Biore and MAC are distinguished skincare brands that offer thoughtfully crafted formulas for daily maintenance. The Japanese line, founded in 1980, features accessible sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers that suit sensitive and mature skin best. Meanwhile, the Canadian counterpart, established in 1984, provides reliable moisturizers and makeup removers that primarily support balanced skin. Ultimately, both brands differ through their distinct ingredient approaches and targeted product selections, such as the former's UV Aqua Rich and the latter's Hyper Real Serumizer.
Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.
This page compares some of the most popular Biore and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
“Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
+Ease of Use and ApplicationOften MentionedNot noted
“Minimal effort required — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
“Satisfying to see results — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
“Works in shower, effective on wet hands/face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
–High Price PointNot notedMostly Mentioned
“too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
–Skin Breakouts and IrritationOften MentionedOften Mentioned
“caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
“Felt sticky to me — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
“Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
“Nose was irritated — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
–Scents and Fragrance SensitivityOften MentionedOften Mentioned
“smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
“strong citrus smell — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
“scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
“Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
–Eye IrritationOften MentionedRarely Noted
“Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
“stings eyes — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
–Drying and Stripping EffectOften MentionedNot noted
“Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
Questions and answers
Biore or MAC: which is better?
Biore is a better choice for shoppers avoiding fragrance, as every product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas all MAC products on this page contain fragrance. Reviewers also note that Biore does better for deep cleaning, ease of use, and a lower price point, while MAC tends to cause more drying, irritation, and high prices.
What is the difference between Biore and MAC?
Biore and MAC differ primarily in fragrance inclusion, with every Biore product on this page listing no fragrance while MAC products contain fragrance. Reviewers also note that MAC tends to have a higher price point and can cause more skin breakouts and irritation compared to Biore.
Which is more affordable, Biore or MAC?
Biore is the more affordable brand on this page, whereas MAC is noted by reviewers for its high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Biore or MAC?
Biore is the better choice for avoiding breakouts because reviewers note that MAC often causes skin breakouts and irritation while the products on this page for Biore have no such drawback.
Which brand has products that are entirely free of fragrance, Biore or MAC?
Biore has products that are entirely free of fragrance on this page, as every Biore product lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, MAC has no products on this page without fragrance.
Which brand's products have a higher Lovi fit level for dry and dry sensitive skin, Biore or MAC?
MAC products have a higher Lovi fit level for dry and dry sensitive skin on this page, with items like the Mineralize Timecheck Lotion rated High for both skin types. In contrast, the products on this page for Biore receive Low or Caution ratings for dry and dry sensitive skin.
When comparing review themes, which brand performs better for texture and finish as well as makeup removal?
MAC performs better for both texture and finish as well as makeup removal among the products on this page.
Butyrospermum parkii butter shea butter · Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
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.
