Another thing is that Mac has a huge overseas market. People around the world love Mac and swear by it (I think it's because they are one of the most accessible brands, a lot of U.S makeup brands don't ship around the world or don't sell their products in the country ). No matter where I travel, I always see a Mac store at the airport.
Totally agree, even here in India, Mac doesn't do a lot of influencers sponsorships, but they're in most influencers posts in some way shape and form! Also, they're a well reputed brand down here, with a market share, amongst the luxury category.
Makeup quality aside, their downfall in my opinion was largely due to their horrible customer service. At one point in time the Mac horror stories were everywhere, I have a few myself which made me switch to sephora
They need to stop hiring mean girls and bitter gays as the face of their brand, definitely tired of the snobbiness when entering a brick and mortar location. This is not Mean Girls or Bad Girls Club. Please just help me find the right product or do a return without the attitude. 🙄
Another thing MAC has done well is diversifying into other countries where they have a high consumer base. MAC was probably the first international makeup brand to have an official store in Nigeria and a lot of African countries and this was a smart decision because yall know Africans love them so MAC products!
"If you are darker than a paper bag, they think you're a NW45" reminded me of the thinly-veiled racist jabs their "artists" would make whenever the dark shade they chose for me would literally make me look like I was doing black face even though I am black! My face would be one color and my neck would stand in contrast making me look like I was suffering from a horrible skin condition. And if I ever pointed out how a shade didn't match me, they would say "This is your shade. Unless you want to look LIGHTER" which of course would send me into unspeakable rage! No, I do NOT want to look light or white, I just want a foundation that fucking matches me. How about that?
Hahhaa...I can feel your rage. I have this argument about skin care for my acne and wearing sunscreen. Noooo I do Not want to get fairer, o just want my face acne free.
I’m white, but with the red “butterfly rash”, common in lupus. Howeve my master undertone is a true neural and so is my neck. MAC artist always color match me wrong with liquid foundations, which then oxidize and turn orange. I would like to match my neck 😂 my redness is covered enough I can accept it with foundation, for shit sake, I cannot accept a blended line of 2 skins. The only foundation I like is the studio fix powder. They all seem to suck at color matching gave to neck? Sorry theu do that to you! I know it’s so much harder to get color matched. I just got my first real color match 6 months ago and I’m 42 (liquid). Why don’t people listen and not get butthurt when we say “this isn’t it”? It’s not a personal attack and you know they can see it.
Also outside of the US especially in Africa, Asia and Europe MAC is still huge and that girl, on every film set I've been on MAC is still heavily used and the preferred brand.
Mac had liquid lipsticks way back in the late 90’s early 2000’s. They also had cream blushes and eyeshadows first. MAC started as an artist brand and they are staying in their lane. They are the “It” girl brand that had moved on. Yes their demographic has grown up. But honestly they are a truly classic brand. I would be interested to see if many of these “it” brands are around 25 years from now. I sincerely doubt that most of them will be. 🤔🤔
Exactly. MAC had customizable palettes, “Pro Palettes,” before the hype about palettes ever thought about starting. MAC, also, had a stick foundation and concealer back then, too. Strobe Cream (Moisturizer) and Hyperreal Foundation were around before highlighting and contouring became popular. MAC has already done what a lot of new brands are doing now. Smh.
Mac has also been around way before majority of these fly by night companies that are out now. I haven’t found any lipstick that I like more than Mac and I have plenty from other brands. I will stick with what’s tried and true and that’s Mac cosmetics.
Mac was the IT brand. There products are good but the ever underestimate the underdogs. Blockbuster downplayed and laugh at Netflix. Where is Blockbuster now? The other products are just good as MAC. Mac created a exclusive trend surrounding their products and some people dont want to let it go. Me personally Mac foundation always broke me out. Their lipsticks are top notch I must say
Estée Lauder buys a brand, kills a brand. It’s always the case. The Raisin blush was that girl before so many other brands were doing color products for darker skinned women. And talk about long-lasting... it was “sleep in it”-proof. But they fell off when they gave up their independence. Now, let’s talk about your eye look... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The raisin color changed after they were bought out! It used to have more of a rust tone to it... Plus they just RECENTLY bought back the bronze shimmer loose powder
They fell off because they failed to innovate. Nothing really new...estee gave them access to more...more factories, more distribution pipelines, international markets , etc.
No matter how many brands come out, not one can replace *MAC’s Chestnut Lip Liner and Ruby Woo lipstick* in my opinion 🙌🏾 Over the past 4 years I’ve only been using black owned beauty products (with the exception of those two products from MAC). I absolutely agree, MAC is like timeless, women young and old always go to MAC.
I wholeheartedly agree. Their Chestnut lip pencil is always on my list of 5 things I would have in my kit if I’m stranded on a deserted island. It goes with anything-from the sheerest nudes to the bronziest glosses. I also love the correction and concealer palette in dark. I use it as a base and add a little powder and I’m out the door.
Mac has a lock on the older woman audience the 40s and up, I feel like these women not looking at 20 something year olds review pallets lol these women go to Mac pick up there items they’ve been getting for years. I think that’s why Mac isn’t doing all that extra stuff
🤣🤣🤣 So true! I totally agree HOWEVER, you have a lot like myself who are viewing the content of 20 something year olds! 😉 I must stay on trend! I was definitely a Mac girl for a long time! Fenty changed that for me! It’s 2020 innovation is inevitable!
It's an interesting comment bc I fall into the older than 40 category, and I've never been tempted to shop Mac and always wondered what the fuss was about. I do love the products from their parent brand Estee Lauder, though, and I am definitely their demographic, lol!
Ouch, this is me. I'm 49 and I buy all my MAC staples, even though I watch the young ladies videos, and sometimes incorporate new items into my staple items. I have been able to purchase MAC in three countries and was grateful to have access to my foundation when out of the states, but I have since purchased other foundation brands. I am a MAC lip gloss and lipstick user, though.
That’s my mom. She’s 42, and not impressed by other brands. When I asked her what makeup did she wear, and she hit me with Mac, I was surprised.. at first. But, it made sense. She’s been shopping at Mac since she was in her 20’s.. why stop now.
