Welcome, lovers of Japanese makeup brushes! If this is your first time visiting, I’d like you to know that I have a page with every Fude post linked, as well as a description of the topics discussed in those posts and a list of which brushes are in which posts. If this is not your first time here, welcome back!

Regarding my measurements, “hair width” is measured from the widest part, regardless of the overall brush shape. I don’t measure thickness. Anything with an asterisk indicates that I had to measure that one myself as those numbers were not listed on the website. All figures listed in inches are converted estimates.

With costs of materials ever increasing and supply of certain hair types being harder to acquire, brush prices also increase. So, the prices I’ve listed might not reflect what is current, though I will do my best to keep them updated.

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BISYODO

Bisyodo CH-FD Foundation Brush (Round Flat)

• Full Length: 160mm / 6.3 in
• Hair Length: 30mm / 1.18 in
• Hair Width: *45mm / 1.77 in
• Bristle Type: Sokoho

I don’t own the entire Cheri line, but I’ve been impressed with the brushes I’ve used because the hair feels significantly softer than the Sokoho from other brands. This brush is quite densely packed and doesn’t feel scratchy. It’s intended for foundation, but most of my synthetic brushes do a better job of spreading the liquid across my face. I prefer to use this brush on hard-pressed powders to pick up product with more ease, along with sheer powders and cream blushes that I want to build up quicker. Some of the products I enjoy using this brush with are the Dior Powder No Powder and Chanel Joues Contraste Intense Cream-To-Powder Blushes.

Because it’s quite wide, I’m usually able to dip one half of the brush into a pan and apply that, then apply a different product with the remaining clean half of the brush. It saves time being able to use two things without needing to clean my brush in-between.

This is a little too thick for contour work, but it’s flatter and more tightly bundled than my holy grail bronzer brush (Bisyodo B-F-05 Perfect Fit Brush). So, it’s convenient to fit it into smaller spaces, such as the stripes of the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder (blush, highlighter, bronzer trio) and split-pan of Chanel Jardin Imaginaire Blush and Highlighter Duo.

I feel that the Cheri line doesn’t get as much hype because of the plain handles and Sokoho label, and unfortunately it will no longer be carried by CDJapan. I’m not sure if Bisyodo will discontinue the series altogether. I’ve been using this brush on and off since June 2024, and I regret not posting about it earlier. The price and its usefulness to me makes it a brush that stands out in my collection.

I paid 5000 YEN for it, and it is/was available HERE.

Bisyodo B-ES-01 Eyeshadow Brush

• Full Length: 147mm / 5.79 in
• Hair Length: 20mm / 0.79 in
• Hair Width: *15mm / 0.6 in
• Bristle Type: Pine Squirrel

This is another fantastic brush! The hairs are soft and comfortable to use on the eyes and the head is so large that I can cover my eye area with a single eyeshadow so quick and with a lot of product at once. It is quite the time saver!
I was a bit bothered by the huge gap between the hair and ferrule (demonstrated in the photo above), but others within the Fude Community on Instagram informed me that theirs are like that too. It might be allowing the flexible pine squirrel hairs to have less restricted movement, considering how easily it glides back and forth when I do windshield wiper motions. The way it moves, the hair type, and length of the hair ensures that I can build eyeshadow quickly and easily without overdoing it. It’s quite special!

Most of my eyeshadows looks are created using at least five shades and require brushes geared towards precision. I basically only use this brush with an all-over single matte eyeshadow, and when I put the lightest matte shade in my crease and/or from the brow to crease. So, this particular brush is quite specialized, but it’s a joy to use whenever I reach for it.

I’ve attempted to use this brush in other ways, such as with highlighter or nose contour, but I haven’t like the outcome. So, it remains a brush for just the eyes for me.

I bought mine during Black Friday in 2024, but it is currently listed for 8800 YEN and is available HERE. To be honest, as much as I love having this brush, I wouldn’t have been happy to pay the current price for it due to the limited uses I have for it. For someone who creates a lot of single-eyeshadow looks though, this could be a different story entirely.

Bisyodo B-ES-03 Eyeshadow Brush

• Full Length: 148mm / 5.82 in
• Hair Length: 21mm / 0.83 in
• Hair Width: *21mm / 0.83 in
• Bristle Type: Saikoho

Opposite to my experience with the previous brush, I find this to be too big to use on my eyes and I don’t enjoy it there. That’s not a disappointment for me because I always intended to use this for nose contour and highlighting purposes. It turns out that it’s still a bit too big for the tiny area in which I like to apply contour. However, it does make a wonderful highlighting brush that I can sweep across the top of my cheekbones.

I’m surprised to see this brush listed as Saikoho because it feels like the Eihodo WP PC-1 Puff Makie Goldfish Powder Brush, which is Sokoho. My guess is that under the dye process, the hair feels a little rougher than I would expect. It’s still acceptably soft, though I can occasionally feel a prick from one of the hairs in the brush.

Even though a different brush is my holy grail one for highlighting purposes, this brush has still been useful in smoothing out thicker highlighter formulas and picking up harder pressed ones. When I test new highlighters, I always use the holy grail first, and if that brush doesn’t work well with it, I switch to this one as another good test. If this brush also doesn’t make it look better, I can then confirm it’s the formula and not my brushes. One such example is the ABH Glow Seeker Highlighter that needs to be blended in really well in order for me to like it. This brush is what I use with that one.

At the time that I am posting this, it costs 6000 YEN and is available HERE.

Bisyodo B-ES-05 Eyeshadow Brush

• Full Length: 148mm / 5.82 in
• Hair Length: 16mm / 0.63 in
• Hair Width: *14mm / 0.55 in
• Bristle Type: Pine Squirrel and Kolinsky

This brush isn’t that much thicker than my usual packing brushes, but the longer hair adds more surface area in which I can quickly apply product to my eye area if I pick up eyeshadow along the length of the hairs instead of the tips. It still feels soft from the pine squirrel, but the kolinsky adds structure while still being flexible. It feels a little firmer and thicker than my other semi large pure pine squirrel eyeshadow brushes, such as the Mizuho MB120 or discontinued Koyudo Pine Squirrel one, without sacrificing on softness. I am glad that I can tell a difference between this brush and those, as this one applies a stronger layer of color instead of the soft and buildable route. It was still not a necessity, but I’m glad to have bought it anyway. I have largely stopped using my pure kolinsky brushes because they’re not soft enough for my eye area that’s gradually growing more sensitive over time.

As of December 2025, this brush costs 6500 YEN and can be purchased HERE.

