Simple and MAC are established beauty brands offering thoughtful daily skincare lines for different complexions. Simple is lovingly chosen for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, suiting acne-prone skin and oily skin best. Conversely, MAC is beloved for its reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas, suiting balanced skin best. While both brands support daily maintenance, the British line prioritizes targeted barrier and hydration benefits, whereas the Canadian label provides a measured foundation for routine care.
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 care on sensitive skin and offers a more affordable price point, while MAC performs better as a makeup base and primer. Additionally, the products on this page from Simple list no fragrance.
What is the difference between Simple and MAC?
Simple offers more affordable, fragrance-free products on this page that Lovi rates as High for sensitive skin, whereas MAC features items that often contain fragrance and carry a higher price point. Glycerin in Simple's range helps support hydration.
Simple offers more value-friendly options for daily moisture, while MAC provides lightweight moisturizers with added fragrance. Lovi rates the moisturizing products on this page as having an Average fit across most skin types for both brands.
Simple is more affordable, offering value-friendly moisturizers and a budget-conscious price point compared to MAC. Reviewers note that MAC has a high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Simple or MAC?
Simple and MAC perform equally when it comes to breakouts, as both may occasionally cause skin reactions according to reviewers. However, Simple products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, which helps sensitive skin avoid irritation.
Which brand has more products without fragrance, Simple or MAC?
Simple has more products without fragrance, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, none of the products on the MAC page list being fragrance-free.
How do the founding years and parent companies 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 performs better for gentle care on sensitive skin?
Simple performs better for gentle care on sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its toner as High for sensitive skin and every product on this page lists no fragrance.
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.
