SHADER BRUSH - MEDIUM - 226

The 226 Shader Brush is MAKE UP FOR EVER's medium flat eye brush, tapered at the end so it can pack colour across the lid and still turn on its edge for detail. The brand recommends it in particular for cream eyeshadow, where it lays product down fast and blends it out with moderate to intense pigment pay-off. Powders work on it too, loose or pressed.

What it actually does

• Covers the lid in a few strokes. The medium flat head is wide enough to apply and blend across the eyelid quickly rather than building up in small patches.
• Carries real colour. MAKE UP FOR EVER rates the pay-off as moderate through to intense, so shades land close to how they look in the pan.
• Tapers for precision. The narrowed end is there for detail work and tighter placement when you don't want a full wash of colour.
• Built for creams first. The brand calls it ideal for cream eyeshadow formulas, and also clears it for loose and compact powders.
• Straight fibres. Listed by MAKE UP FOR EVER as a straight-fibre brush.
• Works past the lid. Per the brand, artists who like using brushes off-label also pick this one up for drawing lines on the face, for lip makeup, and for covering larger areas.

How to use

1. Lay colour flat. Press the wide face of the brush into the product and pat it onto the eyelid — patting keeps the pigment dense, sweeping sheers it out.
2. Blend with the same brush. Light back-and-forth motions soften the edge on the lid and up toward the brow bone.
3. Turn it on its side for detail. Use the tapered end to place shadow in a narrower band or along the lash line.
4. Switch between textures. Creams, loose powder and pressed powder all sit on these fibres, so you can layer a cream base then set it with powder using one brush.
5. Clean it often. Cream formulas build up faster than powders — wash with a mild cleanser, press the head back flat and let it dry lying down.

Questions

Is this for packing colour or blending it?

Both, which is the point of the shape. The flat face packs shadow onto the lid with the moderate-to-intense pay-off the brand describes, and the same head blends it out once the colour is down. If you want a dedicated diffusing brush for a soft smoke, a round blender shape will do that job better.

Cream shadow or powder shadow?

MAKE UP FOR EVER singles out cream eyeshadow as what this brush is ideal for, and also lists loose and compact powders as recommended textures. So it is a cream brush that happens to handle powder, rather than the reverse.

Can I use it anywhere other than my eyes?

The brand notes that makeup artists who use brushes unconventionally also reach for this one to draw lines on the face, to do lip makeup, and to cover larger areas of product. If you do that, keep a second 226 for lips rather than moving one brush between eyes and mouth.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery takes 3 to 21 working days, depending on availability. Stock on hand goes out at the short end; anything ordered in for you takes longer. Working days don't include weekends or official holidays.

How do I pay, and what if it arrives faulty?

We take credit card, debit card, Instapay and mobile wallets — there is no cash on delivery. If the brush turns up defective, damaged or expired, report it within 1 day of delivery and we refund to your original payment method within 15–30 days. Those are the only cases we accept returns for.