CHIKUHODO

Chikuhodo REN-7 Blush, Highlight Brush

• Full Length: 149mm / 5.87 in
• Hair Length: 34mm / 1.34 in
• Hair Width: *25mm / 0.98 in
• Bristle Type: Red Fox and Gray Squirrel

The REN Series is quite expensive, so this is the only one in my collection. I love Bisyodo’s hybrid Fox and Saikoho mix, so I wondered if Chikuhodo’s would be similar and even softer since it has gray squirrel in place of the goat.
It did turn out to be much silkier and softer, but it feels more delicate to me, so I try not to be very rough with it. This isn’t dense. The front and back of the brush splay quite a lot, and the center follows the direction of the moment. So, there’s hardly any pressure applied from the brush to the skin. There’s some blending power coming from the fox hair, but this brush is suited for light applications of powders.

I thought this might still be too big for highlighting, but since this doesn’t pick up a large amount and it deposits product so lightly, it works great with more refined and delicate highlighters. This can’t pick up stiff pressed luminizers though and can’t blend out more intense highlighters either, so this isn’t a universally good brush to use for that task.

If I want a light blush application, this brush is definitely good for that. It can just be a bit time consuming if the blush I’m using is already on the sheerer side.

I can also use this for applying a very even amount of bronzer, but the size makes it take longer than I have the patience for around my large face. This brush can technically also be used to sweep off powder from under the eyes or powder from baking.

Overall, this brush feels nice, and it’s good for the type of person that prefers to wear only a light amount of powder products or maintain control over how much powder they want to build up.
I’ve been able to find uses for this brush, but it’s not essential for me. For these same blush and bronzer tasks, I’ve preferred to use the Rephr Koyo brush from 2024. The best purpose for this brush is to use it with refined and soft highlighters (like Prada’s or D&G’s), but all of my other highlighter brushes work perfectly well with those too.

I paid 13000 YEN for it and it’s available HERE.

EIHODO

A long time ago, there was a note in the bio of Eihodo’s Instagram page stating that they are a “distributor of Chikuhodo brushes,” at least from the Japanese translation. In one of their posts, there is a sign on the window of their shop that states, “Produce by Eihodo, Made by Chikuhodo.” As of the time I’ve published this review, they have further clarified that “All our Hiroshima Kumano brushes are made by Chikuhodo.” So, there is no more guesswork when it comes to the relationship between the two businesses. It now makes sense why there are similar brushes between Chikuhodo and Eihodo.

The only thing I still wonder about are the outlet brushes on CDJapan’s website. They usually only have outlet brush events listed under Koyudo’s or Eihodo’s names. For the Eihodo events, are so many brushes I see that don’t look like Chikuhodo’s typical handles, head shapes, and there are other varieties of squirrel hair used outside of Chikuhodo’s typical gray and Kazan (pine for example). If Eihodo is a distributor, I’m guessing that doesn’t necessarily mean that they only sell Chikuhodo-made brushes. Perhaps the other outlet brushes were created by other artisans and/or manufacturers.

Chikuhodo has some brands they make brushes for listed on their website, but not all. Strangely, they don’t list Eihodo as one of them.

Eihodo BL30-2 Blush Brush Round (BL Series Long handle)

• Full Length: 185mm / 7.3 in
• Hair Length: 35mm / 1.34 in
• Hair Width: 17mm / 0.67 in
• Bristle Type: Silver Fox

This brush is surprisingly delicate. It feels dense purely from how many hairs are packed into this brush. When I rub my fingers through it, there’s a lot of splay, movement, and separation without being floppy. A lot of powder can be picked up due to the large surface area, but the bundling will allow for an airy finish and some light buffing. I just have to tap some of the excess off onto my microfiber cloth before applying.

The brush blooms quite a lot after its first wash and I did lose a bit of hair in the beginning few months. That larger surface size and splay makes it bigger than I prefer for blush use. Those that enjoy applying bronzer with large (but not huge) round brushes will probably like this. I like larger brushes if it’s a more rectangular wedge kind of shape, so this is still too much for me due to the size.

In my view, this is a medium-large face powder brush. It works great for that purpose and for light buffing all over the face. It’s a good brush, but the shedding in the beginning deterred me a lot from wanting to use this brush. Even though it’s fine by now, I still tend to avoid reaching for it as often as I should. Hopefully, no one else will have this issue.

I paid 11000 YEN and it’s available HERE. The reason I bought this brush is because I was interested in the Chikuhodo RR-C5 Blush Brush (which is the same price), but I wanted a longer handle. I cannot confirm if they have the same brush head size, but they appear to be based on photos I’ve seen.

EIHODO Big Powder Brush Gray Squirrel with EIHODO Logo

• Full Length: 175mm / 6.89 in
• Hair Length: 55mm / 2.16 in
• Hair Width: 22mm / 0.86 in
• Bristle Type: Gray Squirrel

This was advertised as having 15 year old hair, and everyone talks about how older natural hairs are softer than the current supply in circulation. So, I was curious if this brush would actually feel different from more modern gray squirrel brushes.
I can honestly say I don’t feel much of a difference. Maybe it’s a tiny bit softer. Maybe I’m imagining it.
At the end of the day, this is an airy, soft, fluffy brush with a sturdy handle and ferrule. The head shape isn’t unique, but the brushmakers were generous with the amount of hair that was packed in this one brush. It performs similarly to other gray squirrel powder brushes, which is that it’s going to give a light dusting of powder, and I tend to use it in large sweeping motions across my face.

The retail price is quite good considering the amount of hairs and the construction of the brush. I originally shipped my first one to the US. Five months later, it was on sale for 50% off! So, I bought a second one to have shipped directly to me in Germany.

The full price is 20,000 YEN and it was available HERE. It’s listed as “Sold Out” from CDJapan, and considering the large discounts I saw during two different sales, I don’t think this will be restocked. It’s my guess that this didn’t sell well because of the simple handle design. A lot of fude collectors have this style of brush in their collections, even if the hair in this one might be better.

EIHODO Powder Brush Gray Squirrel and Goat Saikoho Ebony Handle

• Full Length: *190mm / 7.48 in
• Hair Length: 60mm / 2.36 in
• Hair Width: *60mm / 2.36 in
• Bristle Type: Gray Squirrel and Goat Saikoho

I could never afford Chikuhodo’s most expensive brush, the coveted Chikuhodo P-8, but I thought perhaps a massive brush like this one might satisfy that desire for it. Although this isn’t a pure gray squirrel brush, it has hair that is nearly as long (63mm vs 60mm), plus the handle is also ebony with a shiny black ferrule that gives a similar vibe. The brush feels very sturdy in the hand and the head shape is similar until it has been washed. Then, the P-8 head becomes much rounder and appears to have a lot more hair in it.

This brush feels fantastic! I feel like I’m using a luxury product every time, which ironically and irrationally makes me use it less for fear of damaging it.
Due to the size, I have no purpose for this brush other than to sweep loose or lightly pressed powders all over my face. It being so large makes the process go by ridiculously fast. In fact, it’s almost disappointing how fast I finish powdering my face because of how pleasantly soft it is on my skin. So, when I do choose to use this brush, I end up running it across my face for longer than necessary, just to keep feeling it!