Also the reason that MAC still has a large following is that it is a staple department store brand with a large colour range. In countries outside the US online shopping is not always as easy and certain "it" brands are just not available instore.
I will always respect Mac because they catered for dark skin black women when no one else did. I could actually see my shade in store. Don’t forget Lancôme, Fenty, Bobbi brown and Esteè Lauder they also always had our backs. They can have my coins regardless ❤️ going foundation shopping with those brands was never an issue. It shouldn’t have taken these brands so long to extend their foundation range, to me it’s a joke and not a true representation of ‘diversity’.
SoNaturallyGwen you know girl! I do not get excited for brands who are now ‘diverse’. It is too late and it took them far too long! I think the brands that always had our backs need promoting more, in my personal opinion. I went to the drugstore the other day and there are still a lack of shades... the year is 2020 - enough said.
DelanaNamanoxo Because brands that sell to China(mainland which they are/were) are tested on animals as it’s the law there people are just done with the ancient ethics. They just wanted their Chinese customers and they were greedy with money. The only thing stopping Mac then and now from being cruelty free is the fact they still CHOOSE to sell to Chinese market. They just greedy it’s simple really lol.
I honestly don’t know one person that doesn’t have at least one Mac product. My mum’s entire makeup collection was Mac but they just got boring. My mum’s collection is now shifting towards other brands because she’s bored with what they’re releasing. That being said their lipsticks are still bomb though
I used to adore their lipsticks and brow pencil. It was gutting when they stopped being cruelty-free. Russian Red was the hardest of all my non-CF products to give up tbh.
I've never tried anything from MAC. I'm 44 years old and I've got a pretty big makeup collection. I have never really come across anything I've been interested in except for the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural but my Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders are good.
Mac really used to be the IT brand. I remember all people wore was MAC. You couldn’t even introduce another brand because they only had MAC in their minds
I feel like they have staple products and that’s made them lazy. Their lipsticks, strobe cream, Mac fix plus. Like those are a few examples. But they’ve gotten lazy and are resting on their laurels. They don’t excite with any launches you rarely here about new launches. But you still see influencers using their brushes, mac fix plus, using strobe cream for the glowing skin look, and using their lipsticks. So their name is there yes, but not for new products for their old tried and trues.
I totally agree, they are resting on their Laurels. Their Launches I also agree have been unexciting (except for Packaging) and Complexion Products Shades in the Launches (such as Bronzers) have a very narrow focus.
I really don't think they are in any danger of going away. They are in every professional's kit. They have a lot of staple of products that people always repurchase, even if they don't get anything new, like Fix +, Strobe cream, Chestnut lip liner, Ruby Woo, Raisin blush, etc. I will say that I don't feel like they are releasing anything that's innovative. People have been complaining about the lack of bronzers for Dark skin. MAC should have been jumped on that!!! They took forever to release liquid lipstick 🙄It's like their R&D people just aren't paying attention to Beauty trends or consumers. Single shadows aren't it anymore, but they won't really do palettes. I like how they've not associated themselves with these big beauty gurus that always turn out to be a trash person involved in drama. They just want to do what they want to do and they don't want none of the smoke! That's ok. I'll keep buying my staples and look for exciting stuff elsewhere🤷🏾♀️
MAC does Pro Palettes, you make your own pallette, blush, eyeshadow, contour, concealer etc. I have a Pro account, but I don't believe you need a pro account to make a custom pallette. It's perfect for MUAs as you don't want to lug around those huge ass Morphe and Colorpop pallettes in your kit, as you need the space. Plus like everyone else with 20 plus eyeshadow pallettes, I maybe use 3 or 4 colors out of 24, and the funky teals and bright violets won't get touched. I bring ONE MAC 24 custom eyeshadow palette on gigs,I personally built this pallette for my Bridal gigs, and really, 10 shadows would be more than enough, cause Bridal is boring lol
1. more brands with diverse packaging and formulas were founded 2. sephora became the new mac store except you could purchase from 10 brands instead of one in a single store 3. more consumers became mindful of animal testing on cosmetics and mac never changed their policies (if a brand chooses to sell in stores in china, they are choosing money over ethics which categorizes them as not cruelty free) 4. morphe and drugstore brands like elf, milani, wet n wild became a thing so you could get the packaging+aesthetic for less than half the price, allowing for the average income earner to experiment with makeup rather than only buy what they know theyll use regularly to get their moneys worth 5. eventually there were enough artistry and glamour catering cruelty free and vegan brands on the market that you could support something you believed in while getting products you wanted 6. as nearly everyone figured out how to apply makeup from youtube, makeup trends and styles started to diversify and brands started creating niche products for different trends and tastes (colour pop, glossier, milk, juvias place, abh, kosas, rms, charlotte tilbury, melt, etc) instead of sticking to the glamour aesthetic years after its popularity 7. indie brands started outshining in-store brands and with youtubers reviews people felt safer ordering cosmetics online
I wouldn't go to a Sephora for a foundation match, the employees there are not trained, at all. You'd be better matching yourself. People went to MAC because we did actually makeup at counter, and taught how to use the products correctly 🙄
If I remember correctly Bobbi sold the brand some years ago. Also, they don’t put out anything interesting so people don’t talk about them. But mannnnnn their Face Base is a daily holy grail for me! Or at least it was before rona when I could actually wear makeup without a mask.
I still only use Mac cosmetics foundation and complexion products because they are reliable but I don't buy their launches and eyeshadow because they don't excite me. The last launch i was excited about was the holiday face palettes that came in the glitter packaging but everything else was a miss.
Mac is also THE stage makeup brand, so a lot of performers use Mac as their go to. My old dance studio had a mandatory list of all Mac products for the competition team because the pigments in the products show up so well on stage
Testify, Sis! I love MAC but I hate it when they discontinue products that are quite popular like the Chai Lipglass and Lightful-C CC cream in deep dark. The replacement products are often disappointments.
