MAC • #187 Duo Fiber Face Brush (Stippling, Skunk Brush) • Makeup Brushes

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hannahbanana13 on 6/13/2013 4:06:00 PM more reviews by hannahbanana13

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I love this brush , it works for applying foundation , bronzer and powder ! its multi use and great quality would recommend it !

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ladolcediva on 5/25/2013 11:36:00 PM more reviews by ladolcediva

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Dark, Cool   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Amazing multipurpose brush! I love this tool for applying liquid and cream foundations, as it gives an airbrushed look. It's also great for applying highly pigmented products. I highly recommend this brush!

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longzi on 5/25/2013 11:29:00 PM more reviews by longzi

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Love this brush.

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Dc8420 on 5/14/2013 9:16:00 PM more reviews by Dc8420

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Life changing brush. I use this to apply my mac studio fix fluid foundation and it gives a flawless look and i think it makes my pores appear smaller

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queenbee on 5/6/2013 9:06:00 PM more reviews by queenbee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Absolutely love this brush! Its one of the bestest brushes I've ever purchased. I use everyday, for my foundation - its great for applying liquid foundation such as Mac Studio Fix Fluid, makes application quick and does not make foundation look cakey and it has that airbrush finish to it. I actually prefer this instead of a foundation brush as it does not require much effort to blend. The brush is expensive however, if taken care of properly can last several years - I've had mine since 2009, I still use it and its now 2013! A great buy as it can be used on other things such as applying blushers or even loose powders.

The only downside of the brush is a slight shedding but I guess that is something that happens with make up brushes. I highly recommend this brush specially for beginners!

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xjayle on 4/22/2013 5:08:00 PM more reviews by xjayle

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Gives flawless application. Only if clean & dry. If the brush is already used, it will look streaky. It's a huge hassle cleaning it every night & here's a problem you've heard definitely more than once about this brush, it sheds like #%*#$@ crazy. People suggested that washing the brush would help prevent the shedding but it doesn't help at all. I don't recommend getting this brush. Especially at the price it's at..

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*TOP REVIEWER* Alexandra123Y on 4/18/2013 4:49:00 AM more reviews by Alexandra123Y

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

It is a great brush for applying liquid and powder foundations, especially if you are aiming for a light coverage. As the bristles are quite long and not so dense it makes it easy to control the amount of product you use.
What I like about this brush is that it doesn't pride a lot of coverage which I am not e fan of, especially on a daily basis. My foundations are weightless liquid ones (MAC Face & Body, MUFE Face & Body). So first I get some product onto my hand then dip the brush in and dot the foundation all over, then I work it thoroughly with 187 and get an airbrushed finish.
The can also be used for applying cream blushes unless you have very small cheek area.
I didn't have shedding issues. Will serve you a long time.

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bee95x on 4/15/2013 11:53:00 AM more reviews by bee95x

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I've always heard that M.A.C has fantastic brushes. However, after purchasing this brush (which happened to be my first M.A.C brush) I am quite disappointed.

The bristles come off! The application no doubt is amazing, definitely creates that "airbrushed" effect. Nonetheless, the process of removing the brush hairs from my face after applying is annoying! Such a well reputed company should surely not be having the same problems as that of brushes by some such as E.L.F (given their price range it is partially acceptable). This brush was expensive ... I really think I could have invested the money on something better.

It's not like I'll stop using the brush, but I am quite disappointed. In addition, the foundation stain on the white portion of the brush does not go away after several washes. :/

Quite a long post. Hope it helps though! (:

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FlyLikeAG6 on 4/7/2013 11:10:00 PM more reviews by FlyLikeAG6

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

The big, bad 187 brush from MAC! I finally caved after several years and spent the $42.00 to see what all the fuss was about. While you're at the MAC counter you get to hold this lovely, well-crafted brush with luxurious hairs. The MAC artist even applies foundation on you and it looks flawless. "I MUST HAVE THIS BRUSH," you think to yourself. Then you get home and use it for the first time and get stuck picking 10 black hairs off your face!!! I've been using this brush 3-4 times a week for three months and I'm still picking at least three brush hairs off my face after each use. I clean my brushes daily with Sephora's spray cleaner and shampoo them weekly with baby shampoo. So three months = roughly 12 shampooings, and there's still shedding. In fact, this is the only brush that I own that sheds.


