Hakuhodo J5523 Eye Shadow Brush (MAC 217 dupe)

In search of "the perfect eyeshadow blending brush", I had been lemming over the MAC 217 brush, which it seems like everybody and their mother owns. At $27 for a single brush, I scoured the internet for a similar product at a lower price point. After reading many a Shameless Fripperies post, I  was dead set on purchasing something a little out of my Real Techniques price range and settled on the $23 Hakuhodo J5523 Eye Shadow Brush Round and Flat at IMATS Toronto 2014, justifying it to myself as an important investment to my makeup-wearing experience. 

The allure of such a blending brush is that it's meant to be an all-in-one for eyeshadow application. The brush is of medium density, rounded on one side and tapered on the other, making the brush perfect for both blending and precise application in the crease area, not to mention super soft bristles. The Hakuhodo J5523 can be used with cream, liquid, and powder products. 

about hakuhodo: 

Hakuhodo is a prestige Japanese brush manufacturer. All of their brushes are handcrafted in Japan, with prices ranging from $16 to $200+. Hakuhodo is also an Original Equipment Manufacturer, which means that it creates brushes for other companies (Estee Lauder and supposedly Tom Ford). Hakuhodo only has a few brick-and-mortar stores, mostly in Japan. Their  brushes can be purchased online or at trade shows like IMATS. 

the specs: 

hair - goat

handle - wood/black

ferrule - nickel-plated brass

full length - 151 mm

hair length - 16 mm

thickness - 4.5 mm

The bristles are the perfect size for my hooded eyelids, not to mention they're also rub-it-all-over-your-face soft. I can easily apply shadow with the surface area of the brush and then dip into another colour using the tip of the brush to create a defined crease. The handle is slightly shorter but equally as weighty as other brushes I own (i.e. MUFE Artisan Brushes). I've only washed it twice but it hasn't shed one hair and has thus far retained its shape. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend. I use the Hakuhodo J5523 every time I apply eyeshadow and haven't really looked back. Since I don't own any other brushes like this, I'm glad I picked this one up and am contemplating looking for similarly shaped brushes (for when I'm lazy and don't want to wash this one). All in all, the Hakuhodo J5523 has been a eyeshadow-blending game changer for me. 

Have you tried anything from Hakuhodo? Do you own the MAC 217 or something similar? What's your favourite blending brush? 

Purchased by me

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