🇬🇧United Kingdom

No7 vs MAC

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

No7 and MAC are distinct skincare houses established respectively in Britain in 1935 and Canada in 1984. The former offers serums, eye products, moisturizers, sunscreens, and more built around vitamin C, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid, suiting mature skin and dry skin best. Conversely, the latter is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both cater thoughtfully to targeted concerns, the British brand features protective shea butter and specialized nighttime care, whereas the Canadian brand provides a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

No7 is a British skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by Sycamore Partners since 2025.

cosmeticsbusiness.comen.wikipedia.org

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 No7 and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular No7 vs MAC products

People Say

No7MAC
  • Hydration and radiance Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Skin feels moisturized — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream”
  • Makeup compatibility Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Wears well under makeup — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
  • Skin feel and texture Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “Skin feels softer — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “skin feels so soft — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
    • “skin feels velvety — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Radiance and glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “healthier glow — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
  • Gentle formula and irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “zero irritation — No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream”
    • “soothing on skin — No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream”
    • “good for sensitive skin — No7 Pure Retinol”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Instant smoothing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for amount provided — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Lack of results Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Don't expect miracles — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “No change in wrinkles/spots — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
  • Fragrance and scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Too much fragrance — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream”
    • “overpowering — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream”
    • “Scent is overpowering — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Skin reactions and irritation Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “burned my skin — No7 Pure Retinol”

Questions and answers

No7 or MAC: which is better?

No7 has a High or Superior Lovi fit for mature skin, dry skin, and skin with dark spots, and most products on this page list no fragrance. MAC tends to do better for makeup compatibility, but its products on this page all include fragrance.

What is the difference between No7 and MAC?

No7 and MAC differ mainly in their product focus and ingredient scents, as No7 features specialized anti-aging routines with key ingredients like Niacinamide and Vitamin C, whereas MAC centers on lightweight moisturizers and makeup bases. Reviewers note that the products on this page for No7 have a gentler formula, while MAC tends to excel in hydration and radiance.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

No7 or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, the products on this page show that No7 achieves a Superior fit for mature skin with its Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream, whereas MAC offers high hydration and lightweight moisturizers. No7 provides gentler formulas for sensitive skin, while MAC moisturizers all contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, No7 or MAC?

No7 is more affordable than MAC, as MAC has a high price point across its products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, No7 or MAC?

No7 is the better choice for avoiding breakouts because its products on this page have more fragrance-free options and focus on gentle care, whereas MAC is often noted for strong fragrance and skin sensitivity.

Which brand has been around longer, No7 or MAC?

No7 has been around longer than MAC, having been founded in 1935 in the United Kingdom compared to MAC which was founded in 1984 in Canada.

How do the fragrance options compare between No7 and MAC products?

When it comes to fragrance, No7 is the better choice for sensitive skin because 10 of the 13 products on this page list no fragrance. In contrast, all 3 MAC products on this page contain fragrance, which often leads to complaints about strong scent and sensitivity.

Which brand performs better for hydration and radiance according to review themes?

MAC performs better for hydration and radiance than No7 according to the review themes on this page.

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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