I Hate Mac Brushes!

[MissResha]

TOO FACED COSMETICS - stylish makeup for your lips, eyes and face under accessories. the BEST synthetic brushes EVER. period. they dont scratch my face all up to be damned like that raggedy full coverage brush from BE ugh.

 

[AmandDUR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lara Too Faced brushes are a soft synthetic, you're comparing apples and oranges if you expect a goat-hair brush to be of a similar texture. Compare like to like, don't compare opposites.

this is EXACTLY what i was going to say.
i have a two faced brush set, and they are so soft. but they are synethetic. and the handles? forget about it, the handles feel like they came out of a dime machine.

synthetic and natural hair bristles deliver product in complete different ways also.

what i do love and would never give up is my two faced retractable kabuki. its like velvet, and of course its retractable so i can throw it in my bag and not worry about it becoming damaged.

 

[TamEva Le Fay]

I’ve had the same reaction to the #129 brush myself, and for that reason I passed on it at a CCO, recently. I was so disturbed by it, that it became the sole catalyst for my new found mission from God to find the world’s most perfect blush brushes.

So far the #168 is my Holy Grail – it’s shocking how well it performs, and is completely effortless, even though it is more of a contour brush.
It’s crucial that you condition some of these brushes – I use Pantene conditioner.
I often wonder if I was too critical of the #129, but it seemed more than just “scratchy” it felt coarse, and stiff. I didn’t want to risk using a brush that might drag or wipe my makeup off (my worst fear).

I, really, recommend to anyone who picked up the new #226 brushes to really condition those puppies!

I’ve, already classified them as those brushes that have the one or two stray hairs that spoil the soft texture of the rest - resulting in that annoying scratchy, prickly feel on the lids.

The #226 Brush ROCKS! I will do everything in my power to maintain them and make them work. It’s the only brush I ever bought in multiples! They must make this one permanent!!!

It won’t be enough to, simply, write in to MAC, please write letters to your Senators or State Officials, as well, to make this brush permanent!!!

It’s weird, because many stores in the Bay Area didn’t receive many of the new brushes in their shipments, including our Pro Store where I bought mine. They even sold out of the #214 by Sunday following their release!

Often times, depending on what product I’ve used the brush with, I’ll only use conditioner to clean it. Many conditioners these days will actually strip oils from the hair follicle and act as a very, very mild cleanser.

And, interestingly enough, I find that the conditioner aids in removing the black dyes from the brushes, especially when left to sit with the conditioner on for a minute or two. Of course any brushes used with oil based products need the cutting cleansers.

Additionally, When I'm not using the J&J Baby shampoo, I'll also use Dog shampoos, due to their PH balance factor made for animal hair!
I believe it really helps a bit in preventing the hairs from splaying when you’re trying to reshape (my pet peeve - splaying hairs & mis-shapen brushes

).

Did anyone notice the new #165 brush and how they applied a little heat to end of the slip package so as to create this kind of shrink wrap effect? And in this process they effectively crinkled/scrunched/crushed the hair fibers – making it a real joy to try to quality control your purchase.

My rule of thumb with the #165 was firmness, as it seemed like they hit the mark with softness on this brush – I did notice some were firmer than others, but all were very, very soft much, unlike, the #129 brush.

Let me state here my disappointment in two brushes I really wanted – that being the two Rachel Welch brushes #223 & #169!!! To my absolute horror and surprise, both, of these brushes were made in China! I’ve never known any MAC brushes to have been made in China before. Most, if not all, are made in France or Japan.

And it’s to no offence to the good folks in china, as I own many brushes made in china, but most of those I purchased at Longs’ Drugs or Walgreens, Walmart, etc., not at a MAC store!!!
Needless to say the quality of the Rachel Welch brushes were what one would expect from a drug store purchase!

Did anyone else know that these brushes were made in China???

My Specktra search came up empty on this major detail!

 

[MissMochaXOXO]

too faced brushes are fabulous!how can u resist the whole ''Teddy Bear Hair'' thing! lol i really like that brand, but i still need my MAC mixed in.i bought mine cause they had shiney pink on the handle and i couldnt resist that either!

 

[.Ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissResha TOO FACED COSMETICS - stylish makeup for your lips, eyes and face under accessories. the BEST synthetic brushes EVER. period. they dont scratch my face all up to be damned like that raggedy full coverage brush from BE ugh.

i'm mad at you for even looking at BE brushes.... girl those brushes SUCK A**!! lmao... please tell me u didn't try the kabuki brush by them... I swear to god when I tried that brush, parts of my face looked all scarred up like Freddy Krueger.


but @ the OP BLASPHEMY!

.....

 

[Sanayhs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TamEva Le Fay Let me state here my disappointment in two brushes I really wanted – that being the two Rachel Welch brushes #223 & #169!!! To my absolute horror and surprise, both, of these brushes were made in China! I’ve never known any MAC brushes to have been made in China before. Most, if not all, are made in France or Japan. And it’s to no offence to the good folks in china, as I own many brushes made in china, but most of those I purchased at Longs’ Drugs or Walgreens, Walmart, etc., not at a MAC store!!! Needless to say the quality of the Rachel Welch brushes were what one would expect from a drug store purchase!

I have the 223, and do not love it. I find it a great disappointment in comparison to all my other MAC blending brushes. Fortunately, I scooped mine up from the Clearance Bin for a very good price, but still - the point is, that brush is lacking. Reading your post and having experienced the 223, I'm glad I passed on the 169.

