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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 sister skincare brands under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. that offer thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, serums, eye products, cleansers, and makeup removers formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The American brand suits mature skin and acne-prone skin best with targeted care, while the Canadian brand suits balanced skin best with gentle and effective daily maintenance. Both differ in their specific offerings, as the former utilizes ingredients that address aging and breakouts, whereas the latter provides a calm and measured foundation for daily routines.

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 it comes to deep hydration, Estée Lauder and MAC perform equally well according to the products on this page. Topical glycerin helps support skin barrier function and hydration.

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and MAC?

Estee Lauder has a much larger selection of products on this page compared to MAC, and its products on this page fit mature skin and acne-prone skin best. Reviewers often mention that MAC products work well as makeup bases and lightweight moisturizers, while Estee Lauder products on this page are praised for deep hydration and gentle cleansers.

Estée Lauder or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Estée Lauder offers a wider variety of options on this page that may suit specific skin needs, such as Revitalizing Supreme+ for mature skin, compared to MAC which features fewer choices like Hyper Real Serumizer and Mineralize Timecheck Lotion. Lovi rates Revitalizing Supreme+ as Average for mature skin, while Hyper Real Serumizer also holds an Average fit level for mature skin. Both brands share reviewers' concerns regarding a high price point.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or MAC?

Both Estée Lauder and MAC are tied on price, as reviewers frequently mention a high price point for the products on this page for each brand.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Estée Lauder or MAC?

When it comes to breakouts, the products on this page from Estée Lauder include options with high fit levels for acne-prone skin, such as the Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée. Reviewers do not highlight acne benefits for MAC products on this page, which feature a smaller selection with average fit levels for acne-prone skin.

Between Estée Lauder and MAC, which brand offers products containing fragrance?

Both Estée Lauder and MAC offer products containing fragrance on this page. Specifically, 2 of the 14 Estée Lauder products list fragrance, whereas all 3 MAC products contain it.

Which brand provides a wider product selection for dry skin according to the page?

Estée Lauder provides a wider product selection for dry skin on this page, featuring options like DayWear Moisturizer, which Lovi rates as Superior for dry skin. In contrast, the MAC products on this page offer High or Average fit levels for dry skin.

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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