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Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Hakuhodo G543 Powder DR Round







Hakuhodo G series holds some of their more interesting brushes. G543 Powder DR round is a great example as it's unlike any other brush I've come across. It's a short kabuki-ish tool with a flat head that's incredibly dense. Seriously, the white goat hair of G543 is the packed so heavily the head is an almost solid mass. It's relatively small (full length is about 2", hair length 2/3 of an inch and 1.2" wide) but it means business.

I usually follow Hakuhodo's guidelines to a T. After all, these people know their brushes. They designated G543 for powder. From their website (obviously the blurb is a translation from Japanese, hence the awkward wording. I'm willing to forgive it because the awesomeness of their products and impeccable Hakuhodo customer service):
This powder brush gives you ideal glossy skin look. It may feel hard to the touch because of the high density and short hair. But you should be able to notice a soft and comfortable feeling when you let it slide smoothly on your face. This strong and gentle harmony will make elasticity and gloss.
However, while G543 is as good as a velour puff (or even better)  for pushing powder into the skin, I find this brush better for stippling and buffing liquid and cream foundation. There's a strong possibility the reason is my application technique, but Hakuhodo's G527M is my preferred powder brush, while G543 is in my top 3 foundation brushes. It gives me picture-perfect finish and requires absolutely no effort.

I'm probably in the minority for enjoying the way Hakuhodo natural brushes smell. The faint goatiness pleases me. The odor is more noticeable when you wash the brush and slowly fades over time and use. I have no idea how many times I've washed this brush at this point, but it's been in constant use since last year, and I no longer detect a smell. It's just something to take into account if you're particularly sensitive.

Bottom Line: to call it a favorite would be an understatement. Worth every last cent.

Hakuhodo G543 Powder DR Round ($81) is available from hakuhodousa.com.

All photos are mine.

16 comments:

  1. Goodness, it is an odd-looking brush isn't it? I'd love to try it though!

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  2. This is a great looking brush; I can tell from how it's designed that it's meant for a very specific purpose!

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  3. I love your Hakuhodo reviews. I was going to say I bet that works like a velour puff! Does the brush take long to dry, given its density?

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  4. Didn't know these were available in the US! Thanks!

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  5. I agree @ Hakuhodo. You have to know what you're getting, but otherwise, it's great products with outstanding customer service. What more could you ask for?

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  6. What an interesting brush. I would love to know what foundations you apply with it if you don't mind ;-)

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  7. Miss Violet, it is an odd one. Probably the reason I had to have it.

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  8. JC, it's an absolutely amazing brush. I reach for it very often.

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  9. ZP, it takes a while to dry, indeed. At least the hair is short, so it's not that bad (and far less then the LY34).

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  10. N., their US branch is in Torrance, CA. Shipping is quick and efficient.

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  11. Dain, I absolutely love their customer service and the way they package the brushes. They really care about details and I couldn't be happier.

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  12. C., my current foundation rotation is quite boring: I can't live without my LMdB Peau Vierge, Chanel Vitalumiere and Burberry. I also just hit pan and need to reorder my Edward Bess compact foundation (perfection!!!) and have started testing Ellis Faas.

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  13. I just got this brush the other day and I love love love it! It feels like a velour puff on my face. Buffs powder, liquid, cream like nobody's business. I decided to take the plunge after reading this review, and seeing a yt video on it.
    I am so glad I plunked down the money for it. It's such an awesome little brush. I want another one :-)

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  14. So glad I stumbled upon your blog! I'm trying to achieve full coverage with loose mineral powder foundation. What are your opinions on the G543 vs. G527?

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  15. Hello Gaia,
    do you like applying compact foundations (like MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Foundation) with this brush ?

    Thank you !
    Sara

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  16. Hi,

    Thank you for your review of the G543. I would like to know if this is good for the powder foundation I use daily. I love the size, I need something small to keep in my purse.

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