Shu Uemura Natural Brush 10 & 12

Shu Uemura's Kolinsky brushes are the ultimate holy grails, but they can get a bit pricey. That 15 brush costs as much as a Temptu Airbrush System and two foundation pods--and really makes me question the opportunity cost of kolinsky. Sure, the hairs are as soft as can be, but at this point, I doubt using kolinsky brushes makes a difference in my makeup application. The most important point for me is that I can't stand scratchy bristles on a brush--and while pure kolinsky is the softest, most luxe of them all, Shu makes other great brushes.

The natural brushes that are of a sable and kolinsky mix are still quite nice and are set at more reasonable price points. The 10 and 12 eye brushes are staples in my modest brush collection, and I find myself wishing I had several of each brush on hand, simply because of how versatile they are. (On a side note--from what my Shu SA tells me, Shu Uemura does not kill animals for their fur, but instead.... snips hair off the living animals. Stuck in my head was an image of bald squirrels running rampant in Central Park.)

I use the 10 brush for my darker, smaller sections of shadow, and it's great for either blending and feathering out a color or packing some shadow on--wet or dry. The 12 is used for more all over the lid shadows or larger sections of blending and it applies, like the 10 brush, color to my eyes flawlessly, without streaks or scratches. The 12 also has a beefier handle and greater bristle density, making it feel a bit more solid and steady during application.

For the sake of comparison (or in case you're debating between the two), I have taken some shots and posted them up below.