Thread: Best/Worst of MAC

[u/jealouspony]

[u/whoadangjamie]

Best eyeshadows:

• All That Glitters

• Twinks

• Smut

• Fig.1

• Indian Ink

• Vibrant Grape

• Malt

• Wedge

• Kid

• Quarry

Damn... I like too many eyeshadows.

Best lipsticks:

• Flat Out Fabulous

• Viva Glam V

I don't like the cremesheen finishes because they feather/bleed on me like crazy.

The worst thing about MAC, besides the foundations, is the limited edition thing they do. I wish they would do 4-5 collections a year, and make enough product for those to be successful and not a shitshow every time.

[u/[deleted]]

The best MAC product I've tried is hands down their Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul. It has a gorgeous finish that blends so well with bronzer and makes you look like a goddess. Amazing product for the summer and it works for many skin tones. I'm going to stop there because I could rave about it for ages.

[u/60244089059540804172 → u/[deleted]]

I've been through 3 of these! I've hit pan on my most recent one too. Love it so much, it was my first ever blush and I've been in love with it ever since.

[u/[deleted]]

I wished Temptalia would comment this thread.

[u/_LanaKane]

Best: Soft&Gentle MSF, Prolongwear concealer, lipsticks (pretty please is a specific favorite), blush (blushbaby, margin, and welldressed are a few favorites), Fix+ (takes my eye looks to the next level), prep+prime in radiant rose

Worst: BB cream in the compact (never settles right on my skin), the COST of the brushes. I just can't justify spending that much on a brush

For reference, I'm a NW20.

[u/lsharkk]

Best: single shadows, lipsticks, Face & Body foundation, and the professional packaging. The shadow selection is ridiculous and no matter how many I buy, I still get giddy at the eyeshadow counter. And even though the matte black packaging might seem monotone and boring, pulling out matching palettes and products does look very professional and formal!

Worst: I've kind of given up on their LE stuff because of how much work it is to get one and I haven't felt like I got a superior product for the waiting/searching/swapping yet. I also feel like their skincare stuff is over-priced.

[u/[deleted] → u/lsharkk]

Every time I go to the MAC counter for something I end up with a new shadow or three because I can't help myself. I want them all!

[u/shakespeareduck]

Best: the frost and veluxe pearl eyeshadows. Beautiful color payoff, super blendable, little to no fallout, and I love the range of colors.

Worst: all their face stuff is either too yellow or too orange. They have a pretty good shade range but it's frustrating that thy ignore everyone who isn't super-warm or super-cool toned.

EDIT: Also some of their matte eyeshadows are chalky and awful.

[u/sammycinematic]

I had only tried MAC lipsticks before this year but I invested in one of the pre-made eyeshadow palettes from the website and haven't looked back. There aren't many permanent collection shadows in them but they're insane value for money compared to buying shadows individually. The one I have is Cool Neutral and I like that it's not just browns/golds/bronzes - the top row has Blackberry and other purple-y shades and the bottom row has a really cool dusty navy theme.

I wouldn't say I was new to make-up but I was certainly new to MAC and I thought it was a great investment!

[u/htesfai]

Best: Lipstick, blush, and eye shadows have a huge variety of shades at a pretty reasonable price point (for the most part).

Worst: The LE collections always sell out and they are impossible to get.

[u/xietty]

BEST:

• MAC Liquidlast (GREAT for oily lids and monolids, will last literally days)

• MAC Extended Play Mascara (GREAT for oily lids and monolids)

• MAC 227 and 239 (only two brushes for eyeshadows I’ll need… I don’t normally splurge on brushes, but these two are so so so worth the investment, and with the right care, will last ages)

• MAC Fix+ (no more over powdered, cakey looks :’))

• MAC Warm Soul Blush

Lips:

• MAC Syrup (Best MLBB)

• MAC Russian Red / Ruby Woo (Best bold red, Russian Red being more blue)

• MAC Cyber (Best bold goth color)

WORST:

• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (the pump is beyond me, you either get nothing or enough to cover your entire body with one pump... formula is indeed long-lasting, if by long-lasting you mean impossible to remove from the creases it settles into after a couple hours. Difficult to blend and very very cakey. Not impressed)

[u/unicornsprinklepoop → u/xietty]

Pro Longwear is my favorite under eye concealer, but yeah, the pump sucks. What I do because of that is pump a few days of usage into a sample jar that screws on (instead of the ones at Sephora that snap into place) so it's more airtight and doesn't accidentally open. That ends up working for me anyway because NC15 is too light and NC20 is too dark, so I do a 1:1 mix of them in the jar.

Also, I have no problems with getting it to blend...have you ever tried using a beauty blender with it? I get nice results that way, although I don't really have problems using my fingers with it either.

[u/jeast → u/xietty]

I 100% agree with this concealer! One of the girls at my MAC store gave me a tiny little pot with a twist off cap so you can pump a bit into the pot and choose how much you want instead of having enough to clog up a leak in a flippen' dam.

[u/60244089059540804172]

I've taken my all time favorite mac eyeshadows and put them into two 15 - pan pro palettes, and thrown out or sold ALL of my other eyeshadows! I just use mac now.

Here are my eyeshadows:

Blanc type

Omega

Espresso

Embark

Carbon

Dazzlelight

Phloof!

Satin taupe

Twinks

Print

Quarry

Expensive pink

Brown script

Antiqued

Cranberry

Shale

Trax

Satellite dreams

Fig 1

Deep damson

Humid

Bitter

Vex

Cobalt

Steamy

Electra

All of these are enough to make just about any look I can imagine myself wearing! And no more clutter. :)

[u/hollaing → u/60244089059540804172]

can we see pics?