MAC has repeat customers ESPECIALLY among Makeup Artists, the moms and the aunties. Not a lot of brands can say that aside from complexion products. On top of that, a lot of makeup lovers still have a MAC OGs that they rebuy from. One misstep MAC did make was coming to Ulta too late lol. That is the opposite of "it girl" vibe. It kinda seemed random.
I stepped out of line and literally bought an Estee Laudeer powder today (returned) . I should have stayed in my lane because MAC has never done me dirty like this Estee L shade 😭
To THIS DAY I am still a MAC girl! I try other brands (especially black brands) but MAC always pulls me back in. Mainly because they have a lot of universal shades/products
MAC 100 lost their dominance in the beauty industry and one reason is there are so many other brands who have a wide range of products. When you have a choice it is harder for one brand to be number 1.
When they did come out with the palletes I had a hard time with all the different size circle pans. I have one lipstick and its eh. But the problem with being a celebrity driven brand is that celebrities are not on that pedestal anymore
MAC is like Madonna or even Mariah and been around just as long, before the internet. Their latest sings may not chart now or played on the radio but their concerts will still be sold out and stans will sing along to Like a Virgin or Vision of Love and rock Ruby Woo until their in the grave. At least I know I will. Loyal fans keep them in business so they don't have to shit but play the old hits.
I remember in middle school and high school when MAC was the IT brand! (I graduated from high school in 2010.) Even in early college years it was an IT brand. But yeah, they’ve really fallen off the map for me, although I do still have a few of their products: MAC Fix+, MAC Sincere blush, MAC Liptensity lipstick in doe, and a MAC eyebrow pencil I got in a Boxycharm.
What's so funny about this is I'm international. I remember when girls would fly out just to go to the Mac Store. We call it going foreign. We have a Mac Store now but everything is like $10 - $15 more expensive plus the last time I went, they tried to sell me a palette with 8 shades for $40 (its was $36 something plus tax) with no mirror. There is literally no incentive to purchase from them and like many other brands here, they usually don't have my shade in stock which I wouldn't be mad at normally but I live in a majority black country and they always have tons of the lighter shades in stock but not enough of the darker shades.
As a former MAC Artist, we would get international people with huge lists of products to take home to wherever they were from. I'm talking 30 studio fix powers, 30 Studio Fix Fluids, dunno if they were going to resell them or what.
I’m still a MAC GAL. I don’t care how many new brands are created nor the collaborations, the quality and accessibility of MAC will have me as a customer forever. The beauty community is too overly saturated. If I see another neutral palette I’m going to scream!!
When you mentioned Melt and Fenty they were created by women who liked MAC products. Those brands wouldn’t have existed without MAC. One of Melts founders Lora Arellano worked for MAC and was a Manager at one of their department store makeup stands and was Rihanna’s makeup artist and used MAC products on her and Rihanna fell in love with Ruby woo lipstick, I think that is why for Fenty Rihanna put out a great red lip color first for her brand.
I checked out Melt, and couldn't believe the price of the eyeshadow palettes, they want 50$ for these things, no ty. I'll make a MAC Pro Palette and not pay for 5 or 6 weird ass eyeshadow colors I'll never use.
It feels like MAC is huge behind the scenes/in the professional world (due to their pro discounts etc) and they will be in almost every MUA's kit. Though, because they aren't all over trends, gimmicky products, they don't rely on influencer collabs they just aren't as visible on social media, so people just assume no one buys it cos no one talks about them. But, considering it's a prestigious brand, available worldwide and the age range that is either just getting into make-up or older people who have tried and tested faves.... I don't think MAC is gonna be packing in any time soon.
As a freelance makeup artist MAC is actually not very artist focused anymore. Their employees aren’t given the type of education that they used to have. I look at my colleagues kits and it is really the old guard who have a lot of MAC. Of course a lot of artists have the iconic products, but people are no longer referencing all foundations to MAC colors. This trend is happening with all artist focused brands; examples Makeup Forever, Cover FX, NARS, and Kevin Aucion. The quality of Mac shadows just isn’t it. Makeup technology has gone a long way and MAC hasn’t updated their formulas to compete with brands like Viseart or Anastasia Beverly Hills (OG palettes). Honestly if I took out a Mac foundation most of the talent I work with would be seriously concerned that I was going to do really heavy pore clogging makeup. MAC remains relevant because it sponsors so many Fashion Week shows, and because they offer pro pans. They also are the only brand that CHARGES yearly for a pro discount. Every other brands gives it for free as long as you qualify. The market is so over saturated with product it is hard to chose MAC over other brands that feel more fresh.
I get a really good discount on MAC products with my Pro Account, I don't get charged for my Pro account, but I'm a former employee and have had a Pro account since 2007,not sure if that makes a difference. I'm not going to pay full price for 15 plus foundations and concealers, from another line, that would be 600-1000$ depending on the line. Most MUAs use one foundation type aka F&B, SFF and we have products to change the finish and shade ranges. Who can afford a full range of Dior foundation and concealers, as much as I'd love to have Dior in my kit, they don't offer a Pro discount. You see influencers with multiple foundations brands in every shade, yeah, because they're GIVEN these products for free. The average contracted or freelancing MUA has to slowly build their kits over time, and MAC is STILL the most affordable.
My first ever foundation was studio fix powder and girl it was nw45, that was almost 15 years ago 🤣. Now I just purchase their red lipsticks. I am a NARS ho now.
I worked for MAC for a few years...right around the time when they started putting influencers in their social media and having sales. You’re an OG if you remember when literally nothing ever went on sale at MAC lol. In my opinion, the sales and putting everybody and their mama on PR really cheapened the brand.
I feel like their celebrity collections all look the same or have similar color palettes and its gets lazy and repetitive. As well they did discontinue or reformulate some of their classic products that people actually liked. Plus they no longer have the monopoly on having a wide shade selection. People have more choices and at a lower price point and that's why they have seen a dip in sales.
I personally went back to using Mac. Something about that darn studio fix foundation.. plus their lipsticks and lip liners are a stable for me. Eyeshadows and stuff like that i could care less about from them. However if you want to learn how to be an MUA getting in with Mac is a good start. Jackie, Patrick, and some more big you tubers started with them. Idk I’m biased when i say Mac birth MUA.
