MAC Masterclass Brush Collection includes three new (and permanent) brushes that are exclusive to maccosmetics.com and MAC stores. I’ve been waiting to post this, as the brushes have been out of stock for almost two weeks now, but they’re back in stock for those who had them on their wish lists. They’re interesting brushes, and I think for some, they’ll be great, and others will find more traditional brushes more compelling. All three brushes felt sturdy and well-made; and the bristles felt very, very soft and silky. The Oval brushes are incredibly dense. They are comfortable to hold, and if you have larger hands or wear glasses, holding the brushes this way and having the brush heads facing this way greatly improve visibility.  I didn’t find that these were as multi-purpose as they’re touted, as the shapes didn’t work for as some of the recommended applications. Again, they’re intriguing and worth checking out, but they may or may not be a good fit in your routine.  I also highly recommend checking out Dustin Hunter’s video on these, as he’s a glasses-wearer as well as a professional makeup artist.

Linear 1 Brush ($25.00) was designed a liner brush; MAC’s website says “to line lashes and lips… also defines and fills brows.” It is 17mm in width, 8mm in length, and 3mm in thickness.  It has a total brush length of 5.75 inches or 14.5 centimeters. I think it’s too long, both in terms of the horizontal length but as well as the vertical length of the brushes (as they extend away from the brush itself)–it feels too large against my eye. It may be too wide, depending on how you like your eyeliner. The brush head is rather large relative to most openings of cream/gel eyeliners, too. The light curved edge on the left and right of the brush doesn’t seem intuitive as it doesn’t contour to the shape of the eye (or lip) well and instead lifts away from it. I liked using this best to fill in brows, where the longer shape worked better, and I didn’t need as much precision.

Oval 3 Brush ($32.00) was designed to be used (primarily!) for “[blending] powder or cream eyeshadows, powde, and liquid, or cream concealer.”   It is 15mm in width, 10mm in length, and 8mm in thickness.  It has a total length of inches 5.75 inches or 14.5 centimeters. This brush, again, was very large against my eye. The only practical way to use it is for applying an all-over color, whether a wash of eyeshadow or setting down an eyeshadow base. For blending, I felt it was too dense–better for application, particularly of creams–to get really soft, feathery strokes. I liked it best for blending concealer, as the slightly rounded edge fit into the hollows underneath my eye and along the contours of my nose. Against the eye, it felt too round, and I would have preferred something either less dense (so it would be more flexible and wisp-like) or flatter across the edge.

Oval 6 Brush ($42.00) was designed to be “ideal for blush, foundation, or powder, the rounded, medium-sized brush applies, blends and contours all over the face and cheeks.” It is 30mm in width, 14mm in length, and 20mm in thickness. Of the three, this was my personal favorite, as I felt like the size was right, and it’s very, very soft. I worked with this brush with blush, foundation, bronzer, contour powder, moisturizers, and primers. It worked best for applying product all over (like a primer or moisturizer) or contouring, as the rounded edge does work with contouring (but it can be a bit wide, depending on your face shape), but for applying blush and the like, only the middle portion of the brush really hits the skin, as it is curved opposite of the face. The dome shape just doesn’t deposit blush that well, and it’s so dense that blending is easier and more naturally achieved with a fluffier brush. It applies foundation beautifully, and it definitely gives a natural, even, and smooth finish.  This brush took a few washes to clean of foundation, and I imagine the density is part of why this is a harder brush to clean.

After trying the brushes for a few days, I then spoke to Louise Zizzo, a MAC Senior Artist, who I’ve known for five or six years now! I definitely had a few questions about these new brushes. Since our chat, I spent the next two weeks really putting the brushes through their paces.

Check out the Q&A and see more photos!

What’s the best way to clean these brushes? How does the process differ from cleaning regular brushes?
Louise Z.: “Two ways that work well… Between uses: just like other brushes, just use the brush cleanser on a paper towel and just swiping them will get rid of topical of whatever you’ve used. For a proper clean: again, use the brush cleanser with water, you want to make sure not to submerge the whole brush into the water, just in the cup in your hand and swirl around with the cleanser and water, rinse out. You want to lay them down to dry on paper towel with the bristles touching the paper.”

What are your favorite type of products to use with each brush?
Louise Z.: “They’re great for people just getting into makeup who aren’t used to using brushes! Linear 1 – tiny one – originally designed use was to make it easy to do eyeliner. With the handle shape for the average consumer, a lot of people have trouble with liner because they can’t see. [This] makes lining easier. It’s also useful for brows–brilliant to use with an eyeshadow or a brow gel to run through the brow! Clean sweep. You can lightly brush through the brow, and it brushes the brow hairs themselves. Great for fuller brows as well as someone who needs to fill in their brows. Another use, a couple of other things that I’ve used this brush, actually really nice for… you could use this to brush mascara, just like brushing your hair, great for a tint, not a heavy look. Great for smoky liner, because it smudges well.

Oval 3 – mid-sized – Love this brush for concealer, around the eye area, as it buffs really nicely. I also really like this brush with pigments, as sometimes they can be a bit messy, so I like how this brush holds the pigment and then there is less fall out. I really like this brush to create a lipstick stain on the lips–it just brushes it on so easily, you get an even application, not blotchy. Works nice to run through the crease, contour the eye a little bit. Highlighting around the eyes is fantastic. These, because they’re a synthetic material that’s so soft, they’ll work with any type of medium really well.

Oval 6 – big one – I actually really like putting moisturizer on, because it really massages the moisturizer into the skin. I use it for foundation, [and] it helps to glide the foundation on. I love it with Mineralize Moisture foundation, gives it a really polished look to the skin. I like it for contouring and highlighting. Makes contouring easy when using powder or creams as the shape of it really contours the face perfectly. [It’s also] nice with CCBs for highlighting the skin. Great for concealing on the body for professional artists. The buffed product looks seamless, not topical, makes it look like its your skin.”

How have these new brushes changed the way you apply makeup on yourself and/or clients?
Louise Z.: “On myself, ease of application. You can really see [the difference], especially for liner or brows, as it can be hard to see with your hand in front of your face. The way the product goes on, it [also] leaves out a lot of the technical aspects. [From a] professional point of view, it’s just having another option, as we’re always looking for a new tool.”

What would your best advice be for someone skeptical of the new style of brush?
Louise Z.: “The way they feel in the hand, they’re comfortable to hold, they seem very natural when you pick them up. They have to give it a chance, tehy’ll be shocked on how easy it’s going to apply their makeup. If you had only had these three brushes, you could do all your makeup, and it would be quick and easy.”

If you could only recommend one of the three to someone, which would it be?
Louise Z.: “Oval 3 is most versatile for ANYONE. Oval 6 for anyone who uses more face products, [as] it really enhances every foundation.”

Is there a shape or size you’d like to see in the future?
Louise Z.: “I’d love to see another Oval brush that was smaller and rounded for more detailed work for the eyes or highlighting on the inner corner. ”

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Linear 1 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 3 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush

MAC Oval 6 Brush