theleopardcake
Well-known member
I've heard that MAC stores and some counters sell brush sets (for around $40+) annually during the holidays. Do any of you know about this?
Brush Sets (SE) vs. Full Size Brushes - Quality?
- Thread starter theleopardcake
- Start date
midgetfury74
Well-known member
Well the Nordie's Anniversary sale has two brush sets that are coming out July 14th, they include 5 SE brushes each, i can take a picture of the pattern maker flier if you would like to see them just PM me. And then all mac locations usually have brush gift sets during the holidays last year were the magenta, teal and olive bags that look like clutches each with 5 brushes. Those and the ones that are coming out at Nordies in a few week cost $47.
carol
Well-known member
Yeah. MAC releases brush sets around the winter holidays every year. They usually retail for around $40-45, I think. They're all SE, short-handled brushes. And the quality is sort of hit or miss. Some sets appear to be better than others. But I still don't think the quality compares to the full sized ones.
I think they're a good starter set, though, for the cost -- if you're just sort of getting started with it.
And they sometimes come in cute little packaging that may be hard to pass up, even if the brushes themselves aren't all that hot.
I think they're a good starter set, though, for the cost -- if you're just sort of getting started with it.
And they sometimes come in cute little packaging that may be hard to pass up, even if the brushes themselves aren't all that hot.
bluegrassbabe
Well-known member
I don't have any complaints about the quality of mine, other than the 129 brush. It only lasted about a year before it started shedding and breaking. The eyeshadow SEs I got in the sets have been great. I like them because I actually prefer working with the shorter handles in the sets.
Dancrbabe29
Member
Mac SE Brushes
since i own no mac brushes just other brushes and not so great quality to begin with i was planning on buying one of the brush sets in patternmaker but my question is how big are the brushes, i dont need the full size ones but i did pick up one of the holiday palletes with the tiny brush in it...the brushes aren't that small are they? if not are they a decent size?
since i own no mac brushes just other brushes and not so great quality to begin with i was planning on buying one of the brush sets in patternmaker but my question is how big are the brushes, i dont need the full size ones but i did pick up one of the holiday palletes with the tiny brush in it...the brushes aren't that small are they? if not are they a decent size?
Juneplum
Well-known member
neeshie
Well-known member
The holiday brush sets
I've wanted a new set of brushes for travel so i got the face and eye holiday sets.
Love the brushes, love the bags.
BUT
Is it just me or does anyone else think that the bags are impractical for travel use?
I need to find a bag that at the moment exists only in my head. Its basically a bag like a zipped up filofax/personal organiser of the old school paper/pen variety that has elastic to hold the brushes in place.
I'm sure it exists, i just need to find it.
I've wanted a new set of brushes for travel so i got the face and eye holiday sets.
Love the brushes, love the bags.
BUT
Is it just me or does anyone else think that the bags are impractical for travel use?
I need to find a bag that at the moment exists only in my head. Its basically a bag like a zipped up filofax/personal organiser of the old school paper/pen variety that has elastic to hold the brushes in place.
I'm sure it exists, i just need to find it.
dreamqueen
Well-known member
I've traveled twice since getting the face set and I just toss them in along with some smaller sized eyebrushes and I think it works great. I do like your brush organizer idea, however.
litlaur
Well-known member
I've seen something like that at Target
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0002W1BC2
I haven't had any problems traveling with the face set. I slip a rubber band around the clutch, since it's only kept closed by a magnet.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0002W1BC2
I haven't had any problems traveling with the face set. I slip a rubber band around the clutch, since it's only kept closed by a magnet.
hannahjohnson
Active member
Regular Line vs. SE Brushes a bit misleading...
A couple months ago, one of my awesome teachers at cosmetology school let me in on some INTERESTING information... Seems M.A.C may be keepin' a little secret from us!!
The regular line of brushes (Long handled, individually sold) and special edition brushes (IE, short handled, in sets such as Patternmaker, Formal Black etc) are NOT the same in manufacturing and quality! I had been thinking this was true for a long time, but it was finally confirmed!
Some of the differences she mentioned, and I have observed are:
a) Plastic handles are used for the SE ones, or the plastic handles are enameled or painted to make them SEEM wooden (You might realize that regular line brushes have sturdy wooden handles made of quality woods)
b) The metal ferrules are much more fragile on SE brushes, and of a lesser quality (IE machine made and pressed).
c) The fibers used in the SE brushes are lesser quality, less dense, and sometimes a completely different fiber than its regular line counterpart... She also told me that some brushes that are normally made with a natural animal fur fiber are made with a synthetic for SE manufacturing.
d) I noticed that all of the "sets" say "Imported" on the descriptions on the site, while only SOME of the normal brushes say this.
Obviously, this is all done for cost reasons, but they STILL sell us, the consumers, those sets for 48 dollars?? I mean, I understand upholding the M.A.C brand, but don'tcha think it's still a BIT misleading?
Now I wonder, ya'll Specktrettes, do you notice a difference in your "special set" brushes and the regular brushes you use? Along the lines of wear and tear, feel on the face, etc?
Also, personally I never knew there was a difference, I only had an "inkling" of it when a couple of my SE brushes literally broke in half! Also, I have washed (baby shampoo and conditioner with tap water) a few of the SE brushes, and the fibers in the heads completely change texture and feel, usually becoming coarser and "pouffier," sometimes rendering them useless!! These things have NEVER happened with a regular line brush.
Oh, and also, I find it a bit suspicious that on the website they describe the regular brushes as "M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature birch, linden and ramin wood handles, nickel-plated brass ferrules." ..... but do not MENTION any of this when describing the Formal Black sets!
