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La Roche-Posay vs MAC

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

La Roche-Posay and MAC are distinct beauty brands offering targeted daily care for different complexions. The French brand is loved for its nourishing serums, comforting moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and soothing eye products formulated with hydrating glycerin, mineral-rich thermal water, and brightening niacinamide, while the Canadian brand offers reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas. These formulations suit oily and acne-prone skin best for the first option, and balanced skin best for the second option, differing through specialized scientific ingredients versus thoughtful daily maintenance. Both brands provide standout options like the Anthelios and Mineralize Timecheck Lotion for acne-prone skin, the Pure Vitamin C Cream and Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil for dark spots, and the MELA B3 Facial Gel Cleanser and Hyper Real Serumizer for mature skin.

La Roche-Posay is a French skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1989.

laroche-posay.com.aufr.wikipedia.org

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 La Roche-Posay and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular La Roche-Posay vs MAC products

People Say

La Roche-PosayMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly 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”
    • “absorbs instantly — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
  • Makeup Base and Primer Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “makeup sits perfectly — La Roche-Posay Anthelios”
  • Sensitive Skin Care and Soothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Only cream that doesn't sting — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
    • “Calmed my skin after a chemical peel — La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water”
    • “no stinging — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels smoother — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
    • “softens forehead lines — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “Skin feels softer — La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Price and Value Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for the size — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “Too expensive for the size — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
    • “Tube is tiny for the price — La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “scent is awful — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
    • “overwhelming floral smell — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Product Pilling and Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Felt sticky to me — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “pills like crazy — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
  • Skin Irritation and Stinging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “burns my eyes — La Roche-Posay Anthelios”
    • “burned my face — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Packaging and Pump Issues Often MentionedNot noted
    • “pump stops working — La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream”

Questions and answers

La Roche-Posay or MAC: which is better?

La Roche-Posay is better for sensitive skin care, soothing, and skin texture improvement, while MAC does better for hydration, moisture, makeup bases, and primers. Reviewers note that La Roche-Posay products on this page often face price and value concerns, whereas MAC products frequently have a high price point and strong fragrance and sensitivity issues.

What is the difference between La Roche-Posay and MAC?

La Roche-Posay is better for sensitive skin care, soothing, and skin texture improvement, while MAC is preferred for hydration, moisture, makeup bases, and primers. Reviewers note that the products on this page from La Roche-Posay feature many fragrance-free options, whereas all MAC products on this page contain fragrance.

La Roche-Posay or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

La Roche-Posay is better for sensitive and soothing care, whereas MAC excels in overall hydration and moisture. Reviewers note that the products on this page for La Roche-Posay offer lightweight, hydrating, and sensitive-skin friendly moisturizers.

Which is more affordable, La Roche-Posay or MAC?

La Roche-Posay is more affordable, whereas price and value concerns are frequently mentioned for MAC.

Which causes fewer breakouts, La Roche-Posay or MAC?

La Roche-Posay is better for avoiding breakouts, as the products on this page fit oily and acne-prone skin best.

Between La Roche-Posay and MAC, which brand offers better options for sensitive skin and soothing care?

La Roche-Posay offers better options for sensitive skin and soothing care. Review themes indicate that La Roche-Posay does better for sensitive skin care and soothing compared to MAC.

How do the fragrance inclusions compare across the products listed for La Roche-Posay versus MAC?

La Roche-Posay includes no fragrance in 21 of the 35 products on this page, whereas all 3 products listed for MAC contain fragrance.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewer themes?

MAC does better for hydration and moisture according to review themes. The products on this page help improve moisture levels.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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