Skip navigation

End-of-Season Clearance: up to 50% off summer styles from your favorite brands. Sale

Main content
  1. Home
(34)34

MAC 242 Shader Brush

MAC Cosmetics

Sold Out

SOLD OUT

This item is no longer available. Browse our recommendations for something similar.

Details & care

The 242 Shader Brush is ideal for the application of powder- or emollient-based products. Its firm fibers are carefully shaped to form a rounded edge for a smooth, even finish. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.

  • By M·A·C.
  • Item #10868U
  • Core Product ID 333333WGDL

Shipping & returns

Free shipping. Free returns. All the time. Purchases made online can also be returned or exchanged at any Nordstrom store, free of charge. Read more about our shipping & returns policies.

Gift options

Choose your gift options at Checkout. Some items may not be eligible for all gift options
Need help finding the perfect gift? We've got you covered.
Shop Gifts

MAC Cosmetics

All Ages, All Races, All Genders. Every individual has the desire and ability to define beauty for themselves—with a little help from MAC. With easy-to-use products and trends directly from MAC artists behind the runways and on-set around the world, it's everything a makeup addict can't live without. After March 31, 2023, MAC will discontinue the free product incentive (though you can continue to bring in your empties!) as part of the program's evolution to have greater action and impact for change. More news on this soon!

Reviews

(34)344.8 out of 5
Write a Review

Most helpful positive review

June 24, 2015

Fantastic Brush!

This brush is wonderful. I have several eye shadow shader brushes but this one beats them all at applying strongly pigmented shadows and pigments. If you are looking for a brush to really pack on a pigment, this is the one to go to! Since it is synthetic, it picks up the maximum amount of product while preventing messy fallout. My only concern is that my brush came with the hairs bent and out of shape due to the packaging it shipped in. To prevent this, I would suggest buying the brush in-store. However, the brush hairs have begun to straighten out with some use and work fine.
Bakersc
1found this helpful

Most helpful critical review

Dec 15, 2023

not the same as the natural brushes

While this brush may work well, it's not the same as the natural brush and I don't get the same nice line as I do with those older brushes. This one is fluffier and a little bigger... hoping I can find another one that works as well as the previous ones!
MAC Obsessed

Customer photos

Add your photo & review

Share your photo to help other shoppers.

5 stars82%
4 stars15%
3 stars3%
2 stars0%
1 star0%
July 24, 2015

242 Brush

I agree with other people that this brush works better for pigments; I did not like to for applying my regular Mac eyeshadows or even my paint pot. It was too soft so I prefer a stiffer but still soft brush like the 239 or 213, and the 252 for paint pots.
tmt007
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
1found this helpful
June 24, 2015

Fantastic Brush!

This brush is wonderful. I have several eye shadow shader brushes but this one beats them all at applying strongly pigmented shadows and pigments. If you are looking for a brush to really pack on a pigment, this is the one to go to! Since it is synthetic, it picks up the maximum amount of product while preventing messy fallout. My only concern is that my brush came with the hairs bent and out of shape due to the packaging it shipped in. To prevent this, I would suggest buying the brush in-store. However, the brush hairs have begun to straighten out with some use and work fine.
Bakersc
1found this helpful
Jan 3, 2015

Great for pigments especially

This is one of my essential makeup brushes! I love using it to put pigment or glitter on the lid. Other brands have similar brushes, but nothing compares to MAC quality. I've had some of my other brushes by MAC for 6+ years washing them about 3 times a week. I highly recommend this brush.
newapril3
1found this helpful
Dec 15, 2023

not the same as the natural brushes

While this brush may work well, it's not the same as the natural brush and I don't get the same nice line as I do with those older brushes. This one is fluffier and a little bigger... hoping I can find another one that works as well as the previous ones!
MAC Obsessed
Mar 27, 2021

Pleasantly Surprised

My original 252 brush has served me well for YEARS but was in need of replacement. I decided to give this 242 a try. Viewing online, makes it difficult to gauge the true size, however I knew it was smaller than my 252. I was concerned it would take more time than I wanted to devote covering my larger lid space. I was wrong. It picks up product well, whether it's shadow or pigment and applies it in a quick and easy fashion. Love this 242 brush!
KeepinitReal
Feb 5, 2021

Best brush for concealer used with brow makeup.

Best brush used with concealer, when doing brow makeup.
Marz