Chasity Joyner Girl, I feel the same way about studio fix. I will tell you what it it is.... the coverage never changes or fails you & it stays once dry. It doesn’t transfer on your clothes! I have tried other brands & once I see that transfer I get rid of it and put on my Mac.😂
I've never tried the lip liner chestnut, because I think a lip pencil shouldn't be so expensive. But i think I should treat myself for my birthday with this infamous chestnut.
MAC does the most with bumping product prices up too, they try to be like designer bags where once a year designers bump their prices up and MAC has been doing the same. Why is a lipstick that I used to pay like $10 10 years ago now $20.
@@reashabiggs2236 Exactly. I have a bunch of NYX Lipliners and love them. I think NYX Slim Pencil in Expresso is a Dupe for MAC Chestnut. They also have Suede Line Cold Brew Lipliner which is a def go - to for me.
I remember when M.A.C was the most talked about brand in the early nineties and it was so elusive. It was very hard to find a mac counter 25 years ago, they were only in major cities and didn’t sell online back then. Now they are everywhere with a new collection every 2 seconds. That was their downfall not to mention the rude/obnoxious counter people they hire. They went from a diamond to a pebble and their quality decreased dramatically too! 😞
I'm loyal to that MAC foundation! MAC was the only brand that had my shade when I first started wearing makeup and I just can't let it go. As for other makeup products, I hardly buy MAC unless its on sale.
I work/worked for Mac before they closed their doors during the pandemic. Right before the pandemic hit, we were in the process of kicking off a new "campaign" if you will, to revive the brand. I've been with the company for 4 year, I pretty much started, when the company was starting to see a decreases in their numbers. They have been wanting a comeback for so long. It may look like they're doing fine, but as a manger with the brand i see our sales year to date, compared to the previous years, and they have been decreasing every year. I think the biggest issue with Mac as well is that their have been a lot of changes with the uppers in the company. I want to say there have been 3 new presidents in the company within the last 3 years. So there hasn't been much consistency with the brand. The newest president, has a great vision for the brand, that could help enable a come back. I'm happy that they're pushing the biggest emphasis on customer service. Some Mac doors really lacked that. I would love to see this brand come back to life.
I'm the non-makeup artist who still loves Mac and have never purchased anything from Colourpop. Mac not entering the US Sephora market has also played a role. Great video and perspective!
it seems like MAC has been having increasing problems with customer service lately. my mother has always been a longtime fan because they were the only brand that made a product that fit her skin tone. she ordered something from them recently and it came smashed beyond repair, she got on customer service and they sent her in circles, so she had to get Paypal to step in. MAC made her pay for the return label to send it back for a refund, but they rejected the package when it got back to them so they got in major trouble with PayPal. needless to say, mom is resolute about never ordering from them again, especially with the improvement other brands have made formula and shade wise
That's a really awful experience your Moms had but now she has the opportunity to delve into all the new Stuff and nowadays, she is sure to find something that suits her perfectly! 👍
@@katieholden3675 I don't understand the snottiness, either. Just because MAC is backed up by Estee Lauder doesn't mean that they won't find themselves going the way of Montgomery Wards and Steinberg Baum. Good Customer Service is an integral part of doing Business.....Malls are on the decline and 'Rona is hastening the decline. MAC may look up and find out that they need to close all them Stores.
I had a zoom interview for Mac a couple days ago which I felt went really well BUT what I have experienced so far isn’t very professional and it really isn’t a good way to promote your brand. First of all the lady doing my interview on zoom looked like she just got out of bed. She had no makeup on and was not presented well even though I was told I had to wear all black and do my makeup as if I was working at the store. She told me at the end of the interview that she would inform me by around 5 the same day. She did not inform me at all and I still havnt heard anything even a few days more. I’ve emailed a couple times now and still nothing. I think this is really bad and unprofessional since I met all the requirements for the interview and I was told about the interview the night before! They were desperately looking for employees as their was many roles available. I just really don’t understand why they are like this?
They’re losing money. Even behind the scenes their dominance has waned. I read an analyst’s article explaining that the lack of innovation is the main culprit. He wrote that they got too comfortable and the boom...all these other brands came up and took over. I used to love MAC and still use a few of their products. Great video!
No one can replace MAC's pro products. As a pro artist, these other brands cannot compare when it comes to getting everyday products and pro products all under one roof. Mixing mediums, airbrush body paints, chromographic liner....I live for these products especially onset for photoshoots. Makeup Artists Cosmetics...it's in the name
🌟Exactly! For example this current launch ... can we get some swatches and/or looks because we just can’t roll up to the store our selves for personal swatches. All the Mac stores are closed in my location
I love this series you made many different valid points. MAC is a vintage and prominent makeup company. It is up to them to not rely on their strong point to be open-minded in improving their company and consumer relationship. The question is do they want to be on top or just an average brand with one or two great products.
i have never owned a mac product despite using makeup for going on a decade and i think it's because nothing has really stood out to me. i've heard wonderful things about their lipsticks but i don't wear lipstick, so that doesn't apply to me, really. you brought up a lot of points youtubers haven't mentioned before, this was really educational. love your videos! ♡
Their ego had a lot to do with it. They have a long been known to be rude and people got tired of it. The industry is super saturated and we now have endless options, so why go to the mall and deal with rude sales associates? The quality is still there but as someone who was working makeup artist...I just find them forgettable. There are so many other brands out there and clients also want to see the new hot trendy products in your kit too. When I think of the underground pro product, I'm more likely to reach for the Graftobian, RCMA, Kryolan etc.
If Mac extended and revamped the face and body shade range I'd be *so* hype. I like that foundation but the darkest shade is too red and dark for me, and the second darkest shade is too light.
Mac makes me orange or red. No matter the color, and I can feel it just sitting on my skin. oily almost. MAC was really the household name, now there are many competitors.
