MAC 239 Eye Shading Brush Photos & Review
Posted On: 06/22/09
Posted in: Beauty Tips, MAC Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics Product Guides, Series, Tools
Beauty Basics: MAC Eye 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 Eye Brushes.
Focus On: MAC 239 Eye Shading Brush
MAC 239 Eye Shading Brush ($24.50) is flat, slightly dome-shaped goat-hair brush. It is, quite possibly, my favorite eye brush ever. I love it and use it often enough to own five of them! I can do everything I need to do eyeshadow-wise with this brush — apply, blend, crease, highlight, lower lash line, smudge… you name it, I can do it. This was the only eye brush I had for well over a year, actually.
For anyone who has the SE version (from MAC’s brush sets), the full size is many times better. It’s extremely soft while it picks up color easily and deposits it perfectly. It’s a dense brush with just enough fluffiness to allow you to blend color while still being able to pack on color for a more intense look if desired. This is the first brush I’d personally recommend to anyone looking to buy their first eye brush!
How do you like to use this brush?
See close-ups…
Monday, June 22, 2009
I apply, blend and crease with it. The top of the brush is so thin that I can apply my eyeshadow on the bottom lid without problem. Really, my favorite brush.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Same here, Nathalie!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
I ordered this brush during F&F and I can’t wait to get it. This brush series never gets old! It’s so interesting!
Monday, June 29, 2009
You will LOVE IT!
Monday, June 22, 2009
239 is my first eye brush, too!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Aww, memories :D
Monday, June 22, 2009
My fave too Christine! And, like you, I can do all my eye make-up with it (it’s very versatile). So far, I have 4 of them and working towards getting 2 more! For sure, it’s a MUST HAVE!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Nice!! I love it SO much. When I am pressed for time, I just use it for everything. When I have more time, then I try to love my other brushes, too :P
Monday, June 22, 2009
The 239 is heaven on earth. I absolutely LOVE this brush…so much so that there are many times i just find myself staring at it as i run my finger back & forth across it. Think I’m in love?!?! It is so versatile but I definitely find myself using it most for color application & crease defining. I, too, own a 239SE as well & it is in no way comparable to the regular 239. You’ll never know the true capability of the 239 brush until you get the regular one.
Monday, June 22, 2009
I only own the regular. Everyone says that the regular 239 and the 239LE are nothing comparable. What is the difference, Nicole?
Monday, June 22, 2009
I first owned the 239SE & when I used it I was so unimpressed. Didn’t feel like it grabbed the color from the pot properly (kinda fell off brush isntantly) & it definitely did not pack it on the eyelid well at all. It was extremely flimsy, not dense & could not blend for anything. I kept wondering what the hype over this brush was all about. And then, I got the regular 239 & understood how it was so wondrous. Maybe some SE’s are better than others, but mine was the worst so I’m glad I persued purchasing the real deal.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thank you for sharing your experience, Nicole. :) I’ve never been tempted with a SE pack yet but I will remember (if so) that I should think twice before picking one!
Monday, June 22, 2009
i have an SE face brush set from a couple of years ago and i think it’s very good! i don’t think i would repurchase any of the brushes in full size (190, 168, 187, 194) unless i strike it rich…
i prefer the SE 190 foundation brush to my full size armani foundation brush…which when i first bought i thought it was the best thing ever…
Monday, June 29, 2009
Some of the SEs are good — the 239SE is the one that sticks out most in mind to be such a terrible brush relative to the full size one.
Monday, June 29, 2009
That’s exactly how I feel, Nicole! The 239SE is just garbage compared to the full size 239. I’ve noticed SOME SEs are fine, but wow, WHAT a difference between 239SE and full size!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Rough, smaller, not nearly as dense/firm. IT JUST SUCKS in comparison, LOL.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Yes, yes! The best. It’s really my #1 and go-to brush.
Monday, June 22, 2009
I’m buying this brush! What is the SE version? “For anyone who has the SE version (from MAC’s brush sets), the full size is many times better.”
Monday, June 22, 2009
See my comment above about the 239SE specifically. This was just my personal experience with it. Others may have more to say in response. In regards to SE’s in general, they usually are special edition versions of the brushes that come out in palettes & brush sets/collections. They are mass produced & not hand made like the regular brushes are.
Monday, June 29, 2009
SE is “Special Edition,” which are the brushes that come in the brush sets that are released in the summer with Nordstrom and the winter with holiday :)
Monday, June 22, 2009
The 239 is my absolute favorite brush too! I don’t know how I did my makeup without this brush! @Nicole15, I find myself doing the same thing… just running my finger over it. It’s perfect for everything! It packs on color perfectly, adds color to the lower lashline, defines, blends, everything! I can go on for days!!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
I am so glad others love this brush as much as I do!
Monday, June 22, 2009
My favorite brush too! The bestest :)
I love using it for the same reason as you listed, it is also excellent for picking up and applying pigments!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Yayyy!! :D
Monday, June 22, 2009
oh oh.. this is one of my favourite brushes but I note that since my last purchase of this brush (I have 7), it has gone up one USD.. lol… and prior to that another $ !! .. MAC keeps on raising prices!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wow, 7! You totally beat me :P
Monday, June 22, 2009
This is my favorite brush too. A must have. I wish I would have thought to buy more brushes on F&F since I am maxing out my credit card anyway, being unemployed, and spending $1500 between Mon-Wed for my cat, (the emergency night vet, ICU, the regular vet, ICU,) who was 14 but I had her for 13 years, who died on Wed at 134pm. RIP Shelby Mama loves you!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
I completely agree on this being a must-have!
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat Shelby :(
Monday, June 22, 2009
Love this brush, use it daily and had to buy a second (possibly needing a third ;P)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Nice! I have five and feel like I need more :P
Monday, June 22, 2009
My first as well. :) Definitely a keeper.
Monday, June 29, 2009
So, so true.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
I love this brush. It’s my favorite eyebrush that i currently own 3. Thanks to the sale. It’s very soft and pick up color like no other.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Nice! They are amazinggg brushes!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thank you so much for this review!
I was looking to buy my first MAC brush. After I saw this, this seemed like the perfect brush to get.
I just bought it today, and got a chance to use it for my fourth of july look, and it’s amazing!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
No problem, Emily! I’m so glad you are lovin’ it already!