Product Reviews Rated 3.03 out of 5 stars
40 Reviews
Most Helpful Positive Review A staple blending brush The MAC 217 is a staple eye brush for me and I personally can see why it's a hyped brush. I tried many good blending brushes, but the 217 has something slightly better among all. It pick-ups color very easy, even with MAC eyeshadows with a harder formula. It's a versatile brush, by working with different pressure levels I can get different levels of pigmentation. I mostly use it in the crease, but I also used it to apply color on the lid (although I get some fallout with very powdery formulas); but if I was brush limited, I can do an entire look with just this brush.
The quality of this brush is amazing. I have one 3 years old one that I think I wash 1-2 times a week, looks and performs just as new.
Most Helpful Critical Review The quality has changed!!!!!!!!!! Ive been a Mac customer for a long time and the 217 has been my favorite blending brush. Recently I purchased a 217 and the ferrule was lose. This is unacceptable for someone who purchases a almost 30 dollar brush. I was confused because I own many 217 brushes and they have lasted for years and they are still working good. This brush I just got I used the brush and it lasted less than one second. I also didn't wash it so there was no reason of the glue getting lose. Im disappointed of a band I will no longer support it.
Reviewed by 40 customers Love Love Love 5
Tete Echols from Memphis
When i say i love love love this brush !!! This my #1favorite packing and blending brush! The best brush ever !! Kind pricey but i love it and plan to buy a few more!!
I am so happy that MAC has finally made synthetic brushes! 5
Andrea from Missouri
I am so happy that MAC has finally made synthetic brushes! There was no reason for an animal to suffer for a makeup brush especially when synthetic brushes work so well.
MAC, please ignore the negative comments about these brushes, I am now buying these brushes for the first time only because they aren't made from real animal hair and many others are also. Thank You MAC for making your brushes better and less cruel in the process!
You're NOT Listening 1
bethyb from DC
This new 217 is garbage. I've used MAC brushes for many years and the 217 has always been my fav. Your customers keep telling you these synthetic brushes are not good quality, but for the most part you keep giving the same response, telling us they are great brushes-when we literally just told you we hate them. There are plenty other companies with better and cheaper brushes than these "new" synthetic brushes. I will NOT purchase any more. The quality is NOT there.
new version is not good 3
kayjayleo from Texaa
The old 217 blended shadows much better than this one. These are similar in performance as a lot of drugstore brushes. Fortunately my old 217's are still in great condition, but I really wanted new ones for back up. I am so disappointed that the old version is no longer available anywhere.
I love Mac and own multiple brushes in this one 5
I own about 6. Works perfectly! from Bklyn
I love anything Mac and this brush works just fine. I own multiple of this brush and many others. Mac means quality. This works great for blending and I love it!below is just a sample of Mac products.
Love the Upgrade 5
Holly from Edmond, Oklahoma
I've had my old 217 for 8 or so years. I was hesitant to order this one because of the updates and some of the negative reviews but I wanted a new one to use exclusively with my paint pots. I'm so happy I ordered this one! It's way better than my older 217 which I always found scratchy. This one is super soft and does a beautiful job blending paint pots all over the eye and underneath. I'm very happy with the synthetic update!
A Must Have 5
Natacha from San Francisco
I've worn MAC and used their products since the 1990s. This brush is a must have for applying eyeshadow and has been a mainstay in my brush kit. I highly recommend it.
perfect blending brush 5
scarlett sandiego from las vegas
I love this brush just got it in the mail its very soft great for blending or applying shadow also bc its synthetic its great for cream products as well
Great concealer brush 5
Roxy from California
I use this to blend my N20 pro longwear concealer
It does a great job. I'm over 50 so I have some wrinkles and it blends wonderfully, doesn't look chalky & doesn't crack . Of course I use a primer & use moisturizer before use
Best Eyeshadow Brush 5
DCMakeup123 from DC
I love this brush. I own three of them and I use them everyday. Its great for blending eyeshadow and applying pigment. I highly recommend!
It is Expensive but It is Worth It 5
Red Zero from Pittsburgh, PA
I bought this because I've heard from many people that MAC brushes are amazing. I never tried the previous versions of the brush until synthetic brushes came out so I was a bit worried, but it was a waste of time worrying. The brush is very soft and very easy to use for blending. I use my MAC 239 brush for doing the base and adding other colors on top of the base and use 217 brush to gently smooth the blending overall and also use it to do shadows on my noses and it works perfectly.
Best blender! 5
Best blender from USA
This is the best blending brush you can buy! It's just the best!
Unusable 3
CaraM80 from NYC
I forgot that MAC switched to synthetic brushes and bought a replacement 217 but it's absolutely unusable. The bristles are stiff, have no give and don't blend at all. The tip also oddly tapers to a point which makes for an uncomfortable experience around the eye. I returned it immediately and do not recommend it, especially as the cost is ridiculously high for a synthetic brush.
