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Beauty of Joseon vs MAC

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Beauty of Joseon and MAC are two distinct beauty lines, with the former being a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and the latter a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984. The first brand is deeply loved for its thoughtful array of serums, masks, moisturizers, sunscreens, and more, which incorporate ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to best suit dry skin and skin with dark spots. Meanwhile, the second brand is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. These offerings differ as the Korean brand focuses on deeply nourishing formulations for targeted concerns, while the Canadian brand provides a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

Beauty of Joseon is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by Goodai Global Inc. since 2019.

kbeautywiki.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.comgoodai-global.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Beauty of Joseon and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Beauty of Joseon vs MAC products

People Say

Beauty of JoseonMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream”
  • Texture and Application Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “feels like a light moisturizer — Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics”
    • “sinks in instantly — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water”
    • “skin feels incredibly smooth — Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no irritation at all — Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum”
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Makeup Compatibility Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “makeup sits beautifully on top — Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics”
  • Makeup Removal Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Removes waterproof mascara completely without needing a separate remover. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “melts waterproof mascara — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil”
  • Glow and Radiance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum”
    • “Gives me that chok-chok dewy look — Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Scent and Fragrance Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like cooking oil — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil”
    • “smells like cheese — Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Broke me out in cystic acne — Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”

Questions and answers

Beauty of Joseon or MAC: which is better?

Beauty of Joseon is a better choice if you prefer fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like niacinamide that help brighten skin and reduce dark spots. MAC tends to be better for makeup bases, primers, and overall makeup compatibility, though its products on this page contain fragrance.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Beauty of Joseon and MAC?

Beauty of Joseon focuses on gentle, fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like niacinamide and ginseng, fitting dry and sensitive skin well, whereas MAC is known for makeup compatibility and lightweight moisturizers but often includes fragrance in its products.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Beauty of Joseon or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Beauty of Joseon offers moisturizers that Lovi rates High for a wide variety of skin types, including dry, mature, and sensitive skin, while MAC moisturizers generally receive Average fit ratings. Additionally, every Beauty of Joseon product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas MAC moisturizers contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Beauty of Joseon or MAC?

Beauty of Joseon is more affordable, as reviewers frequently note MAC's high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Beauty of Joseon or MAC?

According to the review themes on this page, Beauty of Joseon and MAC perform equally when it comes to breakouts and acne. Reviewers mention that Beauty of Joseon products may cause breakouts and acne, while MAC has no recorded advantage in this category.

Between Beauty of Joseon and MAC, which brand offers fragrance-free skincare products according to the page?

Beauty of Joseon offers fragrance-free skincare products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, none of the 3 products on the MAC page are fragrance-free.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Beauty of Joseon and MAC?

Beauty of Joseon was founded in South Korea in 2016, whereas MAC was founded in Canada in 1984.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture when comparing Beauty of Joseon and MAC?

When comparing Beauty of Joseon and MAC for hydration and moisture, MAC performs better according to reviewer themes on this page. MAC offers lightweight moisturizers with strong makeup compatibility, though Beauty of Joseon also provides deep hydration and moisturization using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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