For comparison, before splurging on the 187, I had the ELF Studio Stipple Brush ($3.00!!!). While the 187 is much denser and applies foundation so much better, the ELF Studio Stipple DOES NOT SHED AT ALL, probably because it is completely synthetic.


Something else that irks me is that the white synthetic hairs of the 187 never become white again. You can shampoo it two or three times, it just won't happen. The ELF Studio Stipple washes beautifully and looks unused after being shampooed. I know it isn't a quality brush, but c'mon. If ELF can get a $3.00 brush to come out looking clean, why can't MAC?!?


As for foundation application, there's a learning curve for anyone who previously used sponges or a traditional foundation brush for liquid foundations. Just remember that with the 187, a little foundation goes a long way. If you use Studio Fix or ColorStay, only get color on a few tips of the white hairs and start stippling quickly, and work in small areas. Dabbing the brush in product and smearing it on your face is not going to work! I like this brush because it allows me to only use a tiny bit of foundation to get great coverage (which no, the ELF Studio Stipple isn't as great as the MAC 187).


Would I repurchase? Probably not. I'd try any other "skunk" brush before going back to this one if it ever got lost. Hopefully the shedding will eventually stop.

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kaikaii on 4/5/2013 10:49:00 AM more reviews by kaikaii

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this brush a few years back and it is still one of my favs. I have a few other brushes from real techniques & sigma ect but this by far for me gives the most natural finished look. I find alot of other brushes apply a more un-natural & cakey layer of foundation where as this brush blends well & I also find I can use a lot less foundation when applying with this. I do agree though the it is pricey but I cant complain since its done me so well over time :)

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ilovepeterrabbit404 on 4/5/2013 7:12:00 AM more reviews by ilovepeterrabbit404

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy   Eyes: Blue    

I use this brush every single day to apply my foundation love it. I take forever doing my make up and find it difficult to get an even layer without patches , this brush makes application so fast and easy. It gives a natural look , doesn't look too heavy but gives that airbrushed finish.Still I wouldn't dare purchase this from MAC , I think anyone who spends that much money on one make up brush is crazy. No offence:)x

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*TOP REVIEWER* FaceofMaleah on 4/3/2013 12:36:00 AM more reviews by FaceofMaleah

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I bought this brush a week ago and so far it seems to be serving me well. I was kind of surprised at how expensive this brush worked out to be ($57 including tax) so I kept the receipt in case there is anything at all with the brush that I am displeased with. I use this brush to apply foundation since I am always hearing about what an airbrushed finish stippling brushes give you and so I wanted to try it out. The first few times I used it I would dip my brush in the foundation on the back of my hand and apply it to my face from there but I found that it made the foundation too full coverage for my liking so now I sloppily apply the foundation to my face with my fingers first and then do the final blending with the brush. I was kind of surprised at how flimsy the brush was, I was expecting it to be more dense and sturdy but it is definitely neither of those! Two things I am kind of unimpressed at right now is that it seems to be shedding and I have washed the brush twice since buying it and both times, black dye has run from the bristles. While I don't enjoy that I am trying to relate it to when you bring a paintbrush home and need to use it a few times first before it stops shedding and leaking dye but I really don't like taking a brush home and having it do that for $57. I will update if I return this brush but so far it seems to be serving me okay.

