July 6, 2012

MAC 286 Duo Fibre Blending Brush Review

To my knowledge MAC released their 286 Duo Fibre Blending Brush in a Holiday 2011 Brush Bag set. Does anyone know if it was released prior to that?

I remember it came in one of the bag sets and I fell instantly in love with it.

I was happy to be able to get a full size of the brush when it was repromoted this month with the Heavenly Creature Collection.

You NEED it.

This is a soft bristled fibre brush for blending color. It’s bristles are longer and thinner than my favorite 224 brush.

I find the brush offers the ability to sheer color out and offers more control when applying darker shades of shadow. MAC recommends it in conjunction with MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow but I personally feel that this brush with that medium is just a fail. The bristles are floppier which leads to more fall out when using Mineralize Shadow plus the shadows are already sheer so this brush doesn’t build color well.

I personally like it for crease work and applying darker shades as it sheers out color and allows better contrast overall.

Overall, the MAC 286 Duo Fibre Blending Brush is an excellent brush for more intricate blending. I feel like it’s an ideal pick for darker shades of color that you want to contrast with.

Loves it.

Very Muse Approved for purchase.

You NEED this one.

Did you purchase it?

Love it?

Do share!

I purchased this item.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Zoe

    Hey Muse! Do you know how this compares to the recently discontinued 222 brush? That was my HG crease brush and I’m afraid to wear it out no!

  • Littlecreek

    I have the one from the holidays and agree that everyone NEEDS this brush. Best crease brush I’ve ever had.

    On other topics, Hi! I haven’t tweeted and hardly commented all week. With All Star Game festivities starting tomorrow, life has been crazy. Everyone is needing trailers for events and to top it off I live near the stadiums so traffic/restaurants/anything is going to be crammed for the next few days. How goes life?

    • the Muse

      yo yo yo yo what’s up chica? ;-D How was your 4th? Agreed, great crease brush! I think I need a back up ;-D

      I’m so not sporty spice…baseball=burp. Don’t kill me? ;-D

      All is well. Tired as bloody hell seriously knackered cream crackered. Can’t recall the last time I slept lol! R&R the order of business before some time off next week for con’ing! w00t!

      How’s all else? I haven’t tweeted you either chica, sorry, if I owe ya replies exsqueeze me, I’m terribly behind on everything!

      • Littlecreek

        4th was awesome. We chilled at home and went to see Moonrise Kingdom. Weird movie. Very weird, full of intense staring, but we loved it.

        Baseball isn’t my sport (football on the other hand, w00t!) but seeing as the ASG won’t be back in KC for a few decades, the town has gone a bit nuts. Hubby is lovin it.

        Never been to a con. It’s something I need to schedule in my life.

        Other than that life is hot, but nice. Round 1 of summer family visits is done so we have July to relax before our schedule picks up in August.

        • the Muse

          It’s on my list, happy to hear it was weird, loves that haha. I absolutely adore Bill Murray in his old age, he’s just a master of indie flicks. And seriously Wes Anderson, there are no words ;-D

          We went to see To Rome with love last night, sadly it isn’t Woody’s best.

          My dad is a baseball/football (soccer) fan ;-D DO IT! do it ;-D good fun. It’s nice here too surprisingly. with all the rain it took ages for Summer to get to NY but it is on now ;-D

          Family can be fun but it’s nice to have a little R&R away from it all too ;-D enjoy! wear lots of SPF!

  • shusheshe

    How does this compare to the MAC 226, other then the duo fibre part? I personally found the 226 to be too big for me to be used as blending (and it had other problems as well).

    • the Muse

      shush if you felt 226 was too big you’ll def feel this is too big as the bristles are a little longer. it’s flopper, less dense than the 226. thinner bristles.

  • Leticia – Cosmetics Aficionado

    Do you know how this compares to the Laura Mercier Finishing Eye Brush?

  • Nikkia (Silver Lips)

    Hey Muse, How are you? Hope all is well!!! Long time no chats lol 🙂
    Love this brush it originally came out with the MAC Naturally collection that launched in January, I believe.

    • the Muse

      hey nik! ;-D very long time, how are you! THANK YOU! I was raking my brain trying to figure out if it released before, YES, yes that’s when I missed it ;D

  • Patricia

    Have you ever used it for apply concealer? I have bought mine with this purpose in mind, but it didn’t come yet. What do you think?

    • the Muse

      i haven’t tried it for concealer patricia, could work 🙂

  • Swims alot

    I read the post Muse, but I didn’t see the price. How much will it cost?

  • Alexa

    Just so ya know, the brush Is permanent and I only ever use it at work and on myself as a concealer brush. It’s amazing!!!

  • Anitacska

    I was gonna say I was pretty sure it was permanent. 🙂

  • jenben

    i use it as my liquid concealer brush and love it for that, never been sure on trying it out as a shadow brush though