China is ending mandatory pre-market animal testing for international cosmetics in 2021, though things like sunscreen will still be tested on animals. The problem is post-market testing-products can be pulled from the shelves to be tested (on animals) if there are questions/concerns about the product's safety. Some brands claim to be cruelty-free because they have an agreement that pre-market animal testing won't be conducted on their products, but they aren't truly CF as the post-market testing can still occur.
I like your editing style of minimal cuts. It’s calming because you don’t say a lot of filler words like um. Also you’re GORGEOUS. Holy moly. Great video
I love MAC lipsticks. I only buy them for special occasions now but back in the day I would just buy them just because. My last lipstick purchase was 5 years ago for my wedding.
When it comes to their lipsticks they are unmatched, quality and pigment.👌🏾Ruby woo, Dangerous, Candy Yum Yum the list goes on..... and there is no other baked pressed powder even close to MSF.
I worked at MAC briefly in 2014-2015 around the same time that "Instagram makeup" and Kylie Jenner's lips were sweeping social media by storm; one thing that frustrated me about MAC as a consumer brand is that with many "trend" products they were being released way too late. For example, we had so many people coming to the counter to buy contour palettes, contour creams... Those were only available at Pro stores and the demand was so high for them, i couldn't understand why it took MAC almost two years after the hype to release them - when everyone stopped caring. Same with liquid lipsticks. I think the "palette craze" that was kicked off with the original Urban Decay Naked palette as well changed how people see shadows, since now it's overwhelmingly about big colorful palettes whereas before, most palettes available were neutral/quads, etc. And for how long it took to lower the prices of the single shadows when Makeup Geek came out with straight color dupes for their shadows. With that said, I think MAC is an industry standard as with Makeup Forever, etc and I still love their products.
Exactly. Just what I was was thinking when I saw their first Sale. I was like "what?" " MAC is having a Sale?" "Have I lost may Mind?" "Have they lost theirs?" LOL
You should do a video like this about Fashion Fair. They at one point were an "it" brand and now trying to breakthrough with Black Opal. Would be interesting to hear your take.
They fell off for me ever since they flubbed the Aaliyah collection, that we all signed and worked hard to petition them for. Plus, I always hated their foundations. I have a yellow undertone and all their foundations made me look like I was too whiteish. Found fenty and I’m never going back.
I absolutely love Mac and agree they need to focus on more complexion products and bronzers THAT BRONZE NW48 and deeper !!!!! So tired of every summer the bronzer is my face powder
I stopped using MAC in 2011 when I couldn’t remember the exact shade I usually get for winter and asked to be matched. It wasn’t busy or anything. This girl barely looks at me goes “You’re light enough” and rings me up for NC43 and that’s not even my shade 😭
I’m was one of those N45 girls from the 90’s💃🏽 They lost my coins because their reps were always nasty to me. Every time I went to buy products they would walk past me and right to the white women or the younger women with multi-color hair. MAC did not continue their relationship with the 90’s brown girl that made them a household name.
I think we need to realize that Mac is a subsidiary of Estée Lauder now and as you mentioned Estee Lauder does not have to use influencer marketing and neither does their subsidiaries because that is a multibillion dollar industry company ...And like the subscriber said below overseas they are huge in fact even in the Bahamas Mack is still considered the it brand…
I feel like all MAC needs to do to catch more people's attention is to release a bronzer range that covers all complexions in their studio fix line and release a few darker shades of the MSF Natural. They don't even NEED to do the former because more shades in the MSF Natural would mean that more people can use different shades for powder and bronzer.
I can totally relate to all of your experiences with the disconnect when it comes to the Mac MAs color matching you with foundations. I have been a Mac customer for many years and have tried almost every foundation they have and whenever one of their artists would attempt to color match me they would pick out a foundation that was too dark and usually too orange for me. I’m African-American with olive undertones and the Mineralize foundation in NC 37 is my exact color match and matches me better than any foundation I’ve ever worn including ones from other brands (and I’ve tried hundreds over the years). I’m an NC 40 in the Pro longwear and can get away with an NC 37 in Studio Fix, even though it gets slightly orange when it oxidizes on me. Anyway, their artists would always try to pick a foundation that was way too dark for me (and usually the wrong formula for my skin type) and before I knew any better I would purchase it uopn their recommendation only to go home and be completely unsatisfied with it and have to return it. And they would always give me the side-eye and an unpleasant attitude whenever I would return the foundation. I had to learn to match myself by requesting samples of two shades that I personally thought were closest to my skin tone and trying them out over the course of a couple of days in different lighting and conditions to find the best color and formula for me. I stopped asking them to match me and for the most part stopped listening to any of their recommendations for foundations and just went with my own knowledge, experience and intuition and it worked out a whole lot better for me. That’s the only way I was able to find my perfect color match and formula with the Mineralize NC 37. Before that, there was alot of trial and error, frustration and embarrasment (I’ll never forget when I was working retail and checking out a customer who kept staring at me, and finally asked if I knew that my face looked orange😧 thanks to one of their infamous color match faux pas).
Do Forever21. They flopped sooo bad. I remember they used to sell really pretty, decent-quality clothes at an affordable price. Then, the quality got worse and worse to the point where very few people were buying there compared to years ago. Then the 90s fashion came and everything was a thin spaghetti strap top that would fluff up after the first wash, avg tshirts with the logo a company that didn’t pay you to do them advertising, and shapeless jeans.
@13:33 😂😂😂🙌🏾💯💅🏾 Thats sooo true! “I don’t need this my man got 2 jobs” MAC is really just chilling making 💴 Its like the “Chanel” of the makeup industry
I myself am cruelty free and I feel so sore about that I don't think I'd allowed myself to stan them even if they tried really hard getting on the right side. However, my personal feelings aside, it really shocks me that they don't push their formulas more. All those established brands you mentioned are always pushing the envelope in terms of finish, usability, texture, etc. Mac, on the other hand, is known for dropping the ball in that front. I mean, they launched dip brown and dropped it. Now I don't even remember what they called theirs. Lancôme, e.g, may have discontinued the juicy shakers now, but they had a few good years, and it was unique! It felt special! They were trying!
