Are Mac brushes worth the money?

Todoquetengo

Hi, am moving jobs and got a BT voucher as a leaving present, so heading there to splurge on some make-up. Just wondering what people think of Mac brushes? Are they really that good and worth the money? And what would you recommned me to buy if I was getting three or four brushes?

Or do you think other brushes are just as good and I should spend the voucher on make-up instead

Cheers

Larianne

Having a good set of make-up brushes is essential if you want your make-up to look well and it takes less time do to your make-up as well with a good set.

I've over 40 brushes myself but obviously you don't need that many. When I went travelling I brought the following with me and it did the job...

Blusher/powder brush (Armani), Foundation brush (mac 187), Eyeshadow brush (charles fox) , Slanted brush (Mac 266), eye shadow blending brush (MAC 217), small eyeshadow contour brush (I don't really know how else to describe it) (MAC 219 called pencil brush).

I have used Armani brushes as well but found MAC where better for holding product. Bobbi Brown is meant to have good quality brushes as well but I've never used them. Stay away from Clinque brushes though (and Smashbox brushes, I know sold in Arnotts, but just terrible terrible brushes!!). Just make sure to clean and look after the brushes properly!! They should last you years if taken care of right.

If you feel like you're wasting your money on brushes maybe get a few brushes and throw in a new eyeshadow as well.

Morbid.Angel

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Todoquetengo

Cheers, think I'll get a few brushes and some make-up so. Have heard Armani make-up is good so maybe Mac brushes and Armani make-up

Morbid.Angel

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Queen-Mise

I use The Body Shop brushes & they are excellent

Todoquetengo

Morbid.Angel wrote: »

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Cheers, when you say pigments are you talking about eye shadows or their blushers and bronzers? I have some of their eye shadows and I really like them and I use their foundation which I think is great too.

Buttons_sb

Todoquetengo wrote: »

Hi, am moving jobs and got a BT voucher as a leaving present, so heading there to splurge on some make-up. Just wondering what people think of Mac brushes? Are they really that good and worth the money? And what would you recommned me to buy if I was getting three or four brushes?

Or do you think other brushes are just as good and I should spend the voucher on make-up instead

Cheers

Mac brushes are brilliant probably the best you can get imo. For sure id say get the 230 for eyeshadow and as the person above suggested the 187 foundation brush - amazing!! Yeah id also suggest spending some of it on actual make up aswell! If you get their eyeliner get the 'fluid line' and the 266 brush! Happy shopping!

Edit: Pigment is loose powdered used for eyeshadow mainly! Hope this helps!:D

http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/sp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY15103&PRODUCT_ID=PROD1519

Todoquetengo

Buttons_sb wrote: »

Mac brushes are brilliant probably the best you can get imo. For sure id say get the 230 for eyeshadow and as the person above suggested the 187 foundation brush - amazing!! Yeah id also suggest spending some of it on actual make up aswell! If you get their eyeliner get the 'fluid line' and the 266 brush! Happy shopping!

Thanks for the replies. Typical girl that I am, I'm having more fun browsing and planning what to buy than actually going in and buying it

Will try go in when the Mac counter isn't jammed and the sales people might be nice or does that ever happen :rolleyes:

Buttons_sb

Todoquetengo wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Typical girl that I am, I'm having more fun browsing and planning what to buy than actually going in and buying it

Will try go in when the Mac counter isn't jammed and the sales people might be nice or does that ever happen :rolleyes:

Lol Im pretty in love with MAC and could spend all my money in there if I had the chance haha! Well I am a regular shopper in there, in my personal experience I find them very helpful and really nice so hopefully you do too!

Beautybeanie

I totally agree that a good brush is just as important as using good makeup. But beware of the hype of advertising.

Someone mentioned The Body Shop. The Body Shop produce an excellent range of brushes. Their foundation brush, for example, is on par with the best and I have used this regularly in the past.

Manicare make an excellent range of brushes for the regular user - good hair, excellent spring, strong ferrule and lovely grip. Not to mention a quarter of the price. Just two examples of companies who produce a quality equal or superior to that of MAC.

To answer the question as opposed to debating whether the brushes are good or not, in a word no, MAC brushes for the prices they are right now are not worth the money - not when you compare what your money can get you in other ranges.

boogle

The Body Shop brushes all the way. Excellent quality.

badolepuddytat

I used to love the Body Shop brushes and have loads that are great but I went in to get a new one recently and the whole range seemed to be of poorer quality than they were before. E.g. the foundation brush felt waxy or something, but maybe it's just me being odd. I don't like Manicare brushes, have never bought any Macs but love, love, love the Lancome range.

Sugar Drunk

I love mac and karen millen brushes. lost my set if make up brushes (all mac or KM) and my lancome brush wrap last week and im gutted!!!

dreamr

yes completely.

they're just quality brushes!!

EDIT: body shop do good brushes as well... if you dont want to splurge out!

Larianne

I was in Boots at the weekend and saw a Ruby & Millie foundation brush which looks exactly the same as the MAC 187 foundation brush for €18. Might be worth checkin out if you can't afford the MAC one.

Sugar Drunk

I got a manicare brush a while ago its a foundation one (didnt even know they did brushes!!) and it was surprisingly good!

dreamr

larianne, in which boots did you see the Ruby & Millie foundation brush??

Larianne

dreamr wrote: »

larianne, in which boots did you see the Ruby & Millie foundation brush??

In Swords, but I'm sure they are in most Boots as the one in Swords isn't big or anything. Looked exactly the same alhtough maybe different hair. Should do the same job though.;)

Todoquetengo

thanks for all the replies! I bought some mac make up and two of the brushes, eye shadow blender and a blusher brush and I really like both!

Although I brought the eye shadow one out of Sat night and lost it, which really pi**ed me off (wasn't even drunk!!!)...so I bought another one today and it's not leaving the bathroom

Dryad

If there is no rush in getting to MAC for brushes I recommend waiting until just before Christmas. They normally sell gift sets of brushes in a wrap/wallet which gives you a capsule collection of brushes at a much better price than buying them separately.

abi sant clare

does anyone know how much the Mac 217 brush is in Brown Thomas?, dying to get my hands on one. And i'm going on holidays soon, do they sell the mac brushes separetely at duty free, how much are they there?

snooleen

Maybe just get 2 brushes you really need and would use everyday? LIke example, for me, I need a good foundation brush and a good powder brush as I load on the powder and hate the cheap ones where the hair falls out all over my face. If I had thata voucher I'd be getting a MAC foundation brush and an eyeshadow brush and eyeliner brush. Then I'd be buying make-up!

Larianne

abi sant clare wrote: »

does anyone know how much the Mac 217 brush is in Brown Thomas?, dying to get my hands on one. And i'm going on holidays soon, do they sell the mac brushes separetely at duty free, how much are they there?

Yep, they do. The brushes would be slightly cheaper in the airport yes. Can't remember how much though. That 217 brush is great!! That and the stipple brush are the brushes I'd use the most.

LivingDeadGirl

Dryad wrote: »

If there is no rush in getting to MAC for brushes I recommend waiting until just before Christmas. They normally sell gift sets of brushes in a wrap/wallet which gives you a capsule collection of brushes at a much better price than buying them separately.

These aren't as good quality as the regular brushes, bit of a false economy I'm afraid. You can also get the exact same sets on Ebay for a fraction of the most.

As for whoever asked how much the 217 is, it was 30 euro when I enquired a few months ago. Hope that helps.