This brush is quite expensive, and although it is a joy to have, anyone with a big gray squirrel brush already isn’t really missing out. Sure, this kind of size isn’t so common, but I recommend this brush for collectors and those that like luxury products.

I bought this on sale for 24,500 YEN instead of 35000 YEN and it’s available HERE.

Eihodo [Outlet] No.399 Blush Brush

• Full Length: 162mm / 6.38in
• Hair Length: 38mm / 1.5 in
• Hair Width: 16mm / 0.63 in
• Bristle Type: Gray Squirrel and Goat Sokoho

The main reason I bought this brush is because I thought the price was good and I tend to love this shape of blush brush. I have at least six outlet brushes that look like this, plus the Muragishi Sangyo MS-2, the (original) Chikuhodo KZ-3, and Houkodou N-F1. I even compared it already to the Eihodo Cheek Brush + Cap that was in the Fude Collection Part 8.

I still consider this to be a soft brush, from the gray squirrel, though with a little more friction on my skin from the Sokoho compared to how a pure squirrel brush feels.

I prefer to use this strictly with blushes, though it can also be used to apply bronzer as well. It’s a nice mix of wispiness, but enough goat to allow for a little buffing power too.

I paid 4350 YEN for it and it was available HERE. These kind of brushes, with this shape, all tend to perform similarly. So, anyone who has liked outlet brushes like this in the past will probably continue to like them. I know what to expect by now when I buy one, and I don’t intend to get more. I have enough backups!

Eihodo [Outlet] No.400 Blush, Highlighting Brush

• Full Length: 145mm / 5.7 in
• Hair Length: 38mm / 1.5 in
• Hair Width: 11mm / 0.43 in
• Bristle Type: Gray Squirrel

I bought this hoping it could be a dupe/backup for the Wayne Goss Air Brush. It turns out this is a little wider and with a little longer of hair. This makes it bigger than I would like for sweeping powder away from my under eye area. It’s also much flatter than the type of sweeping blush brushes I’m used to. It’s not that good for buffing. If I have a loosely pressed blush or one that is sheer enough that I only need to focus on building up layers and not buffing anything away, then this is useful to me.
Even though I can use this for highlighting, it sweeps so lightly that I can’t use it with any of my highlighters that are on the thicker side. Thinner luminizers are better. So, although I like the feel of this brush, it’s either too big for my needs or not thick enough. I have a brush holder that houses brushes for testing (combined with my go-to everyday brushes). This has probably been in there for six to eight months, and I’ve had this brush since May 2024, yet I’ve only used it probably three times outside of my normal testing range.

I paid 5080 YEN for it, which isn’t so bad consider it’s a gray squirrel brush, but still more than I want for a brush I don’t intend to use anymore.

Eihodo [Outlet] No.406 Eyeshadow Brush

• Full Length: 141mm / 5.55 in
• Hair Length: 10mm / 0.39 in
• Hair Width: 3mm / 0.12 in
• Bristle Type: Canadian Squirrel

Most of the outlet Canadian Squirrel eye brushes that end up in the hands of CDJapan have the shortest of handles (one example is in the photo below from Fude Collection Part 4). I try to avoid buying eye brushes shorter than 135mm in full length, so when I read the details stating this one surpassed that, I had to get it!

This brush works similarly to my pine squirrel eye brushes, but it’s just a softer and more delicate version. These bristles are surprisingly resilient, but still requires gentler handling than my pine ones. It picks up a good amount of product considering how small it is. I have no issues using it with mattes and less tightly packed shimmers. In terms of how much color it deposits, it’s in the middle. I have to dip into the eyeshadow pan a few times to build up the amount of color I want, but I wouldn’t consider it to be suited for sheer washes either. Part of that need to build up more is just due to its smaller head size. I’m glad to have the longer handle than previous outlet brushes, but I honestly didn’t need to make this purchase.

I bought it at the discounted price of 2290 and it was available HERE.

HAKUHODO

Hakuhodo G6440 Cheek Brush Round Gray Squirrel Mix Goat

• Full Length: 171mm / 6.73 in
• Hair Length: 31mm / 1.22 in
• Hair Width: *28mm / 1.1 in
• Bristle Type: Blue Squirrel and Goat

I love Pom shaped brushes, and this brush feels softer than some other squirrel and goat mix brushes I’ve used from other brands. So, I am very happy with this brush! It was one of my most used blush brushes in 2025. I even mentioned it in my Singe Beauty Blushes and Brush review.

This is great for buffing and picking up all types of powder. It feels densely packed in the bottom half, but gets airier towards the tips. This is better suited to achieve a full-on type of blush look, but there is still a bit of diffusing that goes on. Depending on the blush used, I sometimes still have to dip my brush into the blush a second time to build up an additional layer.

I have to mention that this brush shed quite a bit in the beginning. If I had to put a number to it, I would estimate it took two or three washings and having used it at least 15 times before the shedding became a lot less frequent. My brush is thankfully still full and puffy, but I know that’s something that can be a bit annoying to deal with.

I bought this brush during Fude Bobo’s Black Friday sale in 2024 for around 19,000 YEN, which still felt like a splurge considering the medium head size. As of December 2025, the brush is over 26,000 YEN. As much as I love it, I honestly cannot recommend it for that price.

Hakuhodo 2025 Gradation Sakura Limited Edition

• Full Length: *160mm / 6.3 in
• Hair Length: *40mm / 1.57 in
• Hair Width: *30mm / 1.18 in
• Bristle Type: Goat and Synthetic

I try to avoid buying synthetic or synthetic mix brushes from Hakuhodo and many other fude companies, but this handle was too pretty! The pink to white ombre handle has fine gold shimmer throughout, and I like the pale pink sakura flowers and petals. €50 for it didn’t seem so bad. With shipping and fees, I ended up spending €90 in total. I’m not as happy about that, but it is what it is I guess.

This brush is surprisingly soft. “Goat” isn’t very specific, but whatever part of the goat it comes from, it at least feels softer than typical sokoho. Perhaps it’s a high-grade sokoho mixed with synthetic fibers. It’s denser in the center and there isn’t as much splay, just from the outer hairs at the widest point of the brush.

Despite how soft it feels to the touch with my fingers, it can feel the tiniest bit scratchy on my face if I have to build up too many layers. My skin has gotten more sensitive over time, so this may not be a problem for others.

The way this brush is shaped makes it perform similarly to the original old school Real Techniques Blush Brush. The longer tips in the center pick up the most product, but it’s not that wide of an area, so I consider this a building and buffing style of cheek brush. I pick up product from the side if I want to grab more blush at one time and then use a sweeping motion to apply it. Turning it onto the side is when I run the risk of it feeling rough on my cheeks. If I stick to just using the center and a circular motion, it doesn’t happen, but I usually don’t have the patience for that.

