MAC Brushes: 116 Blush Brush, 190 Foundation Brush, 219 Pencil Brush, 239 Eye Shader Brush

When it comes to MAC, other than lipsticks and eyeshadows, I'm not all that fussed. That all changed though when I bought my first set of MAC Brushes...these are the best brushes I have ever owned, they are simply a breeze to use and deliver the most amazing results. I can't wait to share them with you!

MAC Brushes have names and numbers which makes them easily identifiable; I bought the 116 Blush Brush, 190 Foundation Brush, 219 Pencil Brush and the 239 Eye Shader Brush - a nice starter kit for the eyes and face I think! MAC brushes are made from sturdy, matte black wooden handles with well moulded nickel-plated brass ferrules that clasp the bristles. The brush fibres will depend on what brush you own, most MAC brushes are either synthetic, natural, or a mix. If you pick up a MAC brush you will see that it just feels nice to hold - slightly weighted, perfectly shaped and really comfortable. The bristles on all the brushes are so super soft, they blend pigment to perfection, pack on colour and dance across my skin effortlessly - they feel so nice to use. The Pencil Brush, Eye Shader Brush and Blush Brush have natural bristles to pick up pigment perfectly, deposit it quickly and blend it well, while the Foundation Brush has synthetic fibres to prevent absorption of product and give a smooth, flawless finish.

The 116 Blush Brush has a domed head which is ideal for sweeping colour round the apples of the cheeks and bringing it up to the cheekbone. I do like angled blusher brushes but I use this in the same way just by picking up pigment at an angle on the side of the brush rather than at the end. It's so super soft and blurs blusher really well so it looks natural. The 190 Foundation Brush is a classic painter's style flat brush, I used to really shy away from this type of brush for foundation application and stuck to stippling or domed brushes, now I always apply my foundation with a flat brush as the first step. Flat Foundation brushes are also really useful for smoothing primer over your skin prior to application. I use this in brushing motions all over my face, sweep it up my neck and then pat the flat side against my skin to buff and stipple the product to a pixel perfect finish. It's really quick and easy to use and doesn't soak up any product at all.

These eye brushes are just incredible, my eye makeup has never looked so good! Even if you aren't a pro makeup artist you will absolutely look like you are if you use these brushes, they're just fail-safe. The soft, fluffy bristles not only pack colour on but blend it to absolute perfection. I've actually now bought the Blending Brush as well to accompany these brushes because I've heard it's an absolute must have. The 219 Pencil Brush is an interesting brush, it's pointed end makes it perfect for getting into the crease and creating the perfect cut-crease, it's also fantastic for adding definition to the outer V. I love this brush because it makes accenting and deepening so easy. The 239 Eye Shader Brush is my favourite MAC brush so far, I've actually ordered another one! I use it all over my lid to apply a base or to apply separate colours. It's also great for pressing on glitter pigments to finish a look. It picks up the right amount of product and packs colour on perfectly. You can get subtle or intense looks by altering the pressure you apply, you don't need to use a hard or heavy hand to get the look you desire. I absolutely love using this brush to blend out edges too (until my Blending Brush arrives anyway), the fluffy bristles give a really smooth, gradual blend.
I still love my high street brushes like Real Techniques and use them all the time, but I'll whip out my MAC brushes when I want something a little more controlled and professional looking. The differences in finish and quality really are noticeable. If you're going to splurge on expensive brushes then make sure you really take care of them, I can't stress this enough. Deep clean at least once a week, allow to dry flat, never expose the metal ferrule to water for prolonged periods and try, if you can, to spot-clean your brush after every use. This will help your brushes stay in like-new condition and stand the test of time.
MAC Brushes vary in price, they're a luxury but a luxury that's well worth the money. Just be sure you purchase them from a genuine retailer.