The 231 is the best brush I've found for tightlining & regular lining with a gel liner. I originally doubted that it could do a better job than my 266, but despite having what seems like an unlikely shape for the task, the 231 gets the job done more easily than any other brush I've tried. Give it a try! continued >>

This brush looks like a really cool brush when you first see it, but having had it for a while now I'm finally ready to admit that it's a huge let down. The only reason I'm giving this a 3 instead of a 2 is because it's extremely well made and it's not completely useless. I recommend getting a 228 brush instead of this one, especially if you're planning to use it as a lip brush. Leave this brush to the YouTube gurus because it's really not as easy to use as they make it look.
PROS:
- GREAT QUALITY. It's extremely well-made. The synthetic fibres are nice and stiff. Unlike the 228 brush, the handle is big enough so that you don't have to worry about snapping it in half if you throw it in your makeup bag or drop it on a hard floor. It's also must sturdier in your hand than the 228 brush, which gives you great control over it. It dries VERY quickly, which is really nice because if you're using this for cream eyeliner you'll be washing it a bunch.
- MULTI-USE: Some people use this for a few different things, but I mostly find that it's only really useful for 3 different things: Applying cream eyeliner, smudging eyeliner on the upper lash line and applying lipstick. If you're going for a really thin eyeliner line on your upper lash line, this brush makes it pretty easy

CONS:
- EXPENSIVE: Yes, it's nowhere near as expensive as most MAC brushes, but $18 for this TEENY TINY brush is still hard to swallow, especially if you already have good brushes that do the same thing. Also, this brush isn't super easy to get. It's only available at MAC stores or online, which I always find really annoying.
- OTHER BRUSHES DO A BETTER JOB:
Eyeliner: Lots of less expensive brands make great eyeliner brushes now and they're much easier to get your hands on. I like to have a few different eyeliner brushes because I use cream eyeliner and I don't feel like washing a brush every day.
Lips: This really is NOT an amazing lip brush. No matter how smooth my lips are, this brush kind of skids across my lips rather than glides. Get a 228 brush instead. It is small and stiff enough to still be precise and it glides well.
Smudging: Same with lips. It doesn't blend as well as you'd think and really tugs on my eyelid no matter how creamy the products I'm using are. That tugging can get painful after a while.
STAINS: It's impossible to get stains out of this brush when I use bright lipsticks, even if I use a really good cleanser. I've washed mine 3 times since the last time I used it and it still has lingering traces of red on it. The 228 brush is really easy to clean and also dries very quickly.

***EASY TIP*** If you decide to pick up this brush (or any other MAC brush), take some clear nail polish and swipe it over the silver MAC # lettering a few times. Redo this every year and it will prevent the number from rubbing off and keep your brush looking like new. Lots of people already know to do this, but I constantly see tons of people with brushes that have labels nearly rubbed off so it's worth mentioning. continued >>

A nice multi-purpose brush from MAC, i use it mainly for eyeshadow, foundation and concealer application...i luv the softness and durability of this. It applies concealer very well over acne scars (i have acne-prone skin so its a must-have for me!) And i've seen no fall out till now...very easy to clean. I wud crib only about how expensive it is!

I happened to pick up MAC Studio Finish Concealer and the SA told me I needed the 231 brush. Works flawlessly with my concealer. Easy to control and I can pinpoint exactly where I want to place the concealer with little to no fuss, especially around my eyes. I have very specific areas I like to conceal and this does it perfectly. I'm now realizing that this is actually sold as an eye makeup brush. I'm a gel liner gal and I may give it a try with this brush. Either way I have my HG concealer brush if all else fails. Ladies this is the brush to get!

This brush is highly overlooked, and has so many uses. It's the most versitile brush in my collection. It can used for the following:
Eyeliner - makes a thin line and can smuge out prodcut beautifully
Cutting the crease - it can make precise lines, such as defining the outer V.
Lip - you can use it to line and fill in lip color
CONCEALER - this is my favorite use. It makes a great concealer brush for covering acne blemishes!
All in all, a great multi-use brush.

This is my favorite MAC brush, hands down!
It's probably the most multi functional brush from MAC, as well.
I mainly use it to apply gel liner.
And if you're a gel liner fan, get this brush because you're missing out!!
It applies the liner like a DREAM. Much, much better than the angled brush or the thin, pointy eyeliner brush.
It can also be used for the inner corners, under the brows, filling the eyebrows, dragging shadow to the lash line, setting liner with power, etc etc
I also heard it can be used as a lip brush, I haven't tried it for that purpose however.

