! The fude industry is doing a great deed for their economy!
As I mentioned in my last brush by brand post, I will first review series/brand I know am not going to repurchase and save the best for last (mainly because I am still waiting/saving up for promotion so I can grab the "last one I need"). Today, the brand being Mizuho Brush (the actual name of the brand, because there is also a Mizuho Bank that's pretty big). It's another Kumano-based fude maker that has won some design awards here and there.
Just looking at the kanji, Mizuho means something along line of harvest/lots of grains and given how mitsu is also "three", the brand logo is three little chubby grains lined-up side by side. That's enough guessing of the day, let's just talk about the brushes.
TS-2S Multi-Tasker Face Brush (full gray squirrel. Limited edition) - This is what initially drew me into the brand. Just look at that gorgeous shimmering olive green handle (I love my cheek brushes cute)! Then there is also the shorter handle that fits comfortably in the grip. The shape is my favorite: the point candle-flame is highly versatile. Lastly, it was limited edition, the kind of gimmick that always gets me.
The candle shaped brush is big (consiserably bigger than chikuhodo z2 while just a few bucks more expensive), dense and being 100% gray squirrel, it's very smooth and soft to the touch. Initially I was so amazed by the silky touch and thought the brand must use far better hair than Chikuhodo Z. Well, it turns out that it's just the common characteristics of brand new squirrel brushes (whisper-like brand new and dull up after several uses).
It's great at giving an natural, lit-from-within glow with very bright and pigmented brushes. For the months I have had it, it definitely works better on drier/matte canvas (the ultra fine tips doesn't do well dragging onto a damp/dewy surface) so I enjoy it either on bare (I mean maybe some people wear powder blush on bare face) or a matte one (with a thin layer of sunscreen). It feels great and does a good job on what it's supposed to do. I just don't feel the whole full gray squirrel brushes, as a whole, is all that practical. I would say it's still worth it to get a feel of how soft the hair is, then it's up to you to decide to either commit (and babysit) or ditch it for other (some equally pricey but less fussy) hair type like goat, kolinsky(only applicable for small brushes) or Canadian squirrel.
I found it amusing that it managed to shed one hair each time, for the first 10 uses. I think it's just loosely bound hair instead of breakage since each strand isn't too long.
CMP527 - Eyeshadow Brush Gray Squirrel/Horse. My first impression of the brush(have been spoiled by full squirrel laydown) is that it's a little, just a little prickly on bare lid. The poke no longer matters when you use it for its intended purpose, which is blending eyeshadow that's already applied.
It's gentle enough and very efficient at giving a smooth gradation of color. Admittedly I don't use it as often as I am too lazy to switch brushes mid-application (I usually use a big brush to both laydown and blend).
PM-12 Multi Functional Eyeshadow Brush Pony - This is another one that surprised me as how coarse the tip is (I like to run brushes on bare skin when I first receive them). The brush is very good at grabbing and lay down a very strong dose of color on the crease, as well as smoothing out cream shadow close to the lash line. The tip is too big and coarse for highlight at tear ducts though. It's another highly effective brush that I don't find myself reaching because I prefer my eye makeup soft and delicate (it turns smokey when I overblend).
I have already mentioned that the green handle is what drew me into the brand. I want to add that I really like the handle design on all three brushes. They are all well-weighted with great balance and ergonomics: not to long, not too short and comfortable to hold. The handles are either matte plastic or lacquered wood that doesn't crack (Huh huh, Hakuhodo) attract dust or dull up with micro scratches (Chikuhodo Z).
Lastly, the prints on the handle seem like they will stay on quite a while before being rubbed off. For your record, I just get irked when prints on 30+ dollars brushes fade/rub off, and for some of them (namely Yojiya and Chikuhodo artist series) it happens right away.
Overall: These three Mizuho are all functional, attractive and well-designed brushes. The reason I didn't love them is due to timing: When I made the purchase, I already have a manageable working collection of eye brushes (that are well loved but with minor flaws)so I just picked the brush types I didn't already have. It would be rather silly, not to mention economically unfeasible to ditch those and build a collection off Mizuho. Afterall, I am trying to have a brush collection that I actually reach for and the last thing I need is 10 different laydown brushes.
That said, I wouldn't mind adding a gray squirrel-blend cheek or pine squirrel eye brush(in that shimmery pink), if I come by a really good promotion.
It's gentle enough and very efficient at giving a smooth gradation of color. Admittedly I don't use it as often as I am too lazy to switch brushes mid-application (I usually use a big brush to both laydown and blend).
PM-12 Multi Functional Eyeshadow Brush Pony - This is another one that surprised me as how coarse the tip is (I like to run brushes on bare skin when I first receive them). The brush is very good at grabbing and lay down a very strong dose of color on the crease, as well as smoothing out cream shadow close to the lash line. The tip is too big and coarse for highlight at tear ducts though. It's another highly effective brush that I don't find myself reaching because I prefer my eye makeup soft and delicate (it turns smokey when I overblend).
I have already mentioned that the green handle is what drew me into the brand. I want to add that I really like the handle design on all three brushes. They are all well-weighted with great balance and ergonomics: not to long, not too short and comfortable to hold. The handles are either matte plastic or lacquered wood that doesn't crack (Huh huh, Hakuhodo) attract dust or dull up with micro scratches (Chikuhodo Z).
Lastly, the prints on the handle seem like they will stay on quite a while before being rubbed off. For your record, I just get irked when prints on 30+ dollars brushes fade/rub off, and for some of them (namely Yojiya and Chikuhodo artist series) it happens right away.
Overall: These three Mizuho are all functional, attractive and well-designed brushes. The reason I didn't love them is due to timing: When I made the purchase, I already have a manageable working collection of eye brushes (that are well loved but with minor flaws)so I just picked the brush types I didn't already have. It would be rather silly, not to mention economically unfeasible to ditch those and build a collection off Mizuho. Afterall, I am trying to have a brush collection that I actually reach for and the last thing I need is 10 different laydown brushes.
That said, I wouldn't mind adding a gray squirrel-blend cheek or pine squirrel eye brush(in that shimmery pink), if I come by a really good promotion.
Thanks for your review! I think Mizuho brushes are just okay. Kind of like a 5 out of 10 in the fude world. Come and join us over at www.reddit.com/r/fude for a fude community!
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