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Medik8 vs MAC

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

Medik8 and MAC are distinct beauty lines, with the British brand founded in 2009 offering serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, while the Canadian brand founded in 1984 is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas. The first brand fits dry skin and sensitive skin best, with hyaluronic acid that lengthens toxin wrinkle effect duration, whereas the second brand suits balanced skin best, supported by gentle and effective ingredients. For targeted concerns, the first brand provides the Surface Radiance Cleanse for acne-prone skin, the Oxy-R Peptides for skin with dark spots, and the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream for mature skin, while both brands differ as the second brand features the Mineralize Timecheck Lotion, the Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil, and the Hyper Real Serumizer to provide a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.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 Medik8 and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs MAC products

People Say

Medik8MAC
  • 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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formulation Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “layers well under sunscreen — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “immediate glow — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Skin Plumping and Smoothing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Lightweight and Elegant Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • High Price Point Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Caused Breakouts or Reactions Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “made me break out constantly — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “caused breakouts — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “caused me to breakout — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”

Questions and answers

Medik8 or MAC: which is better?

Medik8 is better for gentle, non-irritating formulations and brightening, whereas MAC is better for hydration, moisture, and makeup compatibility. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration through key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Medik8 and MAC?

Medik8 is focused on gentle serums and brightening, whereas MAC offers stronger makeup compatibility and lightweight moisturizers. Reviewers note that Medik8 products on this page are typically fragrance-free, while all MAC products on this page contain fragrance.

Medik8 or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 stands out for moisturizers like Hydr8 B5 Intense, which achieves a Superior Lovi fit for dry skin, whereas MAC products on this page frequently feature added fragrance. Reviewers note that Medik8 delivers deep hydration and plumping, while topical hyaluronic acid helps improve signs of skin aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or MAC?

Both Medik8 and MAC are frequently noted by reviewers for having a high price point, so neither brand stands out as more affordable. Reviewers mention this high price point for the products on this page for both brands.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or MAC?

MAC is unlikely to cause as many breakouts as Medik8, because reviewers note that Medik8 sometimes causes breakouts or reactions while MAC does not have this issue.

Which brand has products that contain fragrance, Medik8 or MAC?

MAC has products that all list fragrance, whereas only one moisturizer from Medik8 on this page contains fragrance.

When was Medik8 founded compared to MAC, and who owns each company?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, while MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

What are the best-fitting skin types for Medik8 according to its brand-focused routines?

According to its brand-focused routines, the skin types Medik8 fits best are dry skin, sensitive skin, and dry sensitive skin.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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