MAC BRUSHES (GENERAL DISCUSSION)

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by MissTT
I picked up the 189 and it works pretty well with pressed powders, however, I just realized I don't really use pressed powders. LOL. (I got a sample of the new MUFE powder foundation and tried it with that.) Any other recommendations for this brush? I'm afraid I'm gonna have to get rid of it.


Oh!!! That's a brush i'm going to have to buy!

I have a Revlon brush from the late 60s or early 70s that's very much like it. I LOVE that brush, but, well, it's getting old and tired. It still works great, but it has been losing hairs from around the outside over the decades - it is close to 45 years old, after all. It has a black lacquered wooden handle and beautiful, soft but firm, real animal hairs (don't cry, animal activists, those animals went to heaven a long time ago). ETA: It's labeled Complexion Brush.

That was back when there weren't very many makeup brushes on the market for the general public. I have used it for both pressed and loose face powders and for pressed powder blush. I was into contouring in the 70s and used my brush for that too. So i can see the MAC 189 working with just about any powder for the face and cheeks - face powder, blush, highlighter, contour. I would hesitate to use it with creams or other emollient based products because it's so thick i'd be concerned it would just suck that stuff up.

 

[lilinah]

I am so getting this.

That looks like a fun toy.

 

[LAKESHA1908]

My first MAC brush was the 190 and I used it forever for SFF back in the day ; )

 

[sss215]

My first MAC brush was the 190 and I used it forever for SFF back in the day ; )

That was my first brush too! I got it in 2004 to do my sister's makeup for her prom. Aside from that I just used studio fix powder plus with the sponge or puff it came with. I wasn't into face brushes then, now I can't get enough of them! My 190 is still in great shape too! All I use it for is primer and moisturizer now.

 

[schneckchen]

The best topic ever ;-)

I love MAC brushes and collect them for some time now...so I own about 65 different

 

[MissTT]

Oh!!! That's a brush i'm going to have to buy!

I have a Revlon brush from the late 60s or early 70s that's very much like it. I LOVE that brush, but, well, it's getting old and tired. It still works great, but it has been losing hairs from around the outside over the decades - it is close to 45 years old, after all. It has a black lacquered wooden handle and beautiful, soft but firm, real animal hairs (don't cry, animal activists, those animals went to heaven a long time ago). ETA: It's labeled Complexion Brush.

That was back when there weren't very many makeup brushes on the market for the general public. I have used it for both pressed and loose face powders and for pressed powder blush. I was into contouring in the 70s and used my brush for that too. So i can see the MAC 189 working with just about any powder for the face and cheeks - face powder, blush, highlighter, contour. I would hesitate to use it with creams or other emollient based products because it's so thick i'd be concerned it would just suck that stuff up.

I love your stories. I was cracking up about the long dead animals. The 189 brush is synthetic so it should work well with emollients. It came out with the MSFN I think. Anyway, I did try it with foundation last month and it worked well, but I don't recall if it sucked up product.

 

[MissTT]

Quote: Originally Posted by sss215
this is my favorite brush to use with my liquid foundation. I went to a MAC class on bridal makeup and the MA said that due to the size of the brush she can apply foundation the fastest with it, she said its perfect for her when she has bridal parties and is pressed for time.

of course based on her recommendation, I brought one and really appreciated how fast you can apply product with it. the application is streak free and I think its due to the way the ends of the bristles are cut. Flawless and fast, that's why i love it. I also use this brush with my MSFN. its a great brush and I hope you can find a good way to make it work.



It does help liquid foundation go on quickly and streak-free, but I found a new HG foundation brush (UD Optical Blurring Brush) so I won't be using this big, whopping paint brush for that again. Like you say though the cut of it is flawless. It's just a great quality brush. I've never tried MSFN. Is that mineral makeup? I don't really use pressed powders and quit the mineral makeup last year due to a suddenly developed allergic reaction to Bare Minerals.

So excited. This thread is going to be great!

 

[charlotteee92]

I actually just ordered a few brushes today! I'm kind of over my sigma brushes and really wanted to try out some more mac brushes. I already have the 217 en 129 which I both love. Today I ordered the 109, 130, 219, 286, and 239 so super excited, can't wait till they arrive!

 

[erine1881]

I haven't read all the posts yet, and i will. However, i have a question. I recently purchased a NARS cream blush, Gold Member, and a NARS cream eye shadow, Mousson. I may well have brushes that work for them but i'm not sure. What brushes would people recommend? I'm looking for a light touch with the cream blush so i don't look like Gold Finger.

For the blush, try the 168 or the 188. For the shadow, the 249 (currently being DCd).

