I received this as a gift at Christmas and am very grateful. I always hear good things about MAC brushes and couldn't wait to give them a try.

The MAC 217 is designed as a blending brush for both face and eyes, powder or creamy products.The oval shape of the brush makes it easy to apply product under your eyes, on your eyelid or outer corners easily and blend out colour.

Priced at £16, this brush is very overpriced, like the rest of the MAC brushes, but I do believe with make-up brushes - buy cheap, buy twice.

The brush is of excellent quality and " M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules". The bristles are soft and not all scratchy and will not irritate your skin. The only niggle I have with the brushes quality is ( fortunately I have prevented this by covering the name and number with clear nail polish) that the MAC 217 ( and numbers on all genuine brushes) will rub of if not protected.

I have spot cleaned ( using ELF BRUSH CLEANSER) and deep cleaned ( baby shampoo) multiple times and as of yet have not experienced and mis-shaping nor shedding.

I do feel that you could get brushes like this elsewhere ( No7 Blend and Contour) however I have had no problems with this brush and think that it is of excellent quality.

This is available from MAC stores or their website and also in department stores.

** Please be cautious if purchasing this brush online as fake mac brushes are very common**