The mentioned brush is similar in size to the Laura Mercier smudge brush.I mainly brought this brush for pigments and that is what I use it for.I use mainly the Shu Uemura brushes however they do not have a brush for pigments.The Mac 231 applies the pigments precisely where you want the colour,it blends and fuses and you can move the brush in either direction.I do not use this brush for any thing else though,I am weary of hygiene/cross infection.For Laura Mercier users who are reading this review you will find that the LM smudge brush will work efficiently for eye product application/blending,fantastically well.

I originally got this from my friend to pair with my studio finish concealer. I tried it once for my gel eyeliner, and I got hooked. Right size, right shape, right softness and so easy to use for different types of liners. Can't imagine anything better!

I use the 231 for my Studio Finish concealer and it works great. It picks up and applies just enough product without it being cakey or overdone. It's easy to clean, and holds up great to washings, just like all of my other MAC brushes. Overall it's a great purchase, and I'd consider purchasing multiples for detailing shadow, etc.

I'm not a fan of Mac brushes. I prefer Laura Mercier brushes as they are consistently of good quality. This Mac brush actually surprised me as the quality is somewhat amazing. The design is great. Exactly what I was looking for. I used this to apply paint pot bare study in the inner corner of my eyes and my brow bone. This brush allows me to precisely put the product where I want and then blend for a natural look. LOVE THIS!

I have nearly all of the MAC brushes for eyes & I can say that this is the most versitile brush. It lines my eyes & I also use it for my brows.The tip are the white bristles aswell so it's soft on your skin & doesn't pull. continued >>

I have to echo most of the reviews below and say that this is an amazingly versatile brush. I use it mostly for lining my lower lashline with shadow, and highlighting the inner corners of my eyes. I used to use the 219 for this, but now I much prefer the 231. I haven't tried it with cream liners because I love the Lise Watier brush I use for that, but I can imagine that the 231 would work really well because it's super thin and the perfect balance of stiffness and softness. This also works well for detailed shadow work, and for concealer. I'm pretty sure everyone could find a use for this brush. A word of caution though - it really is tiny. I bought it sight unseen, and I was expecting something just a bit bigger.

I bought this brush for my eyes and I HATED it! It's too small and awkward. I mainly used it for the innereye and maybe if it were lucky, under my bottem lashes.
However, being brave like I am, I tried it when applying studio fix concealer to a scar I have. I LOVE IT and that's that.
The controll and precision is amazing. You can build up, or pat just a bit of the product on! You waste nothing. It's so simple it should be illegal!

This is by far one of the worst brushes I have ever tried. I was so excited to get this brush, I admit it was an impulse buy- but hey, some of those tend to work out well. When I first received it I put it right into my brush roll, I kept it there for a few days since I had a cold and wasn't putting any makeup on. A few days later, I took it out- the 3 had already smudged making it look like a 2 which was surprising. I then began using it, I only used it twice and knew it was just not going to work. Firstly for lining my upper lashline it was just awful- it poked my eye and didn't apply color evenly. I then tried it on my lower lashline, again it hurt my skin and applied the color horribly. For crease cutting, this brush was just a joke. I was not at all impressed with this brush in the least. I am swapping it away, and hoping that if I ever to buy another MAC brush again- it does what it claims to do, I have POSH brushes that cost me $4 for a travel set that worked better then this.

