Biore and MAC are two distinct skincare brands founded in the early 1980s that offer reliable daily maintenance and targeted solutions. The Japanese brand is globally loved for sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers with effective formulas, suiting sensitive skin and skin with dark spots best. Meanwhile, the Canadian brand is beloved for thoughtful moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas, suiting balanced skin best with gentle and effective ingredients. While both support daily routines through thoughtful and understated care, they differ in their heritage and ideal skin types.
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 who want fragrance-free formulas and easier routines, while MAC excels in texture and makeup removal despite often containing fragrance.
What is the difference between Biore and MAC?
Biore offers products on this page with no fragrance listed and does better for ease of use and deep cleaning, while MAC excels in texture, finish, and makeup removal but often features strong fragrance and a higher price point.
Which is more affordable, Biore or MAC?
Biore is the more affordable brand, as reviewers on this page frequently mention MAC for its high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Biore or MAC?
Biore is the better choice for avoiding breakouts because MAC is more prone to causing skin breakouts and irritation. Furthermore, the products on this page from Biore are fragrance-free, whereas all MAC products on this page contain fragrance, which may further trigger sensitivity.
Which brand has products that contain fragrance, Biore or MAC?
MAC has products that contain fragrance, as every MAC product on this page includes fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, every Biore product on this page lists no fragrance.
Which brand is better for deep cleaning and debris removal?
Biore is better for deep cleaning and debris removal than MAC. Reviewers note that the products on this page for Biore excel in deep cleaning and debris removal.
How do the founding years and parent companies of Biore and MAC compare?
Biore was founded in Japan in 1980 and is owned by Kao Corporation, while MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.
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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.