I was talking about the 189. Are we all on a different page? 

No, i multi-quoted two different questions about two different brushes, you with then189, another with the 134. Then someone quoted me, which included my response to both questions, which is what you're seeing. Go off of my original quote.

 

[MissTT]

Ah, thanks. I didn't realize the 2nd person you were quoting was talking about a different brush.

 

[lilinah]

I am looking to improve my brush collection.
I have about 40 brushes. Some i don't use (those cute Tokidoki ones - some ancient ones from the 70s). Only three are MAC and they are among my favorites.
I'm going to post what i use most in two separate messages, otherwise this one will be far too long. I hope some brush genius can give me some suggestions.

 

[erine1881]

Ah, thanks. I didn't realize the 2nd person you were quoting was talking about a different brush.

:wink:

 

[lilinah]

For Face Makeup, i tend to use

color correcting face primer - i use my fingers, should i apply with a brush? if yes, what brush?

liquid foundation - EcoTools foundation brush 1202 - apply with fingers, then blend and smooth with brush

mineral powder foundation - bare Escentuals Flawless Application Face Brush

creamy concealer - EcoTools concealer brush 1230

pressed face powder - Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush (black contour handle)

loose face powder - Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush (black contour handle) -or- my old Revlon Complexion (paddle) Brush

pressed powder blush - MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Stippling Brush

MAC Casual Colour Cream blush - MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush

MSF - MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Stippling Brush

EDSF - MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush

highlighter - MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Stippling Brush

loose finishing powder - Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush (black contour handle) -or- bare Escentuals Full Flawless Face Brush

to buff out/blend face color - Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Multi-purpose brush (black contour handle)

LIPS
Coastal Scents Black Sable Lip Brush - the brush is... ok, but the case is terrible because it won't stay closed

Revlon retractable lip brush in "gold" case - great! from the 1960s or 70s - i rarely use it because i don't want to spoil it

 

[lilinah]

For Eye Makeup, the brushes i use most

eye brow powder ------- e.l.f. Small Angled Brush - this is very hard & stiff, but works ok
eye brow gel cream --- Robert Simmons 785 - 8/0 - artists paint brush

EYE SHADOW
bare Escentuals - Contour Shadow Brush
Coastal Scents -- Small Pencil Crease (black hairs)
Coastal Scents -- Synthetic Shadow Brush (wide, two-color hairs)
EcoTools ---------- Bamboo Eye Shadow Brush 2103
MAC ----------------- 286 Duo Fibre (tapered) (eyeshadow) Blending Brush
Sonia Kashuk ---- Bamboo Chic angled contour crease brush (fluffy, has flat top) - i don't have the hang of this brush yet
Sonia Kashuk ---- Bamboo Chic flat shader brush (very short stiff bristles) - i use for patting/pressing on certain powders

cake or cream eye liner --- Robert Simmons 785 - 8/0 paint brush - but it's a little too stiff
(note: i prefer very fine pointed eye liner brushes)
(note: i dislike bent ferule eye liner brushes - i have one and don't use it)
BE powder eye liner -------- bare Escentuals Double Ended Liner-Shadow Brush

eye lashes --------------------- shu uemura Eyelash Curler
eye lashes --------------------- sephora folding Eyelash Comb


In addition, my purse kit has

bare Escentuals - Soft Focus Eyeshadow Brush (retractable)

sephora ------------ professionnel Classic Retractable Travel Blush Brush #52 - for face powder/MSFN

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by lilinah
I recently purchased a NARS cream blush, Gold Member, and a NARS cream eye shadow,Mousson. I may well have brushes that work for them but i'm not sure. What brushes would people recommend? I'm looking for a light touch with the cream blush so i don't look like Gold Finger.


Quote:
Originally Posted by erine1881
For the blush, try the 168 or the 188. For the shadow, the 249 (currently being DCd).


Thanks! I'll look into them when i get home tomorrow.

I figured the 188 would work, but i tend to wash my brushes only once every week or two, although i do spot clean frequently. I don't wear face makeup every day and even when i wear foundation, i don't always use blush or highlighter. So it would be good for me to have two separate brushes. That way i won't drag cream into a powder cake. Plus the 168 is very pretty.

And the 249 is cool, sorta like a mini-concealer brush. I will try to catch one before they all disappear.

