Are MAC Products Worth It?

Apr 3, 2012

Lydia T.

In my experience (and maybe I'm just out of luck) I love their satin and veluxe pearl finishes, but they crease on me in 4 hours! (I've used Too Faced Shadow Insurance and photoeady primer) I need to reapply or blend with my fingers... for the $14.50 per pot, I rather buy drugstore products at a fraction of that price.
Lipglasses, I found the formula too sticky and again, it only lasts like 1 hour before they fade.
My favorite Mac products are blushes (but they're easily dupable for a fraction) and the lipsticks, I love the vanilla scent, but again, they fade quickly and you can find dupes in drugstore for the more common colors... If you are into the beautiful unique shades, I would not miss on that.

I want to give Fix plus a try, they say tht's a good product, but I have never bought it 

Apr 3, 2012

Joi K.

To Lydia T. if ur using the veluxe and satin finishes the best primers are the ones that have the same finish like the urban decay primer potion they have more of satin finish and they work best or the Mac paint pots . But I think overall there is not a brand of lip gloss or lip stick that lasts and lasts and I think alot of ppl buy makeup products especially the higher ends brands with not a whole lot product knowledge and a full understanding of how to use them, and thats with any brand but when u spend 14-20 for eyeshadow and 11 or more for lip gloss a little research is neccesary that's the reason I say u should go let a MAC artist do ur makeup and explain the products and the proper and or multiple use for them and u make the decision based off that and fix + is a good product it's used to set ur makeup and also its good for giving ur makeup that dewy glow finish. Also it can be used as a medium for mixing makeup as well

Apr 3, 2012

Renee B.

The MAC products that I feel are priceless are select eye shadows, fluid line, & a few of the brushes. Besides all of these products, there are so many makeup companies out there that carry amazing products for a fraction of MAC price.

Apr 3, 2012

Lydia T.

@Joi K. You are very right, unfortunately, where I live the artists at the counter are not so friendly, or should I say skilled (I live in Mexico). I had my 1st approach to a MAC store and he recommend me some products that looked great in their white lighting (studio finish concealer in NW25) but in daylight is too dark for me, too orange, and is a great product, I know it because I bought it again in NW15 and its WOW! besides, when I get to a store, the artists working there are so unwilling to help, unless you ask very specific questions, and normally they gavegeneric answers. So, maybe my product mishap with them is a consecuence of lack of information. In mexico I bought the concealer and the eyeshadows.
In the US, the artists are so kind and willing to help! When I'm in the US (on vacation mostly) I take the opportunity to visit all the beauty counters I have the time to. And yes, I've received much more useful help when buying, the MAC muca in the us was the one who recommended me the Shadow Insurance, because she noticed that I have oily lids, and also she was really kind to demo the lipsticks before my purchase. She also try to color matched for foundation, but I wasn't so sure about the colors, NW are too rosey and NC are too yellow, so she recommended mixing foundations, but I wasn't willing to buy 2 full sized foundations.
Bottom line, Joi K. is right, you should be educated (and obviously do your own research) before purchasing any product, not just MAC.

I will try the paint pots on my next MAC visit (in mexico)! I bought some maybelline color tattoo eyeshadows in my last visit to San Diego, I've read they work like paint pots, is that tue? if so, I really love color tattoos! but I need a more discrete color, perhaps painterly or bare study, which one you suggest?

Apr 3, 2012

Joi K.

@ Linda T. I havent had the chance to try the color stay tattoo but u got a point just looking at them they look would be a great eyeshadow bases and I think if u have both red tones and yellow tones u r what they call neutral and u should maybe try mixing two different foundations but if u dont want to invest just yet in two get samples and try them out before u buy and Im sorry u had so many bad mua from Mac helping I live in Atl and the ones here are the best and so helpful and excellent at explaining everything and at recommending the best stuff also try MAC 's online help they were great too gave me the answer and advice I needed just by chatting online

Apr 4, 2012

Shelley W.

As with any line you will have a few hits and some misses. For me personally I can't deal with the color selection for their pan foundations. I tried last week to get into Studio Fix again. They must have changed the formula since I last wore it back in 2008 because when I had the artist apply to my face in the store it looked like a perfect match when I checked the color outside. I bought the compact and went on with the rest of my day. When I got home I looked in the mirror and it had oxidized on my skin giving me this obvious orange tinge to my skin and it had settled into areas that I never knew I had wrinkles at. I looked a HOT ROYAL MESS. So it went back ASAP. Now the Paint Pots......oh buddy....they are to die for!!! I bought three the same day I had picked up Studio Fix and every single one is a HIT. They make for great primers for eyeshadows and even used alone are awesome. On my lids they don't crease or fade (and I have oily lids) and they do make my eyeshadow colors pop. 

Apr 4, 2012

Joi K.

