So, it’s official — I’m a MAC brush geek. Last night, watching the season premier episode of The Hills on MTV, my eagle eye peeped a brush that looked exactly like the MAC 217!
There it is, in all its brush glory, at the Teen Vogue shoot in Paris. A makeup artist uses it to prep a group of French debutantes before their big photo session…
Maybe I’m wrong, fellow brush geeks, but that sure looks like a MAC 217 to me.
In the scene, the makeup artist grabs color from the back of a hand before applying it to the lucky girl. It’s over in mere seconds, but doesn’t it look like homeboy/homegirl was working a 217?
This episode of The Hills reminded me of Paris. I’ve been there once, back in 2005, and fell in love with the city. It’s everything they say about it — the hundreds of lovely little parks, the attention to detail, the shopping, the art everywhere, the food. I think it’s a very feminine city.
Calgon, take me to Paris!
I’m hoping that someday El Hub takes me to Paris for our long overdue honeymoon (hint, hint, sweetie)…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Glosslizard says
March 25th, 2008 at 2:36 pmOh, I love Paris too! I was there once for a week and I want to go back!!! I adore all of the sculpture and artistic detailing everywhere in the city! Sign me up! 🙂
BTW, I wanted to ask you… how does Style Minx compare with Fafi’s Totally It?
Eru says
March 25th, 2008 at 2:58 pmIt definitely looks like one 217. 😀
Eru’s last blog post..Bluish EOTD~~
Denise says
March 25th, 2008 at 5:00 pmI noticed her dab the color off of her hand too…I didn’t know what the brush was.
Laurel says
March 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pmWhen I was watching last night, I noticed too! I was like “Uhh, yeah, no more denying…I’m for sure a MAC addict.” I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed 🙂
Dao says
March 25th, 2008 at 6:20 pmHow can you take such a nice picture of the brush? Did you tivo the show? Yeah, it does look like le MAC deux dix-sept pinceau. My French is as bad as my Spanish (read: it’s really really bad!)
kia says
March 25th, 2008 at 7:32 pmthe 217 is amazing.. awesome! no other brush like it! it’s a must have!
kia’s last blog post..Yummy411: On Makeup Mag; Coastal Scents Brushes
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHi Glosslizard,
I think Paris ties SF in the favorite city category. In my dreams I’d love to live and write there for a few years, and then have and raise my babies there so they’d all have a cool ass French accent when they spoke English (but of course, in that fantasy my French would be able to get me beyond ordering food and asking for directions, ha ha ha).
Okay, I just pulled out both Totally It and Style Minx. Style Minx is definitely darker, and closer to magenta/red. Totally It is lighter and closer to hot pink. They’re both purty darn bright though!
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHi Eru!
Yep, I thought so! There was also something in the way it moved too, that totally made me know that it was that brush in particular, ha!
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:18 pmHi Denise,
The MAC 217 is legendary! If you don’t have it yet you gotta get it. 🙂
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:20 pmHi Laurel,
LOLOL, okay good, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!
Did you watch the entire episode? I can’t believe Lauren actually wore that fancy ball dress out to the club, yikes!
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:22 pmHi Dao,
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love my Tivo. Seriously. I can’t live without it. 😉
Your French can’t be as bad as mine. At least you know the numbers! I can ask for directions and order food. Oh, and I can also apologize profusely for speaking bad French, ha ha ha!
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:22 pmHi Kia,
I know, right? I’m actually thinking of getting another one because I love mine so darn much!
Ruth says
March 25th, 2008 at 8:55 pmOh how embarassing because the minute I saw that I was dying to know what brush that was! Do I need to get a life? I loved the episode – especially because of those beautiful gowns (Lauren’s second one was fab fab) and the creepy French guys! haha. Now I can not WAIT to visit Paris. You are obviously cooler than I and already have. 🙂
Karen says
March 25th, 2008 at 10:18 pmHi Ruth,
Now you know it’s the fab 217! It’s so great for applying color and blending. Oh, and it does double duty with both powder and cream products, WOOT! Get thee one ASAP!
I agree, Lauren’s second dress was to die for. It killed me though to see her get on that dude’s bike. I mean, chances are it got pretty dirty because it was white and rainy. Bad idea, LC, to ruin both yer dresses. Lisa Love’s gonna school your ass when you get back to LA!
The French dudes cracked me up. Did you see how one of them was labeled as the tambourine player? LOLOLOLOLOLZ! I want that job. There was also the guy with the unibrow…
What did you think of Mimi’s performance?
tricia says
March 25th, 2008 at 10:55 pmso missed the show last night, but i do love the 217 it’s really great. just got back a while a ago from the heatherette event at the mac store in the beverly center.
Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net says
March 25th, 2008 at 11:04 pmGirl, that is sooo a 217! Although the handle does look rather smooth compared to MAC’s cobalt type handles. Could be lighting, angle, aww heck.. it’s a 217 dangit! Hah.
