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MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit Review & Photos

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit
MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit ($49.50) includes five travel-sized brushes and a patterned brush rkeper. The brushes have glossy black handles with golden patterns on them and white bristles (except the 204SE Lash, which is a black mascara spoolie). The brush holder has a shiny black ribbon that ties it together, and on the interior, there are five slots so each brush has its own home. The brush holder is made out of 100% polyester with a very smooth, soft feel on the exterior and a slightly more textured fabric on the interior.

The brushes are consistent with this past holiday’s brush sets in that they seem improved over the last few years of brush set releases, but the full-sized versions will still out-perform, mostly in regards to softness, though I felt like the shapes of the eye brushes were larger, more rounded, and fluffier here than their full versions. The shapes of the brushes just seem a lot less precise with less defined shape here, particularly in the case of the 217SE. The 204SE Lash and the 168SE Large Angled Contour were the most similar to their full versions. The 219SE is longer and more rounded, so it can actually be nicer for smudging out color (less tapered/sharp). The 239SE seems fluffier and less flat, so it wasn’t as good for packing on color, but it worked well for blending.

See more photos!

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit
MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit
MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit
MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit
MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit

MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit
MAC x BollyDoll Brush Kit

39 Comments

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Cristy Avatar

I bought an old travel size brush kit with white goat hair like 12 years ago. Still have it. It’s in the mini-makeup bag that I keep in my purse for touchups during the day. Even though they are over a decade old, they retained their shape and still look better than the newer sets MAC keeps bringing out. My favorite MAC bags are still the Julie Verhoven ones. I bought a back up of the smaller one since its what I carry with me all the time.

JamieM Avatar

I bought the mineralized brush set because both you and Makeup and Beauty Blog raved about the superior quality in that set compared to past limited edition sets, but I was really let down. There was way more shedding than I could overlook. My sister got the same set and hers was fine, but I was too let down to exchange it. These on the other hand look beautiful!

fuji Avatar

I simply don’t like any separated mascara spoolie but maybe I’m too narrow-minded on this. To me, either the spoolie itself is part of the packaging, like the normal one that stays inside of a mascara and as a cap, or they are disposable ones for hygienic purpose for testing products in stores. And I prefer the first type being silicone and specially-molded into a precise shape for better application. But this spoolie here in the set is obviously too nice to be disposable and I would have no idea in how to deal with it after I dip it into the mascara for the first time. (Should I maintain it as other brushes? I’m just too lazy… haha)

Mariella Avatar

It’s good to read that the quality of these brush sets is improving but it’s still something I wouldn’t purchase for myself. I suppose if my daughter were just getting into makeup, I might consider if for her (if she were 16 or 17), although even then, I think one or two RT brush sets would offer much better value and quality for the price, though they don’t look as nice. We just found out we’re going to India for a wedding in early 2016, so I’d rather buy an embroidered bag there for pennies rather than spend more than 30 bucks for a MAC version!

Christine Avatar

I don’t think MAC’s brush kits are worth the $50 price tag – there are too many brushes to consider these days at all price points. MAC’s strength is in the usability of their shapes, I think, but when they lose precision as they have in this set, you don’t get that. I just think you’re better off going with Real Techniques or Sonia Kashuk if budget is a concern!

sabrina Avatar

I can’t seem to find this brush kit anywhere.. it may be because I’m in Canada. I’ve checked mac stores and, mac counters at the bay. So far no luck, does anyone know where I can find them?

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