Two synthetic fluffy blending brushes – one expensive, one less so – are supposed to be as good as natural hair brushes. But are they?
We have here Real Technique’s Powder Bleu Soft Shadow Brush and Make Up For Ever’s 242 brush (large blender brush). As always in this series, my working theory is that there’re not ‘bad’ brushes at this price point, just brushes that work best with specific products/looks. I always set out to find those products. In the course of two weeks, I use those brushes with about every makeup product I can think of – and tell you what I find out.
(Interested in more cruelty-free brushes? Here’re other parts in this series: Synthetic cheek brushes, Hakuhodo’s synthetic eye brushes, Real Technique’s face brushes and MAC’s new synthetic brush line.)
MUFE 242 large blender brush
In 2013, MUFE re-launched their whole brush line. All brushes were made of synthetic fibres, with a beech wood handle by French brush making company Raphaël on Mauritius. The synthetic fibres used aren’t all the same: MUFE uses different strengths and diameters, and also either straight or wavy fibres, mimicking natural hair. They are made ‘to mimic the silky softness of natural hair’.
MUFE says:
This long, rounded and slightly flared blending brush is a very popular tool among professionals and consumers. It’s a multi-purpose brush that can be used for color blending, shading, highlighting, and for removing excess product.
MUFE also claims that this brush made from wavy fibres is supposed to work with ‘creams, loose and compact powders’.
Does it work?
This is indeed a soft and silky brush. Is it the softest brush I’ve ever felt? No. Is it completely pleasant to use? Yes. In theory, the 242 should work great with every eye shadow texture you might choose: Cream, loose and pressed powders. And it does. But ONLY if you want one complete application all over your lid. It’s great for laying down colour lightly, and gently blending out the edges. And that’s it.
I never could put it through its paces properly, because for me, it’s just too big and fluffy as a blending brush. I don’t have that much lid space, and laying down colour in the crease is nearly impossible for me. That’s due to its haircut: it has a round, domed head, different to RT’s below that’s more pointy. Its softness also has some drawbacks: The hairs splay out a lot when you put too much pressure on it.
I would’ve loved to try it with different eye shadow textures – Huda’s super creamy ones vs. MAC’s stiffer mattes, for example, but in the end, this is just good for blending out edges. So, it works well with transition shades, for example, and if you go with a solo shadow all over the lid. Also, it works a treat for blending out harsh edges.
Real Techniques Powder Bleu Shadow Brush
The whole Powder Bleu range was created as an alternative to brushes made from blue squirrel hair, but as a cruelty-free option to (mainly Japanese) hand-made brushes that are both incredible soft and work incredibly well. Steep claims!
Real Techniques says:
Our FauxBleu™ Technology uses synthetic bristles engineered to perform as well as blue squirrel hair.
Combination of soft, long tapered + unique wavy bristles.
Optimized for layering powders without disrupting makeup already applied.
The tapered, precision head of the Soft Shadow Brush is designed to gently layer and blend powder shadows for a naturally diffused look.
Does it work?
I don’t own a real blue squirrel brush, but that’s a moot point anyway. Does this one perform?! Same as with the MUFE blending brush, RT’s brush head is very, very big. The RT Shadow Brush is soft – it might feel slightly scratchier than the MUFE 242 because it’s hairdo is a bit pointier. Its bristles also feel firmer – it doesn’t splay out as much as the softer MUFE. It’s not as fluffy and not as pleasant feeling on the skin.
It again works well with shadows, either pressed or cream, that you use all over the lid. Because of the pointy head you actually can deposit a bit of colour in the crease. You’ll blend away everything above the crease at the same time, though. It’s just so cumbersome for me, with little lid real estate. So, consequently, I don’t do it. (Also cumbersome? The super long – albeit stylishly blue – handle. There’re short-sighted people around, brush makers of the world, who don’t want to poke their mirror all the damn time!)
The deal-breaker, though, is that it doesn’t fulfil its claims: No, you can’t layer and blend without disrupting the powder beneath.
Which one should I buy?
If you crave a big, fluffy blending brush, my money would be on the MUFE. The RT Shadow Brush does want to do it all, but does nothing really well. MUFE actually fulfils RT’s claims: It doesn’t actually blend colours together into a muddy mess. It’s just too big for me to do that well. Both brushes wash really well, and haven’t shed any hairs.
Real Techniques Soft Shadow Brush, 13$
Make Up For Ever Large Blender Brush, 30$
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