I used this brush quite often with the Fara Homidi Bronzer because it looked similar in shape to that brand’s own brush. It does the job fine with bronzer. I’ve also tested this with cream and cream to powder formulas because this is a synthetic-hybrid brush. I didn’t like using it with those formulas because I couldn’t pick up and deposit product as easily as I do with flat top and angled brushes. I couldn’t blend out liquids well enough either (it just smeared it), so this ended up being a brush I only use with powders. I don’t really like that fact.

This brush is neat to have as a collector’s item, but it wasn’t worth me buying for functional purposes. What is way more enjoyable to use is the Hakuhodo 2023 Valentine’s Day Brush which has the same goat/synthetic mix and extremely similar head shape. I reviewed it in Fude Collection Part 6 and even compared it to the Real Techniques brush as well. The difference is that the Valentine’s Day brush wasn’t scratchy, though it might have had a little bit more synthetic hairs in the brush.

KOYUDO

Before we get into the reviews of some of the additional Koyudo brushes I’ve purchased, I’d like to take a moment to discuss the quality distinctions I’ve noticed.
I have a mostly positive impression of the company, but it is also the brand whose brushes I have returned or sold the most, as rare as it is for me to do.
Their premium bristles are usually good quality, but their Sokoho has been the roughest of all brands, so I stopped buying those fairly early on. Then, even their Saikoho didn’t feel quite as soft compared to their older brushes, as well as the stock coming from other brands. Some of the brushes I bought during that time started having more shedding issues. I nearly stopped buying their Saikoho too, until the end of 2024 when they launched the Yoshiki Tenpyo Series and Yoshiki Red Series because that’s when they started using the “high grade” labels to show a difference within the various goat categories! Since then, I’ve finally been able to count on the “high grade Saikoho” being the level of Saikoho that I expect. This also means that I am generally uninterested in buying other forms of Koyudo’s goat brushes.

I am happy to report that I’ve had no issues with the other hair types in Koyudo’s brushes. In fact, I have come to love their “blue fox” in particular, but I will review one of those brushes in the future.

Koyudo Red Squirrel Yoshiki Cheek Brush

• Full Length: *168mm / 6.6 in
• Hair Length: *35mm / 1.38 in
• Hair Width: *20mm / 0.79 in
• Bristle Type: Red Squirrel

This was a limited edition brush that I believe may have been exclusive to Fude Bobo’s website. It is the second non-mixed red squirrel in my collection. The first was the Tanseido Bamboo Series AQ17TAKE Small Cheek Brush that I reviewed in the Fude Collection Part 8. In that post, I talked about how I really wanted a thicker version to use with blushes. Although the Koyudo brush is rounder in shape, it’s unfortunately still a little smaller than I hoped. Both brushes cost around the same price.

Like the Tanseido brush, this brush can diffuse highly pigmented products in small targeted areas and is ideal for someone who doesn’t want heavy makeup. It’s extremely soft, but somehow feels less fragile than my Tanseido one. So, I’m definitely happy about that. Even when I hold the brush very high up the ferrule, I feel so little pressure on my cheeks. It’s a dream for those with sensitive skin!

I wanted to use this brush with blushes, but I have so few that need as sheer of an application as this gives. I don’t mind building up a blush, but I like when the process is quick. For someone with perhaps pale skin who likes a whisper of color on their cheeks, this tool would most likely be very loved. For me, this is more useful with a select number of powder bronzers I own that are technically a bit too dark.
With bronzers that are the right depth, I prefer using larger brushes, but having this kind of precision for my darker bronzers is quite handy. I basically just pass the brush over my skin in a few sweeps to blend the product in, but not really buff. Quick and easy! Since I’ve spent most of 2025 using my best bronzers, I haven’t had that much need for this brush. It’s still nice to have.

Due to this brush’s shape, I think it’s most intuitive to want to use this with highlighters. However, the inability to get enough blending power from the brush means that I only enjoy using it with my highlighters that are thin, easy to pick up onto the bristles, and are powdery/easily dispersed. Since so many of my favorites are baked gelee, and can be hard-pressed, that is another limit on how often I can use this brush.

This brush once cost 18,000 YEN, but it is no longer available. It’s clear to me that this brush was a better investment than my Tanseido one because I’m less afraid to use it and I use it for more tasks. Though I don’t have as many occasions when I need this, I’m still glad to have it.

Koyudo Yoshiki Year of The Dragon Red Squirrel and Saibikoho Goat Kabuki Brush

• Full Length: 78.5mm / 3.09 in
• Hair Length: 40mm / 1.57 in
• Hair Width: *45mm / 1.77 in
• Bristle Type: Red Squirrel and Saibikoho Goat

I decided to show photos of this brush, but I do not intend to use it. I’m very sorry to disappoint, but it’s too precious to me! This is one of the softest brushes I’ve ever felt (red squirrel and blue fox being at the top). I have admittedly just rubbed it on my face and petted it with my fingers. The hairs are delicate, but they don’t feel fragile, and yet I still refuse to apply my loose powders with it. I’m strange. I know.

Compared to my pure red squirrel brush, I can feel the tiniest bit of drag that the Saibikoho adds. My only experience with Saibikoho is from one of rephr’s holiday brushes, the Saibikoho Cheek Brush which I chose not to ever use with makeup too and have only shown photos of it on Instagram (which I linked). I hinted at my hesitation to consider it a pure Saibikoho brush in my Fude Collection Part 6 post, due to the wording used in rephr’s descriptions. Since then, I have compared how some of my softest brushes feel by hair type. Red Squirrel and Kazan are my softest brushes

Additional photos and a video can be found on my Instagram.

This brush was listed as 50,000 YEN, but I got a fantastic deal on it, and it was available HERE. Due to the high discount it was listed at before eventually selling out, I can only assume it will not be restocked. However, the Blue Fox version of this brush is still available at the time that I’m posting this review.

Koyudo fu-pa01 CB MCFPBT Foundation Brush [Outlet]

• Full Length: 105mm / 4.13 in
• Hair Length: 26mm / 1.02 in
• Hair Width: 32mm / 1.26 in
• Bristle Type: MCFPBT Synthetic

I bought this brush because the fu-pa style is a classic from Koyudo, and I’m always curious about the famous ones, but so many other small classic styles of brushes from Koyudo are made with coarser fibers. So, I figured I could give at least this one a try.

The synthetic bristles are fantastically soft. It wasn’t until six months after purchasing it that I learned about microcystalline fibers as a more advanced type of synthetic compared to PBT, PTT, etc. This brush is great for creating a smooth and even application of foundation on my skin. It’s super densely packed, so I expected most of the liquid to stay closer to the tips. However, foundation goes so far down the bristles from a single use, as pictured below.

It’s a pet peeve for me to see a white brush get this dirty-looking after one time. There was just no way I could keep this in rotation.

According to the description on CDJapan’s website, “It is possible to apply more natural make-up as the surface with crystal structure and gaps adsorb powder and liquid at an equal level, and evenly places make-up products on the skin.”
So, the benefits are similar to using a dry beautyblender. The liquid sinking into the brush contributes to the thinner and more natural looking layer of foundation that gets blended onto the skin, but it leaves my brush looking like this. I just can’t do it!