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MacMegan33 on 3/13/2013 2:23:00 AM more reviews by MacMegan33

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

This was my first brush I bought, I bought it to set it with my studio fix with the mineralize powder. I absolutely adore this brush it blends powder perfectly, the salesperson recommended this to me and said its better than using a regular powder brush. It's true I was using my cousin make-up once ( I was an emergency, I don't like sharing make-up) and I used her powder brush and it just wasn't the same finish, it made the mineralize powders off all messy on the compact and wasted a lot more product, my mineralize powder and studio fix last over a year....hers months....
I actually was unaware that you could use this for liquid foundation as well, and tried it and the results were AWFUL, for me the brush hairs clumped together and left me STREAKY.
I am usually NW20 in the winter and NW30 in the summer, I only have the NW30, so it could possibly be that I need to use NW20 now since I have moved to a tropical climate and only needed to use NW30 until the pass couple of months,its like my tan faded over night hahaha. I am about to get Colorstay in Buff since I am a little tight on money right now. I will tell you how re-applying with the 187 goes with that. Maybe its the foundation not being the correct shade. But so far I would say I am effy on the results. I prefer to use it for the Mineralize Powder. The 187 and mineralize powder is my HG they work together so well.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Fieeeh on 2/26/2013 3:41:00 PM more reviews by Fieeeh

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Grey    

I love the idea of this brush, but I just never reach for it. I think it's too big for foundation, I like the 131 and 130 brushes much much better.
It's nice to lightly dust on powder though, but I think it's expensive for a brush for that purpose only. So it's mostly just sitting looking pretty in my brush holder :)

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galsunday on 2/24/2013 5:13:00 AM more reviews by galsunday

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is the perfect brush if you are always on the go... This was designed for backstage rush in mind...Just pour some foundation and swirl the brush in a circular motion on the color and apply. Its so easy. The bristles are so soft yet firm enough to pick up color.... Mine does not shed. It is expensive but consider this an investment. It lasts. You do need to wash often due to build up other than that this is a great buy.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Hawko on 2/23/2013 10:38:00 AM more reviews by Hawko

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I had this brush for at least 3-4 years, at the time it was the best of its kind, even at that ridiculous price. Now, with the Real Technique stippling (pink handle) brush. All my Mac's crap are in retirement, they are cheaply (poorly) made, but not the price.

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Karolyte on 2/15/2013 11:44:00 AM more reviews by Karolyte

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

First I would like to note that I am reviewing 187se brush. I like this brush a lot since it gives me this airbrushed look when using liquid foundation. It does not leave any streaks and applies the product very well, giving a decent coverage and not looking mask like at all. My only problem is that this brush sheds :( if not for that I would give is brush a 5/5 but for now it has to be 4/5. Do not get me wrong I still like it a lot and would buy it again because it does it's job very well and I do not mind picking one or two bristles of my face once I'm done :)

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KaiJones on 2/9/2013 12:26:00 AM more reviews by KaiJones

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I do NOT use this brush to apply any foundation whatsoever. I never even looked at this brush as a foundation applicator. I use this brush with my mineral setting powder from MAC and its like magic. For light mineral powders, this brush carries the powder right into your skin as it should and leaves your skin with the right finish. It is a reliable brush for finishing. I have not and will not use it as a foundation applicator, powder or otherwise.

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hii on 1/22/2013 5:17:00 PM more reviews by hii

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

First I would like to make it known that this is a review for the SE 187, the ones that come in the set around chrismas time. Yes I am aware the SE is of slightly lesser quality than the real one. However, this brush works perfectly fine for what I use it for. It has never shed on me, it washes well and it applies setting powder well (what I use is for mostly). I believe the bristles of the SE are looser and less dense than the original, which is why I wouldnt feel comfortable using it with anything except powder products. I fear it would be too hard to blend a liquid or cream with this. It applies a thin layer of setting powder beautifully and I have no problems with this brush. Yes of course I wish I had the real one, but I am not willing to spend $42 on it when this one works fine.

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isabellahanley on 1/15/2013 5:47:00 AM more reviews by isabellahanley

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I love this brush! It's my absolute staple face brush. It distributes liquid foundation flawlessly and uniformly every time. It blends my face products perfectly. I have a slight problem with shedding but apart from that, it's my perfect brush!

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