Did any of ya'll know about these differences, or am I just extremely behind the times, girls?? Please let me know!!!
A couple months ago, one of my awesome teachers at cosmetology school let me in on some INTERESTING information... Seems M.A.C may be keepin' a little secret from us!!
The regular line of brushes (Long handled, individually sold) and special edition brushes (IE, short handled, in sets such as Patternmaker, Formal Black etc) are NOT the same in manufacturing and quality! I had been thinking this was true for a long time, but it was finally confirmed!
Some of the differences she mentioned, and I have observed are:
a) Plastic handles are used for the SE ones, or the plastic handles are enameled or painted to make them SEEM wooden (You might realize that regular line brushes have sturdy wooden handles made of quality woods)
b) The metal ferrules are much more fragile on SE brushes, and of a lesser quality (IE machine made and pressed).
c) The fibers used in the SE brushes are lesser quality, less dense, and sometimes a completely different fiber than its regular line counterpart... She also told me that some brushes that are normally made with a natural animal fur fiber are made with a synthetic for SE manufacturing.
d) I noticed that all of the "sets" say "Imported" on the descriptions on the site, while only SOME of the normal brushes say this.
Obviously, this is all done for cost reasons, but they STILL sell us, the consumers, those sets for 48 dollars?? I mean, I understand upholding the M.A.C brand, but don'tcha think it's still a BIT misleading?
Now I wonder, ya'll Specktrettes, do you notice a difference in your "special set" brushes and the regular brushes you use? Along the lines of wear and tear, feel on the face, etc?
Also, personally I never knew there was a difference, I only had an "inkling" of it when a couple of my SE brushes literally broke in half! Also, I have washed (baby shampoo and conditioner with tap water) a few of the SE brushes, and the fibers in the heads completely change texture and feel, usually becoming coarser and "pouffier," sometimes rendering them useless!! These things have NEVER happened with a regular line brush.
Oh, and also, I find it a bit suspicious that on the website they describe the regular brushes as "M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature birch, linden and ramin wood handles, nickel-plated brass ferrules." ..... but do not MENTION any of this when describing the Formal Black sets!
Did any of ya'll know about these differences, or am I just extremely behind the times, girls?? Please let me know!!!
SARAHluvsMAC
Well-known member
what do you expect when the whole set is a little more then the cpst of 1 brush?
brush sets are made for occasional use/travel... for those purposes they are just fine
brush sets are made for occasional use/travel... for those purposes they are just fine
MAC_Whore
Well-known member
Quote:
Sorry. Hit the "THANKS" button on accident. I meant to hit the QUOTE button.
I think she is just trying to be helpful to newer members who may not be aware of these facts. As an MA, this may be common knowledge to you, but not necessarily to other members. Thanks for sharing your tip hannahjohnson.
Originally Posted by SARAHluvsMAC
what do you expect when the whole set is a little more then the cpst of 1 brush? brush sets are made for occasional use/travel... for those purposes they are just fine |
Sorry. Hit the "THANKS" button on accident. I meant to hit the QUOTE button.
I think she is just trying to be helpful to newer members who may not be aware of these facts. As an MA, this may be common knowledge to you, but not necessarily to other members. Thanks for sharing your tip hannahjohnson.
Lalli
Well-known member
Quote:
You may know all this as your an MA but some ppl wanting to purchase the brush sets probably dont know whats in the brushes and wot not so it was a useful thread
| Originally Posted by SARAHluvsMAC
what do you expect when the whole set is a little more then the cpst of 1 brush? brush sets are made for occasional use/travel... for those purposes they are just fine |
You may know all this as your an MA but some ppl wanting to purchase the brush sets probably dont know whats in the brushes and wot not so it was a useful thread
roxybc
Well-known member
This has been mentioned a few times before. Anyways, I have a brush set from the 2004 holiday collection, and I much prefer some of those brushes to my regular ones. Also, I just bought the 182 Kabuki brush, and after reading a post on here about how I should wash all my brushes before using them because of the chemicals they put on the brushes to keep them soft and hold their shape, I went ahead and washed it. Now my kabuki brush doesn't feel nearly as soft as it did when I first unpacked it.
little teaser
Well-known member
thanks for the info..
Sanne
Well-known member
I think there's a big difference in quality between the regulars and most SE brushes I own, but now allways in a bad way: I totally love my 266SE brush from 2004 holiday palette because it's hairs are alot more stiffer, and it has 3x more hairs which means I can't use it for fine lines, but it my HG brush for my eyebrows!!
There's a noticable difference between the 190 and the SE190 when you touch the hairs, but when I use it, it makes no difference, I love them both!
There's a noticable difference between the 190 and the SE190 when you touch the hairs, but when I use it, it makes no difference, I love them both!
Naturellle
Well-known member
Personally, I don't think the difference in quality is all that great(if any). I still get the same effect to be completely honest. I recently purchased the new brush set w/the 187 (I also I have a reg 187) and I still get the same wonderful, flawless finish. I can't get enough of it and I love the short handle. I find myself using it more than the big one. I also like that the writing actually stays on the SE brushes unlike some of the reg brushes(ex. my 239) .
I'm aware that they're manafactured differently but I'm skeptical when people say the quality is less than the regular. I believe the MA at my counter when she said the quality is the same but the manufacturing is just different just based on my experience on the use of brushes.
I'm aware that they're manafactured differently but I'm skeptical when people say the quality is less than the regular. I believe the MA at my counter when she said the quality is the same but the manufacturing is just different just based on my experience on the use of brushes.
blueyesdancing
Well-known member
I am sorry that you feel you have been misled....any MAC ma I have talked to is very forthcoming about the brush sets vs. the individuals.