@ShellyW. Just a question what time of year did u purchase the foundation the first time u may have had sun exposure which would have made ur skin a different complexion than when u recently bought it I know in the summer I am one shade and in the winter a totally different shade so I have to swicth it up during the year and that is normal I still if u educate urself on the products its definitely worth the money 

Apr 4, 2012

Shelley W.

@Joi K. I was color matched in the store that day because from past experience has made me a firm beliver in swatching before I even make a purchase. So when I stood outside in natural light it was perfect...even in the store it blended right into my skin. But it oxidized on my skin hours later giving it that orange tinge. Something that I never experienced before with MAC Studio Fix so that's why I wonder if they may have changed their formula a bit. I know all about the skintone shades during winter/summer. I will just have to stick with my Bobbi Brown foundations (mineral, liquid and pan) because it does a great job when I'm darker in the summer and lighter in the fall and I only have to rotate between two shades for both seasons. I just wanted to get back into using an oldie but goodie. 

Apr 5, 2012

Joi K.

aslo as we age so does our skin and we have to adjust our regimen and makeup to accomodate for the change and I think primers are great for that

Apr 5, 2012

Joi K.

And just to add I hear on so many tutorials when alot of makeup guru's are applying makeup that this paticular thing ( brush,eyeshadow,or whatever) is comparable to MAC's this and that and I say if u have to look for a dupe why not get the real mc coy if that what the standard is being held up to 

Apr 5, 2012

April F.

@Joi the real mc coy is not always in the budget for some people. I think it's good to let others know that there are more budget friendly options that will give nearly identical results.

Apr 5, 2012

April F.

And expensive doesnt always equal better either. There are some gurus I follow who get excellent results with inexpensive products.

Apr 5, 2012

Joi K.

@ April F. I def understand that but her question was should she save up and purcahse MAC products and while there may be somewhat acceptable dupes out there sometimes its more economical to spend the money on a product that will last and last without fail than to spend more over and over trying to find an appropiate dupe to just have for the mean time in the end u may end up spending more. Most higher end brands tend to make their things to last and give u quite a bit so that it does last where as I have had some drugstore brands that I have had to replace over and over and for my wallet which is limited as well its worth saving for 

Apr 5, 2012

Joi K.

I never said expensive equals better the correct comment was that so many guru's compare so many products to what the industry (makeup artistry)standard is which is MAC to something else for example: a guru may say" I'm using my dome shaped brush for blending that is comparable to MAC's 217 or 222 and so on" and so if the standard is a MAC product why not if u can AFFORD it or AFFORD to SAVE for it buy a MAC product and have the standard instead of the generic. Trust me I have Sonya Kashuck brushes,Japoneseque brushes,and sephora as well as ben nye makeup and urban decay , nars, mufe as well e.l.f. and makeup geek but she asked the question was MAC worth it or for her worth saving for and so having had tried alot of different brands including before all of that a ton of drugstore stuff covergirl and Revlon and Maybeline and so on I think that for the money MAC is worth it and its not all hype which getting back to and staying on point which was what this forum is really about :-)

Apr 5, 2012

April F.

I realize what the forum is about Joi. Simply answering the question you asked : ) my answer is still the same. Some products are worth it. Others, you would do well to keep your money in your pocket.

Apr 6, 2012

Sabrina P.

if you have oily skin or acne prone i would stay away from the foundations i used it and now im paying the price now i have major acne cause of it 

Apr 6, 2012

Joi K.

And I agree totally my only point is that instead of saying that there are so many dupes for MAC and to answer her question yes MAC is worth it especially when the dupes are just that a duplicate of the original which I found in my opinon not always equal to the original and if u want flawless camera ready makeup which is what Im about everytime then yes MAC is most often the go to standard 

Apr 6, 2012

April F.

I agree with the camera ready part.........if you have a photoshoot scheduled every day of your life or if you have paparazzi following you around at all hours of the day. For the average consumer niether of those are the case. For the average makeup consumer, a good mix of high end and budget friendly will do the trick. : )

Apr 6, 2012

Joi K.

@ Sabrina I have both acne prone and oily skin very oily and I have found its not the makeup that promotes the outbreak but what u do before and after u apply the makeup whether u sweat in ur foundation, or if u use moisturiser before u apply ur foundation which u should not if u have oily and acne prone skin and whether u properly cleanse ur face when its time to remove ur makeup and use some sort of acne med to control outbreaks on a regular basis 

Apr 6, 2012

Joi K.

@April F. I dont have a photo shoot everyday or paparazzi following every day of my life but with the way I apply my makeup and since I use MAC and other top notch brands I could and be fabulous! I never said that that had to be an expensive brand top notch is quality to me and it just so happens that MAC is just that. I believe in looking the part and that's just me I am a overall beauty advisor, I love to glam it up everyday but I still feel when wearing makeup the idea is look flawless and well blended even when just doing your job whatever it is and I have found that MAC allows u to create that every time where as they may be hits and misses with the generic's again the answer is still yes MAC is definitely worth it and I do this for a living and the average conumer is what I cater to and camera ready is what they usually request without hesitation ;-)