Idk if we can overlook them using TikTokers/younger crowd casually. As you pointed out, it's like they skipped a generation, so they're getting a fresh start. A lot of people in that younger gen don't know classic '00 hits, so IMO, with that targeting, it is them trying to rebrand and become v relevant to that younger crowd
Idt they’re skipping a generation. Millennials were the last to get a taste of what it was like when mac was on top and now they’re using those millennials who jumped on tik tok to continue what theyre already known as to their gen z followers. I don’t see a rebrand attempt fro m them.
No they weren’t. They were sending out pr packages just like everyone else when influencer marketing took off but just also exclusive with who it was sent and didn’t send out a package for every launch.
I feel like one of the things that forced Mac to fall from grace was the workers ! I remember during those times seeing video after video of the treatment given to customers in the stores- along with those videos about hollister and abricombie and fitch. I think that made a lot of consumers not want to deal with Mac anymore. But another reason I feel Mac couldn’t go farther is when the beauty community started to shift and become more popular as a whole -there we’re so many “new” brands coming into to the limelight and they started pumping out products left and right, one after the other, it was new pallets coming out every 1-2weeks (still are) and it took the focus off of Mac.
Yes!!!! And they hire the worst people. They used to the best and innovative artist. THEN: rude people and they just slap crap on your face. I can do THAT at home....
One thing that turned me away from MAC was the piss poor customer service. The employees didn’t want to bother if they didn’t think you were going to buy anything.
Mac has the shade range down. However where I think they are lacking is different skin types. Most mac products are very heavy and matte. Which is their aesthetic being an artist brand, however they would cater to many more people creating lighter weight products and products meant for different skin types I.e dry / normal skin. Last time I checked out mac their foundations are for oily skin I could be wrong tho.
Another thing is that Mac has a huge overseas market. People around the world love Mac and swear by it (I think it's because they are one of the most accessible brands, a lot of U.S makeup brands don't ship around the world or don't sell their products in the country ). No matter where I travel, I always see a Mac store at the airport.
Exactly!
Totally agree, even here in India, Mac doesn't do a lot of influencers sponsorships, but they're in most influencers posts in some way shape and form! Also, they're a well reputed brand down here, with a market share, amongst the luxury category.
That’s a very important point.
Even in Nigeria
Too Much Mouth dd
Makeup quality aside, their downfall in my opinion was largely due to their horrible customer service. At one point in time the Mac horror stories were everywhere, I have a few myself which made me switch to sephora
AMEN
And it's not like ur the only game in town.
They need to stop hiring mean girls and bitter gays as the face of their brand, definitely tired of the snobbiness when entering a brick and mortar location.
This is not Mean Girls or Bad Girls Club. Please just help me find the right product or do a return without the attitude. 🙄
I was a permanent employee for them for years and can attest to the fact that they hire really rude people. Never made any sense to me...
THIS!!!
Another thing MAC has done well is diversifying into other countries where they have a high consumer base. MAC was probably the first international makeup brand to have an official store in Nigeria and a lot of African countries and this was a smart decision because yall know Africans love them so MAC products!
"If you are darker than a paper bag, they think you're a NW45" reminded me of the thinly-veiled racist jabs their "artists" would make whenever the dark shade they chose for me would literally make me look like I was doing black face even though I am black! My face would be one color and my neck would stand in contrast making me look like I was suffering from a horrible skin condition. And if I ever pointed out how a shade didn't match me, they would say "This is your shade. Unless you want to look LIGHTER" which of course would send me into unspeakable rage! No, I do NOT want to look light or white, I just want a foundation that fucking matches me. How about that?
I agree! I have had this experience with them
Dose of colors meet your hue concealer and foundation
Dose of colors has you girls!
Hahhaa...I can feel your rage. I have this argument about skin care for my acne and wearing sunscreen. Noooo I do Not want to get fairer, o just want my face acne free.
@@chenesec6513 exactly!!!
I’m white, but with the red “butterfly rash”, common in lupus. Howeve my master undertone is a true neural and so is my neck. MAC artist always color match me wrong with liquid foundations, which then oxidize and turn orange. I would like to match my neck 😂 my redness is covered enough I can accept it with foundation, for shit sake, I cannot accept a blended line of 2 skins. The only foundation I like is the studio fix powder. They all seem to suck at color matching gave to neck? Sorry theu do that to you! I know it’s so much harder to get color matched. I just got my first real color match 6 months ago and I’m 42 (liquid). Why don’t people listen and not get butthurt when we say “this isn’t it”? It’s not a personal attack and you know they can see it.
they got the runways, photo shoots and awards shows... the everyday consumer is just the icing on the cake.. loved the Rihanna collab
Exactly lol
As someone who worked for MAC PR for a long time retail customers sales is a large portion of their revenue over 70%
Also outside of the US especially in Africa, Asia and Europe MAC is still huge and that girl, on every film set I've been on MAC is still heavily used and the preferred brand.
Mac had liquid lipsticks way back in the late 90’s early 2000’s. They also had cream blushes and eyeshadows first. MAC started as an artist brand and they are staying in their lane. They are the “It” girl brand that had moved on. Yes their demographic has grown up. But honestly they are a truly classic brand. I would be interested to see if many of these “it” brands are around 25 years from now. I sincerely doubt that most of them will be. 🤔🤔
Exactly. MAC had customizable palettes, “Pro Palettes,” before the hype about palettes ever thought about starting. MAC, also, had a stick foundation and concealer back then, too. Strobe Cream (Moisturizer) and Hyperreal Foundation were around before highlighting and contouring became popular. MAC has already done what a lot of new brands are doing now. Smh.
Mac has also been around way before majority of these fly by night companies that are out now. I haven’t found any lipstick that I like more than Mac and I have plenty from other brands. I will stick with what’s tried and true and that’s Mac cosmetics.
