I went in to MAC to replace my #150 powder brush and decided to try this one instead. It is now a firm favourite. It's considerably smaller than 150, but the size of this one gives me more control and lets me pat powder on much more firmly, helping to eliminate the powdery/chalky look. Previously I would run a powder puff over my face after applying powder with a brush to achieve this same result. I've noticed a big difference in particular with Studio Fix which always left a powdery residue on my face. Using 129 has taken this step out of my routine. It also glides over the face very nicely - the length of the bristles and size of the head are perfect. Not really good for the decolletage, but I have my 150 for this. I haven't used it for blush, but believe it would work reasonably well. NARS #6 is my HG for blush, so I use 129 for pressed powder only. Agree with a reviewer below that it is too dense for loose powder, unless you're using it to dust the powder very lightly over the face.

To my disappointment, it has been shedding quite a bit - maybe 5-10 hairs every time I use it. For that, I take off one lipstick, otherwise I would have rated it 5 without hesitation. I'm hoping that this will abate once I have used it for a few more weeks and given it a few washes...

This isnt a bad brush. I just cant justify spending $70AUD on something that isnt amazing. Its a good powder brush, but i always kind of think i could have gotten a nice powder brush cheaper...
oh well now that i have it i appreciate it!
but i do find it a bit large to do blush unless im careful.

A MAC artist recommended this brush to me and I originally thought it was too small since I've always used a big oversized blush brush. But this brush is great! It gives me cheek color exactly where I want it and it's so incredibly soft on my skin. It also deposits product very pigmented. With my previous blush brush, the product came out dull and flat. With this brush, the product looks just like it does in the pan. It's really nice to now be able to do a light pink cheek or a darker more bronzed cheek and actually SEE the color. Great tool.

i made my bf buy this for me this xmas...but using this early :) lol.....i barely tap this to my blush and it picks up product soo easily.....very soft...not scratchy...my blush does not look overdone....love it!!!

Loves this brush, the besh blush brush I have used, nice and soft, distributes just the right amount of blusher and does not shed. Would buy again. Edit I have just taken a star off this as it keeps shedding, not much just a hair every time I apply blush.

This brush is awesome. The price is definately intimidating but It is totally worth the money. I was iffy about it because I had never used such a long blush brush but the MAC artist convinced me to give it a try and its wonderful. Not an ounce of buyers remorse! This is a MUST own for all gals, not just hardcore makeup lovers!

The most versatile thing in my makeup bag, this brush does powder and blush with equal oomph.

For powder its really pretty good at making sure you dont look cakey (god forbid!)

But blush is where I love it the most. Just the right size for some primo cheekbone action, Ive tried using my fingers to apply blush, but I always resort back to the brush.

I got this as a gift and at $34 its a steal as a 2-in-1 brush. Be sure to pick up some of that dirt cheap Sephora brush cleaner though, a lot cheaper and better than MACs.

The 129 is a great dense blush brush. Picks up a lot of pigment and spreads evenly on my cheeks. I previously used the TBS Blush Brush but it didn't pick up enough pigment and I had to dip my brush into the pan many times, however with the 129 I don't. However, Just one swipe and it's spread nicely on my cheek.


It's not as soft as the TBS Blush Brush. Or the kabuki 182 and Lumiere Kabuki. But, it doesn't irritate my skin as much as the TBS Blush Brush. How? Because with the TBS Blush Brush, it doesn't spread evenly and I have to go over my skin many times to fix it - which irritates my skin! With the 129, I just spread lightly over my cheek and it's done. So while I was afraid it would irritate me as it wasn't as soft, it doesn't. Much much quicker this way too and you don't lose a lot of your product.


I've only used this three times and with those three times, I've lost a hair each. So it does shed a bit and I wonder how long it will last... So I would say it's expensive if it continues to shed this way or if it just sheds at the beginning. I will see how I go, but for now I believe I would buy this again if I need to.

MAC's 29 is my first MAC brush. I bought it a little more than a year ago and have been using it regularly.
I use it to apply blush. Not very pigmented blushes as I prefer to apply those with a skunk brush but all the others (powder blushes of course).

I am extremely happy with the brush except for one thing - it sheds. Because of that reason I am not 100% sure that I will repurchase. I will explore other options first.


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I had really bad luck with this brush and ended up returning it. For the first month, it shed like crazy. Eventually that eased up, but then the bristles became brittle and began breaking off. Every time I applied blush, I'd have little pieces of the brush stuck to my face! I am very careful with my brushes and wash them all with baby shampoo and NONE of my other MAC brushes have shown wear so quickly. Luckily the Nordstrom store by me let me exchange the brush for a different style.