Sigma SS224 Blending Brush

Along with a pencil brush, I never had a really good blending brush until the SS224. I had lusted after the MAC 224 for about a million years, and couldn't bring myself to indulge in the $28 price tag. However, when I got my brush set from Sigma, I fell in love with the SS224. I did have them try the MAC 224 at the store, and I played with it a little, and I have to say, I honestly like the Sigma one more for its shape. It is wider than the MAC one and the bristles are shorter, giving it a softer blending and more control while doing it. Read on to see why the SS224 is my favorite eye brush of all time.

HANDLE

The SS224 has a great handle, the same width and length of the SS239, which I love as well. It has the classic matte black finish with the silver Sigma logo, and has the rounded end that I love so much. For blending, I definitely do not recommend holding the brush at the end, when you hold it at the right place; this brush gives stellar control and sits well in the hand. I do not really take this brush in my purse, so I cannot tell you about the durability, but it has not cracked or broken when this klutz has dropped it all the times I have.

BRISTLES

The bristles on the SS224 are nice and dense at the bottom, but fan out the top, completely eliminating harsh lines. Unlike the MAC 224, the SS224 is not tapered at the top, so this is a larger blending radius. The hairs on the SS224 smooth and soft, but not the softest I have ever felt. However, in no way are they scratchy, which is important in a blending brush with all the movement. I do like that this brush in a circular shape. I don't know why, but I have trouble bringing color above my crease (maybe I am afraid it will look bad or something), but this brush does it nicely and subtly for me, helping me overcome my aversion of bringing the color up.

BUILD QUALITY

The SS224 has shed a little with me, but not enough to annoy me or be noticeable. The ferule is well put on, and all of the bristles fill the ferule perfectly. With all the movement a blending brush gets, it is important for it to be well-built. I can safely and easily say that the SS224 is well built and a good quality brush.

APPLICATION

The SS224 applies color very subtly, and blends amazingly. For those of you with smaller lid space, this may not be the brush for you- I would look into a more tapered blending brush. However, for great color blending, this most definitely gets the job done. I do use it to apply color sometimes, which I do not recommend as it can get where you don't want it, but it is an incredible blending brush and like I said earlier, gets rid of any harsh lines.

PRICE

The SS224 retails for $9 at sigmamakeup.com for $9! For this brush, I think it is a great deal. Once again, do not go order this looking for a MAC 224- you will not find that in this brush. It is close, but is definitely not an exact dupe for a MAC 224.

FINAL OPINIONS

As I stated in the beginning of this review, the SS224 is my all-time favorite blending brush and probably my all-time favorite eye brush. For those of you who do smoky eyes as frequently as I do, this brush is awesome for completely blending out the color. It is super soft, provides great control, barely sheds, does not get any stray or bothersome hairs, and blends color like no other brush I have found. Love it!