100%. Wait five years and see where the newer brands are
Mac was the IT brand. There products are good but the ever underestimate the underdogs. Blockbuster downplayed and laugh at Netflix. Where is Blockbuster now? The other products are just good as MAC. Mac created a exclusive trend surrounding their products and some people dont want to let it go. Me personally Mac foundation always broke me out. Their lipsticks are top notch I must say
Estée Lauder buys a brand, kills a brand. It’s always the case. The Raisin blush was that girl before so many other brands were doing color products for darker skinned women. And talk about long-lasting... it was “sleep in it”-proof. But they fell off when they gave up their independence. Now, let’s talk about your eye look... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The raisin color changed after they were bought out! It used to have more of a rust tone to it... Plus they just RECENTLY bought back the bronze shimmer loose powder
They fell off because they failed to innovate. Nothing really new...estee gave them access to more...more factories, more distribution pipelines, international markets , etc.
Once your get bought out, it's a wrap for real... You are now cookie cutter... You can tell who owns whom...
Yup. I agree with this. That and a lack of innovation.
Ava raisin is still that gorl
No matter how many brands come out, not one can replace *MAC’s Chestnut Lip Liner and Ruby Woo lipstick* in my opinion 🙌🏾 Over the past 4 years I’ve only been using black owned beauty products (with the exception of those two products from MAC). I absolutely agree, MAC is like timeless, women young and old always go to MAC.
Yesss ruby woo is my fave red🥰
Rosey Florestal love mac nightmoth lip liner 💯 as well as chestnut lip liner
I wholeheartedly agree. Their Chestnut lip pencil is always on my list of 5 things I would have in my kit if I’m stranded on a deserted island. It goes with anything-from the sheerest nudes to the bronziest glosses. I also love the correction and concealer palette in dark. I use it as a base and add a little powder and I’m out the door.
no one can replace MAC's pro products.
Yes ... and Raisin blush... those are the only products that can’t be replaced in my collection
Mac has a lock on the older woman audience the 40s and up, I feel like these women not looking at 20 something year olds review pallets lol these women go to Mac pick up there items they’ve been getting for years. I think that’s why Mac isn’t doing all that extra stuff
Oh damn I feel like you talking about me and I'm 38 👀👀. I be going in there to get the eyebrow pencil and blusher.
🤣🤣🤣 So true! I totally agree HOWEVER, you have a lot like myself who are viewing the content of 20 something year olds! 😉 I must stay on trend! I was definitely a Mac girl for a long time! Fenty changed that for me! It’s 2020 innovation is inevitable!
It's an interesting comment bc I fall into the older than 40 category, and I've never been tempted to shop Mac and always wondered what the fuss was about. I do love the products from their parent brand Estee Lauder, though, and I am definitely their demographic, lol!
Ouch, this is me. I'm 49 and I buy all my MAC staples, even though I watch the young ladies videos, and sometimes incorporate new items into my staple items. I have been able to purchase MAC in three countries and was grateful to have access to my foundation when out of the states, but I have since purchased other foundation brands. I am a MAC lip gloss and lipstick user, though.
That’s my mom. She’s 42, and not impressed by other brands. When I asked her what makeup did she wear, and she hit me with Mac, I was surprised.. at first. But, it made sense. She’s been shopping at Mac since she was in her 20’s.. why stop now.
Also the reason that MAC still has a large following is that it is a staple department store brand with a large colour range. In countries outside the US online shopping is not always as easy and certain "it" brands are just not available instore.
M.a.c has definitely died down and they are trying to put up a good fight. They will forever be known as the “IT” brand. Forever a classic.
Sorry for the rattling my new battery’s coming!
I can't hear it haha
When are you doing another video with your influencer friends? That was bomb, I watched it more than once. You guys were informative AND funny 🤗
@@NikkiKane yessssss. I personally would love to see her with as toldvy kenya and amandabb
Too Much Mouth 🗣We need another collab video with your influencer friends sis! 🥺
I couldn’t hear it until I read this 😂🥴 my ears like started listening harder 😭🤦🏽♀️
I will always respect Mac because they catered for dark skin black women when no one else did. I could actually see my shade in store. Don’t forget Lancôme, Fenty, Bobbi brown and Esteè Lauder they also always had our backs. They can have my coins regardless ❤️ going foundation shopping with those brands was never an issue. It shouldn’t have taken these brands so long to extend their foundation range, to me it’s a joke and not a true representation of ‘diversity’.
DelanaNamanoxo Yes! The shade range was there from the beginning 👌🏾
SoNaturallyGwen you know girl! I do not get excited for brands who are now ‘diverse’. It is too late and it took them far too long! I think the brands that always had our backs need promoting more, in my personal opinion. I went to the drugstore the other day and there are still a lack of shades... the year is 2020 - enough said.
Makeup Minion how comes they sold out because they sold in China? I’m curious.
Don't forget fashion fair was there before.
DelanaNamanoxo Because brands that sell to China(mainland which they are/were) are tested on animals as it’s the law there people are just done with the ancient ethics. They just wanted their Chinese customers and they were greedy with money. The only thing stopping Mac then and now from being cruelty free is the fact they still CHOOSE to sell to Chinese market. They just greedy it’s simple really lol.
I honestly don’t know one person that doesn’t have at least one Mac product. My mum’s entire makeup collection was Mac but they just got boring. My mum’s collection is now shifting towards other brands because she’s bored with what they’re releasing. That being said their lipsticks are still bomb though
Young people don't 🤷🏻♀️
I used to adore their lipsticks and brow pencil. It was gutting when they stopped being cruelty-free. Russian Red was the hardest of all my non-CF products to give up tbh.
They refuse to be cruelty free so I’ll never own any.
I've never tried anything from MAC. I'm 44 years old and I've got a pretty big makeup collection. I have never really come across anything I've been interested in except for the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural but my Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders are good.
Meeeeeeee
I think if MAC released a bronzer right now (that had like 6-8shades) people wouldn't shut up about them.
MAC is like the Chanel of the makeup world, they're classic.
No, Chanel is the Chanel of the makeup world. Their lipsticks and blush 🔥🔥🔥
MAC has solidified themselves as an iconic brand. I agree, MAC is chilling like, “we good over here”.
MAC is like a Coca Cola or Nike. They don't need to do much.
