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Estée Lauder vs MAC

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

Estée Lauder and MAC are established beauty brands under the same parent company, offering distinct formulations tailored to different complexions. Estée Lauder provides a comprehensive range of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting acne-prone and mature skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand focuses on daily skincare through reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin. While both share corporate ownership, they differ through the American brand's targeted focus on nourishing anti-aging and blemish care versus the latter brand's gentle approach to daily maintenance.

Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.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 Estée Lauder and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Estée Lauder vs MAC products

People Say

Estée LauderMAC
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara completely without needing a separate remover. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • High price and expensive products Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “too pricey — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “A bit expensive — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or MAC: which is better?

When comparing the products on this page, Estée Lauder generally fits a wider variety of skin types and routines better than MAC. Reviewers also note that most Estée Lauder products on this page list no fragrance, whereas all MAC products on this page include fragrance.

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and MAC?

Estée Lauder offers a much wider selection of fourteen skincare products on this page compared to MAC's three, and features options with no added fragrance while all MAC products contain fragrance.

Estée Lauder or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, the products on this page show that Estée Lauder offers options with a Superior fit for dry skin, such as DayWear Moisturizer, whereas MAC features lightweight moisturizers that reviewers frequently praise as makeup bases.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or MAC?

Both Estée Lauder and MAC are priced similarly as high-end brands, with a high price point being mostly mentioned by reviewers for the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Estée Lauder or MAC?

For the products on this page, Estée Lauder features several options with high or superior Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin, such as the Micro Essence Treatment Lotion and DayWear Moisturizer. In contrast, MAC offers only average fit levels across its acne-prone skin options on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free skincare products, Estée Lauder or MAC?

Estée Lauder has more fragrance-free skincare products than MAC on this page, with 12 out of 14 products listing no fragrance compared to none of the 3 MAC products.

How does the Lovi fit level for dry skin compare between Estée Lauder's Revitalizing Supreme+ and MAC's Hyper Real Serumizer?

For dry skin, the Lovi fit level is Average for Estée Lauder's Revitalizing Supreme+ and also Average for MAC's Hyper Real Serumizer.

What are the recommended steps in the example Estée Lauder-focused routine for dry skin?

The example Estée Lauder-focused routine for dry skin includes a morning regimen with the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée cleanser, Micro Essence Treatment Lotion toner, Revitalizing Supreme+ moisturizer, and DayWear Moisturizer SPF. In the evening, the routine uses the Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion pre-cleanser, Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée cleanser, Perfectionist Pro serum or treatment, and Revitalizing Supreme+ moisturizer. Once a week, the routine adds the Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask after cleansing and before applying the serum and moisturizer.

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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