How to Spot Fake MAC Cosmetic Brush Sets

This guide will help you spot counterfeit or fake MAC makeup brushes. Keep in mind that 99% of the MAC full-size brush sets sold on ebay or on wholesale websites are fake. Packaging Authentic MAC brushes and brush sets come in clear plastic sleeves with a bar code printed on the sleeve. Many of the fake cosmetic brushes come in clear plastic but without the bar code. In addition, many fake cosmetic brushes come with additional hard plastic protectors for the hairs. Real MAC cosmetic brushes do not have this additional plastic protector. They come in the simple clear plastic sleeves with bar code. Handle Real MAC brushes come with black wooden handles and the neck (the part that connects the handle to the hair) is silver. I've seen some bad fake brushes with black plastic necks. Logo and Lettering Authentic MAC brushes are labeled "MAC ###". ### being the number of the brush. On real brushes, the lettering is printed on the handle and easily rubes off with your nail. On most FAKE brushes, the lettering is engraved into the handle and very hard to rub off. Try it.

Brush Sets
Keep in mind that MAC has never offered a set of full sized makeup brushes except until November 2006 called the Pret-a-Porter brush set and the 2008 Holiday Set for Nordstrom only. The Pret-aPorter set includes 8 full size brushes (187, 190, 129, 213, 224, 266, etc). The set comes with a black satin brush roll. So if you see a full size MAC brush set on Ebay but it doesn't have the 187 skunk brush, it's FAKE. For Christmas 2008 MAC released a full set for Nordstrom only. It came with 4 full size brushes (187, 168, 222 and 208). See photo below. Therefore, 99% of the brand new full size MAC brush sets on are FAKE.

Travel Size Brushes
MAC does make many travel size brush sets with brush numbers ending in SE. *UPDATED* - The last photo below is of a fake travel size MAC brush set I found on Ebay recently (Jan. 2008). Authentic travel brush sets usually come in sets of 5 brushes with a cute brush case, the brush handles are usually some unique color, not black. The fake set below however comes with plain black handles and a generic looking brush roll.

Price
$50 for a set of new and authentic MAC full size brushes? That's too good of a deal to be true!! The best way to avoid buying fake brushes on Ebay is to buy brushes one at a time, instead of in a set. I am noticing more and more fake 187 brushes on Ebay. They look very similar to the real thing except the seller seems to have an endless supply of them and happily sells them for 50% off of retail. This is a sure sign they are fake