Simple and MAC are two distinct beauty houses, with the former being a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and the latter being a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984. Simple is known for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners crafted with niacinamide and glycerin, while the brand is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas. The British line suits acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas the Canadian brand suits balanced skin best, supported by gentle and effective ingredients. They differ in their specific formulations and targeted selections, as the former relies on niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation and glycerin to improve hydration, while both provide a calm and measured 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 sensitive skin and value, offering fragrance-free options like the Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner which has a High fit for sensitive skin, whereas MAC features products that all contain fragrance. Glycerin helps provide hydration across the products on this page.
Simple offers more affordable prices and is gentler on sensitive skin since every product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas MAC has a high price point and features fragrance across its products on this page. Glycerin helps provide hydration for both brands, and Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.
Simple offers more affordable, lightweight moisturizers with no fragrance, while MAC provides options like Mineralize Timecheck Lotion that achieves a High fit level for dry and sensitive skin. Glycerin helps provide moisture in these formulations.
Simple offers better affordability compared to MAC, as reviewers frequently mention Simple for its value-friendly moisturizers and lower price point, whereas MAC is commonly noted for its high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Simple or MAC?
Simple does better for gentle and sensitive skin, while review themes show both brands are equal when it comes to causing breakouts and skin reactions.
Which brand has products that are entirely free of fragrance, Simple or MAC?
Simple offers products on this page that are entirely free of fragrance, as every single item lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, MAC includes fragrance across its products on this page.
How do the founding years and parent companies 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 products are specifically recommended for dry skin in the Simple routine?
In the Simple routine for dry skin on this page, the products are Refreshing Facial Wash, Supple Preparation Unscented Toner, Replenishing Rich Moisturiser, Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen, Micellar Cleansing Water, 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water, Glass Skin Refining Serum, and Water Sleeping Mask_EX.
Saccharide isomerate · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
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.