I have used this brush with cream bronzers and contours, but I prefer the results I get with the Sonia G Mini Base. This does a decent job with cream and liquid blushes since I have more area to work with. Although I can use this with powders, it deposits quite a bit and I have to buff it away. I don’t really want this much of a dense application, even if it’s suited well to buffing. So, the best use I’ve found for this are the liquid and cream blushes, but I personally just prefer not to use this brush and keep it around as a collectible item. I like the look of small brushes, but they end up being less comfortable for me to use because I have large hands. So, this is another reason why I’ve been fairly quick to give up on this brush. I ended up loving Bisyodo’s MCF foundation brush (with longer handles), so it’s safe to say that fu-pa brushes aren’t for me. I will review the Bisyodo one in the future.

I bought it on sale for 2000 YEN, though it was originally priced at 4140 YEN, and it’s available HERE.

Koyudo Saikoho Cheek Brush White [Outlet]

• Full Length: 166mm / 6.53 in
• Hair Length: 38mm / 1.5 in
• Hair Width: *38mm / 1.5 in
• Bristle Type: Saikoho

I’m always surprised when I see brushes that look like they are from the discontinued BP line show up on CDJapan’s website. This was listed as an outlet brush because of the logo, but I’m not sure what is supposed to be wrong with it. Was the yellow part not supposed to be there? Was it supposed to be pink too?

There isn’t anything unique about the shape of this brush. I just wanted it for the nostalgia of resembling the BP brushes, since I don’t have that many in my collection. In fact, the shape reminds me of the Koyudo KSZ-03 Cheek Brush that I sold. It’s just with undyed Saikoho hair.

This brush is a bit dense with minimal splay. It’s definitely not for those who want sheer or light applications of blush and/or bronzer. Unlike the KSZ-03, I don’t have a problem using this in both circular or sweeping motions. This brush is soft, but not the softest Saikoho I’ve used. If I buff for too long, it can still irritate my skin. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen very often. I tend to pick up blushes along the side of the brush and pounce it on my cheeks for a bit, and that’s enough for my blushes to be fully blended in. With bronzers, I tend to just sweep them across the perimeter of my face. Depending on the pigment level of my bronzer, that may or might not require additional blending.

I have used this with all-over face powder once or twice, but I’ve only done that when in a pinch because it’s a little heavier of powdering than I usually go for.

I lost a few fairs within the first five uses, but it stopped shedding after that.

I only paid 1800 YEN for this brush, which was an incredible deal! The retail price is 4000 YEN and it used to be available HERE.

Koyudo Gray Squirrel Eyeshadow Brush Silver [Outlet]

• Full Length: 146mm / 5.7 in
• Hair Length: 10mm / 0.4 in
• Hair Width: *10mm / 0.4 in
• Bristle Type: Gray Squirrel

I’ve mentioned in the past how I’m very picky when it comes to gray squirrel eyeshadow brushes. I rarely want a wash of color on my lids, so I tend to prefer the ones that are dense and don’t splay out too much. This brush reminded me of my most used squirrel eye brush, the Muragishi Sangyo MS-4, so I wanted this as a backup brush. It turns out this one is thinner and slightly shorter, but I get very similar results.

In fact, this is so similar that I debated with myself for over a month whether or not I wanted to buy a backup of the MS-4 while I still could (I did end up buying the backup anyway). CDJapan put out a notice pictured below, and I’m not sure if they mean they will no longer carry the brand or if the Muragishi Sangyo business is closing down. I think it may just be the former.

Anyway, Koyudo’s Gray Squirrel quality proves to be great once again. I can pack on a nice amount of product with this brush, even shimmers. The tips coming to a point makes the edges crisper when applying a lid shade. It feels comfortable in the crease and corners of my eyes. Essentially, I use this brush when I don’t need as much blending power as I get from my Sonia G eye brushes. I’m very pleased with this purchase!

I paid 2400 YEN for this and it’s available HERE.

REPHR

I don’t believe I’ve talked about my ordering experience from rephr within the US versus EU, however, it’s virtually the same. My packages are well wrapped, shipping is free on orders over €35 (standard shipping costs €12), and the items typically arrive within 3-5 days.

Rephr 22

• Full Length: *178mm / 7.0 in
• Hair Length: 48mm / 1.89 in
• Hair Width: *52mm / 2.04 in
• Bristle Type: natural

In 2023, I owned nearly all the brushes Rephr made. The 22 and 25 were the biggest, and therefore most expensive. I bought them during Black Friday of that year to essentially complete my collection. In addition, this brush is said to be the closest dupe for the original Tom Ford Bronzer brush that was made of goat before they switched to synthetic-only brushes. That Tom Ford brush was always on my bucket list to buy, so this was my best way of fulfilling that wish.

I get some shedding from this brush, but in an acceptable and ordinary amount.

Rephr has always been vague about the grade of goat used in their brushes, so I cannot confirm for sure, but the 22 feels like it has the highest portion of saikoho in their whole range. Since they gradually make changes to the brushes in the concept store, I can’t guarantee that all Brush 22s are like this, but mine feels top notch.* I have zero complaints with how it feels on my skin, for a goat brush.

*At the time that I’m writing this, the website does not have this brush in stock and there is a notice stating, “This product is currently going through a re-design…”

The 22 feels dense from being packed with so much hair, but it doesn’t apply as heavily as I would have assumed from looking at it. If I just lightly tap it into a pan of bronzer, I can get a light-medium application of powder.
I keep this in a brush guard so it doesn’t become too airy and lose its shape after being washed. This means that I continue to get a large diffused application of bronzer on my face without it covering too wide of an area.

I have tried using this brush with face powders, but it applies more heavily than I tend to like (and heavier than the 25). It’s also way too big for blush. So, I consider the 22 a bronzer brush exclusively.

I very much like this brush, but I like my large grey squirrel brushes that can accomplish the same task while still being softer. I also have big fox brushes that give the same results, but with less drag/friction across my skin. The Bisyodo B-F-05 Perfect Fit Brush, Sonia G Jumbo Bronzer Brush, and the Chikuhodo FO-9 have that somewhat wedge-shape, but aren’t as thick, which makes them easier to control and apply precisely. The full price ($110) of the 22 is within the same price range as the Bisyodo and Chikuhodo, so I would recommend those instead. However, I paid $53 for this brush, which is practically a steal. As long as the 22 is under $80, I can recommend this brush to anyone looking for a goat hair brush specifically. It’s still significantly fuller than the Sonia G Jumbo Bronzer Brush, but I feel it needs to cost less than that one to make up for for the fact that I still prefer bronzer brushes that are a tad smaller than this one. Those that love big brushes might want the rephr 22 instead!

