MAC Cosmetics 217S Synthetic Blending Brush – $26.50
MAC Cosmetics recently reformulated (revamped?) all of its brushes, changing them from natural (animal-sourced) hair bristles to synthetic bristles. This is great news as their brushes are now vegan. And, in general, synthetic brushes tend to shed less. However, looking at some of the reviews and comments on the MAC Cosmetics website, not all customers are happy about the news.
The “uproar” was to be expected as the 217 Blending Brush was a staple in many people’s collections and one of MAC’s most iconic products. Messing with a beloved product is always a risky move, so how does the original 217 blending brush compare to MAC’s new 217S synthetic brush?
MAC Cosmetics 217S Synthetic Blending Brush vs Original 217 Blending Brush
In my opinion, synthetic eye brushes are trickier to perfect. Synthetic bristles tend to be denser and less flexible than natural bristles. That is precisely why they make for amazing foundation and complexion brushes. Yet, when it comes to the eyes, precision is key. I’ve found that often times, synthetic eye brushes are too dense or too bulky, which can cause tugging around the skin or increased difficulty when blending eyeshadows, particularly for small or hooded eyes. All this to say that I believe concerns around the 217S’s performance to be justified. So, let’s take a closer look…
MAC Cosmetics 217S Synthetic Blending Brush vs 217 Original. 217S is on top, 217 original is at the bottom.
MAC Cosmetics 217 (left) vs 217S Synthetic Blending Brush (right)
MAC Cosmetics 217 (left) vs 217S Synthetic Blending Brush (right)
The new 217S is made of synthetic hair fibers, while the old 217 blending brush was made of goat hairs. The difference between the new 217S Synthetic brush and the original 217 blending brush is clear. Although the shape is not that different, even when new, the original 217 was never as tapered. The new synthetic 217S is a tad longer and noticeably narrower. In terms of application, I have noticed a difference. The original 217 provides a more diffused, effortless blend. While the new synthetic 217S tends to concentrate color. To me, this is a downgrade. The original 217 is my favorite eyeshadow blending brush because it’s small enough to give me a precise blend, particularly given my hooded eyelids, but fluffy enough to make blending effortless and help me avoid streaky eyeshadow deposits. One thing that the 217S has going for it is that you can use it to blend both powder and cream eyeshadow formulas.
As a side note, I actually think Sedona Lace did a better job duping the 217 with their EB 09 Universal Blender. Unfortunately, they too reformulated this brush.
MAC Cosmetics 217S Synthetic Blending Brush vs Original 217: Who’s the winner?
I undoubtedly prefer the original 217 for the reasons stated above. It suits my needs better and performs beautifully. The new 217S is still a good blending brush, it’s just not as good as the original. However, I think switching to synthetic hairs and effectively making all of their brushes cruelty-free is a positive thing. So, it’s a tradeoff I will happily endure.
xx Coco
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