Review: Mac 168 Large Angled Contour Brush vs Sonia Kashuk Multi Purpose Brush vs Sephora Professionnel Angled Blush Brush #40

I bought these brushes like 3 months ago and have been constantly testing them out with all different kinds of blushes and bronzers. My least favorite is the Sephora Professionnel Angled Blush Brush #40 because the hairs feel a little rough.

The head of the #40 brush is wider and longer than the Sonia Kashuk Medium Angled Multi Purpose #17 brush and the Mac 168. As for density, the #40 is not as dense as the Sonia Kashuk brush, but it's a little bit denser than the Mac 168. It applies "regular" (not sheer or highly pigmented) blushes evenly. I have been using the #40 brush to apply my Mac Prim & Proper blush and I have had no trouble with blotchiness or blending issues. Even though the Sephora #40 brush does its job well, the bristles irritate my cheeks.

Note: The Sephora #40 brush measures 6 inches in total. The head of the brush is 1.25 inches tall. It costs $28 and can be purchased on their online store.

The head of the Mac 168 Large Angled Contour brush is the narrowest of them all. Even though it's not as dense as the other 2 brushes, the Mac 168 is by no means floppy for blush and bronzer application. However, I do find it too flimsy for contouring. I prefer a firmer and smaller brush, such as the Mac 109, for contouring. I use the Mac 168 mainly to apply my Dior DiorSkin Nude Healthy Glow Powder bronzer.

The bristles are not as soft as the Sonia Kashuk #17, but it's not as prickly as the Sephora #40. The only gripe I have about this brush is that it sheds like 1-2 hairs each time after I wash it. Maybe I got a defective one?

Note: The Mac 168 brush measures 7.25 inches in total. The head of the brush is 1.1 inches tall. It costs $32 and can be purchased at Nordstrom.

The Sonia Kashuk Multi Purpose #17 brush is my favorite brush among the 3 because it's the densest and softest. I had trouble finding the right brush to apply my Too Faced Peach Leopard Bronzer because the product is super sheer. The Sonia Kashuk brush works well with Peach Leopard because the brush is dense enough to pick up the color in the pan. 

However, if you're looking to use the Sonia Kashuk brush for contouring, don't expect much precision because I find it to be a little too wide. Also, when I use it to apply my highly pigmented Burberry Light Glow blush, it ends up looking blotchy. This brush is definitely not intended for applying highly pigmented products because it's simply too dense. It works best with sheer products and for blending out over applied products.

Note: The Sonia Kashuk brush measures 7.10 inches in total . The head of the brush is 1.1 inches tall. It is only available at Target and costs $17.99. (It's kind of pricey for a drugstore brand, but the quality is the best among the 3 brushes.)

Bottom Line: Even though the size of these 3 brushes are different, they all fit on my cheeks just fine. The Sonia Kashuk and Mac brush each serves a different purpose. I recommend purchasing the Sonia Kashuk brush if you are using it to apply super sheer blushes and bronzers. However, if you need a brush for applying "regular" (not sheer or highly pigmented) products, then you should invest in a Mac 168 brush (if you don't mind the shedding).

What angled brushes have you tried?

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