Fake Mac Brush Set!!! + How to spot them

So I got this set of 24 make up brushes from 'MAC' off Ebay.......



I really should have done more research before I got this :/ But there were only 3 left and they were going for crazy cheap so I bought these for about £35.

This is what it looks like when opened, minus all the labels I stuck on myself (I still have no idea what all these brushes are for and how to use them :/ I mean I know the basics but I was guna learn more with the MAC brushes that were going to last forever XD)



Here are some of the reasons how I realised that these brushes were fake.

1. Evidentally MAC no longer does brush sets.

Due to the fact that people can split them up and sell them on as individual brushes or something like that... So my set of 24 were obviously a fake. (I hear in certain special occassions, MAC does release a limited holiday edition brush sets. But they are mini brushes, not full sized! This little fact though, im not sure how true it is... so dont quote me on it)

2. Marks on brushes.

My brushes (even though brand new) had this glue and something that looked like tobacco stuck on it that refused to come off. Do you really think that MAC, supposidly one of the top make up companies would let their brushes go out looking all dirty? :/ I think not!!

3. Two very different brushes labelled with the same number

Both brushes labelled 195. As you can see the brushes arent even similar.

4.Brush Quality

 So above is the picture of my 252 brush (large shader brush) and on the right is a picture of an actual MAC 252 brush. As you can see, my brush looks a lot sparse than a genuine MAC brush. Also, my brushes are losing hairs already D: ALREADY. ( I've had them for about 3 days).

5. Sponge Applicators.

Evidentally, MAC doesnt sell sponge applicators. So the fact that I've gotten one from MAC is ridiculous :/ This brush has been labelled 202. That brush number doesnt even exist!!!

Also I thought I would add as well, the seller I bought this from included a list of the brushes that would be in this set, 3 of which werent even there, and I had several brushes in there that were either like the 195 brushes and had two of (2 totally different brushes) or had random brushes that werent included in the list.


So those are the things I spotted with my brush set, they aren't genuine MAC brushes, but the brushes themselves are soft and are quite good for applying make-up, so I guess I cant complain too much. The seller I bought this from has been contacted but so far, no reply. -__-

I think what I will do is just use these brushes and if I like them and I learn more about them I'll start replacing them one by one with actual MAC brushes.

So when searching for MAC products, avoid the ones with sponge applicators.

Take the palette in the picture above for example-a supposid MAC eyeshadow palette with a sponge applicator? If you see one of these you know that you should avoid them. Also, I've been informed that MAC do not sell eyeshadow in anything but round shapes :/ Now I think about it, I've never seen MAC eyeshadow coming in rectangular forms.

Also, avoid the MAC products that include a mirror. I've been told that MAC do not do palettes with mirrors included.

So the picture above has all three XD a classic sign that it's a fake.

I also hear that the MAC eyeshadow palette of 120 and 180 are all fake. All MAC eyeshadows are labelled!! (As are the brushes. But dont just go by the fact that the brush is labelled to take it to be the real deal.....)

A word about the gel eye liners that MAC sell...... I've been told that MAC will always sell the eye liners on their own, WITHOUT the brush. So if you see one being sold with the brush, that would be......a fake.

I think thats about everything I know so far about the fake MAC products. I hope it helps.... whoever may come across it at some point!

*please note... After posting this post, my case with the false MAC brushes on Ebay have been resolved (the seller never responded, Ebay gave me all my money back).