Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush and #131 Foundation Brush

After hitting pan on a powder foundation, it gets increasingly difficult to pick up the foundation with a sponge. However, by using the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush (S$40/US$30) and its drugstore twin, Shiseido Foundation Brush #131, I've been able to continue using the foundation with ease, slowly winnowing it down to the very last bits.

The small gently tapered round head of the Shiseido brush picks up the thin strips of powder hugging the sides of the pan efficiently without too much powdery kickup. It applies the foundation evenly with an almost airbrushed finish. This versatile worker can be used with powder, emulsion, liquid and cream foundations.

The drugstore version, which has the brand printed on the translucent dark blue handle instead of the ferrule, officially retails for 1890yen in drugstores in Japan, where I purchased it at a 30% discount. It is available on Adambeauty.com for US$26.50. After two or three uses with a powder foundation (or once with a liquid), I wash these with Daiso sponge detergent which removes all traces of foundation speedily.

You can read more reviews of the brush on Makeupstash, Cafe Makeup, My Women Stuff and the Non-Blonde.