This is a seriously underhyped brush. More people should use this and rave about it. I was recommended this by a lovely MUAer when I was just getting into make up and eyeliner with a gel liner.
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Product:
It is called the small shader brush by MAC. It is a stiff, flat tipped, paddle shaped brush made from synthetic fibers. It is really not for just shadows, it is very multipurpose and is one of my HG brushes.
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Uses:
1. Eyelining:
I use this mostly for lining my eyes. Its flat tip ends up very thing, so you can easily draw a thin line with this brush. It has a rounded head, so I'm thinking it is better than normal flat square headed lining brushes because you don't have to deal with the corners as much. This makes it THE BEST for lining the upper waterline (which is what I *always* do) and nice for tightlinging (I'm not sure if it is the best at it). Also, it is definitely not hard to create a winged look with this because you can easily make the thin tip you need on your wing.
2. Lips: Some youtube gurus hail this as the ultimate brush for lips, even better than normal lip brushes. It's dense bristles and fine tip makes it easy to create a precise line on your lips. However, it may not be the best for packing on color because it is dense so it may be a little hard to work with when layering lip products on thickly.
3. Blending creams, gels, paint pots and greasepaints:
Because it is a dense brush, it is also good a blending out thicker, sticker cream substances. It works fine to smudge or spread out my liners, especially greasepaints, although its denseness and small head makes it hard to perfectly and smoothly blend out everything.
4. Shadow/Pigments/Solar Bits:
It can definitely be use to pack color on the eyes because of it's dense head. Which also makes it great for putting light shadows, creams, or liners on the tear duct. Used flat, it can also apply shadow to the lower lid. Its dense and strong brush can easily smoosh the balls of pigments in Solar Bits and pack them on with minimal fallout.
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Price:
It costs $17.50US, so it is not an expensive brush at all. Since it is so multipurpose, one can even consider getting multiples of this. It's value is definitely good!
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Packaging:
It comes in that flimsy plastic bag every MAC crush comes in. I really wish this brush had a hard pencil cap like cover so it can be more portable. MAC, if you are reading this, how about a retractable one? I would totally fall head over heels for it!
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Conclusion:
This is one of my HG brushes, I cannot think of living a day of applying eye makeup without it. It is indispensable. I wish it was more portable, so I took a lippy off for that. Other than that, absolutely no complaints! Everyone should have one in their stash!

Probably one of MAC's most overlooked brushes. I love it for powder and cream eyeshadow--packs on colour really well. It has a very small bundle of synthetic fibres and is very flat and has a great tip--great for precision.

I have heard this brush is expensive for the size.
Like good perfumes, you do not judge a brush quality for it's size or cost, but for it's function. Does it transform you? Does it make you feel like you can leap over buildings? .. lol.
This little one is perfect for using that paint pot and winging out eyeshadow,for the tear duct application of highliter, for applying the lower lid liner, for applying concealer in hard to reach areas or even for applying lipstick. It is a multi tasker brush.. the hairs are tapered and actually have a stippling action when used properly.
love my 131 and already own two!

I have semi-Asian (?) / droopy eyes, with a small space between the lid and brows, and the size of this is just *perfect*. Best multi-tasking eye brush for me! Wiping with tissue paper between colors, I can do:
1) Brows: With a light hand, I can use this with black (!) eyeshadow as a brow filler, and it looks very natural. I've been on the hunt for a good brow color, and have tried so many grays and taupes and they all looked unnatural. But with this brush I can just use plain black.
2) Eyeliner: Dipped in black eyeshadow again, I use this to tightline my upper lashes. Gives a slightly thinner line than the 212. Then with a black-brown eyeshadow, I define the outer 1/3 of my lower lash line. I squiggle and smudge it right over the hairs of my lower lashes, so it's a millimeter or so below the actual waterline, and seems to make my eyes look rounder and bigger. I usually use (and still like using) my Sephora 14 smudge brush or MAC 219 for this purpose, but the 231 also works, though with a cleaner line. I just smudge out with my pinky.
4) With a shimmery light pigment, I highlight from the tear ducts to a little less than 1/3 of the inner corners of the eyes.
5) Lid color: pack on a light champagne color all over the lid. Slightly darker color on the outer thirds (almost half) of the lid.
6) Crease: I can very lightly draw/dab on a soft brown or taupe crease color on, and blend it out.
7) Outer V: I usually only do the lower part of the V, like a thick winged liner. Then w/o redipping, I just take the color slightly up into the crease.
8) Brow highlight: perfect size. I use a matte ivory color.

Sorry that was long, but yeah, I used to think the 239 (or 217 for others) was multi-purpose enough, but it can't tightline or fill in brows, and that's what puts the 231 a step above it. =) I still love my other brushes, like the 272 and 208, but in a pinch, I can leave the house with only this brush, one dark shadow, one light shadow, and survive.

Amazing little tool here!! I purchased this brush at the CCO and got it for around 13 bucks...to be honest, I didn't intend on buying this brush, I just wanted to buy something and I'm glad that I did!! When I say that this applies fluidline like a dream..it does!! I didn't even like my fluidline until I started using this brush to apply it!! It makes a difference...I've also used this to apply primer/base to my eyes, lip color (gloss and lipstick),winging my gel liner, etc etc etc!! Very multi-purpose and well worth the money!! Good things come in small packages...

Great for small areas (lower lashline) or for making very defined crease-cuts. I also use to assist in smudging liner and a clean one to work feathering out concealer on small blemishes.