As for the 129, it's one of my least favourite brushes I own out of over 40 full size MAC brushes. For me, though, it has more to do with the shape; mine is a 129SH and is very soft. I simply prefer a blush brush that you can use to buff the blush into the skin rather than simply sweep it on. I do find it to be handy for beauty powder, but that's about it, generally. Most of my MAC brushes are delightful.

 

[MissResha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Ice i'm mad at you for even looking at BE brushes.... girl those brushes SUCK A**!! lmao... please tell me u didn't try the kabuki brush by them... I swear to god when I tried that brush, parts of my face looked all scarred up like Freddy Krueger. but @ the OP BLASPHEMY! .....

LOL nah, when i bought my bare minerals set it came with the full coverage brush, the kabuki and the concealer brush. actually, the concealer brush is great, but the other ones suck big hair goat nuts.

 

[rouquinne]

when i first became a MAC customer 25 years ago, the company didn't make brushes and Frank Toskan gave me a list of brushes to buy at an art supply store in Toronto. even after they introduced brushes to the company, i continued to buy brushes at art supply stores.

and i still do.

 

[Karen_B]

I have the 169 and I really like it for applying blush, made in China or no...

As for MAC brushes, I love all of mine except the 182. Mine sheds like a mofo, I have to spend 10 minutes picking hair off my face if I use it to apply mineral foundation. Too bad, as I LOVE the coverage it gives and how even the foundation goes on when I use this brush.

 

[akcmommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissResha i just wanna say YAY for the TFTB brushes. they are my favorites hands down. i own just ONE mac brush, the 168, and its...ok. i barely use it. i dont see what the hype is either. the only MAC brush i really want is the 187. i like that one. but not for $42 lol.

I have the 187 and never use it.

 

[akcmommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Ice i'm mad at you for even looking at BE brushes.... girl those brushes SUCK A**!! lmao... please tell me u didn't try the kabuki brush by them... I swear to god when I tried that brush, parts of my face looked all scarred up like Freddy Krueger. but @ the OP BLASPHEMY! .....

I have several BE brushes. They came with the sets that I have purchased from them. The brushes are hit and miss. I have purchased the dupe made by MAC and (I know this is blasphemy) I have not really seen a difference. This is only for the eye brushes. I HATE the BE kabuki. It suks. I prefer the Sephora professional.

 

[blindpassion]

I dont know whats wrong with BE brushes... they are terrible.

I use the concealer brush a lot though, I use it for paint pots, UDPP, paints, etc.

But the rest succkk.

 

[GlamazonMan]

Well being a MAC artist, of course I LOVE MAC BRUSHES!

BUT not just because it's my company...the reason why the 129 is not that soft is because it's not supposed to be. The 129 is for more concentrated and precise blush applications, and the denseness is what makes it feel rougher than most brushes...just like the 217 vs the 224 (217 is very coarse for precise blending like the crease and the 224 is for buffing and blending out color...which is why I use the 224 for concealer as well and not the 217.) Washing it will loosen it up a bit, but the brush is supposed to have some bit of coarseness. Try the 116 for the same function, but different feel. The 116 has the a more rounded belly and although it's about the same density, the bristles are tapered a little deeper...that is why the belly of the brush is larger.

129 brush...

...vs the 116

HOPE THIS HELPED!

 

[MissCrystal]

i have the 129 and i love it, its super soft and a great brush the only mac brush i dont really like is 109 its still a good brush for liquid foundation but it sheds wayy to much

 

[blindpassion]

The 109 is the only brush I will use for foundation, on myself or clients (unless they have awesome skin in which case I'll use the 187). But DAMN that brush sheds. And its the only MAC brush I have that sheds like that.

 

[charnels]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayjoy Also off topic: where do you find the Too Faced brushes?

sephora / sephora.com

 

[charnels]

i use my 116 for ALL of my powders (foundation, blush, msf) and i LOVE it. it's so soft and does a great job of picking up product and blending. maybe you should try that one instead.

as much as i love the too faced brushes, i almost never use mine because they're all synthetic, so they're terrible at picking up powder pigment. i use the round one for blending my shadows and the angled one for my brow wax but that's it. i haven't touched any of the shadow brushes. i'll probably end up selling them.

 

[cocodivatime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akcmommy I have several BE brushes. They came with the sets that I have purchased from them. The brushes are hit and miss. I have purchased the dupe made by MAC and (I know this is blasphemy) I have not really seen a difference. This is only for the eye brushes. I HATE the BE kabuki. It suks. I prefer the Sephora professional.

Ok I feel like an idiot. I've been using BE mineral foundation for over 8 years. Its the only foundation I wear unless its a special occasion then I pull out my MAC NC 44

But all this time I NEVER EVER used any other brush other than the BE full coverage brush to apply. I have a million MAC brushes but I never though to use them for BE. Am I stupid or what?!!

Please tell me the best MAC brush to use for my BE foundation? I'm excited at the thought that I might see a difference in my application.

The BE brush never bothered me because I didnt know better. Oh well. As Oprah says "when you know better, you do better." LOL

 

[karensocal]

it all depend what u want, some people like, some don't. I love my 109 and my sister hate it. if u don't like the brush,return it.

 

[ginger9]

I don't hate MAC brushes but for the money I personally rather spend it elsewhere. I have two full size MAC brushes the 182 and 237. Also a holiday set which contains 187, 212, 219, 275. Honestly I only love the 182 and 187. The others I hardly ever reach for.

I really love my Quo, Annabelle and Lise Watier brushes and this random brand name which escapes me right now. I also own a few Costco brush sets which are well made.