Anyone else terrified by goats? I know I can’t be the only one. They’ve got those creepy horizontal pupils that look ready to teleport you across the River Styx, and at the petting zoo they’re always really naughty; they walk right up and try to snatch the food from my hands or chew on my t-shirt or shoelaces.
Anti-goat bias initially made me reluctant to give the Shu Uemura 7.5EX brush ($35) much love. The word “goat” (strike one) is etched into the brush’s handle, and the white, fan-shaped brush head is made from — you guessed it — goat hair (strike two). I’m glad I was able to overlook my problem with goats, though, because the 7.5EX deserves love.
MAC Fafi Fashion Frenzy blush on the left, Hipness Blush on the right
Soft and luxurious, the bristles of Shu’s 7.5EX brush feel nothing like the dirty, coarse hair of goats at the petting zoo. The Shu Uemura Web site describes the 7.5EX brush as having a “light” touch, meaning that when you use it to apply powders, the color applies sheer, not intense. Not just for blush, this InStyle Best of Beauty Buy can also be used to blend or to dust away loose powder.
This morning I was in a hurry but wanted to wear a bright blue-pink blush. I know from experience that if I rush while using a regular blush brush, I end up with scary-clown-who-haunts-children’s-nightmares cheeks, so I grabbed the 7.5EX brush instead.
Wearing a big, goofy smile (the goofy part is key!), I applied MAC Fafi’s Fashion Frenzy to the apples of my cheeks, lightly drawing color upward at an angle toward my ears. With just a few swipes my cheeks looked pinched and flushed. I can’t wait to use this brush with my other bright cheek shades, MAC’s Dollymix (hot pink) and Frankly Scarlet (bright red).
If you have a few bright blushes in your color collection that you don’t use enough, give them another try with the 7.5EX, a brush designed for powdered products. Blush newbies who have a tendency to use too much color might dig it too because its fanned bristles make it almost impossible to over-apply color.
Don’t be afraid to go bold with your blush colors. With the 7.5EX in your arsenal, go forth and be bright!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Taylor says
February 21st, 2008 at 9:00 pmYay!! I feel better knowing that I’m not alone in my bias against goats!!
Only recently have I reluctantly ventured into the world of goat haired brushes too! Partly because I got sick of my sister teasing me in Sephora with goat haired brushes! LOL
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 9:04 pmHi Taylor,
Aren’t they creepy? They do make some good brush heads though, LOL!
Squirrel brushes kinda creep me out too, I can’t lie. 🙂
Lilan says
February 21st, 2008 at 9:04 pmI’ve never used fan brushes before – for fear that I will apply too much blush on my cheeks! How ironic.
I’d definitely be down to use a brush with “goat” on it because I was born in the year of the goat – er, ram? I’m never sure because literally translated, it’s “goat” but the general term is ram. Sorry, rambling about random Chinese zodiac!
Glosslizard says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pmGoat or not, I love my fan brush for those deep-toned blushes!
Breezy says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:37 pmHmm maybe this is why my 4 year old niece was hella terrified of them at the OC fair, but made me ride the friggen elephant. Anyway -I need a picture Karen. I have some really red blush from MAC that I’ve used like maybe twice cuz it goes on too strong. I wanna see how this works on you.
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:48 pmHi Lilan,
Hmm, I think I might be year of the rabbit, which I guess doesn’t make sense, as rabbits and cats are supposed to get along well, and all the cats in the hood hate me (sigh.)
Yeah, girl, use that fan brush! It’ll change your blush life.
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:49 pmHeya Glosslizard,
I want more dark blushes now…I know they’ve got a ton over at NARS!!!! ARGH! I’m in trouble now! 😉
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:50 pmHey Breezy,
Oh yah! I’ll do a tut or a FOTD with one of the Fafi blushes and will bust out the fan brush.
I don’t blame your niece for hating on the goat! There even scarier when your the same height as them. I’ve always wanted to ride an elephant, though, so I’m kinda jealous that you got to do that.
Sandy says
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 amI think I’m going to skip the MAC Fafi collection when it comes out in Sydney. It doesn’t really interest me. But if I was to buy something just for the sake of being at MAC, I’d get the Fashion Frenzy blush & them paint pots. BTW, I got my Blushbaby blush. I LURVE it! Such a great colour for everyday use. Hope you’ve been well unlike me =/
Holly says
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 amHi Karen,
Thats a great idea for the new Mac blush I bought actually as its a little dark really, i never seem ot be able to find that fine line between too pink and too red!
I absolutely love my Chanel facial contour brush for my blush application but it may be a bit heavyhanded for the darker colours!
Dao says
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:28 amWhen I was a kid, my mom used to shove goat’s milk down my throat. She thought it was better than cow’s milk. Then she fed me yogurt made from goat’s milk. Until now I can’t get the smell out of my nose. Recently my school’s agriculture program had a potluck and they served goat curry. It was very fatty and tasty , yum!
I like goat hair brushes, esp the ones made from the kid’s hair (young goat, not young people!) Since there’s no Shu ’round my ‘hood (start talking like Karen), I may go to the craft store to check out some fan brushes. Some of the artist brushes I got are very similar to MAC brushes and 10x cheaper. I use those for my daily routine and reserve the good ones for special occasions 😀
Ping. says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:01 amoh no.. i’m tempted by this brush! baaa baaa… i can feel it calling me.
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 amHi Sandy,
Aww, why aren’t you feeling good? Are you sick? If you are I hope you feel better soon.
