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 187 Duo Fibre Brush
MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush ($42.00) is a brush made famous by mineralize skinfinish fans everywhere. It is a large, densely bristled brush packed with a blend of both goat and synthetic fibers. It also better known as a stippling brush. I originally used this brush primarily for applying liquid foundation (Studio Fix Fluid), and I loved the results! It was really soft, light coverage spread everywhere and gave a soft finish. I personally found the 182 to give me even better results, so the 187 is no longer my go-to for foundation. One of the reasons I preferred the 182 is sometimes the 187 would give me a few streaks that I’d have to work a bit more at blending out; the 182 doesn’t give me any streaks at all. Though for a cream-based foundation, I much prefer the 187 over the 182 — the 182 is a bit too dense for that purpose.
I do like the 187 for sheerer application of blush and highlighters. If you’ve ever owned an ultra pigmented blush, you might struggle, as I do, with applying just the right amount. The 187 is amazing at picking up just that right amount of blush and lightly depositing it on your cheeks. For using them with mineralize skinfinishes, I’ve found the result is a softer look; kind of like a subtle glow rather than a super shiny or glittery cheeks. I do often use other brushes for my mineralize skinfinishes, often treating them as I would a regular blush. It definitely depends on the mineralize skinfinish and preference, though.
The 187 does shed a bit, particularly in the beginning, but after a few washes, it seems to stop shedding. It is a pricey brush, but it’s one of my favorite brushes. I also like its smaller twin, the 188, and if I had to buy only one, I’d probably go for the 188, just because the smaller size lets you do everything the 188 can do, but also the 187 (it’ll just take longer). Though if you’re in the market for a brush to use for your liquid foundation, you’ll likely want the 187 for the time-savings from the larger size.
How do you like to use this brush?
See close-ups…
Love. And more love.
Indeed
I JUST LOVE THIS BRUSH:)
I use it for foundation but also for blush esp colours which are a bit dark so it does not apppear to dark xx
I like it for those intense blushes, too!
This is the brush next on my list for purchase. I’ve been holding out since I’ve been able to get along without it for so long, but it is definitely one that I would like in my collection at some point.
Me too! I’ve been lusting after this brush for so long; but every time I’m about to purchase it, I always talk myself out of it. But I’ve decided that the next time I get my hands on it, I’m definitely going to buy it.
DO IT, I am sure you will love it!
i’m exactly the same, everytime i go to M.A.C, i always want to get this, but i get tempted by something else and buy that instead
I have to say im the same. Until one day i decided to just get it. All i can say is im not going back to sponges. It was so worth it. It made my liquid foundation flawless. I use it together with my Make Up forever foundation.
Oh yeah, WAY better than sponges!
lol! You gotta get it, Jas
Let us know if you like it, Nicole
#187 aka the best brush in the world. I use this for everything – foundation, powder, bronzer, blending, highlighting…. When I bought this I was really hesitant of the $40 price tag since it was my first MAJOR brush, but it was beyond worth it. One of my best cosmetic buys ever!
Haha
I’m so happy to hear you love it, though!
Got this one at my local CCO…..got the baby one too
Nice find!
Love, Love, Love this brush! I have a couple and use them for foundation, powder, MSFs, blush, highlighter and bronzer. Both this and the 188 are must haves for me.
I like it, too! I used to use it more, but you all make me want to use it more often now!
I love this brush! Depending on the type of coverage I want, i go b/t this brush and the 182 for my foundation. The 187 gives me just the right coverage for my day to day wear. I find that its especially good with darker blushes as it picks up just the right amount to build from. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!
Ohh, very nice! I am becoming partial to the 109 or 182 for foundation these days, but the 187 is nice, too!
Amazing brush. So pricey, but I think it’s a must have. Works great for applying liquid foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, highlighter.. pretty much any face makeup. I love it!
Glad you like it so much, Mabeth!
i have 2 of this 187, pricey but well worth the money
i use it for my foundie primarily, but since i hardly use foundie anymore, this 187 has been my MSF brush ever since. It gives just a nice glow to the skin without it being over shimmery or anything, and with super pigmented blushes, this is great! Nothing works better with the Blonde msf i own than 187!
btw, does your 187 have any stray hairs? Mine does, and more often than not, short little hairs stick around annoyingly in all directions!
Very nice, Plue! I have a few stray hairs, but not enough to bug me!
Yes…this brush does tend to shed!!! However, the way that this brush makes my blush stand out is so perfect and I love it
hi there, is there anyone who can help me choose,
i have two options, one is MAC 187
http://macbrushset.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=5
and another one is http://macbrushset.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=6
price pretty the same and really good one, do i really need big one or i can use travel size ?
Cheers,
Nicole
I don’t think these are real…
How do you tell if the brushes are real or not?
I’m not an expert – I’ve always bought my brushes from MAC stores.
Those brushes are definitely fake! Do not buy, save up for the real one.
Definitely NOT real. The only website that sells REAL Mac cosmetics is the original MAC website: maccosmetics.com and other major dept. stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s, etc. THAT however doesn’t look real so you’re about to get ripped off if you buy that!
I tried it at the MAC counter and its sooo soft! I wanna purchase it, i cannot wait ! I wonder what this brush is like with cream color bases … hmmm
i just LOV this brush !!! its so soft ! its next on my list .. but i m so confused which one to buy .. 182 or 187 .. few ppl told me that 182 is the best for msf and then the other half said that 187 is the best for msf .. ahh !! so confusing . lol ! i think i mite go with 187 coz its good for light makeup for day to day use ..
do you think this is a real 187? it retails 2,950 in mac store.
http://cgi.ebay.ph/BN-authentic-MAC-187-stippling-brush-gla-/120611072030?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_211#ht_500wt_898
Doesn’t look like it, but I don’t really know. I wouldn’t buy brushes (personally) on eBay.