Fude Q&A
How did you discover Fude brushes?
I discovered Fude after visiting Fude Matsuri (Brush Festival) in Kumano Hiroshima in 2018. Although I have read an article about the brush festival years prior, I wasn’t aware on how big the Fude community was up until after that visit. The brush festival showed me the world of Fude.
What do you like about Fude brushes?
I like that Fude is based in artistry and tradition. I know how difficult it is to make hand made things, and it astounds me that the brushes that I hold in my fingers are made by highly skilled artisans. This is what makes it special. I am amazed that for something that is made in traditional methods, it stays current and modern. This is what makes it revered by Fude lovers around the world.
Can you name your top 3-5 brushes, and why?
I love the Chikuhodo MK-KO brush because this brush strikingly beautiful. It represents Hiroshima through the Carp design on the handle. I love how Pink it is. The brush head made of pure squirrel hair is so soft and luxurious. I love how it caresses my skin every time I use it. I do not like to apply a high impact color of blush in one “go” and this brush helps me to build blush colors on the cheeks slowly.
I adore the Chikuhodo PF-4 brush because it is a versatile brush. The brush head reminds me of a puff and I love how this brush enables me to build color and coverage on the skin – may it be in a powder, liquid or cream formula. I find the White handle and the Gold ferrule to be very chic.
The Mizuho CMP527 is one of my favorite eyeshadow brushes to use. The mix of Squirrel and Horse hair enables me to pick up and blend eyeshadow colors extremely well on the eyes. Despite its mixed hair fibers on the brush head, it is still incredibly soft – BUT very resilient. I also love that the brush head tapers to a point enabling me to apply and blend colors on the crease or socket line too.
The Chikuhodo FO-5 brush, although described as an eyeshadow brush, I actually use this to set concealers in the under-eye area with powder. The shape and the size is PERFECT for it. Even though if the brush head is dense, it picks up the correct amount of powder, it applies it extremely well AND it also helps me to blend the powder out.
The Tanseido WC14T eyeshadow brush is one of my “go to” eyeshadow brushes because this helps me to blend out eyeshadows colors on the eyes. I also like the fact that I can choose which colored handle that I prefer. Which is actually great, because frankly I like to have different colored brush handles in my collection as this helps me to signify what I would use a specific brush for. What I find very unique about this brush is that the bristle is dyed with tea.
Do you have any advice for people starting out with Fude?
When you are starting your collection with Fude begin by finding brushes that will suit your skin type because this narrows down your options into what you actually need for yourself. If you have oily skin go for Fude made of Goat because these can take the oils of the skin. If you have Normal to combination skin with a little sensitivity, try Fude made with Silver Fox it is resilient but soft enough for your skin. If you have extremely sensitive skin – Fude made of Squirrel hair is your best bet. You will only be able to appreciate Fude when you use it. The constant use of Fude will serve as a natural guide when you want to expand your collection.
How did you get into makeup?
I got into makeup by joining Drag Beauty pageants during my younger years. That experience has showed me the fabulous and transformative ways of makeup. I actually became a professional makeup artist by accident. A Film Director saw me do makeup one time and after the session, he turned to me and said, “You should be a professional Makeup Artist.” I grew up in a province in The Philippines and it was unheard of that you can make a career as a Makeup Artist. But here I am 16 years later.
Do you have favorite makeup artists that you look up to?
During my early days as an apprentice, Laura Mercier was my idol. I like soft makeup looks that enhance ones natural beauty. Reading books by Kevin Aucoin gave me the confidence to be more playful with makeup and I adore the no-nonsense approach to beauty by Bobbi Brown. I am also a big fan of Lisa Eldridge. My beauty sentiments are the same as hers and she is so relatable, warm and approachable.All of these people inspire me everyday.
