Not a favourite of mine. (MAC Slim Tapered Blending Brush)

Member Name: mu_reviews4u

Product:	MAC Slim Tapered Blending Brush
Date:	12/03/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Slim size fits easily into the contours of the eyes.

Disadvantages: Too soft, Too bendy, Not many uses.

The #222 is another of MAC's blending brushes. Each brush is a different size, shape and serves a slightly different purpose. That said, I don't think you need every single one, but with so many to choose from it can be hard to work out which would be best for you.

This brush is one of MAC's slimmest blenders. It is made from extra soft, cruelty free white goat haird arranged into a long, slightly tapered bundle. The brush head measures just under 20mm long by under 10mm wide and it is quite flexible under only a small amount of pressure. MAC market the #222 as a tapered blending brush to apply, contour and highlight with using powder based products and it retails for £16.64 currently. Unfortunately it is not available from counters within department stores so you will need to order online or go to a freestanding or Pro store.

I'll start by saying that I rarely use this brush on myself or others, so that says something itself really! However, some of it's uses -

~ First and foremost this is a blending brush, so if you have any unblended or harsh lines in your eye makeup, simply take this brush and buff the edges lightly until they are softened and diffused. It's not the best brush for this as I find the bistles tend to bend under only a tiny amount of pressure - causing the handle to move, but not the brush head itself!

~ The slim head of the #222 fits into the crease or socketline of the eye with ease. If you want to contour or define your eyes / bone structure, gently sweep a darker shade of eyeshadow back and forth through the crease using this brush.

~ I sometimes use it to highlight my browbone. The small size fits well under the eye brow and applies just the right amount of product. Perfect for overly shimmery shades, which can apply too densely with some other brushes.

~ The #222 can also be used for under eye concealer if required. Although there are better better brushes out there for this purpose (I recommend MAC's #224), it will work well if it's all you have. Dab the concealer under the eyes in 3-4 dots before taking the fluffed, rounded tip of the brush and buffing it gently in small circles until completely blended.
Those with deep set eyes and / or prominent tear troughs may also find it beneficial to dip this brush in a tiny amount of highlighter / brightener (I use Benefit's High Beam) and sweeping it through the indentation to help reflect light away from the area.

You would be hard pushed to apply eyeshadow effectlively all over the lid with this brush - it's just too slim and flexible - so I don't really recommend it all that much. I have plenty of other brushes that work a lot better than this one, so I suggest you take a look at what else MAC has to offer before buying this one. It's too soft, too bendy and can be quite hard to control sometimes.

Summary: I wouldn't repurchase, nor would I recommend anyone else to really!