**A few great 217 alternatives are the Wayne Goss #18 and Rephr #01 (both natural hair) and the Zoeva Luxe 227 (a mix of natural & synthetic). Zoeva makes a few variations of the 227 so check the description to make sure it has the mixed bristles.
NOPE. EPIC FAIL 1
Stan from New York
Please please bring back original 217! Gosh! So disappointed.
Literally the best eyeshadow brush ever 5
TheLaurKate from Sunnyvale, CA
This is literally the best eyeshadow brush ever. I miss when MAC had natural hair brushes but overall, the shape of this one still wins. It's flat on the sides where you would use it to pack color on your lids and then when you rotate it 90 degrees, it's an amazing fluffy blending brush. This is a great one for any eyeshadow lover to have in their collection—whether you are a beginner or professional, and no matter what eye shape.
Not worth the money 1
nay from kings county
Very disappointed in MAC. Once upon a time, everyone wanted to own a MAC brush. I love my original 217. This is garbage and a total ripoff. I will not be purchasing another brush from MAC unless they bring back their natural hair brushes.
What is this 1
Valerie from NYC
I bought a new 217, not even realizing it's been redesigned as a synthetic fiber. You guys, I don't know what this is. My old beat-up 217 is like 10x better than the 217S. It picks up color, deposits exactly where I want, and blends like a dream.
I don't even know what to say about the 217S, other than they should have retired the number and that it doesn't deserve the 217 designation.
Sorry guys, this is a complete miss. I've got cheaper synthetic brushes that are better than this.
It such a disappointment - I have to stalk resellers now, and hope to come across someone reputable who can resell me an OG 217.
Not happy 2
edelgado from washington
Not happy with the new 217. My last 217 which I purchased about 3 years ago are not the same. The new 217 is really flat and stiff. Pretty bummed I purchased new 217 and 224 and they're so different from the older versions.
Staple Brush 5
Ltay from Las Vegas
Very good for depositing product to outer lid. Dense bottom good for packing while loose bristles on top good for shading and light blending.
What is this?!? 1
Elena from PSU
I am so disappointed. I had my brush bag stolen from an event, and picked up a few of that other garbage "YTer fav" brand's brushes in a pinch while waiting for my MAC replacements (no Mac stores near me). I caved simply because they're cheap and i was going to throw them away when I got my mac brushes, anyway. Then the Mac order came...
I was about to return this brush thinking they sent the wrong brush, because this was NOT my beloved 217! When I saw that they changed all of their brushes, I decided I'm done. That cheap brush from the other despicable brand is better than this! I am sadly searching for a new company for my brushes. Wish they'd found a (REAL) cruelty free source for hair instead, because whatever THIS is, it's terrible... and I usually like synthetic brushes!
Good and bad 3
Hannah from WA
It's an excellent shape. It accomplishes blending the shapes I want beautifully. I don't have any experience with the original version of this brush, but I'm inclined to agree with the negative reviews about how well this brush picks up pressed powder, which is to say not very well. Compared to the face brushes I have by MAC which I absolutely love, I can say this one could really use some improvement, but the shape is flawless. You just have to be willing to apply your eye shadow in super thin layers.
This is NOT the 217 we knew and loved! 1
MyMakeupMoxie from Phoenix
I'm so unbelievably disappointed that MAC would even call this 217 as it's performance is not the same as the original, it's shape changes after 2 cleanings, it's not the same materials as the 217...I could go on and on. MAC has failed it's long time customer base, the artist who have come to depend on and trust the brand. For 23 years my EXTENSIVE brush collection has been ONLY MAC; this will no longer be the case, I will never buy another brush from MAC. This is not my only brush purchase this year that has been a complete disappointment. Honestly MAC, change the brush number, otherwise it's just false advertising.
My favorite 5
Vegforlife from Indiana
I forgot my brushes while traveling and originally picked this one up in a MAC store at the airport and I'm absolutely in love with it. I'm not sure why everyone is giving this brush a bad review but I find it to be the perfect shape and amount of fluffy to blend creases. I only logged on because I'm about to buy a backup of this brush and couldn't remember the number.
Heartbroken 1
lauramc from dallas
Wow I cannot express what a bummer this experience has been. I have had my original 217 since I was in 8th grade, my mom took me to a mac counter, I got a 217, a blush brush, and then soft brown, and springsheen blush. I treasured these items, and the brushes have held up over the past 9 years, but being almost a decade old I went to purchase replacements. Wow! I have plenty of synthetic brushes and this is literally trash. I find it down right rude that mac would even number this the same as my beloved 217, it makes every eyeshadow somehow patchy! Every single shadow, it doesn't blend, doesn't pick up shadow without digging the brush in. It just truly isn't good for anything. MAC you messed up !!!
Dissapointed 1
Gee Gee from Los Angeles
Ive had the original 217 blending brush for years and i love it. It was time to replace my old so i purchased the new Synthetic 217 brush and let me tell you, this brush is completety different from the original. Does't blend well, very stiff, looks nothing like the original. Dont waste your money.