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MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush Photos & Review

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 129 Powder/Blush Brush

MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush ($34.00) is a is a rounded, dome-shaped brush with a more rounded dome than other brushes. Of MAC’s various face brushes, I do find that the 129 does have a tendency to be scratchier than others, but it is definitely something that gets better with time. After a few washes, the brush is as soft as most MAC brushes, and it feels fluffier than when you first purchase it. It sheds occasionally, but not enough to make me hesitate on purchasing it again. I personally find this is better as a blush or bronzer brush than a powder brush, because it isn’t fluffy enough for my liking when it comes to applying loose or pressed powder all over. MAC does make a short handled version of the 129 (this is a brush of the same quality and caliber as the long handled 129–just to distinguish it from special edition 129 brushes), but I personally prefer longer handles.

How do you like to use this brush?

See close-ups

27 Comments

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binnie Avatar

i love this brush i like to use this brush for all over loose powder/ for blush and for highlight! the only thing i hate about this brush is that it sheds too! so it starting to annoy me! 🙁 N im starting touse the URBAN DECAY brushes which are the same i think? x

Marianitamc Avatar

I got the short handle recently and I use it to apply my mineralized skin finish natural as setting powder all over I think is very good at it! A lil scratchy I know but I’m happy to know it gets better with time

Catherine @ Salescoop Avatar

I love this brush– in fact, I’m on my second one! It does a great job highlighting my cheek bones and putting the powder exactly where I want it on my face without my makeup looking streaky. MAC has great make up brushes

Nic15 Avatar

I’ve only had my 129 for 2 weeks & so far I really like it. Love how it disburses my blush so softly & allows me to build color without it looking streaky. Fortunately, I don’t find mine to be scratchy.

Christy Avatar

I have this in the gold version from the Monogram collection. It is soft and wonderful to use. I also have a few SE versions of it, varying quite a bit in quality from really good, to not so nice.

carriespooner Avatar

This is not my favorite brush from Mac. It might be my least favorite but I have the 129 SE. I think it’s of terrible quality and it is scratchy.
I know the 129 FS is much nicer but I don’t care for it for blush.

I’ve been known to use my 187 for matte blushes. I might use a 168 but my favorite blush brush is Mally’s. It’s very dense.

Yael Avatar

how do you know when it’s time to get a new brush? i’ve had my 129 for almost 7 years. i do find it quite scratchy, and it has shed since i got it. i was wondering if it’s time to toss it….

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