Beauty Basics: MAC Face Brushes
Beauty Basics is a series covering basic products and tools that help to make applying your makeup easier. To view the entire series to date, be sure to visit the beauty basics, or you can view posts within the series about MAC Face Brushes.
Focus On: MAC 138 Tapered Face Brush
MAC 138 Tapered Face Brush ($52.00) is a large, extremely tapered brush made out of natural fibers. It is extremely dense, and it is relatively firm. The end of the brush tapers into a rounded tip with angled sides. The brush shapes reminds me of the 226 or 224, except several times larger. The bristles feel incredibly soft against the skin, and I have found mine to shed very rarely (which basically means I can’t remember it really shedding at all). The 138 can be used for a variety of applications: creams, liquids, highlighters, blushes, and contouring. It is touted by MAC as a contouring and highlighting tool, but like most brushes, usage depends more on you and your needs. To contour with this brush, simply slant it against your face with the tip pointing towards your mouth. To highlight, just use the tip of the brush on the areas you would like to highlight. It is one of MAC’s pricier brushes, but I’d say it’s completely worth the investment!
How do you like to use this brush?
See close-ups…
I LOVE this brush! It’s perfect for powders, blushers and MAC MSFs! It is a little pricey, but soooo worth it!
I agree — so worth it!
got this during the 25% discount, it’s so soft and being so big, i was surprised how it gives a soft application for blushes. i would say because if the price it’s not necessary a must buy but with the discount, it’s a deal i just couldn’t pass up. i heard it’s great for cream foundations, have yet to try that.
Awesome! I am glad you were able to score it at a discount!
My favorite way to use this brush is to pick up highlighter on the tapered end and press the brush above the cheekbones and roll it. I know it’s hard to understand without a pic/video, but it really works great!
Thanks for the tips, Kajal!
I don’t have this brush but it kinda looks like the 165 from the BBR collection. Is the 165 a “smaller” version of this?
It’s similar, and yep, 165 is a smaller version!
This brush is incredible. Zero shedding, super soft, applies all powder products beautifully. Good job, MAC!
Awesome, Al! What products do you use it with most?
I use it mainly for contouring/highlighting.. Also love it for sheer application of blush and MSFs
btw Christine – keep up the good work! the site keeps getting better and better. you seem like a very sweet girl and i’m glad you’ve had this much success!
Nice!
Thank you so much, Al
I am happy I have your support!!
hey christine, i was wondering, i can only afford one so between the 165 and 138, which should i go for? THANK YOU!
165!
hello gorgeous
so my question is, does your 138 bleed, or has it ever? i’m concerned this might be the sign of a fake? :/
i have a question about this particular brush. i recently ordered it from a site that supposingly sells original mac stuff (rockthecatwalk), since there are no mac stores in my country. it does look authentic, it’s soft, doesn’t shed, it came in a plastic sleeve with the bar code etc. BUT it bleeds like hell, every time i wash it it leaves a blue stain on my towel
thanks a lot. btw i love your site, it’s amazing! keep it up!
I know a few people have had bleeding issues with some of their MAC brushes (but generally not) – I haven’t myself.
Hi I’ve noticed you tend to use the 116 a lot. Would you recommend that over this one as a multipurpose brush? I’m wanting to use it for blush/contouring/highlighting. Or do you think it’s better to have 2 separate brushes? TIA!
Yes! Love the 116 for blush/highlighting. I would probably do contouring separately, though.
just wondering if this brush is permanent or LE?
Permanent, I believe!