MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush & 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush (Alluring Aquatic) Reviews & Photos
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush ($35.00) is a medium-sized, tapered, slightly flattened, blush brush. The brush head has a length of just shy of 1.5 inches / 3.5 centimeters, width of 1.5 inches / 3.5 centimeters, and thickness of 0.5 inches / almost 2 centimeters. It has a total length of 6.75 inches / just over 17 centimeters. The ferrule is pinched and metallic teal, while the handle is more of a satin-finished teal and made in China. It’s designed for “light pickup and sheer wash of powders, bronzers, highlighters, and blush.” It is a combination of synthetic and natural fibers, though there seem to be 60-70% of natural fibers. The brush is moderately soft, with the synthetic side feeling slightly softer. I had minor shedding after the first two washes, but I didn’t notice shedding after that. You’ll get less color applied if you use the synthetic side compared to the natural fiber side. The size lends itself best to blush/bronzer application, though angled/positioned just so, it could certainly apply highlighter as well.
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush ($25.00) is a small, almost square-shaped (there’s a very slight dome to it) brush with a blend of synthetic and natural fibers. The brush head is 10mm in length, 10mm in width, and 4mm in thickness. It had a total length of 6.75 inches / just under 17 centimeters. It has a pinched, metallic teal ferrule with a satiny teal handle and is made in China. MAC says it’s for applying eyeshadow on the lid, and that you can get either “soft and diffused” or “sheer and polished” results (which don’t sound that different to me). Both sides felt soft on the lid, though the synthetic side was slightly softer. Like the face brush, the natural fiber side seems to dominate (so it’s not split down the middle), and it picks up more eyeshadow than the synthetic side, so if you prefer a sheerer look, the synthetic side works well for it. I didn’t have any issues with shedding, dye bleeding, shape retention, etc.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 127 Split Fibre Face Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Brush
Hum they are beautiful. but they don’t look that well made for the price!
I think it might just be the nature of a “split” brush not looking as good as more blended/solid brush, you know? They seem fine to me, no shedding, cut decently, etc.
@CHRISTINE
I’m looking at 2 blush brushes by mac either the 127 split fiber brush or the 129 short handle brush. What do you think?
Well, I hate the 129, so I would never, ever recommend that! So I would go 127 over the 129.
Interesting brushes – I’ve always wondered about these split brushes and how they perform! Still a little pricey for what it is though!
They’re definitely more expensive brushes!
Thanks Christine!! They are gorgeous! Is the 127 very different from 128 split fibre?
The 128 is less tapered, denser!
I have a Japonesque brush that is a split fibre. It’s really cool looking.
How do you like it?
I was pleased to see that the prices were quite fair on these. Not sure how much I love the duo sides though. They seem gimmicky and a tad impractical, im not exactly sure how much the two sides would actually benefit you. I know that Japonesque came out with a similar thing a while ago, amd from what I’ve heared they aren too great.
The prices were surprisingly reasonable! (For MAC, at least!)
Oh! Do you know, I had no idea that anyone made brushes with two different sites! :-O Now that I think about it, it makes a lot of sense, I just, never thought about it, LOL! 😀
It totally makes sense, but I don’t know if I like it split or I’d rather have two separate brushes, lol!
I keep forgetting about the brushes! I love my 128 so I know it’ll be hard to resist the 127. Especially with that teal handle lol. It’s just so pretty!
Do you use the 128 with any particular formulas or just anything goes?
I love my 128 also. I’m almost tempted to get the 127 but I might pass on it. I use mine now for applying MUFE HD Cream Blushes and the few MAC ED blushes that I have.
They look cool but they’d be a waste of money for me! Pass 😀
Phew!
These are really intriguing. It’s a neat concept to have two different types of brushes in one, I could see them being handy for travel as it’s, in theory, 2-in-1. Hmmm.
It’s an interesting idea, but I wonder if people really want a two in one kind of brush…
this will belong to me in the very near future omg i love them
Enjoy ’em, Kristin!
Do you know if MAC’s brushes are cruelty-free?
I believe MAC sells in China, which is usually the end of the line of questioning, though in the past, I know they have always said they obtain their natural hair for brushes in a “cruelty-free” fashion.
I remember when they did these split brushes a few years back. I feel pretty much the same about them now as I did then. I think they look cool but I’m not sure how much I’d actually use both sides in one sitting. I think they could be convenient for travel or for someone who wants to keep a really minimal collection but still have multiple application options
I’m curious to hear from anyone who’s readily adopted these types of brushes in their routine!
Lovely. I agree that the split fibre brushes are alluring! 🙂
Do you have any split brushes?
Eh…they look cool, but don’t seem like they work any better than brushes that are just synthetic or animal. Like they’re gimmicky.
I think it’s more that you get a 2-in-1 kind of application, so it may eliminate the need for two separate brushes. I don’t know that I’d use it often myself, though.
The brushes looks pretty decent..:-)
They were good from what I could tell! (Obviously, no long term testing!)
Those brushes look amazing! What a fun color. MAC brushes are my favorite.
I love some of MAC’s brushes, too!
So oretty, but gonna skip. ::Wallet sighs::
I meant, pretty! 😛
You can resist 😀
Christine, is the 127 similar to the 128 that MAC released with punk couture? I love that brush!
The 128 is less tapered, denser!
I think the only thing I’ll buy from this collection is the split face brush. I am on the hunt for my HG blush brush, I am so darn picky when it comes to face brushes.
I’m glad these don’t have the “droplets” on these, it looks okay on the makeup packages but I think it would cheapen these and make them look weird.
I’m glad these will work for you, Sophie!
I just bought the split brush hours ago to complement aphrodite’s shell bronzer because i’ve been told that the light colored part is for a more shimmery effect and the dark brush side is for a more matte finish…. did i just get conned? lol.. this is the first time i bought a product without reading your review! Never again! #lessonlearned
Hey Joyce,
So in general, synthetic brushes will apply powders more sheerly as natural fibers tend to pick up more product, so you’ll get a more pigmented look with the dark side of the brush. You could kind of get a more shimmery effect… kind of? It would ultimately depend on the finish! Like MAC’s Satin blushes can look semi-matte if applied heavily, but the more it is blended out, the more of a sheen you’ll see.
Ohhhhh!!! Now I get it! Thank you so much for your detailed explanation!!!
How do you think the 233 would fare as a brow bone highlighting brush? I usually like to use my sigma E70, however I like to try new brushes from time to time! However if it’s only good for applying lid colour I’ll have to skip as i have more than enough other brushes for that purpose lol!
I think it’s almost too large!
Christine, do you think I could use this brush for applying finishing powder all over the face?
I think it’s a bit small!
Christine, do you think the 127 brush could be used also for foundation? (the synthetic side, I guess). If not, can you recommend a brush that can be used for face in general – foundation, powder, blush… A lot to ask, I know, but I’m only starting my brush collection!
MAC 109 is pretty good!
I managed to find the 127 brush today at a MAC counter in Macy’s. Both sides are soft & it looks very well made (like all mac brushes do). I have a few mac brushes I have had for years and still look in great shape, so I think they are well worth the price. I’m just having a bit of buyer’s remorse right now as $35 is a lot for a blush brush.
Aww, I hope you end up falling in love 🙂