I’m so glad you got Blushbaby! I bet you’ll hit the pan in no time 🙂
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:22 amHi Holly,
Yeah, I have some fave brush blushes too that take some brights/darks to a whole level that they shouldn’t go to, ha!
One added plus is that the fan brush head is really soft!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 amHi Dao,
I went to the art/craft store and checked out a few brushes about a month ago. I agree, there are some very good artists brushes…The only thing is though, that every brush I’ve found has a handle that’s way to long! I mean, I like my long brush handles, but I don’t want them to be like a foot long, ha!
That goat curry sounds pretty darn good, yum!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 amLOL… “Ping! Pssst! Ping! This is the 7.5EX calling you!”
I swear that happens to me ALL THE TIME at the cosmetics department! 🙂
Tekoa says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:30 amOh Karen, you’re so cool. I wish we were biologically related.
I’m personally unsettled by goats. I think its the strange eyes. The animal I’m most afraid of is…snails. Aquarium snails to be precise. They give me the gibblies.
Mej says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:39 amhi karen! i haven’t visited your site in a long while! i miss reading your site daily =) how are you?
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 amHi Tekoa,
I wish we were related too! If I was your cousin I could come over and play with Luna while you were WoW-ing, LOL!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 amHi Mej!
Girl, I’m doing great. I’m off to SF today to do some makeup shopping. What’s new with you? 🙂
Amanda says
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 amhey now, why all the hate for goats? I, personally, love them…I think they are cute and fun. If we ever have land, I want one! (not kidding either). But I will admit they are not for everyone. 🙂 Maybe it’s because I’m a capricorn? Lol.
I’ve never used a fan brush….but I do use the flirt (at kohl’s) “skunk” brush sometimes-it works similarly I think. Sometimes I think about upgrading to the real mac version, but I think in general I use a light hand for my blush anyway…..
Carla says
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pmI’ve almost all body shop brushes and they’re soft and strong enough to take it to the 100 soap bath but why won’t they made a brush from someone called Karen?
it would be the best brush ever hehehehe (0:
Holly says
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pmHi Karen,
Oh no i think you have me sold on yet another thing!! I need to stop reading your blog, im going to go bancrupt!
You should do a review on Mac brushes, I would love an insight into all the ones you use and what you use them for, me being a Mac newbie and all! Chanel just dont have the selection that Mac have, although I do appreciate that the Chanel brushes come in little pouches which keep them nice and tidy!
Sandy says
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pmThe guy that I love for 2 years left me >.
temi says
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 pmhey karen.i hope you do a look with frankly scarlet soon.Like you, i’m SOS, and tho’ i’ve had the blush for a while now, i’ve never had the guts to wear it.
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:36 pmHi Amanda,
Hey goat lover! J/K! I have the MAC SE skunk brush and while it has a light touch, the 7.5EX is even lighter. BTW, I went to the Shu counter and looked at the brush and noticed that the sample brush was missing the word “goat” on the handle, huh!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:37 pmHi Carla!
Ha! If I had a brush line then I’d have to consider the goats involved…(only soft and non-naughty ones allowed.)
I had a Body Shop brush a long time ago but have no idea what happened to it. I think it vanished into the same void where my missing socks go!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pmHi Holly,
Oh yah, that’s a good idea. I’d have to wash ’em first and make them all extra purty before I took pictures of them, though!
I felt up a few Chanel brushes today and saw a crease brush that caught my eye. I don’t really need one, but hey, it never hurts to look.
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:47 pmHi Sandy,
Oh I’ve been there before and I know it hurts. I’m so sorry. 🙁 Please take care good care of yourself and your heart, and know that you *are* strong enough.
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:48 pmHi Temi,
Okay! After a bit more practice with this brush I will. 🙂 Frankly Scarlet is so beautiful and deserves it’s time in the sun! 🙂
Mej says
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pmI recently put up a new site hihi I hope this works. I’m kinda new to this (personal branding thing). When, oh when are you going to visit the Philippines Karen?:)
you can visit me at http://fashiolution.com/ 🙂
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 pmHi Mej,
Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to check it out. 🙂
I dunno when I’ll make it back there. Hopefully soon, when it’s not hot (ha ha ha!). I would love to go during the holiday season and Christmas someday.
Another thing I’d like to do is go surfing there, or do some outdoor stuff. When I went back a few years ago I ended up just going from house to house with my mom and eating the entire time. Plus, they all spoke a dialect I didn’t understand and ended just chillin’ and eating more because I had no idea what was going on!
Lea says
February 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pmHey Karen, another very informative post! Thank you.
I used to be skeptical about using brushes with animal hair. Despite my weirdo-ness about my preference in “no animal products and by-products” (animal hair sorta falls under the same umbrella) I must confess I use brushes with goat hair and this is because goat hair is not only high quality but also because the hair are humanely collected. It is a fact that the best quality brushes remain those that are provided by natural hair.
More 411: High quality goat hair brushes comes from shearing the goats to get their hair without harming the animals. Goats go through a normal shearing process each year, usually in the spring, at which time the hair is collected for brush manufacturing.
Karen says
February 25th, 2008 at 8:45 pmHi Lea,
Wow, thanks for the info. It’s good to know the goats (as much as they terrify me) aren’t hurt in the process. 🙂
Alexandra says
March 30th, 2009 at 10:35 amHi Karen,
Im born in the same year as you.And you might be pleased to know,that in some parts of china, 1975 is known as the year of the cat. Not that i dont love rabbits,but im a cat lover through and through,i know i prefer to think im born in the year of the cat lol