@fluffyfude | YT: Fluffy Fude

Based in the USA, Fluffy Fude has been collecting Japanese makeup brushes for more than 10 years and has over 1,000 brushes. With such a depth and breadth of knowledge, we felt she's a perfect candidate to create a 'starter kit' guide for anyone looking to embark on their Fude journey—as well as Fude lovers looking to build on their existing collection.

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This is a topic that has often intrigued me and one that I have put much thought into over the years:

Which brushes would I start with, if I had to start over?

After the excruciating thought process of asking myself where I would start if all of my brushessuddenly disappeared, I have compiled a selection of brushes that would meet all of myimmediate needs.

The first need being that it would need to be budget friendly. I have been collecting brushes gradually over the years and if I had to start over, I simply would not be able to replace them allat once. I selected brushes that are as budget friendly as possible by fude standards, butwithout sacrificing quality, softness, or collectibility. Despite being on the more affordable side, these brushes are by no means 'entry-level' or something one would outgrow. Quite the contrary, these brushes remain reliable tools that I use often. I think the best brushes are theones that make it into our makeup routines because they perform well and are well loved.

The remaining criteria was that I wanted the brushes to be multi-purpose and work with differentformulas and products. Except for one squirrel brush, these brushes can be used with creamsor powders. Lastly, my selection would need to be comprehensive enough to meet all of mymakeup needs, from everyday minimal makeup, to full glam. In writing this guide, my hope isthat others may find it useful as a starting point or to discover new, budget friendly brushes.

I selected a total of three face brushes: one that excels with liquid foundation, one that excelswith powder foundation, and one multitasking brush that works well for all over face powder,bronzer and buffing. While these brushes excel at these particular tasks, they are by no meanslimited to just these tasks and can be used for other purposes such as cream bronzer andblush. I have created a table below detailing some of the other uses the brushes are capable ofhandling. There is overlap in uses and the ability to mix and match depending on what yourneeds are.

• Koyudo Original FUPA-02: Liquid foundation, cream bronzer, cream Blush
• Houkodou BZ-1: Powder foundation, liquid foundation
• Koyudo Yoshiki Y-1: Buffing, setting powder finishing powder, bronzer, blush
  Prices range: ¥6,500—8,000

Cheek brushes are my favorite to buy and use, yet I could get by with only two and cover all of my bases. A soft squirrel cheek brush for ultra pigmented products and a goat brush to pair with hard to pick up formulas and creams. I particularly enjoy a round pom-pom shape brush for cheek products due to its ease of depositing and blending pigment. As for highlighter, I selected a large eye brush that can be used both as an eye brush but also a detail face brush. The Chikuhodo T-6 is great for blending out highlighter and can even be used for concealer.

• Chikuhodo R-C2: Blush*, bronzer*, precise powder. (*Use with powder products only)
• Koyudo Yoshiki Y-2: Blush, cream blush, contour, hard-pressed powders, highlighter
• Chikuhodo T-6: Highlighter, all over the lid blending, setting under eye concealer
  Prices range: ¥3,800—7,000

As someone who likes to experiment with different eyeshadow looks and formulas, I tend to reach for a number of different types of eye brushes to complete a single look. If you enjoy one or two color eye looks, you may not need this much variety. I also included two different size options for some categories but one does not need both sizes. For example, for a flat shader brush, I included a standard size shader, the Chikuhodo T-7, and the slightly larger Tanseido YWQ 10 which I would recommend for users with more eyelid space.

• Chikuhodo FO-10: Eye brush with a medium doe foot. Incredible with cream shadows.
  Uses: Cream eyeshadow, all over the lid, concealer
• Chikuhodo T-7: Must-have standard shader and packer brush.
  Uses: A flat shader for all over the lid color, packing color, blending
• Tanseido YWQ-10: Must-have standard shader and packer brush.
  Uses: A flat shader for all over the lid color, packing color, blending
• Koyomo Pearl Pink Round Eye Brush: Superb blender.
  Uses: Blending crease, deepening outer V
• Koyudo Yoshiki Y-4: Great for detailed eye work, lining, smoking and inner corner.
  highlight. A very multi-purpose brush.
  Uses: Liner, smoking lash line, deepening outer V, inner corner, spot concealer
• Bisyodo B-SL-01 Shadowliner: Strong smudger and liner but soft enough to use on the delicate lash line.
  Uses: Liner for creams, gels and powder products; smudging lash line
  Prices range: ¥2,000—3,600

If there is one thing I do not leave the house without, it is having my eyebrows filled in. My eyebrow brushes are the most used in my collection because I use them every single day. Truly a staple and the ones I would get first out of all in this guide. I have been enjoying a larger eyebrow brush but also included a smaller size recommendation. My advice is to go with the size you feel more comfortable with.

Often overlooked, a lip brush helps complete a look especially if you are a lipstick lover. I prefer the experience of applying a lipstick with a lip brush versus using it out of the tube. A lip brush also helps with precision, even application, and lining around the lips in a similar manner to a lip liner. Owning a lip brush has actually saved me from wanting to buy more lip liners to match a lipstick exactly because I can use the brush with the lipstick to line around my lips instead.

• Koyudo Y-6 Eyebrow Brush: Filling brows with powder or cream products
• Chikuhodo Z-7 Eyebrow Brush: Filling brows with powder or cream products
• Kyureido Kiwami Portable Lip Brush: Lining lips, Precise lipstick application, Touch-ups
  Prices range: ¥1,510—3,600