I purchased these before 2018 from a MAC store so fairly certain these are natural hair brushes, not synthetic. Some of my MAC brushes are decades old so these may be older than I realize. I’ve been purchasing MAC products since the early 1990’s but I suspect these are 10-15 years old?? I used the heck out of these. Has scratches and scuff marks. JAPAN is still etched on the handles but very faint. Bristles are a bit flared but a brush sleeve can help remedy this. No photo filter used. I’m the original owner.