I can’t believe I haven’t unsung the heroic MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush yet!
Weird! — considering how much I love it. I’m even thinking about getting a second one to go with the first. That way, I could reserve one for powders and one for creams.
Heck, while I’m at it, might as well get a third (strictly for blending, of course).
No, no, I guess one is enough… It’s just a brush, after all.
Or is it? 🙂
A medium-sized flat eyeshadow brush with gloriously soft goat hair fibers packed into a firm, dense head with a rounded shape, the $25 MAC 239 is capable of a multitude of makeup tasks, from applying and blending eyeshadows (loose and pressed powders, and creams), to highlighting beneath my brows, lining my eyes and adding color into the outer V and inner corners.
I have a handful of brushes from other brands that by all appearances, look like the MAC 239, but that’s where the similarities end.
The size of the 239’s brush head is like my favorite part of the Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, juuuust right. Not too big, not too small. It covers a fairly wide area on my lid, and yet is small enough to fit into the inner and outer corners of my eyes, and directly below my lashes.
It’s like getting a bunch of different brushes in one!
The firm, yet splendidly soft bristles pick up lots of product, too, and more importantly, deposit it evenly. As firm as it is, this bad boy never feels scratchy against my skin.
Oh, and did I mention that it’s also a breeze to clean and hardly ever sheds? 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Phloof Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Crème in Your Coffee Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
Haha I think it’s something that everyone should have in their stash! My favorite eyeshadow brush remains MAC 217. My eyes are a bit too small for 239 to do so much, so I only use it to lay down colors 🙂
At first, I didn’t understand what all the hype was about. It looks just like any other eyeshadow brush, but it’s NOT!!! I bought the MAC 239 a few years ago and have no complaints about it at all, except that I just wished I bought it sooner! It’s super dense, firm, soft and perfect for packing color onto my lids. I love the control that I get with this brush. It’s also thin enough for applying eyeshadow on my lower lash line.
I smiled when I saw this post! The 239, to me, is the perfect eyeshadow brush. You can use it on the lid, in the crease, under-eye, browbone, as a blending brush… I absolutely love it. I have 2, and honestly want a third one! It’s by far my favorite makeup brush, and one of my best cosmetic purchases of all time.
Whew… got a little emotional there 😀
I need to get some new eyeshadow brushes, I have to check this one. I remember once I had a makeover at a MAC counter, and the artist told me it was her favorite brush!
This is one of my favorite eyeshadow brushes too. It deserves love X 239! *lame*
I completely agree. I have two of these and use them every day.
I bought the #109 brush semi-recently and returned it almost immediately–it was so hard and scratchy, it made me wonder what all the fuss was about with MAC brushes? My Sonia Kashuk ones are so much softer…but maybe I didn’t choose the right brush? I will check this one out this weekend
Your MAC Unsung Heroes posts always make me want to go buy something!!! This is no exception – looks like a great brush!
I’ve been on the fence for about 3 years now on whether to buy it or not. I just feel like it’s a regular brush to pack on color, and I’ve got load of those but then everyone raves about it, and I wonder if I’m missing something!
I have one, and sadly I don’t like it too much. It’s scratchy compared to my Bobbi Brown eye shader brush.
I have 5 of this amazing brush so you buying a second one I think is absolutely not too much! He he 🙂 xx
Hi Karen! Love your blog 🙂 Hey question, I only have SE mini MAC brushes, if I were to buy one full size eye brush would this be the one you would suggest? Thanks!! 🙂
I absolutely adore this brush! It’s so wonderful for multiple things. I’ve had plenty of brushes LIKE it, but nothing that even compares! So soft too
Yay! So glad that you shone the spotlight on this brush. It’s my favourite eye-shadow brush because the size and shape is perfect. The only downside is the high price tag, but other than that, it really is as wonderful as you say it is! 🙂
Been thinking about buying more of these ever since I bought it. You can never have too many eye-shadow brushes. 😉
I love this brush too. And it dries in just a couple of hours after washing it.
Hi Karen,
I’m still struggling whether or not MAC brushes are worth the money. I bought the 182 on your recommendation for over $50. I’m willing to spend on something I use often and that will hopefully last a long time. After a few washings I’m noticing some light shedding. It’s making me worried that I made a mistake buying a MAC brush. At this point I’m not sure if I want to pay the high price for something that is going to shed as much or more than cheaper brushes.
This is my favorite MAC brush. Hands down. If you were to only buy one MAC brush, this should be the one you purchase. It’s firm but not scratchy. It’s the perfect size.
I’ve had mine for just over a year and its never shed a single hair. I’m going to buy a second brush. I’m honestly surprised you haven’t bought a second by now.
I like the 239 well enough, but its not my fave-est brush. That honor goes to the 217, still! Forever and ever, at that!