Paris looks gorgeous and so much fun! I’d love to go one day. Hopefully our Hubbos are on the same wavelength on this Paris trip. Because I needs me a honeymoon period! Lol. Oh, not to mention a formal engagement, a formal wedding, and some blang! 😉 Heh. We did a mini-mini “It’s Official” ceremony. It was perfect for what we wanted, but Hubbo knows that he still owes me my dream wedding. *yippie*
Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net’s last blog post..FOTD: Heatherette… Here I Come!
Susanne says
March 25th, 2008 at 11:16 pmI love MAC brushes! Without them you don’t even need to try creating a good-looking makeup… 😉 You can buy the best makeup, without the right brushes it won’t work.
Karen B says
March 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pmWohooo! It does look pretty similar to me.
Paris is love. I went with my mum recently and yes it is a very feminine city.
msnotty says
March 26th, 2008 at 2:25 amYep, definitely a MAC 217. 🙂
msnotty’s last blog post..I Am Now A Monave Convert!
Ping. says
March 26th, 2008 at 5:11 amparis had always been my dream place… even though a lot of people say it’s too cliche. hahaha
Stacey says
March 26th, 2008 at 5:22 amI adore Paris too! I go every year,living in London i can get the eurostar and it only takes two hours!!
Yakini says
March 26th, 2008 at 6:09 amLooks like the Mac 217 to me!!!! Good eye!!!!!
Baby Girl says
March 26th, 2008 at 6:32 amI had to laugh at how wrong Whitney pronounced Givnchy, and then driver corrected her with a little ‘tude like, “you work for Teen Vogue you should know”.
Baby Girl’s last blog post..She Said What?
Glosslizard says
March 26th, 2008 at 6:40 amIn my dream life, I have a flat in Edinburgh and Paris and can flit over to either city for months at a time! Oh, yes, this year we’re summering in Scotland with the final month in France! And yeah, I’ll take the fluency part of that fantasy too! Although, I did rock the BBC French phrasebook last time! 😉
Thanks for comparing! I think I may go and find myself a Totally It after all! One thing I really have to say about Fafi… on first glance I wasn’t that enamored with it, but I find myself repeatedly going back to score yet another item! I now have all but two of the paint pots (I just scored Nice Vice last night) and Sugar Trance. Now I’m thinking Hmmmmmm, Totally It IS a really hot color, isn’t it? LOL!
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:45 amHi Tricia,
Not to worry, you know reruns will be on MTV 24/7. 🙂
Don’t you just the 217? What do you use it for?
Hope you had fun at the Heatherette event!
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:49 amHi Lynne,
When the time comes let me know if you need help planning! 🙂 I planned my entire wedding and got my detail freak on. In a parallel universe my alternate me is probably a wedding/event planner, ha ha ha!
Would you have the wedding in Hawaii, or come back here to the Bay?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:52 amHi Susanne,
Ain’t that the truth. Brushes make all the difference when it comes to application. It took me a long time to let go of those little spongy applicators you get with eyeshadows, believe it or not. But now, I’m a total brush fiend! What are your favorites?
BeautyTalk says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:53 amI love that brush! I spotted it too while watching the Hills. I love Paris, I really want to go back.
BeautyTalk’s last blog post..There’s nothing like a new ‘do
Sylvie says
March 26th, 2008 at 8:30 amOh Karen, Karen, you have to know one thing about Paris. It’s wonderful if you’re a tourist but it’s not that great afterall if you’re actually living here. For one, there’s too much dogpoop everywhere, which means you can’t wear pretty shoes and walk with your head up at the same time.
Megan says
March 26th, 2008 at 8:35 amSo I’m part French…have family and France and have never gone. It’s totally on my to do list. But my cousin Robert who I have been closest to actually moved to NYC a couple years back. I am not quite fluent, but I can follow conversations when not spoken too quickly and I can get by with some minor conversations. My biggest issue is that I am impatient and it takes too long to think in English, translate to French and speak.
Laura says
March 26th, 2008 at 6:15 pmhi karen.
what month did you visit paris? i want to go there so bad..
and also does your husband ever read your posts ??
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:20 pmHi Karen B.!
Oh yes, I remember you mentioning that you picked up your new Chloe perfume there. Do you speak French?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:23 pmHi Ping,
Paris is the city of beautiful dreams. I wasn’t there long enough the last time, but that’s how I always feel about the places I travel to. I really hope that some day you get the opportunity to go!
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pmGood eye, MsNotty! Are you a MAC brush addict, too?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 8:52 pmHi Stacey,
When I went a few years ago I took the Eurostar train from London to Paris. I slept the entire time, no joke.
That’s awesome you go every year. Next time I go (whenever that is) you’ll have to give me the skinny on the best places to shop. 🙂
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 8:55 pmThanks Yakini. Who knew someday my obsessive MAC brush knowledge would somehow come in handy while watching reality TV? I sure didn’t! I so rewound the Tivo about 8 times to get confirmation, ha ha ha! Are you a MAC lover too?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 8:57 pmHi Baby Girl,
LOL, that was pretty funny. I gotta come clean, I just finally learned how to say Givenchy correctly this year, ha ha ha.
