Beauty Product Reviews

Does not set, low pigmentation - shocked by quality

I purchased this in the color "Blue Jay." The color was far less vibrant in person than it had seemed in the online swatch - nowhere near cobalt, far closer to a sort of bluey teal. I was willing to blame monitors for that. However, even that color required multiple coats to fully show up, and by the time it did, the bottom coat(s) were moving around. Not to mention that it is SO watery, that it never seems to actually set - by the time it does (sort of) set, it's already moved around. (Also, even when it "sets" - a light swipe is all it takes to dislodge the color.) I find it bizarre that it claims to be waterproof, and it isn't even touch-proof.

Perhaps a professional MUA would follow this up with a matching powder to set . . . honestly, I don't know. I was so excited to try these and I am honestly shocked at the quality. Why anyone would choose these over a gel (or even just an eyeshadow) is beyond me. Maybe I got a bad batch?

Mediocre for shimmers, FANTASTIC for creams

I initially bought this brush as a supplement/replacement for my MAC 242 brush, which is the best thing I've ever used (so far) to apply pressed shimmer/foiled shadows. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed when I attempted to use this brush for that purpose; I see other reviewers have had more luck, so I may try again, but my hopes aren't high.

HOWEVER. When I attempted to use this brush with cream/liquid eyeshadows - including ones that are tricky to work with - it performed REMARKABLY. Even formulas that I had previously all but stopped working with - because they were hard to apply, hard to blend, etc. - have now been brought back into circulation. This brush provides a consistently smooth, controlled, even application. I no longer need to use my finger - except maybe as a finishing touch to make it all sink in a little. I can use my liquid shadows to create any shape I want (previously it was virtually impossible), and the brush is stiff enough to apply thin lines as well (for eyeliner, or graphic lines).

So far, every Chikuhodo brush I have purchased has been game-changing in one way or another. I do very much wish I could find a MAC 242 replacement from this brand (or similar). But in the meantime, I am loving this brush for what it has added to my toolkit.