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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 established beauty brands under the same parent company, offering distinct formulations tailored to different complexions. Estée Lauder provides a comprehensive range of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting acne-prone and mature skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand focuses on daily skincare through reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin. While both share corporate ownership, they differ through the American brand's targeted focus on nourishing anti-aging and blemish care versus the latter brand's gentle approach to daily maintenance.

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?

Estée Lauder tends to be a better fit for a wider variety of skin types because the products on this page achieve High to Superior Lovi fit levels across dry, oily, mature, and acne-prone skin, whereas MAC offers a smaller selection with Average to High fits. Additionally, reviewers frequently note that Estée Lauder delivers deep hydration with gentle cleansers, though both brands share drawbacks regarding a high price point.

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and MAC?

The products on this page from Estée Lauder offer a wider variety of skincare solutions with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas MAC focuses on a smaller range of lightweight moisturizers, makeup bases, and cleansers. Reviewers note that both brands share a high price point, but Estée Lauder's items frequently provide deep hydration and gentle cleansers, while MAC's products all feature added fragrance.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Estée Lauder or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, the products on this page show Estée Lauder offers options like Revitalizing Supreme+ with an Average fit for mature and dry skin, while MAC offers options like Mineralize Timecheck Lotion with a High fit for dry and sensitive skin. Reviewers note that MAC moisturizers have a lightweight feel, whereas Estée Lauder moisturizers help provide deep hydration supported by ingredients like glycerin.

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or MAC?

Both Estée Lauder and MAC are tied on affordability, as reviewers mostly mention a high price point for the products on this page for both brands.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Estée Lauder or MAC?

The products on this page for both Estée Lauder and MAC include items with varying fit levels for acne-prone skin, with neither brand exclusively focused on preventing breakouts. Estée Lauder's Micro Essence Treatment Lotion and DayWear Moisturizer offer a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, while key ingredients like glycerin help provide deep hydration without clogging pores.

Between Estée Lauder and MAC, which brand offers products with no fragrance?

Estée Lauder offers products on this page with no fragrance, as 12 of its 14 products list no fragrance. In contrast, MAC lists fragrance in all 3 of its products on this page.

Which brand has a wider product selection on the page, and how many items does each feature?

Estée Lauder has a wider product selection on the page, featuring fourteen items compared to three items from MAC.

Which brand was founded earlier and in which country?

Estée Lauder was founded earlier, in 1946 in the United States, whereas MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada.

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

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