Rephr 25

• Full Length: *180mm / 7.09 in
• Hair Length: 58mm / 2.28 in
• Hair Width: *45mm / 1.77 in
• Bristle Type: natural

The biggest round brush I own (regardless of hair/fiber type) is the Lunar Beauty LBF-1 Large Powder Brush. I don’t like to feature that brand, but the reality is that I love the feel of that brush, but my negative opinion of the owner has made me use it less often.
The Rephr 25 is the closest brush I have to that size, and although I have mixed feelings about rephr, it’s not towards the people who work there (just the lack of transparency regarding the hairs and how the brush specifications are listed or neglected to be listed). So, I at least don’t have to deal with feelings of guilt when I use the Rephr brush.

The 25 is the company’s flagship brush, and as I mentioned earlier, the 22 brush is softer than this one. However, my version of the 25 still seems to have a larger portion of high grade goat hair than the smaller face brushes in the line. It’s still quite soft, however, not soft enough for me to want to use this brush over my traditionally-shaped large squirrel and fox powder brushes. This gives me a light application of powder, but with my dry and increasingly sensitive skin, other hair types let me apply an even sheerer amount of face powder. I still love and use plenty of goat hair brushes, just rarely with finishing or setting powders. The “least soft” brushes I’ll use for all-over face powder is saikoho goat mixed with either squirrel or fox. So, the reason I don’t intend to use the 25 as much after completing this review isn’t due to any flaws in the brush. I’d feel the same about all other goat brushes.

I have tried using this brush with bronzers and blush. In the case of bronzer, I like the lighter application than a typical bronzer brush gives, but I don’t like that the feeling of the bristles running across my skin is so noticeable. I don’t like how large it is for blush either.

At the full price of $130, I feel everyone is better off getting a nice squirrel or fox brush instead. I paid $63 for it though, so it was quite a great deal. However, since I don’t intend to use it anymore, I can’t say that it was worth it to me. For those that don’t have sensitive skin though, a brush like this at a discounted price could be great to have.

Rephr 33

• Full Length: *152mm / 5.6 in
• Hair Length: *18mm / 0.71 in
• Hair Width: *14mm / 0.55 in
• Bristle Type: natural

This brush isn’t suited as well to my eye shape, but I bought it specifically to do nose contour and it works great for that purpose. The way the hair comes to a point, and the way it is tapered allows me to apply the contour precisely along the bridge, but I can also use the flatter parts to tap onto the wider portions of my nose as well. This brush doesn’t pick up too much product, which is another reason why the end result looks so natural.

I have other brushes that I can use for nose contouring, but this is one of the few that does the best job. I have used it quite often, and at least often enough to feel I’ve gotten my money’s worth already.

I’ve tried using this brush with concealer and did not like the results. It works fine to apply eyeshadow primer to my upper eye area and lids, but it’s so good for nose contouring that I’ve decided to reserve it just for that.

Rephr 38

• Full Length: *161mm / 6.3 in
• Hair Length: *33mm / 1.3 in
• Hair Width: *23mm / 0.9 in
• Bristle Type: natural and synthetic

This is the permanent version of the Rephr x Alexandra Anele brush. I didn’t buy the original because I did not like the scraggly look to it, which reminded me of stippling brushes and I never like stippling brushes. By the time I decided I wanted to give it a try anyway, it was sold out in Europe. I assumed if the brush sold well enough, it would eventually return. Hence, how I have this one now!

I am happy to report that this brush works quite well with all mediums of highlighters, though I use it most often with powders. This brush can pick up quite a bit of product considering its small size, but the staggered hairs diffuse very well (also surprising considering the dense feeling it has in the belly portion of the brush head). I’m careful using this with my softer and lighter pressed luminizers because I don’t want to waste product, and not out of fear of overapplying. This brush is also great for applying blush toppers and when I want to add a lighter color blush to the apples of my cheek (essentially for precision applications). It can also be used for bronzer and contour, but I prefer to use larger bronzer brushes. If I’m going for a more sculpted look, then I don’t mind using the 38 under my cheekbones specifically.

I like this brush quite a lot, and I recommend it, but candle-flame shaped highlighter brushes are still my favorites. The 38 is like a cross between paw-shaped and Koyudo’s 3D one, which are pretty much my next favorite of shapes. This blend of synthetic and goat has a good amount of softness and it does not feel scratchy, but I get more enjoyment from the softer plusher hair of highlighter brushes I’ve added to my collection within the past year (and still need to review in the future).
I’ve used this brush a decent amount of times while it’s been in rotation, though I wouldn’t consider it a go-to brush just yet. I’m essentially glad to have it in my arsenal, even though it hasn’t replaced any of my favorites. This brush is intended to be multi-functional, and it succeeds at that.

I would like to point out though that the shape of the brush seen in photos on rephr’s site is how it looks prior to being washed for the first time. It blooms a fair amount, as seen in my own photos, but it’s not technically “Shodō style,” unlike the brand new Rephr x Andreea Ali 2609 Brush that I decided to pass on. I think the 38 being far less stipple-shaped than the Shodō 05 is why I like the 38 a lot more, and also a reason I decided to skip out on the Andreea Ali brush. It didn’t help that the brand hasn’t disclosed what fiber type the 2609 is.

Rephr Kōyō Brush (Holiday 2024)

• Full Length: *163mm / 6.4 in
• Hair Length: *44mm / 1.73 in
• Hair Width: *40mm / 1.57 in
• Bristle Type: Squirrel and Saikoho Goat

This brush reigns supreme as the best brush Rephr has ever made! For starters, it’s the 3D shape that I love. It has a fully lacquered maki-e handle that looks even better than their 2023 brush. The squirrel (I’m guessing gray) and Saikoho mix is plush and soft with the perfect amount of airiness to get a well diffused result. This was my go-to blush brush throughout all of 2025 for when I wanted a light application of a pigmented blush (and it’s my second most used blush brush overall). I have some products that a single tap into the pan with other brushes still led to applying too much, and that’s when this brush could succeed where even my beloved Chikuhodo x Bobo Moon Rabbit Design brush could not!

I can use this with highlighter (using the tips) and bronzer, but it shines the most as a blush brush. The quality is superb. I have zero criticisms about this brush. It’s the best of my 3D cheek brushes and has held up well over the past year. I try not to be too rough with it, but I don’t feel like I need to be that dainty with it either.

The €99 it cost was absolutely worth the price, and I consider it a deal actually. So, if they ever bring this back, I highly recommend it.

After Rephr released the now discontinued Brush 30, which looks identical post-wash to Koyudo’s Saikoho Powder Brush that is part of the also discontinued “Koyudo Special 3 Piece Set,” I started to wonder if Koyudo is one of Rephr’s manufacturers. The Kōyō Brush certainly added fuel to my theory because of its shape and how the hairs feel. Koyudo is also one of the few brands who put their specialty brushes in wooden boxes (Paulownia vs perhaps Sugi type of Cedar). I felt even more convinced when I saw Krassypetrova post a Koyudo brush that had the special yosegi-zaiku technique fusing multiple types of wood together. That brush, along with Rephr’s holiday 2025 Yosegi Brush, are the only ones I’d ever seen like that. Perhaps this is all coincidence, but I’m just sharing my hunch!

