Rarely has any Cosmetics Company grabbed fame through humanitarian efforts. Many struggle to balance public image with their sales per year, while MAC Cosmetics has been able to do both successfully with ease.
With straightforward sales campaigns and grassroots beliefs, they have certainly distinguished themselves in the world of beauty-in-a-bottle.
It is no wonder that MAC Cosmetics has been nearly unrivaled in its widespread popularity and cultural spread. With nearly 1000 locations worldwide their company is certainly recognizable. This review will cover any successes or failures and will give the reader an idea of what MAC has to offer.
What Is MAC’s Origin Story?
Having been founded in Toronto in 1984, Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo enlisted the help of chemist Vic Casale to birth a new cosmetics company.
They named their company M.A.C. Cosmetics, “M.A.C.” standing for “Make-up Art Cosmetics”. Their first store opened in New York back in 1991.
The company's products were originally geared toward professional make-up artists. After being prodded by the models that used their products and their friends, MAC cosmetics were made available to consumers worldwide.
In Fact, Nordstrom was the first department store in the United States to start selling their products.
The company’s autonomy was short lived, as Estée Lauder Companies acquired a controlling interest in MAC in 1996, then completed the acquisition of MAC Cosmetics in 1998.
Sadly, founder Frank Angelo died shortly after in 1997 due to complications during surgery. By that time, MAC accomplished revenue of $250 million, which doubled a decade later.
What Do They Stand For?
MAC’s About Us page proudly lists Artistry, Community, Trendsetting, and Social Responsibility as their practices and beliefs.
Shining through perhaps the brightest is their devotion to diversity, as they make their make-up for all ages, races, and sexes. Additionally, MAC takes pride in being very in tune with current social and cultural trends.
Rather than driving sales by traditional promotional methods, MAC Cosmetics relied on the integrity of its carefully formulated product line to do the talking for them. Innovation is always on their mind, as they remain committed to developing new categories and products.
How Socially Responsible Are They Really?
In 1994, HIV and AIDS continued to spread across the globe. M·A·C responded by making HIV/AIDS organizations the beneficiaries of the company’s charitable focus. Thusly, the M·A·C AIDS Fund was born.
To date, their VIVA GLAM campaign has raised over $400 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS. MAC even teamed up with spokespeople such as Lady Gaga, Pamela Anderson, Nicki Minaj, and most recently, Ariana Grande to help in the grand endeavor.
Another impressive feature of their business is their stance on animal testing. On their website, there is a link to the full explanation.
To summarize, M.A.C. Cosmetics has a hard stance against animal testing but is still required to test their products using this method in order to sell in China.
But, they do not concede without a fight, as they have partnered with the Institute For In Vitro (IIVS), whose mission it is to enable alternative product testing methods.
What Do They Sell Today?
Upon visiting their website, any make-up fanatic will feel like a kid in a candy store with the wide variety of options given. Below is a convenient list of products offered –
Eyes –
- Shadow
- Eye Palettes & Kits
- Liner
- Mascara
- Brow
- Lash
- Eye Primer
Lips –
- Lipstick
Lip Gloss - Lip Pencil
- Lip Care & Primer
- Lip Palettes & Kits
Face –
- Foundation
- Powder
- Blush
- Concealer
- Face Primer
- Multi-Use
- Face Palettes & Kits
Nails –
- Lacquer
Additional Products –
- Pro Products
- Primer and Skincare
- Brushes and Tools
- Fragrances
The most desired products on their websites are led by lipsticks and are followed by blushes. The shades Ruby Woo, Velvet Teddy and the VIVA GLAM Ariana II lead the pack. After a lip pencil in the shade of Soar, eye shadows follow. Painterly and Nylon Frost spearhead it from there.
What Are Their Top-Rated Products?
If you’re wondering which products to start with in this labyrinth of options, give the following list a look-see. Ranked starting from number one, their list of top rated products are as follows.
- Lipstick “8+ Textures, Professional, Iconic” – $17.00
- Eye Shadow “Rich Colour, Professional, Iconic” – $16.00
- Lip Pencil “Cream, Professional, Artistry” – $17.50
- Eye Shadow (Pro Palette Refill Pan) “Rich Colour, Professional” – $6.00
- Powder Blush “5+ Textures, Buildable, Professional” – $23.00
- Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation “Medium Coverage, Matte Finish, Controls Oil” – $28.00
- Mineralize Skinfinish Natural “Baked Minerals, Medium Coverage, Natural Finish” -$33.00
- Prep + Prime Fix+ “Hydrating, Refreshing, Finishes Make-up” $23.00
It appears as though most have not strayed from the basics of an iconic brand.
The Artists Of M.A.C.
It would be a travesty to not acknowledge the artist behind many of M.A.C.’s inspired designs. Especially considering M.A.C. themselves feature the artists on their Artistry page. Here are a few of them, in order as presented by their website.
- Gregory Arlt
- Global Director, Started in 1989.
- Terry Barber
- Global Director, Started in 1992
- Keri Blair
- Senior Artist, Started in 1996
- Rebecca Butterworth
- Senior Artist, Started in 2000
- Caitlin Callahan
- Senior Artist, Started in 1992
- Gisel Calvillo
- Senior Artist, Started in 2003
MAC Cosmetics Review Summary
The struggle of having a large business and the desire to keep in touch with culture is a familiar to M.A.C. Cosmetics.
And though they have made strides in their humanitarian efforts, their cultural microscope is seen as sometimes wasted on trendiness instead of customer service. Many customers that approach M.A.C.’s retail locations are said to not always be met with excellent service.
Regardless, plenty of customers are invested in this company to keep the spotlight on the cultural artistry of the present day.
And this is not a surprising thing, as M.A.C. has successfully proven themselves in this area over the years. From humble beginning to becoming a global brand, many argue that M.A.C. should not be judged by one negative experience.
Any customer seeking tried-and-true cosmetics will not be disappointed by what they find in M.A.C. Large Varieties, Bold Colors, and celebrity endorsements area few of the impressive things M.A.C. has to offer for the average consumer.
Not to mention their social conscious and humanitarian efforts- these efforts surely reach beyond a simple cosmetics business.