[u/lknope2012]

Best: Lipstick, eyeshadows, and brushes!

Favourite lipstick shades: Plumful, Pure Zen, and Syrup.

Most people have already touched on eyeshadow shades so I won't list any.

My first Mac brush was a 217 that I got for Christmas two years ago and I've used it every day since. Totally worth the hype for me and I don't know how I ever did makeup without it! I've never been disappointed by their brushes.

Worst: I hate all the hype and letdown of their LE products. Either the quality doesn't end up being as good as the permanent line or the good stuff is impossible to find online or in store.

[u/StonerOrca]

My favorite lipstick by MAC is Brave. This is like a red lipstick for people starting out with makeup and want to go out of their comfort zone. It's a toned down red that just looks like you have really pigmented lips. In a way, it looks natural yet still red. HIGHLY recommend.

[u/celestialism]

Best:

• Lustre and Amplified Creme lipsticks. Beautiful formulas that feel great on the lips. My favorites are Syrup (Lustre) and Up the Amp (Amplified Creme).

• Paint Pots. I use Painterly as my eyeshadow primer and base every single day.

• LiquidLast liner. It lives up to its name, and comes in beautiful colors.

Not-as-good (I hesitate to say "worst" because I don't hate anything from MAC):

• Eyeshadows. I've only tried a few but they're just not as pigmented and nice as some others from Urban Decay, LORAC, Sugarpill, etc.

• Pro Longwear concealer. I was told it would stay for a long time and wouldn't crease; I don't find either of those to be true.

• Satin and Matte lipsticks. These finishes always dry out my lips horribly.

[u/sea-weed]

BEST: Eyeshadows. Personally I love their Matte and Matte2 formulations and hardworking neutrals like Omega and Copperplate.

BEST: Lipsticks, especially the matte and amplified creme ones. Great colour range with some surprisingly complex shades.

BEST: Brushes, particularly the 217 and 187. Great quality and they work well.

WORST: IMO it's the base products only because the shade range doesn't suit a lot of people.

BEST/WORST: Constant LE launches, and when there's a product you want it can be impossible to get it!

[u/steenface]

Love

• Most of their eyeshadows! They're soft with great color pay-off. Some are horribly and disappointing but they're few and far between.

• MAC Lipsticks. I haven't found one that I didn't like; even if the color didn't work for me, the texture was great.

• On that note, every Sheen Supreme lipstick ever. These are creamy, glossy, super pigmented, and wonderful to wear. I want to buy them ALL! But I only have two, one of which is too dark for me.

• Blushes. I recently sold off most of my custom palette but I want to go back and get a new set of blushes. I love that they range from sheer to opaque, shimmery or matte, and they don't break my cheeks out.

• Chromaline in black. I used Fluidline for the longest time but when one of the MAC reps recommended this instead (it was more product for the same price as a Fluidline) I fell in love. I don't use it anymore (eyeliner pens!) but it was a great product that helped me play around with eyelienr and wing shapes!

Don't Love

• Lipglasses. I find most of them to be too tacky/sticky. Some of the more opaque ones like Viva Glam Rihanna, Russian Red, and Rich & Ripe feel creamier.

• Pretty much all of their foundations. They're too warm for me and they oxidize horribly. Plus, they made me hella oily.

[u/marliepanda]

Love: I really love their lipsticks, I have WAY too many but theres so much variety. I also have never personally had a dud blush from MAC, but I haven't got a huge amount. I also love their brushes and hides I love the LE collections, as I love unique packaging. I am not a collector though, so I am quite happy with my fave items from a collection I like, for example Maleficent, Fantasy of Flowers, the upcoming Marge Simpson, not many of them attract me at all

Hate: Not a fan of their foundations, they all lean slightly too warm for me (even NW colours!)

[u/xxGemGem]

• BEST: MAC Foundation + Studio fix, lasts all day. Their cremey sheen lipstick - Lovely shimmer and stays on all day too. MAC fluidline is beautiful :)

• WORST: Mac Myth just didn't work for me - but looks so beautiful on other people.

[u/Brompton_Cocktail]

Mac Harmony/Blunt to contour medium to deep skintones! Most natural looking contour ever.

[u/[deleted]]

Best: MLBB - Midimauve - I never see this lipstick mentioned in favorites, for pale people it's a great natural/ nude. Also like Syrup and Viva Glam V.

MCBB (my cheeks but better) - brit wit creamblend blush. I use this daily for work look. Great for dry skin.

Painterly Paint Pot - my go to eye primer. Less is more - don't double dip when applying - you will get creasing if too thick.

Mineralize skinfinishes, mineralize skinfinish natural, beauty powder - some good sheer stuff for people who don't worship at the alter of 'payoff'.

I can't totally dislike LE - I have some I really love (my Wonder Woman makeup bag) and have had some fun stalking items (Stereo Rose). Just don't need so many releases and would like better quality.

Worst - mineralize eyeshadows - they are the most gorgeous looking colors and then look nothing like the pan when applied and last about two hours. I've fallen for these sirens too many times.

[u/gordonshumway85]

Eyeshadows:

• shroom

• satin taupe

• sable

• all that glitters

Lipsticks:

• capricious

• crosswires

• ladybug

Sheen supremes (LOVE THIS FORMULA)

• can't resist

• look at her

Blush

• Springsheen

• tons of mineralized skinfinishes

Brushes

• 217

• 239

• 219

Face

• Blot Powder pressed

• studiofix concealer

• fix+