Rephr Yosegi Brush (Holiday 2025)

• Full Length: *162mm / 6.4 in
• Hair Length: *42mm / 1.65 in
• Hair Width: *40mm / 1.57 in
• Bristle Type: goat?

The handle is made using the Yosegi-zaiku technique, that in this case fuses maple and walnut wood together. The ferrule is plated with 24k gold and was, “pressed three times to achieve the brush’s unique triangular shape,” that is apparently called a Sankaku Ferrule. The logos on the brush were made through Maki-e techniques as well. Overall, Rephr clearly requested so much time and effort to be put into the details of this brush. These techniques and luxury elements make this brush special, and yet they chose to not list what type of bristles this brush has anywhere on their website and none of the Influencers mentioned it in their videos either.

Because of how much I loved the previous holiday brush, I felt it was officially safe to buy another one. All of them have elements that make them uncommon or even rare to find, especially at the prices they sell them at.

I reasoned that even if their newest holiday brush turned out to be fully synthetic, the other elements would still make it a reasonably priced brush for me at €89.

The bristles, in my opinion, do have a very synthetic feel to them. The perimeter of the brush, particularly the tallest fibers at the front that form the most pointed section, feel the most slick like the texture of older synthetic types. Even the way those “hairs” bend don’t look or feel natural. Maybe those hairs just happen to be treated in some way. The center portion of the brush feels like a mix of synthetic and goat. I contacted rephr’s customer service inquiring as to what type of fibers are used in this brush and was told simply “goat.” I have long complained about transparency issues regarding the fill of their brushes, so I don’t know whether to take their word for it that it’s goat and not question whether there is also synthetic fibers in this brush too. Although I have my own thoughts, I chose to list this brush as goat, like they said.

Regarding the performance of the brush, the results are actually similar to the Kōyō brush, although the means of getting there are different. I can load up the Yosegi brush with a lot of powder, but it doesn’t release and deposit as much of it back onto the face at one time. It takes a lot more swipes back and forth to get it all out, meaning that it’s the perfect brush for someone wanting to build up product carefully, while also not needing to make repeated dips into the pan.
At least, it is this way with blush and bronzer. If I try to use the front tips for applying highlighter, I definitely have to pick up product repeatedly. Lovers of subtle highlighters will most likely enjoy this too. I’m a little too impatient, so I stick to using this for just blushes and bronzers. This brush is big enough to be considered a medium-size face powder brush or a large cheek brush, but it’s the right size for my face and doesn’t feel like too much.

This has the kind of bounce on the skin as if using a puffy bunny’s tail to apply makeup, and it’s mostly soft, but it has a little more drag on the skin than the Kōyō brush. Every now and then, I feel the occasional poke, which I can only assume is from one or two snapped hair tips.
I have only lost a couple of hairs in the month that I used this brush, so I wouldn’t say there is a shedding problem. I may just need to be slightly gentler when I use this, although I intuitively buff with this brush (unlike Kōyō) because it has the better structure and shape for that task.

Although the Yosegi Brush is completely functional, I think the next time I wash it, I will end up storing it as a collectible rather than using it further. I’m glad I bought this, but I get a lot more use out of the Kōyō Brush instead and would prefer to just continue using that one.

In the future, I would like to continue buying Rephr’s holiday brushes specifically. However, I want the company to be fully transparent and list what fibers, bristles, or hairs they use. I think it’s only fair to be up front with people about what they’re buying.

Rephr Shodō 05

• Full Length: *161mm / 6.33 in
• Hair Length: *33mm / 1.3 in
• Hair Width: *30mm / 1.18 in
• Bristle Type: goat?

Rephr’s Shodō eyeshadow brushes have been a big hit with their fans. I liked the 38, which I figured was close enough to being a Shodō brush, so I decided to go ahead and buy this one which is technically their first one for the face.

In the beginning, I loved this brush. I was so glad to have found another hit from Rephr. The way the uneven bristles diffuse product and leave behind a finish that looks more blended than airbushed is the reason I finally understood the appeal. Visually, the brush is ugly to me, but the results have been great.

Unfortunately, I treated this brush like a normal goat brush, which is apparently too rough. For starters, I had to contact rephr again to find out what type of bristle it had because it was not listed on the website and no one else I watch talked about it either. “Goat” is such a loose term because it could be courser hair from the abdomen of the goat or the softer neck hair. That’s why specifics of Hakutotsuho, Ototsuho, Tankoho, Sokoho, Saikoho, and Saibikoho can be so helpful. I know rephr tends to say they use a combination of Sokoho and Saikoho, so I assumed I could use it like any other of their “goat” brushes. And that is what has led to so much snapping of these brush tips! I did not have as much of a shedding problem with this brush as I did with finding short broken off pieces on my face afterwards. It didn’t start happening (or at least I didn’t notice) until after about a month of testing this brush. I’ve been using this in a buffing motion, but perhaps those staggered stipple-looking tips are more prone to breakage. The brush’s greatest strength is also its weakness. So, I have had to switch my techniques and use much lighter pressure to sweep on product and not try to blend things out. I’m admittedly a bit less satisfied with the results and enjoy it a bit less. It’s still a good brush, but I’m less interested in trying other Shodō brushes in the future, which is a shame considering this is the direction they seem to be going in and I would not be surprised to see a lot more in the future.

The size of this brush reminds me of the 05, while the slanted back is like a bigger 38, and the overall width is almost like a baby version of the 24. I like it the most for bronzer applications, even more than with blush. I have also used it with face powders, but I like my big fluffy brushes more that have softer hair and zero issues giving me a light sheer dusting of product anyway.

REPHR LC COLLECTION

I am pleased that Rephr has been forthcoming about the fact that these LC Brushes are made in China instead of Japan and that they are fully synthetic. Unlike many other Japanese Fude companies who tend to price their synthetic brushes nearly as expensive as their goat ones, the concept store prices for the LC Collection are in line with some of my favorite synthetic brushes from Sigma, Smashbox, Patrick Ta, Tarte, etc. As long as the prices are reasonable, I don’t mind buying the occasional synthetic brush. I have plenty of them already, so it takes a lot to get me to be interested in some, and Rephr’s have been hyped up so much that I finally caved.

I only review Japanese brushes in my Fude section though, but this was still the best section for me to put these, and they are actually fantastic brushes, so I will just keep my thoughts brief.

LC 01

After reining supreme for almost five years, I didn’t think any brush would top my Sonia G Jumbo Concealer Brush, but it has! I even bought a backup of this one. I get the same ability to pack on a lot of product (for getting full coverage), but the product doesn’t stay within the brush as much, and it works even better with spreading eye primers across my eyelids. This is also very soft and gentle to use around my eyes and the angle shape allows me to more easily get into folds and crevices.
I used to use my Jumbo Concealer specifically for applying concealer and would always switch to my flat top brushes for eye primers, but I do both with this single brush!

