Pffzzt! BAM!
We have just traveled through time, you and I. Notice the placement of the logo on my MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush ($29). Yes, that brush is 10 years old.
New brushes on top; old school 224 on the bottom
Even though I’ve had it for a decade, I’ve only recently become super duper obsessed with this soft, medium-sized, dome-shaped eyeshadow brush.
I remember originally buying it to apply eyeshadow in the crease, which is how I know it’s used by many MACaholics, but for a long time I felt that it tended to lay down too much color. It had been in my halfhearted, semi-regular rotation for about a year before it found its way to the Island of Lost Tools.
So there it lived, on the Island of Lost Tools, lonely and neglected for years while I moved on to the fantabulous MAC 217. On occasion, I’d visit and call it out to help me with some blending, but for the most part, there it stayed.
Then, one day not very long ago (just a few weeks), I tried it with MAC Prolongwear Concealer.
Hello, awesome! 🙂
I had been using a foundation brush to apply my concealer for years using the “triangle” method, a a trick I learned from a Chanel makeup artist a while back. While it worked great with creamy concealers like Time Balm, it never quite worked as well as I’d hoped with Pro Longwear’s ultra-pigmented, liquid texture. It provided good coverage, but sometimes I thought the finished product looked heavy and almost mask-like.
So, one day a few weeks ago, I was in a hurry to get ready, and my foundation brush just happened to be dirty. I randomly grabbed the 224 instead, used it to apply Prolongwear, and was really impressed with the results.
The 224 plus Prolongwear gives my under-eye area the business. It’s as close to flawless as this girl gets. The fluffy, domed brush head distributes the product evenly and smoothly without any streaks.
Now I use the 224 all the time to apply concealer under my eyes. I never really missed it or wanted to buy a back-up when it lived on the Island of Lost Tools, but now it’s back with me.
If you’re a fan of MAC Prolongwear Concealer, or just prefer liquid concealers in general, consider adding (or digging out) this Unsung Hero to your bag of makeup tricks. 🙂
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Phyrra says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:03 pmThis is my FAVORITE blending brush. EVER. It’s AMAZING for me.
Phyrra recently posted … LaVanila The Healthy Sun Screen SPF 40 Face Cream
Vijaya says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:06 pmI adore using the 224 for concealer!
Vijaya recently posted … Final Fantasy Inspired Look- Rikku
Jessi says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:10 pmThis is one of the few MAC brushes I have. I actually had to go check to see if it was the same one because i never remember the brush numbers. I use mine to highlight my brow bone and blend the edges of my eye shadows together. I really like it.
Jessi recently posted … Swatches From Two of Essences Limited Edition Collections
perri says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:13 pmThis brush is wonderful! I use my mom’s now… I need to buy my own
raquel says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:31 pma lot of people apply cream concealers with it, i’ve tried it w my studio finish concealer and it works great it blends magically, i use it around my nose and on scarring…
also, i just recently finished my concealer and was going to back to mac some stuff i was thinking of getting an eyeshadow to be a matte crease color that will go well with anything (i’m an NW25ish) do you have any suggestions??
Leah says
June 11th, 2011 at 8:46 amTry mac wedge or soft brown. I’m an nc25 and wear both of those regularly.
raquel says
June 11th, 2011 at 10:37 pmthanks leah!
Meg O. says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:47 pmThe 224 is my FAVORITE brush!!! I absolutely love it and it’s been in my arsenal of brushes for well over 6 years!
Meg O. recently posted … How To- Curl Hair with a Flat Iron
mill says
June 11th, 2011 at 1:15 ami’ve always used this for concealer! i cant stand using my fingers or the normal concealer brushes
voodoogirl says
June 11th, 2011 at 3:29 amthe 224 is too big for my eyes but it is perfect for applying concealer 🙂
Chris25 says
June 11th, 2011 at 5:16 amI actually have the Sigma dupe for this, because MAC’s 224 is a tad too rich for my blood.
Saffron says
June 11th, 2011 at 7:26 amLadies on a budget might want to check out the Sonja Kashuk brush that is similar – it isn’t as dense but comes to a fine point at the tip, which makes it a better crease brush with a careful hand but worse for concealing. Both are *excellent* at blending out deep, finely drawn creases and winged corners.
Another brush worth checking out for concealer application is Sephora’s “airbrush concealer brush” (or something similar to that) – it’s crazy dense with a sizeable rounded tip that holds up to lots of blending – this thing is rockin my world!
Natalie says
June 11th, 2011 at 8:45 pmI absolutely LOVE that brush! I love my 224 but its a little to big for my eyes, so I was on the hunt for a good blending brush and I came across this one, and seriously it is the softest brush I own! I cant wait to pick up more!
Kathlyn Garnet says
June 11th, 2011 at 8:26 am224 is really great with liquid concealers. I’ve had one for almost a week now and I really love how it makes applying liquid concealers ultra-easy!
Kathlyn Garnet recently posted … Best Weight Loss Program
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair says
June 11th, 2011 at 8:47 amI love this one for concealer!
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair recently posted … Start wearing purple
Nina says
June 11th, 2011 at 9:09 amfor a while, i struggled w/ what to do w/ this brush. it kinda muddles up eyeshadow so i dont use it for my eyes. but i remember going to the mac store and the mua told me he used it for under eye concealer.
its perfect for that function because its sooo soft and fluffy and is not harsh on the delicate undereye area!
Kelsey V. says
June 11th, 2011 at 11:23 amI think I have a dupe for this brush, I might try using it with concealer which I never thought of until now!
Kelsey V. recently posted … Makeup Tools- EcoTools Bronzer Brush
Adrienne says
June 12th, 2011 at 8:26 pmIs your dupe cheaper by any chance? I’d love to have two of these guys on hand, one for concealing and one for shadow…
Shannon says
June 11th, 2011 at 3:32 pmI use mines to apply my highlighter, and select cover up to my eyes and on any marks. I love it! It looks like I have nothing on!
Adrienne says
June 12th, 2011 at 8:23 pmI actually just made my very first purchase from MAC (yes, I have lost my MAC virginity, better late than never, I suppose?? Lol!) and it was the Pro Longwear concealer and the 224!! I think your article just reinforced the fact that I made an excellent decision. I use it for concealing all over with light tapping and buffing, and so far I love the results! is this the beginning of a beautiful addiction? I think so.
Trayceeee says
November 26th, 2011 at 11:07 amI have been using pro-longwear concealer and loving it. Like you, I used a foundation brush (spritzed with a little Fix+) and did the triangle method. I looked in the mirror one day in my car and I felt like it indeed was too heavy and the foundation brush didn’t blend like I wanted! I just ordered a Mac 224 for blending eyeshadows but definitely going to try with my concealer first 🙂 Thanks KAREN!