 

[kimbunney]

I may be in the select few in makeup internet world but I don't really care for Sigma brushes. I know MAC is expensive especially if you're paying full price but for the long run its worth it. I purchased my first 224 brush nearly 3 years ago and I wash it, it's like brand new all over. It just falls back into shape. The letters have faded but the hair still feels soft and the blending gets the job done. I just feel some kind way about paying 100+ for a set of brushes that will fall apart in six months to a year of consistent use with consistent washing and cleaning. I'm not hard on my brushes either.

My favorite is the 226 it's perfecto for my crease.

 

[sss215]

It does help liquid foundation go on quickly and streak-free, but I found a new HG foundation brush (UD Optical Blurring Brush) so I won't be using this big, whopping paint brush for that again. Like you say though the cut of it is flawless. It's just a great quality brush. I've never tried MSFN. Is that mineral makeup? I don't really use pressed powders and quit the mineral makeup last year due to a suddenly developed allergic reaction to Bare Minerals. So excited. This thread is going to be great!

Fast and flawless, I was talking about foundation application when using 189. MSFN is a pressed mineral product. Not sure how it compares to the ingredients in something Bare Minerals offers because I tested their foundation out once and it looked horrible on me. I don't follow that brand much.

 

[erine1881]

For Face Makeup, i tend to use color correcting face primer - i use my fingers, should i apply with a brush? if yes, what brush? liquid foundation - EcoTools foundation brush 1202 - apply with fingers, then blend and smooth with brush mineral powder foundation - bare Escentuals Flawless Application Face Brush creamy concealer - EcoTools concealer brush 1230 pressed face powder - Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush (black contour handle) loose face powder - Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush (black contour handle) -or- my old Revlon Complexion (paddle) Brush pressed powder blush - MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Stippling Brush MAC Casual Colour Cream blush - MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush MSF - MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Stippling Brush EDSF - MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush highlighter - MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Stippling Brush loose finishing powder - Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush (black contour handle) -or- bare Escentuals Full Flawless Face Brush to buff out/blend face color - Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Multi-purpose brush (black contour handle) LIPS Coastal Scents Black Sable Lip Brush - the brush is... ok, but the case is terrible because it won't stay closed Revlon retractable lip brush in "gold" case - great! from the 1960s or 70s - i rarely use it because i don't want to spoil it

For the colour corrector, try a synthetic foundation brush. Either the 190, 191, 192 (DCd, if you can find one) or the 193. Fingers are ok, but as with any makeup application, it'll apply more precisely and evenly with a brush.

Thanks! I'll look into them when i get home tomorrow. I figured the 188 would work, but i tend to wash my brushes only once every week or two, although i do spot clean frequently. I don't wear face makeup every day and even when i wear foundation, i don't always use blush or highlighter. So it would be good for me to have two separate brushes. That way i won't drag cream into a powder cake. Plus the 168 is very pretty. And the 249 is cool, sorta like a mini-concealer brush. I will try to catch one before they all disappear.

Two of each brush is a nice thing to have if you can. Especially if you're using the same brush for multiple mediums. I LOVE the 249 for applying cream eye products, especially paint pots. It's great for concealer as well. I just bought 2 more when it was added to the goodbye sections.

 

[shellygrrl]

I've never tried MSFN. Is that mineral makeup? I don't really use pressed powders and quit the mineral makeup last year due to a suddenly developed allergic reaction to Bare Minerals.

Mineralized SkinFinish Natural. It's a pressed mineral powder. Some people use it dry to set their makeup. Others use it on its own, either dry or wet, as a foundation. As for allergic reaction, seems to me it's a bismuth oxychloride allergy (Bare Minerals foundations contain it). I'm not sure if MSFNs have it or not. Anyhoo. Topic. I've only four MAC brushes so far (217, 239, 226 (MAC Me Over), 116). I've got several others saved in my Favourites list that I've been contemplating (231, 187, 138, 208, 168, 227, 219), and I'd like to get at least one more each of the 217 and 239, as they're two of my favourite eye brushes ever. I'm a bit of a brush junkie in general. *nods*

 

[pemily]

I may be in the select few in makeup internet world but I don't really care for Sigma brushes. I know MAC is expensive especially if you're paying full price but for the long run its worth it. I purchased my first 224 brush nearly 3 years ago and I wash it, it's like brand new all over. It just falls back into shape. The letters have faded but the hair still feels soft and the blending gets the job done. I just feel some kind way about paying 100+ for a set of brushes that will fall apart in six months to a year of consistent use with consistent washing and cleaning. I'm not hard on my brushes either.

My favorite is the 226 it's perfecto for my crease.

You can put a clear nail polish over the mac symbol and letters and it will keep


a handy trick someone told me at imAts was to add a little olive oil to your shampoo gets foundation out of brushes like a dream!!!!!