Measurement
- Head: 0.5 cm H x 0.5 cm W x 0.3 cm D (0.2 in H x 0.2 in W x 0.1 in D)
- Handle: 15.8 cm L (6.2 in L)
Review & Usage
Laura Mercier Smudge Brush is a well constructed brush handcrafted from a natural mix of pony and blue squirrel hair. The head is very small and the bristles are short and firm. The handle is lightweight, long, and thin but is still very easy to hold.
It is a true multitasker brush that is good for detail work such as:
- placing pigment close to/along the lash line and in the inner corner of the eye
- smudging out eye liner for a softer look
- placing eyeshadow over the eye liner to set
- applying eyeshadow on the outer corner of the eye to add definition
- smoking out cream shadow for a soft smokey eye
The dense bristles feel soft on the skin when used on the flat side but the firm tip can feel a little coarse and scratchy during smudging along the lash line. It picks up and dispenses colors really evenly, though. The small size of the brush really gets into small areas with precision. It takes away all the stress of trying to line the perfect line because I know I can always go back with this brush to smudge out and soften the “jagged” edge as well as fill in the spots where my eyeliner may have skipped. It is an all-round, nice-to-have brush to polish the final look.
The brush washes beautifully, dries quickly, and doesn't lose its shape over time.
What do you use to smudge your eye liner? Have you used this type of brush before?
○ 
Hey Jaa, again, thanks for yet another detailed brush review! I use MAC 219 for the purpose. I also own 231 which could be used for that, but most of the time I reach for 219! I just think 219 works better for both my inner corners and lower lash line, but I could be mistaken!
I have both of them, too! 231 is very close to this one shape-wise, slightly longer perhaps but much much softer. 291 is a bit bigger and less precise. :D I love all of them, though! Gosh, I love brushes, all of them, period! LOL!
I love smudger brushes! I have yet to try any brushes from Laura Mercier though…
Smudge brush is such a necessity for me! :D What one do you have? My other good ones are from MAC, RT, and Sigma. :)
I haven’t tried anything from laura Mercier before but this seems so good :))
This is one of the better smudge brushes out there imo. :)
It looks a bit rough to me, but if you say it feels soft then I believe you :)
The tip feels rough on the skin but it’s not terribly bad. Still, those whose eyes are very sensitive may not appreciate this brush too much. :)
It’s a good looking brush! I personally use my MAC 219 or Real Techniques Detailer brush.
I love those, too! But their size is not as small as this one. The LM Smudge Brush is very very precise. :)
I just got a Real Techniques smudger! Not as glamorous but I hope it works!
Ohhh nice! Will you be reviewing it? :D
I’m using a similar smudge brush from Sonia Kashuk and Tarte, and both feel kind of scratchy at the tip as you described when used in that particular manner. I was hoping this wouldn’t be the case, as the pony/squirrel hair blend sounded so nice! Our search continues. ;)
I’ll be featuring my other smudge brushes that are not scratchy soon! :) But none of them is as small and precise as this LM one, though…
Nice review and pics as usual “THE BEST” Jaa :)
I havent used anything frm Laura Mercier :(
None at all? You have to at least try her loose powder! My favorite! :)
Ooh, a LM *brush*! And it’s a smudge brush, which is next on my list of ‘brush types to get’… not sure I’m so enamoured with the scratchy tip thing though. Maybe I need to join you and Liz on the epic Quest For A Better Smudge Brush? :-D
Actually I have found a few other smudge brushes that are not scratchy! :D I’ll be talking more about them in my future Tool Thursday posts. :)
I was actually thinking about investing in a new smudge brush but I don’t want them to be scratchy! :( Now I think of it, I want to have a whole new brush set to be honest. That’s gonna cost me a lot of money, haha.
Brushes are investment for sure! I’d suggest getting one at a time than buying a whole set at once! Sets are usually not as good as the singles in my experience. Quality over quantity yeah?
I have nightmares of not having enough of smudge brushes so i stock them up like no ones business..i love chanel 19(have 2 of ths), 14, 26, a few lancome smudge brushes and 2 of mac 219…now eyeing tom ford…
A lil correction…although chanel 19 is not essentially a smudge brush i use it to soften the es or the eye pencil wch ths does v well…
I love the Chanel #19 for the very same reason! :)