LC 02

I’ve heard so many people praise the BK Beauty 112 Small Angled Face Brush for cream and liquid blushes, but I haven’t bought it. This brush looked similar to me, so I chose this one instead. It really is fantastic for this purpose, but it matches the greatness of plenty of other synthetic cheek brushes in my collection. So, I’m glad to have this brush, but it wasn’t as much of a game-changer as the LC 01.

LC 03

This is pretty much a bigger version of the LC 02, and I have been loving it with my liquid foundations. This performs how I wanted the Sonia G Jumbo Base to be like. It’s larger, denser, and more plush feeling than the Sigma F47 Multitasker Brush that I enjoy with my foundations. The LC 03 is better at smoothing over the contours of my face than the Smashbox Full Coverage Foundation brush that I also love.

I was enamored by the Bisyodo S-517 Liquid Foundation Brush (and bought a second one for cream bronzer specifically), but got this Rephr LC 03 not long afterwards. I have to admit that the Rephr brush took a little bit of that shine away from the Bisyodo brush, and the large size makes it even more convenient to apply my foundation quickly, but I still used these two the most in the latter half of 2025. I get the most coverage from the Bisyodo brush, making it better on “bad” skin days, but I reach for the rephr brush if I want a thinner foundation layer that is better pressed into my skin for a covered yet less detectable look. Only time will tell which one will become my official favorite foundation brush.

I did not buy a backup for this reason though, as I have a lot of foundation brushes that are fantastic.

The construction of all three brushes are very sturdy. The dyed bristle color looks beautiful, and they are nice to hold in the hand. All of the brush heads are dense, which is what I like to see in synthetic brushes.

Although I consistently have mixed feelings about Rephr, I always give credit where credit is due. Their best brush creations are the Kōyō Brush, the LC Collection (01, 02, and 03), and the 38. They have others that are good, but these are the ones that set them apart from competitors and the ones I don’t hesitate to recommend.

EU SHIPPING OF FUDE BRUSHES

In previous Fude Collection posts, I’ve discussed what it has been like to order brushes from Japan to the US via CDJapan, Fude Beauty, Fude Japan, and Fude Bobo. Once I moved to Germany, I continued to have some of my brushes shipped to the US so I would not have to deal with VAT, customs fees, etc. However, with everything going on in the world, I cannot visit the US as often as I used to. This means that I had to start shipping from Japan to Germany instead.
Now that I have this knowledge, I can share it so that others living within the EU can know which websites are the best to order from.

Unfortunately, I cannot say anything about Fude Beauty because I still haven’t ordered anything from them to ship to Germany. Them packaging these expensive brushes in envelopes with no fragile signs and me getting a damaged brush has made it so that I try to avoid buying anything from them at all costs. I don’t want to risk having to deal with damaged goods again (though customer service did a good job to resolve things).

I have ordered from Fude Japan once, and the website does not collect VAT. I bought a brush that cost €50.95 and paid an additional €19.95 for shipping. Then I got hit with the EUR 20.95 fees from DHL. So, I paid almost the cost of the brush in shipping and fees alone. If I was in the US (before the tariff situation), I would not have this issue. However, I purchased less often from Toshiya anyway, after discovering Fude Bobo’s website also gives snacks or small cute gifts, in addition to usually have some kind of discount available.

This is why I prefer to only buy brushes through CDJapan, Fude Bobo, and Beautylish.

CDJapan’s ordering process is at least upfront. Shipping fees are waived on orders where the item total is over 12,000 YEN (around €65).* VAT can be paid in advance, which is 19% for Germany. Most of my orders are a simple matter of paying the item cost plus VAT with no additional fees.
I often wait until there is a promo code available before making my CDJapan purchases. Plus, I earn points on my order which can be used to take some money off in the future.

*Things will change starting April 1, 2026! For now, shipping is free on orders over 12,000 YEN. In April, it will be free on orders over 35,000 YEN (around €190 or $226). I have posted their notice below.

If my subtotal is over €150 from any non-EU based company, then unfortunately, I will need to pay the VAT, EUSt, customs, etc. through my shipping carrier. This means I can’t pay it to CDJapan in advance.
One such example is when my order subtotal was barely above €150, so I knew I’d have to pay at least €28.50 for the uncollected VAT. The amount owed in fees ended up being €40.33.
So, CDJapan was my favorite place to make orders under €150. For the record, I don’t have a favorite place to buy brushes above that price-point, as I am subject to those fees everywhere (as far as I’m aware).

My other favorite place to make orders is through Fude Bobo. As I mentioned in the Fude Japan paragraph, Fude Bobo usually has some form of discount available, and customers get a small item or snack as a gift with purchase. The downside is that there’s no reward program and no free shipping under 70,000 YEN ($447 or €376). So, the promo code often ends up just partly covering the shipping cost.
On the plus side, I have been very fortunate regarding getting very low fees if my order gets hit with any from DHL through Fude Bobo.

When I do the math, CDJapan usually ends up being the slightly more price effective way to make my brush purchases. For example, lately, Bisyodo brushes have been excluded from discounts and sales via Fude Bobo’s website. So, I only get Bisyodo from CDJapan. Fude Bobo has Hakuhodo brushes (which CDJapan does not carry), but Hakuhodo is too expensive for me to afford now anyway. So, I usually just buy things from Fude Bobo that I can’t get through CDJapan.
I am a CDJapan affiliate, but my favorites are based on which place can save me the most money. CDJapan’s reward program and free shipping minimum, combined with their monthly or bi-monthly discount promo codes, makes them objectively the best option for shipping Fude to Germany. Or, at least until April. After that, Fude Bobo may become the more affordable option in certain instances. I won’t know for sure until my next purchases after April.

I also want to take this time to say thank you to everyone who uses my affiliate links or used them in the past. It helps so much regarding my ability to buy and review brushes. ❤ Although I cannot see anyone’s names, it is fascinating to read the list of the brushes that were purchased and learn which ones are the favorites.

The benefit to buying brushes from Beautylish is that they collect the standard amount of VAT. The cost of the brushes usually qualifies me for free expedited shipping. They have a reward program. They have sales, but rarely on the brushes I actually like. They tend to have a much smaller variety of Japanese brushes available, so I stick to buying just Wayne Goss and Sonia G brushes from Beautylish. Wayne Goss’ UK website has a higher free shipping minimum, but shipping is only €5. So, if I’m making a small order of Wayne Goss brushes, I prefer to use the official website instead. The brushes are still packed well and arrive within several days to a week.

I hope this information has been helpful. Thank you for reading.
I’ve already begun working on a draft for Part 10, but I anticipate it won’t be out for several months. Be sure to check back here or click follow to be notified by email whenever I have a new post!

-Lili ❤