Opinions on MAC make-up?

[Nokidsnoproblem]

I am not an advertiser, nor do I work for MAC.

I am starting a new job soon and I need to look good. I'm not very good with make-up and have never bought an expensive brand before.

What I have noticed is that everyone I know who uses MAC make-up looks pretty good. Therefore I am booking a 'makeover' with them and buying a few products.

In your opinion is MAC good? Is it worth the money?

Which make-up brands would you recommend?

[AnneUulmelmahay]

Fgs ask the style mavens in S and B you donut.

This ' oh I will shove it in AIBU' mentality, ugh.

[emsyj]

Some of their stuff is good, other stuff I don't like so much. Makeup is very subjective, different people will get on with different products. I think in general you need to buy good brushes and learn how to apply products properly - whilst there are some things worth spending money on (foundation being one, IMO) you can look good using cheap stuff if you apply it well and know which colours suit.

Enjoy the lesson, I know a few people who have gone for a MAC lesson and they all thought it was fun and felt they learned something from it.

[stayathomegardener]

Mac do great make over classes for an hour £25.00 but you can then use that money to spend on products.

I think they are great,they do get very booked up though.

[Trills]

Did you know there is a Style and Beauty section?

I would say that "people who use MAC looking good" is more to do with there being a general correlation between "people who care about makeup and have spent lots of time practising using it" and "people who buy expensive makeup".

It's not that the expensive stuff is SO much better, it's that those people probably know what they are doing already.

[LauraChant]

I don't care much about makeup and rarely wear it, but I always use Mac foundation when I wear foundation. It seems to work for me.

[StuntGirl]

They now test on animals so I avoid, avoid, avoid.

[Silverb1rch]

I find MAC's good quality - I use their 'studio finish' foundation for holidays as it has a dewy finish but doesn't slide even in sweltering heat.

Their brushes are great too.

When you go for the makeover, let the makeup girl or guy know what you're looking to get out of the makeup and they'll be able to suggest the best products.. I.e. Long lasting / sheer / dewy finish etc etc. Have fun with it!

[Birdsgottafly]

Depends on how old you are.

When you pay for your make up to be done professionally, they usually use Mac, it gives a good finish, especially their Studio Fix, if you are under 30 and have generally good skin.

I have just treated my nearly 18 year old to Mac foundation and highlighter, I got a shock when I found out that I was paying £27 for a brush, but if you look after them, they apparently last for years.

[Silverb1rch]

Also, when you're next in boots/debenhams, I'd have a wander around the beauty sections and ask the girls there for their opinions - you'll probably come home with tonnes of freebie samples that match your tone exactly and can test them out in your own time!

[MrsTerryPratchett]

YABU this is AIBU.

[KateSMumsnet]

Hullo, we're just going to move this to Style and Beauty, as it's the best place for it.

[MissDD1971]

I have used A LOT of MAC stuff and other makeup over the years.

Lipsticks can be great (different finishes, lots of colour range). I'm not keen on their single eyeshadows but again, have a few. They're not as soft as I'd like. I did buy a creme blush from them recently which is great.

Have tried their pot eyeliners, not for me. Nor the foundations. I just feel they don't cover well or right colours. Wait, I did have and try an eyeliner but found it awfully dry - nice colour though. Would not rebuy.

They do nice LE holiday collections.

got a few brushes and yes, amazing but again. I prefer Shu Uemura brushes to be honest!

it is a case of suck it and see.

[Elsiequadrille]

I tried to use it but found it was too harsh for my (sensitive) skin and made my eyes water, it's quite perfumed too if I recall correctly.

I used a Mac concealer stick and still have some perfume both of which were fine.

[TallulahBetty]

It's ok, nothing special IMO. I've got a few bits for "special" but I'm "meh" towards it really - no better than some cheaper brands.

[MrsMeow]

The studio fix foundation and the powder are both ok - foundation gives fab coverage. I spent a fortune there once I realised they both suited me, but of the eyeshadows, blushers and lipsticks that I tried, I wasn't bowled over by any of them. No better than MUA (Superdrug) in my opinion but10 times the price!

[Vibbe]

Some of the foundations are good.
Never got on with concealers, primers and their strobe cream.
I like the Mineralize powders, Select Sheer pressed and loose powders.
Mascaras aren't very good - they smudge or make my lashes really brittle, which is uncomfortable.
All of their lip products smell awful. The lipsticks dry my lips out to the point of not being able to wear them two days in a row. Lip balm was so bad I threw it out on the day I bought it.
Eyeshadows are generally good.
Blushers are generally good.
Most of their nail polishes are IMO disgraceful.
Eye pencils are okay, not any worse or better than pencils from similar brands.

Brushes are very good (have only had one that was shedding loads, the rest are fine and last well after many, many washes).

Their limited editions are generally interesting, but there are usually products that are absolutely terrible. And the LE products sell out within days.


I'd go for Laura Mercier or Estee Lauder for foundation/tinted moisturiser.
Mac for brushes, pressed powder, eyeshadows and blushers.
Clinique for mascara.
Guerlain for lipstick and kohls.

With regards to foundation/tinted moisturiser, make sure you get a sample so you can try it at home before buying it. It means you can see how it works with your skin during the day, and you can check if it's right colour. And that it doesn't oxidise into some oompa-loompa-like orange colour.