No7 vs MAC
No7 and MAC are distinct skincare houses established respectively in Britain in 1935 and Canada in 1984. The former offers serums, eye products, moisturizers, sunscreens, and more built around vitamin C, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid, suiting mature skin and dry skin best. Conversely, the latter is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both cater thoughtfully to targeted concerns, the British brand features protective shea butter and specialized nighttime care, whereas the Canadian brand provides a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.
No7 is a British skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by Sycamore Partners since 2025.
cosmeticsbusiness.comen.wikipedia.org
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 No7 and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular No7 vs MAC products
People Say
Hydration and radiance 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”
- “Skin feels moisturized — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream”
Makeup compatibility Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
- “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
- “Wears well under makeup — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
Skin feel and texture Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “Skin feels softer — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
- “skin feels so soft — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
- “skin feels velvety — No7 Pure Retinol”
Radiance and glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
- “healthier glow — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
Gentle formula and irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “zero irritation — No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream”
- “soothing on skin — No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream”
- “good for sensitive skin — No7 Pure Retinol”
- “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
Instant smoothing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
Price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Expensive for amount provided — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
- “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
Lack of results Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “Don't expect miracles — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
- “No change in wrinkles/spots — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
Fragrance and scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “Too much fragrance — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream”
- “overpowering — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream”
- “Scent is overpowering — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream”
- “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
Skin reactions and irritation Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
- “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
- “burned my skin — No7 Pure Retinol”
Questions and answers
No7 or MAC: which is better?
No7 is better for gentle formulas and skin texture, whereas MAC is better for hydration, radiance, and makeup compatibility. No7 features many products without fragrance, while every MAC product on this page includes fragrance.
What is the difference between No7 and MAC?
No7 offers products on this page with fragrance-free options and superior fit for mature skin, whereas MAC includes fragrance in all of its products on this page and focuses more on makeup bases and primers.
No7 or MAC: which moisturizer is better?
When comparing moisturizers, the products on this page from No7 achieve a Superior Lovi fit for mature skin with options like the Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream. Reviewers note that No7 does better for gentle formulas and skin feel, while MAC offers lightweight moisturizers.
Which is more affordable, No7 or MAC?
No7 does better for the price point compared to MAC.
Which causes fewer breakouts, No7 or MAC?
No7 is a better choice for sensitive skin as reviewers note fewer skin reactions and irritations compared to MAC.
Which brand has been around longer, No7 or MAC?
No7 has been around longer than MAC, having been founded in 1935 compared to MAC which was founded in 1984.
How many No7 products on the page contain fragrance compared to MAC?
On the products on this page, 10 out of 13 No7 products list no fragrance while all 3 MAC products contain fragrance.
Which brand's products are best suited for mature skin?
No7 products are better suited for mature skin, as Lovi rates several of its items as having Superior or High fit levels for this skin type.
Research behind their key ingredients
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
Self-Assembled Cubic Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles for Transdermal Delivery of Paeonol
The evaluation of aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion for photodamage
Clinical and histologic changes determine optimal treatment regimens for microdermabrasion
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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