Need recs for MAC eyeshadow brushes + some other stuff

[Purity]

Currently I own 4 eyeshadow brushes: 2 flat ones (one old one from H&M and one from the Japonesque touch up tube), a small, flat smudger brush (also from the Japonesque touch up tube) and one blending/crease brush from Japonesque (seems to be very similar to the MAC #224). I've been starting to invest on MAC brushes just recently and have mostly been focusing on face brushes (I own the #187, #168, #150 and #208) and now I'm moving onto the eye brushes. I did a search on brushes in the recommendations forum and it helped me narrow down my choices a bit, but there are still some question marks that needs to be stretched out. The brushes I'm thinking about getting are:

- #239, for general eye lid application
- #219, for lining under the eye and deepen the crease/outer v
- #227 OR #217, for highlighting the browbone. Which one is the best for this purpose?
- #217 OR #222 OR #224 for blending/crease/outer v. I'm leaning most towards the #217 or #222, since I already have a #224 dupe, and I don't like it. It's to big and not firm enough, I feel that it doesn't give me enough control over what I'm doing.
- #272, for applying colour to the outer corner of the eye. Do I need this, or can I acchieve the same effect with the #239?
- #242, for packing on pigments. Again, do I need this, or is the #239 enough? I rarely use cream shadows and I use my fingers to apply and blend my UDPP.

And some other questions, not having to do with brushes:

- Does MAC have any lip liner that matches 'girl about town' lipstick?
- I'm thinking about buying a neutral coloured lip liner, which one should I get? You can see my natural lip colour in this picture: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../08-04-111.jpg

All comments and tips are appreciated!

 

[Karen_B]

I'd get:
239 - very versatile, good for pigments and shadows alike.
217 - perfect for blending, highlighting the brow, applying e/s in crease and outer v or applying shadow as an all over wash.
219 - great for lining, applying in the outer v, blending precise areas
252 or 227 - works for blending and packing on shadow over entire lid

I don't have the 242 or the 272, so I can't comment on those I'm afraid.
I also have a memory of trying to buy the 222 brush at NK Stockholm and they'd never heard of it, so I don't think it's available in Sweden. Same goes for the 272 I THINK but I am not sure.

 

[Susanne]

I would recommend

239 - for dabbing colour on the lid

217 or 224 - for blending colours in the crease and in the outer V

208 - for applying eyeliner or shadows as a liner

219 - for eyeliner underneath

 

[Mizz.Yasmine]

U may like Cranberry or Magenta lip pencils with ur Girl About Town.

and Subculture would match ur lips perfect for a neutral!

 

[Tinkee-Belle]

I love....
239 for packing on color
219 for crease
242 for paint pots
217 for blending
266 for fluidlines

In my opinion those 5 are a good start!

 

[BrowneyedBeauty]

I have the 222 and I love it! It's great to use for blending and for application in the crease. HTH!

 

[Leilani78]

217- its great for applying e/s and blending and you can even use it to conceal. One time a MAC artist showed me how to use it with a paint pot. She showed me that I could use the paint pot as an eyeshadow wash or as a highlighter using the 217.

 

[FiestyFemme]

For just highlighting the brow, I prefer the 227. I have small eyes and was worried it would be too big, but it's perfect. Because it is big, it also helps me to blend out any harsh lines between my highlight and crease/outer V colors effortlessly. However, since you're debating between this and the 217, I'd say go with the 217 first. It's much more versatile - you can use it for the crease, outer V, highlight, and to blend. Then for blending/crease/outer "V", I love the 222. I just recently got it, and I don't know how I lived without it before! It's so much better than the similar Sonia Kashuk brush I had been using.

272 is great for the crease and outer corners of the eye. I recently got this as well, and it's one of my can't live without brushes too.

Definitely get the 242! I use it for all lid applications, over the 213 or 239. It just works the best for me, really allowing me to pack on as much or as little as I want.

Honestly, I could do my eyes with the 242, 272, 222, and 227.

 

[Purity]

Thanks for all the recs! I think I will start out buying the 239, 217, 219 and 222 (if I can find it in Sweden, that is, otherwise I will have to get it the next time me or someone else goes abroad) and then add on with the 227, 272 and 242. By birthday is coming up in about a month (august 2nd) so these brushes will be on the top of my wish list!

 

[zucker]

my favourite eyebrushes: 217!!! 239!! 222!! 219! 212! 263!!!

 

[nunu]

239 or 213 for packing colour on the lid. However the 239 is more popular.
217 for applying colour to your crease and blending and for applying highlight colour as well.
224 for soft blending
222 for crease and outer corner
219 for lining lower lid, concentrating colour on the outer >

 

[malaviKat]

Of the brushes you've listed...the only ones I do not have (and thus cannot comment on) are the #222, #227 and the #272. So...let me begin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purity Currently I own 4 eyeshadow brushes: 2 flat ones (one old one from H&M and one from the Japonesque touch up tube), a small, flat smudger brush (also from the Japonesque touch up tube) and one blending/crease brush from Japonesque (seems to be very similar to the MAC #224). I've been starting to invest on MAC brushes just recently and have mostly been focusing on face brushes (I own the #187, #168, #150 and #208) and now I'm moving onto the eye brushes. I did a search on brushes in the recommendations forum and it helped me narrow down my choices a bit, but there are still some question marks that needs to be stretched out. The brushes I'm thinking about getting are: - #239, for general eye lid application I know a lot of people have said that the #239 is a great brush for packing on colour. I bought it for that purpose but found that its roundness led to imperfect precision during application. I think it's a good brush, but isn't necessarily on my list of "must haves". (Ironic...as I now have it.) - #219, for lining under the eye and deepen the crease/outer v This is an excellent choice for depositing colour in the tear duct and for lining under the eye. Also great for smoking out liner on the upper lid. I definitely recommend it. - #227 OR #217, for highlighting the browbone. Which one is the best for this purpose? While I do not have the #227, it is a popular brow highlighting brush. That said, the #217 is an excellent choice for overall blending (and should not be used simply for highlighting!) The #217 (I have been told by several MAC MUAs - and have also found while trying for myself) also makes an excellent concealer brush. - #217 OR #222 OR #224 for blending/crease/outer v. I'm leaning most towards the #217 or #222, since I already have a #224 dupe, and I don't like it. It's to big and not firm enough, I feel that it doesn't give me enough control over what I'm doing. #222 (or the slightly larger #224) is good for a gradual smoky eye and softening outer corners of the eye. I don't find much use for this brush on the day to day (but I suppose it can also be used for a wash of highlight colour on the brow). #217 is still "the" blending brush. - #272, for applying colour to the outer corner of the eye. Do I need this, or can I acchieve the same effect with the #239? - #242, for packing on pigments. Again, do I need this, or is the #239 enough? I rarely use cream shadows and I use my fingers to apply and blend my UDPP. The one brush that I swear by is currently the #242. This brush is absolutely excellent for packing on colour - shadows, pigments etc. (and being an NC43/NC45 colour intensity is very important to me.) With a bit of practice you'll be able to control the brush enough to blend well, so I think it's an absolute staple. Also good if you ever use a paint pot or something along those lines.

So... I guess my "staple" brushes are:
#242 (It's possible to do an entire look with just this brush!)

#219
#217

probably followed up by:
#224
#239
#209/#210 for fluidline (but I use a paint brush of the same shape/size from Michaels).