Simple and MAC are established beauty brands that offer thoughtful daily skincare collections tailored to different complexions. Simple is known for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners featuring niacinamide and glycerin that suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the Canadian brand is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both provide targeted solutions for diverse concerns, the British line focuses heavily on barrier support and hydration, whereas the Estée Lauder-owned label offers a calm foundation for daily maintenance.
Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.
This page compares some of the most popular Simple and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
“Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
+Convenience and formulation featuresOften MentionedNot noted
“Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
“love that it's alcohol-free — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
“No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
–High price pointNot notedMostly Mentioned
“too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
–Caused breakouts and skin reactionsSometimes NotedSometimes Noted
“Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
“caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
“caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
“Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
–Struggles with waterproof makeupOften MentionedNot noted
“Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
Questions and answers
Simple or MAC: which is better?
Simple does better for gentle, value-friendly skincare without fragrance, while MAC excels in makeup bases and primers. Glycerin in Simple products helps provide hydration, and Niacinamide may help reduce pigmentation and support skin aging control.
Simple offers more affordable, fragrance-free products on this page that Lovi rates as better for sensitive skin, whereas MAC products on this page all contain fragrance and are often noted for a high price point. Glycerin helps improve skin hydration.
Simple offers more value-friendly moisturizers, while MAC features lightweight options like the Mineralize Timecheck Lotion which has a High Lovi fit for dry skin. Glycerin helps provide hydration across Simple moisturizers.
Simple is more affordable, offering value-friendly moisturizers and an affordable price point, whereas MAC is noted for a high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Simple or MAC?
Simple does better for gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers, while MAC formulas may cause strong fragrance sensitivity. Both brands are equal regarding caused breakouts and skin reactions.
Simple or MAC: which brand is better suited for sensitive skin based on fragrance and reviews?
Simple is better suited for sensitive skin, as every product on the products on this page lists no fragrance and reviewers note the brand is gentle and sensitive-skin-friendly. In contrast, MAC products on this page all contain fragrance and reviewers mention strong fragrance and sensitivity issues.
How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Simple and MAC compare?
Simple was founded in the United Kingdom in 1960 and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011, whereas MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.
Which brand offers better makeup removers according to reviewer feedback?
Simple and MAC perform equally when it comes to effective cleansing and makeup removal. However, reviewers note that Simple offers gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers, while MAC has a high price point and strong fragrance that may cause sensitivity.
Saccharide isomerate · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
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.
