Simple and MAC are established beauty brands offering thoughtful daily skincare lines for different complexions. Simple is lovingly chosen for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, suiting acne-prone skin and oily skin best. Conversely, MAC is beloved for its reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas, suiting balanced skin best. While both brands support daily maintenance, the British line prioritizes targeted barrier and hydration benefits, whereas the Canadian label provides a measured foundation for routine care.
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 a better choice for sensitive skin because all the products on this page list no fragrance and Lovi rates the brand's toner High for sensitive skin, whereas MAC products on this page all contain fragrance.
What is the difference between Simple and MAC?
Simple offers more value-friendly and fragrance-free options that Lovi rates as a High fit for sensitive skin, whereas MAC products on this page all contain fragrance and are better known for makeup bases and primers. Glycerin is a key ingredient in Simple products that helps maintain skin moisture.
Simple offers more value-friendly moisturizers, while MAC provides options like Mineralize Timecheck Lotion that Lovi rates High for dry and sensitive skin. Glycerin, a key ingredient found in Simple moisturizers, helps support skin hydration.
Simple is more affordable, as the products on this page offer a more affordable price point and value compared to MAC.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Simple or MAC?
Simple is gentler on sensitive skin compared to MAC, and reviewers often note that the products on this page for Simple cause breakouts or irritations, while MAC products on this page contain fragrance that may trigger sensitivity.
Which brand has more products without fragrance, Simple or MAC?
Simple has more products without fragrance, as every product on this page for Simple lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas zero out of three MAC products on this page list no fragrance.
How do the founding years and parent companies of Simple and MAC compare?
Simple was founded in the United Kingdom in 1960 and is owned by Unilever PLC, whereas MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Which brand performs better for gentle care on sensitive skin?
Simple performs better for gentle care on sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its products as gentle and sensitive-skin-friendly while MAC products often contain fragrance and trigger sensitivity.
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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.
