The MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection Brush Kits: In Extra Dimension, Studio and Mineralize

For the most part, the MAC limited edition brushes I’ve tried feel scratchier, for lack of a better word, than their counterparts in the permanent line, and just don’t last as long. I’ve had brushes literally fall apart on me in less than a year — like, where the ferrule comes unglued from the handle when I’m in the middle of putting on my makeup.

So, as cute as they are (and they’re usually so. damn. cute.), I approach them with a dash of skepticism.

I’m still surprised sometimes, though. I had great experiences with a couple of the limited edition brushes from the Alluring Aquatic collection, so you never can tell. Reason enough to have high hopes for the new brushes in the Keepsakes Brush Kits, each of which comes with a cute bag and four or five brushes.

The MAC Keepsakes In Extra Dimension Brush Kit

This one contains…

• 127SE Split Fibre Face Brush
• 128SE Split Fibre Cheek Brush
• 234SE Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush
• 235SE Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush

I’ve been using these brushes a lot over the past few days — these and the ones in the other Keepsakes collection kits — and I have to say, the brushes in two of the bags, the Mineralize one and In Extra Dimension — seem a little better built than usual for MAC’s holiday fare. The bristles feel pretty soft.

The MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit

And this one…

• 187SE Duo Fibre Face Brush
• 130SE Short Duo Fibre Brush
• 286SE Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush
• 287SE Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brush

The Mineralize Brushes, in particular, feel just as good as some of my favorites in MAC’s permanent line. All four of them apply powder and cream products like pros, and if I were to recommend one of these brush kits over all the others, this would definitely be the one.

The only kit I’m not over the moon about is the Keepsakes Studio Brush Kit… Sadly, it’s the only one with five brushes (the Mineralize and In Extra Dimension kits each have four).

The MAC Keepsakes Studio Brush Kit

And this one…

• 129SE Powder/Blush Brush
• 190SE Foundation Brush
• 224SE Tapered BLending Brush
• 213SE Fluff Brush
• 209SE Eye Liner Brush

At first I thought, “Yay!” because of the bonus brush, but that wore off quickly as I used them…

These feel a little scratchy on my skin, especially the eye brushes, which also don’t seem to blend as well as MAC’s permanent line brushes.

But they’re definitely not terrible.

All three kits do come with a marvelous makeup bag that matches the handles (so cute!), and for me, the bags are the best things about these kits. I love the pearl edging and cameo on the zipper.

Overall, pretty good gift ideas for MAC makeup lovers, with the holidays coming up.

To have a brush with the Keepsakes Brush Kits, look for them when they arrive with the rest of the MAC Keepsakes collection online starting October 19, and at North American MAC stores and counters October 23 through December 18 (internationally, this November).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen