this is a great brush for use with loose or pressed powder. I bought it to go with Studio Gear's pressed powder, but I've tried it with mineral makeup and bronzers and it works great with them as well. It's really well-made, with natural bristles and a wooden handle. I've had it for many months and it has never "shed" or matted down. It applies powder and mineral makeup very smoothly, without the cakey mask look. It is more expensive than your average brush, but a good quality brush can last many, many years. This is definitely a good quality brush.