Simple and MAC are established beauty brands that offer thoughtful daily skincare collections tailored to different complexions. Simple is known for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners featuring niacinamide and glycerin that suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the Canadian brand is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both provide targeted solutions for diverse concerns, the British line focuses heavily on barrier support and hydration, whereas the Estée Lauder-owned label offers a calm foundation for daily maintenance.
Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.
This page compares some of the most popular Simple and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
“Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
+Convenience and formulation featuresOften MentionedNot noted
“Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
“love that it's alcohol-free — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
“No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
–High price pointNot notedMostly Mentioned
“too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
–Caused breakouts and skin reactionsSometimes NotedSometimes Noted
“Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
“caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
“caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
“Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
–Struggles with waterproof makeupOften MentionedNot noted
“Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
Questions and answers
Simple or MAC: which is better?
Simple is better for value and sensitive skin because its products on this page list no fragrance and feature gentle makeup removers, whereas MAC products on this page often feature strong fragrance.
Simple offers more value-friendly and fragrance-free options that are gentler on sensitive skin, whereas MAC is known for its makeup bases and primers with a higher price point and strong fragrance. Glycerin helps improve skin hydration for the products on this page.
Simple offers more value-friendly and lightweight options for moisturizers, while MAC features choices like Mineralize Timecheck Lotion that achieves a High fit level for dry and sensitive skin. Glycerin helps improve skin hydration and barrier function in these products.
Simple is more affordable, as it is known for its budget-friendly moisturizers and lower price point compared to MAC.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Simple or MAC?
Simple is noted by reviewers for occasionally causing breakouts or irritations, while MAC does not have specific breakout complaints on this page. Glycerin helps support skin hydration in Simple products.
Simple or MAC: which brand is better suited for sensitive skin based on fragrance and reviews?
Simple is better suited for sensitive skin, as every product on the products on this page lists no fragrance and reviewers frequently mention its gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly formulations, whereas MAC products on this page all contain fragrance and reviewers often note strong fragrance and sensitivity.
How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Simple and MAC compare?
Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011, whereas MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.
Which brand offers better makeup base and primer performance according to reviewers?
According to reviewers, MAC does better than Simple when it comes to makeup base and primer performance.
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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.