Was it just me, or did Heidi look really different?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pmHeya Glosslizard,
I’ve never been to Scotland! I do have family there so someday I hope to visit. I’ve never heard of the BBC French phrasebook but it sounds super handy. I’m sure it would’ve saved my booty when I tried to buy an umbrella in the pouring rain and had NO IDEA how to express it in French, ha ha ha! Good times.
After reading this comment today I pulled out Totally It and threw it in my purse. I ended up wearing it to work today, yay! How are you liking Nice Vice and Sugar Trance?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 9:05 pmHi BeautyTalk,
Wow, so many eagle-eyed MAC brush lovers are out there! Who knew? When did you go to Paris and how long were you there for?
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 9:06 pmHi Sylvie,
I’m cool with that. I’ll get a small French dog and just have him join in the poop parade as well so I can get in the spirit!
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 9:08 pmHi Megan,
I’m the same way with Tagalog, the language in the Philippines. Growing up my parents would speak to me in it and have me answer back in English and now I can understand it but only the stuff spoken around the house. Anything that’s too fast or on TV, like the news, I can’t process quickly enough.
I bet your French accent kicks booty!
Karen says
March 26th, 2008 at 9:10 pmHi Laura,
I went it May. It was a lil’ overcast and occasionally rainy. If you go during that month be sure to know the word for “umbrella,” LOL, because I sure didn’t, and trying to buy one was kind of stressful!
Yup, El Hub reads a post or two here are there (so he says). He used to comment, too, back in the day, but I think he got intimidated by all the hot babes on the site! 🙂
Baby Girl says
March 27th, 2008 at 6:15 amShe did look different. I thought it was the hair. It’s lighter than before. Then I thought maybe it’s the makeup job. But now I’m thinking she could have had more work done.
Baby Girl’s last blog post..She Said What?
Karen says
March 27th, 2008 at 9:17 amHi Baby Girl,
Yeah, I noticed a diff in her lips. She still looks cute, just different. I heard her single a few months ago and was like, fo’ reals?
Glosslizard says
March 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pmI love Sugar Trance! I’m so glad I caved on it! I haven’t gotten Nice Vice yet (it’s being shipped, so I’m just waiting for it in the mail) but I’m pretty stoked about it! 🙂
Now I’m trying to decide whether and how badly I need Totally It! I am such an addict!!
Karen says
March 27th, 2008 at 2:20 pmNice Vice is sooo coolness. You will *love* it. Um, Totally It is very pretty, but it’s not a low-maintenance shade. You have to line the lips beforehand and take some time to work with it to get it to look good, but that seems to be the drill for the entire hot/pink magenta gloss family (at least in my case…maybe I’m just extra clumsy).
Glosslizard says
March 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pmYeah, I am really stoked about Nice Vice! Hard to believe that a mere month ago I had zero paint pots (Girl Friendly was my first)!
Heh. Tell me about it! I went looking for Totally It at a local Macy’s and found that they had ONE Style Minx left! Never one to be able to resist getting the very last of something like that, I nabbed it! Now I’m not entirely sure if I like the uber-brightness, but I also tried a super-light application topped with Sugar Trance and that is gorgeousness!
sophie says
March 27th, 2008 at 7:46 pmBonjour Karen,
As you know i love Paris too…
At this time, we are planning our honeymoon there… But i don’t know if we’ll have time enought to visit all we want to.
I’m really excited to do some shopping there…
Karen says
March 27th, 2008 at 10:39 pmHi Glosslizard,
ARE YOU SERIOUS? I am so glad you got on the Paint Pot train. All aboard!
I told you it was BRIGHT. I like it toned down though as a stain during the day. Next time I go out though, it’ on! I will have to try with w/ Sugar Trance to see what magic happens.
Karen says
March 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pmBonjour Sophie,
How exciting! I hope you get to see everything you want while you’re there! How’s the wedding planning going? Is everything set?
Glosslizard says
March 28th, 2008 at 9:10 amI know! Paint pots rule! I now have Perky, Layin’ Low, Girl Friendly, and Rubenesque with Nice Vice on the way! I think I’m also gonna grab Delft because I can’t resist that peacock blue! 🙂
Glosslizard says
March 28th, 2008 at 6:16 pmUpdate: just got Nice Vice! Sooooo fabulous! I love purple! Can’t wait to get down to some serious playing! 😀
Susanne says
March 29th, 2008 at 2:58 amHi Karen,
my favourite brushes are the 208, 231 and 239 for eyes. For face I use the 187, 188, the 129 and 136.
Now I am saving money for the 182!! It costs 49 € here (that are unbelievable US $ 77.00 at the moment!!). For a brush…hello?!