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Good Molecules vs MAC

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

Good Molecules and MAC are beauty brands that offer daily skincare essentials with distinct formulations. The American brand Good Molecules, founded in 2019 and owned by Beautylish, Inc., is widely loved for its thoughtful range of serums, moisturizers, eye products, exfoliants, and more, which are carefully formulated with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the Canadian brand MAC, founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994, is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas to suit balanced skin best. Both companies differ in their founding origins, key ingredients, and ideal skin types, delivering either targeted moisture and clarity benefits or a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

Good Molecules is an American skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by Beautylish, Inc..

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MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

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This page compares some of the most popular Good Molecules and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Good Molecules vs MAC products

People Say

Good MoleculesMAC
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “absorbs quickly... zero irritation or tacky feeling — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
  • Affordable price and great value Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “best value for money — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “great value — Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum”
  • Layers well and works with makeup Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “works well under makeup — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Gentle formula and soothing care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no skin purging — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying — Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin looks like brand new baby skin — Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment”
    • “Leaves skin "baby soft," "super smooth," "polished feel" — Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder”
    • “softened fine lines — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Hydrates and plumps the skin Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin appears smooth and supple — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Skin feels bouncy — Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • High price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Unpleasant scent or scent expectations Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Strong bergamot smell — Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum”
    • “weird faint smell — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “smelled of glycolic acid — Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Slow, no, or limited results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't really see a difference — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “No change in circles — Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel”
    • “Don't expect miracles — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”

Questions and answers

Good Molecules or MAC: which is better?

Good Molecules offers better value with more affordable products and fragrance-free formulas, whereas MAC features options with strong fragrance.

What is the difference between Good Molecules and MAC?

Good Molecules offers affordable and gentle skincare products with fragrance-free formulas, whereas MAC provides lightweight moisturizers and makeup bases that often feature strong fragrance.

Good Molecules or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Good Molecules offers a wider selection of moisturizers on this page with high to superior fit levels for dry and sensitive skin, whereas MAC products on this page often contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Good Molecules or MAC?

Good Molecules is more affordable than MAC, as reviewers on the page frequently note its budget-friendly price and great value.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Good Molecules or MAC?

Good Molecules offers products on this page that reviewers sometimes note can cause breakouts, while MAC does not have specific breakout feedback mentioned by reviewers.

Between Good Molecules and MAC, which brand offers fragrance-free skincare products?

Good Molecules offers fragrance-free skincare products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas all of the products on MAC's page contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Good Molecules and MAC compare?

Good Molecules was founded in 2019 in the United States and is owned by Beautylish, Inc., whereas MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

Which brand performs better when it comes to lightweight and non-greasy textures according to reviewers?

MAC performs better than Good Molecules when it comes to lightweight and non-greasy textures according to reviewers.

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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