MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush ($46.00) is a large, paddle-shaped face brush. It’s split in half, such that one half is made out of natural fibers and the other half is made out of synthetic fibers. The brush is flatter with a very rounded edge that flares upwards from the base. The brush head is 47mm in length, 39mm in width, and 20mm in thickness. It has a total length of 7.5 inches / 19 centimeters with a pinched, multi-colored ferrule. The brush is light-medium in density with a little flop towards the end, as the fibers are cut shorter on the exterior and left longer in the center. The synthetic side was soft and silky against the skin, while the natural side was moderately soft but I could feel some of the individual bristles.

I tried using this for setting powder, finishing powder, and highlighting, and it seemed to work best with finishing powders and highlighting (to a degree). I found it too sparse for setting powder, while dusting a finishing powder all-over with this brush ensured a sheer, diffused application; better for a finishing powder that is soft and more “powdery” in a sense than one that is firmer or already really quite sheer. For a more metallic highlighter, this brush’s shape and density worked well to tamp down some of the frost and make it less emphasizing. I personally didn’t find it really excelled for those products based on my preferences, so it’s not a brush that will find its way into my routine (it is also a little too scratchy compared to other brushes I have). I was surprised at the price point on this, as it doesn’t seem that large or dense to merit being more expensive than the 125SE.

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MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush

MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush

MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush

MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush

MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush

MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush

MAC 126SE Split Fibre Large Face Brush