Inside my Prada Saffiano tote: Porter Magazine (Winter 2014 issue), Sony NEX-6L/B
, Smythson Notebook, Gray Malin iPhone Case, L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream (c/o), Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturizer and MAC Clear Bag Set
, Smythson Notebook, Gray Malin iPhone Case, L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream (c/o), Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturizer and MAC Clear Bag Set
I’ve received lots of requests about clear makeup bags ever since I featured a clear Bobbi Brown cosmetic bag in a few of my inside my bag posts. Unfortunately it was a gift with purchase a few years ago and was never released for purchase which is too bad because it was well made and compact enough to fit into most of my smaller purses. I’ve been on the hunt for something similar but haven’t found anything quite like it. The Truffle Clarity Clutches are a favorite for their sleek look, high quality material and functional design but some have asked for other recommendations. I spotted these new MAC Clear Bag Sets ($25) and immediately went to my MAC counter to investigate. Size dimensions weren’t disclosed online so I wasn’t sure how small or large these were.
The MAC Clear Bag Set ($25) is a set of two sealable rectangular pouches. One side of each pouch is clear with a black back. They are sleek and compact and the set comes with two different sizes. The zipper glides nicely in a plastic format. Below shows what I was able to fit into each:
The Large Pouch measures approximately 9.4 inches by 5.75 inches. It fits quite a bit inside. I like my flat makeup bags to remain relatively flat so I didn’t pack it full. I was able to get the following inside the pouch:
Tatcha Indigo Hand Cream (mini)
The Small Pouch measures approximately 9.4 inches by 3.1 inches, this one is ideal for smaller sized items like small brushes, pencils, skinny objects or minis. What I was able to fit into the smaller clear front pouch:
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick (mini)
Revlon Tweezers
They are both fairly compact in size. The flat design makes them fit easily into your purse and keep everything compact. The material is just ok. It’s nicely made but not the best quality. It’s not as good as the material used on my Bobbi Brown case or Truffle Pouch. The design of the MAC Clear Bag Set is basic and simple with a no-fuss look, but it lacks a hard backing and the trim is very minimal around the edges which makes it easy to bend. I had one corner folded (accidentally) after putting it inside my purse. It didn’t crease completely, but it did get mashed up a bit. The bag isn’t ruined and it will probably go back to its original shape if I lay it flat for a short while. I find these functional but in the past I have had issues with other brands of pouches and bags that have the plastic zipper seal – I’ve found they aren’t always the sturdiest and often become misaligned and the pouches stop sealing all together. Only time will tell with these, but so far they do seem to be pretty well made.
I’ve used these for a couple of weeks and they have held up pretty well although they aren’t the sturdiest makeup bags I’ve tried so I don’t know how long they will hold up. I like that the design is simple and sleek. They keep everything compact and having one clear side is nice so you don’t have to go digging through your makeup bag to find things. The simplicity in the design has a slight downside in the sense the trim is almost non-exisiting so it is very easy to bend. With thinner plastic material I do sometimes worry about it stretching if things don’t stay flat inside making the shape distorted.
Overall I think they are nice. I wouldn’t call them must-haves simply because I would have preferred something with a sturdier design. Still, they are functional and I find the price is reasonable for a set of two pouches. These would certainly be a good storage option for brushes if you are looking for something to store them on-the-go.
I purchased the MAC Clear Bag Set for $25 from Nordstrom. It’s also available at Macy’s and Maccosmetics.com. Do you have a favorite clear makeup bag?
