Best Things in Beauty : Hakuhodo Brushes IV

i recently placed a small order on hakuhodousa.com when i saw they have launched a number of new brushes for their G-Series, they look amazing!
the G-Series is probably their more innovative line where rather uncommon materials (hair blends, synthetic fibres, duo fibres etc.) and shapes are used so Hakuhodo describes it as the "wave of the future trend". these brushes are made with simple and classic rather short handles.

to get more information about my brushes by Hakuhodo, the brand or ordering/shipping experiences click through my previous reviews I, II and III.

G5538BkSL Powder Brush round

the G5538BkSL is a really an interesting brush, and that is probably the main reason why i bought it. it's shaped like a round fluffy blending brush you know from your eye brush collection but is huge version of it. it's made of white goat hair and is very soft, as soft as goat hair can get. because the hairs are pretty long, the brush is quite fluffy and loose so it's perfect to apply thin layers of powder products to targeted areas. i have used and enjoyed it with loose powders (for the t-zone), pigmented blushes and highlighting powders. it's also nice used as a face blending brush (used clean to blend blush+bronzer/contour+highlighter into each other and with the rest of your make up).
the shape also reminds me of the traditional Yachiyo brushes, but i much prefer this handle type as it's a lot sturdier.
this brush has quite a strong goat smell which needs about 2-3 washes to disappear. it washes nicely and doesn't shed.
at 28$ i think this is a nice detail face brush to have.

pre-wash

post-wash

Hakuhodo G5538BkSL - Hakuhodo Yachiyo Large Pointed

Hakuhodo G5538BkSL - Hakuhodo Yachiyo Large Pointed (it's used and has blush residues on it)

G5521BkSL Highlight Brush pointed

the G5521BkSL is a round and tapered highlighting brush that is made of a blend of blue squirrel and goat hair. it's very dense and soft and almost as silky feeling as my other (pure) blue squirrel brushes by Hakuhodo but the goat hair gives it extra resistance and bounce.
from shape and size it reminds of the MAC 165 but since it's made of much smoother hair, it's not nearly as fluffy and a lot slimmer (also it feels so much better on the skin!). because the 165 is fluffier it is more suited for blending work.
this brush is good to use with highlighters since the pointy tip deposits the product exactly where you want it. i also like to use it for a defined cheek contour and to contour the nose. it's small enough to smooth loose powder on your undereye area.
it hasn't shed yet and washed nicely without bleeding dye or loosing the shape.
it costs 33$.

pre-wash

post-wash

Hakuhodo G5521BkSL - MAC 165

G5533BkSL Eyeshadow Brush round

the G5533BkSL is a round blending type brush made with blue squirrel hair. it has a rather flat tip unlike Hakuhodo's other "windshield wiper" brushes (like the S142 or the G5523BkSL) which are more tapered. it reminds me of the MAC 222 but is softer and smaller.
it can blend colours softly and also applies a beautiful soft dark crease area which is suited for daytime looks since it's a bit fluffier but the small brush head with the smooth squirrel hair still fits well into the crease. the size is ideal for my rather small eyelid space.
however, i'm quite undecided about this brush. it's very nice, a good quality brush, but i have other brushes that will do the same trick like this and which are more versatile. this one is not a real blending brush and not a real crease brush. it's good to have for those days when you only want a hint of a crease colour and again a proof of decent craftsmenship, but not a must have or a favourite (yet).
this brush washes well and didn't loose one hair. it costs 23$.
from using all kinds of brushes i have to say that i still prefer goat or sable hair over squirrel for eye brushes but squirrel hair for face brushes is not to outperform.