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MAC 217 Blending Brush Photos & Review

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Beauty Basics: MAC Eye Brushes

Beauty Basics is a series covering basic products and tools that help to make applying your makeup easier. To view the entire series to date, be sure to visit the beauty basics, or you can view posts within the series about MAC Eye Brushes.

Focus On: MAC 217 Blending Brush

MAC 217 Blending Brush ($22.50) is one of the most popular brushes sold by MAC. It probably has something to do with making blending way easier. I managed to get along without it for years, but it’s definitely one of those brushes that once you have in your arsenal, you can’t figure out how you lived without it! Ultra soft, just a touch fluffy, but very dense, this brush does a great job of blending harsh lines of color into soft, fading gradients. It can also be used to apply creamier, more emollient products, because of its density.

How do you like to use this brush?

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I will be purchasing this brush today? What is the F&F sale?

Yay! You'll love it. F&F is Friends & Family sale, which I believe was 20 or 25% off this year, but it's over with.

I am so excited!!! Im getting this brush as soon as I get some free time to go to a MAC store. I've been hearing so much about it I can't wait!!!!!!!!!! :D Btw I love the MAC brushes' series! Informative and very useful :D

Ooh!! I hope you enjoy it, Nessa!!

I absolutely love this brush! :D

Yayy! Seems like this is a popular one!

Possibly their best eye brush, but I also use it as a multi-use. I can't live without it and it is just so soft compared to the other blending brushes. This is so much better than the 224 and I regret even buying the 224 before this one and everyone's makeup I do all agree that the 217 is much easier to work with since I tested both brushes on two different eyes.

I might have to get a second one, just so I have one for powder and one for creams!

I am so annoyed at myself! I've been following this series and making notes. I intended to buy this brush during the sale. I waited till the last day. I was interrupted by life and some stomach problems yesterday. I fell asleep on the couch watching TV. I woke up at 1:45AM! I missed the whole sale and now I feel sicker because of it! I hope they'll have another sale sometime soon. I only started buying Mac last year. So I'm still sort of virginal, we'll newly loved anyway. I won't procrastinate again.

Oh no! That is too bad, Lucy! Hopefully they'll have another sale sooner than you know it!

How does this brush compare to the 224?

Different shape, fluffier!

I hated this brush. It was very scratchy.

Really? It is ridiculously soft to me. I wonder if you got a bad one!

i love this brush for everything! blending, crease, and even concealer =] amazing and absolutely worth it.

Another wonderful brush. I have it from a brush set, but I just ordered a full size one during the sale.

this is my main eye brush. i love this i have 7. i do simple eye makeup, i don't really pack a lot of color but i do lots of blending. i also use this for my concealer so honestly, i can't have too many of this brush and it's so soft, my skin is so sensitive to pokey brushes.

OMG, seven! That's insane! I envy you ;)

I agree with you, once you've used this particular brush, you'll ask yourself "what would I do without you??? <3" haha. I have several of these, I mean maybe 5+. They're great for concealers, paint pots, paints, eyeshadows, etc :)

Christine, thanks for creating yet another great series about MAC! i loved the must-have colors series, and this is just as useful - those tiny pictures and bare bones descriptions on the mac website just dont cut it, especially when compared to your reviews and detailed photos, which are really helpful! they make trying to find products a lot easier, thanks so much!

No problem, Ali! :) Happy to help!

This is such a great series! Kudos to you, Christine. :] I am really enjoying reading OP thoughts/uses for their brushes. It can only enhance my technique and reinforce the fact that these brushes are a true investment! Keep your thoughts coming...

Thanks, Jen! I am happy to hear you're enjoying this series :D

I have never used this one but I have the 226 (which I think is LE) and am totally obsessed with it.

I adore the 226, too! I am going to get at least one more, maybe two!

I love this brush, it's definitely a must have! I use it mostly for blending. Mine comes from one of the holidays brush set and it is great quality, (because I've heard sometimes the small one are not the same quality as the real size ones).

Nice! I'm glad your holiday brush is good!

This brush is definitely still on my 'to buy' list :)

What else is on your to-buy list? ;)

This brush is love. The price is reasonable and an awesome investment.

Agreed! Price isn't too bad at all!

this is hands down my favorite eye brush. i just ordered another one from the F&F sale because i felt bad that i've been using the same one every day for the last 4 years (heheh) don't worry, i take great care of it as if it were my child :-P

Haha! Nice -- good time to score a second one, too!

I plan on getting this brush very soon.

Awesome to hear, Melissa!

Christine, this is my 2nd MAC brush first is MAC's 187 and this is the 2nd and I LOVE THIS!!!!

I head someone say that when they use this brush they hear angels singing - HAHAHA It's that good - but I wish it had dark brissels because white brissels stain so fast and it's hard to get it out so I end up cleaning the brush everyday and that can't be good for it.

I actually prefer white bristle, so I can see how much products I am picking up! Do you have cleanse off oil? It gets rid of everything

I don't - what kind do you use?

Haha, that's me, too ;)

By the way, what do you clean it with?

I agree. I don't know how I lived without this brush for so long. I'm so happy I have it now! It's absolutely LOVE!

So glad you're lovin' it, Naomi!