Caressing Face: NARS Yachiyo Kabuki

I have a confession to make: I am not really good at applying blush. I have abandoned and swapped away some really gorgeousy bright blushes because I knew I am not good at it. Or,  when I reach for subtle colour or high-end blush I  do not suffer from "obvious blush" application, but what about my brights and cheapies around?

Enter my latest NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush

With the packaging starts the luxury-effect: I still like NARS minimalistic packaging as nothing else.  The thin glossy black lettering on a matte black background is just genius.

Like a virgin: still in it's foil

From NARS site:

Inspired by traditional Japanese beauty rituals Kabuki Theater, the NARS Kabuki Artisan Brushes meld heritage with modernity, in both concept and function. The multi-functional design of the Kabuki Yachiyo Brush, with its tapered dome head, makes it excellent for defining cheekbones, highlighting the complexion, and blending and diffusing color on or around the eye area.

• Made with very soft Pen Super Goat hairs, which are ideal for blending pigments
• The hand-spun black wisteria handle preserves its unique traditional character

 The oriental-esque detailing on the brush absolutely makes it a true tool of art, as you can see below:

I also like the idea that these types of brushes are used in Japanese Kabuki theatres. I have an affinity with Japanese cosmetics and respect their grooming rituals. Even though I feel too westernized to spend the same amount of delicacy and time into skincare or makeup, I can see that a bit of slow-time and delicacy into taking care of my face and makeup does show off in my appearance.

The tapered brush-head:

 

I can see it is made from real (goat)hair instead of synthetics. See that tiny white hair somewhere in the brush? I like a good synthetic brush as it is often good for sensitive skin, but this quality is ace too and feel truly soft.

 

I went for an experiment with one of my darkest and cheapest sort of blush from a Coastalscent's palette (the purplish berry). I could have gone for my high-end Rouge Bunny Rouge or Burberry, but that would made the experience less exiting. Nor would I really test the transforming and blush-diversing quality of the brush.

Verdict:
It dispends the blush in a lighter manner, although the colour is still quite strong. Nevertheless, it makes the berry more of a *flush-inside* than the *pantonime player*. Also, I often struggle flushing up the blush up my temples: this time it looked like an convincing flush instead of *blush-gone-wild/1980s* effect.

Conclusion:
I really like this Yackiyo Kabuki and I have to agree with the multitude of reviewers giving this one a rave. It is a gorgeous tool of art that is not cheap, but gives a brilliant effect when applying one of the most youthifying makeup-products around: applying good blush!

Editor's note: I wanted to name this post "Caressing Cheeks", until I saw the double meaning of it. Mind you, it's a beauty blog and the rest have millions of other options to watch the various state of the double meaning that could have been applied.