Mac really used to be the IT brand. I remember all people wore was MAC. You couldn’t even introduce another brand because they only had MAC in their minds
I feel like they have staple products and that’s made them lazy. Their lipsticks, strobe cream, Mac fix plus. Like those are a few examples. But they’ve gotten lazy and are resting on their laurels. They don’t excite with any launches you rarely here about new launches. But you still see influencers using their brushes, mac fix plus, using strobe cream for the glowing skin look, and using their lipsticks. So their name is there yes, but not for new products for their old tried and trues.
Their Christmas sets used to be littttttttt but now it's always so disappointing.
You hit it right on the nail !
I totally agree, they are resting on their Laurels.
Their Launches I also agree have been unexciting (except for Packaging) and Complexion Products Shades in the Launches (such as Bronzers) have a very narrow focus.
Honestly, if it wasn’t for Mac’s chestnuts liner and certain lipstick ( s/o to ruby woo and heroin) I never hear influencers really talk about them.
I really don't think they are in any danger of going away. They are in every professional's kit. They have a lot of staple of products that people always repurchase, even if they don't get anything new, like Fix +, Strobe cream, Chestnut lip liner, Ruby Woo, Raisin blush, etc. I will say that I don't feel like they are releasing anything that's innovative. People have been complaining about the lack of bronzers for Dark skin. MAC should have been jumped on that!!! They took forever to release liquid lipstick 🙄It's like their R&D people just aren't paying attention to Beauty trends or consumers. Single shadows aren't it anymore, but they won't really do palettes. I like how they've not associated themselves with these big beauty gurus that always turn out to be a trash person involved in drama. They just want to do what they want to do and they don't want none of the smoke! That's ok. I'll keep buying my staples and look for exciting stuff elsewhere🤷🏾♀️
MAC does Pro Palettes, you make your own pallette, blush, eyeshadow, contour, concealer etc.
I have a Pro account, but I don't believe you need a pro account to make a custom pallette. It's perfect for MUAs as you don't want to lug around those huge ass Morphe and Colorpop pallettes in your kit, as you need the space.
Plus like everyone else with 20 plus eyeshadow pallettes, I maybe use 3 or 4 colors out of 24, and the funky teals and bright violets won't get touched.
I bring ONE MAC 24 custom eyeshadow palette on gigs,I personally built this pallette for my Bridal gigs, and really, 10 shadows would be more than enough, cause Bridal is boring lol
1. more brands with diverse packaging and formulas were founded
2. sephora became the new mac store except you could purchase from 10 brands instead of one in a single store
3. more consumers became mindful of animal testing on cosmetics and mac never changed their policies (if a brand chooses to sell in stores in china, they are choosing money over ethics which categorizes them as not cruelty free)
4. morphe and drugstore brands like elf, milani, wet n wild became a thing so you could get the packaging+aesthetic for less than half the price, allowing for the average income earner to experiment with makeup rather than only buy what they know theyll use regularly to get their moneys worth
5. eventually there were enough artistry and glamour catering cruelty free and vegan brands on the market that you could support something you believed in while getting products you wanted
6. as nearly everyone figured out how to apply makeup from youtube, makeup trends and styles started to diversify and brands started creating niche products for different trends and tastes (colour pop, glossier, milk, juvias place, abh, kosas, rms, charlotte tilbury, melt, etc) instead of sticking to the glamour aesthetic years after its popularity
7. indie brands started outshining in-store brands and with youtubers reviews people felt safer ordering cosmetics online
Thank you, this should have been the guideline for her video because you hit every mark!!
Very well put.
You put the nail on the head.
I wouldn't go to a Sephora for a foundation match, the employees there are not trained, at all. You'd be better matching yourself.
People went to MAC because we did actually makeup at counter, and taught how to use the products correctly 🙄
Question: What happened to Bobbi Brown? I dont hear or see non of my Favs talking about that make up brand anymore 🤷🏿♀️ Did I miss something?
same 🤭🤔
If I remember correctly Bobbi sold the brand some years ago. Also, they don’t put out anything interesting so people don’t talk about them. But mannnnnn their Face Base is a daily holy grail for me! Or at least it was before rona when I could actually wear makeup without a mask.
Bobbi Brown is just there, they never release new products or hype themselves up.
MsNew3 Bobbi Brown is actually HUGE in Asia now. I was wondering the same thing like a month ago and looked into it lol
@@goodgirl_goneglam6173 I heard that Estee Lauder bought Bobbi Brown.
Basically most brands that came after MAC copied everything MAC did but made it better!!🤷🏾♀️
I wouldn’t always say better but they did it good enough to compete with them.
I personally dont like mac but they had a 7 for $77 sale recently and I couldn't resist.
Same here!!!
This is me trying to buy something
But everything was gone 🤣🤣🤣
i cant even think of 7 products from them that i would be interested in...
@@youknow7856 obviously 7 different lipstick colors 🤣🤣
Petti LaBelle same
I still only use Mac cosmetics foundation and complexion products because they are reliable but I don't buy their launches and eyeshadow because they don't excite me.
The last launch i was excited about was the holiday face palettes that came in the glitter packaging but everything else was a miss.
Im excited for their Teyana collab
Mac is also THE stage makeup brand, so a lot of performers use Mac as their go to. My old dance studio had a mandatory list of all Mac products for the competition team because the pigments in the products show up so well on stage
That’s what mac was originally created for. Stage makeup and photo shoots.
Testify, Sis! I love MAC but I hate it when they discontinue products that are quite popular like the Chai Lipglass and Lightful-C CC cream in deep dark. The replacement products are often disappointments.
I guess the "stone" lipstick is also discontinued?😭
I loved that lightful complexion product I was so pissed. Also the Persistence lipstick 😫
Why won't they bring the cushion foundation to the states! I'd put that in my kit so fast
MAC has repeat customers ESPECIALLY among Makeup Artists, the moms and the aunties. Not a lot of brands can say that aside from complexion products. On top of that, a lot of makeup lovers still have a MAC OGs that they rebuy from.
One misstep MAC did make was coming to Ulta too late lol. That is the opposite of "it girl" vibe. It kinda seemed random.
I stepped out of line and literally bought an Estee Laudeer powder today (returned) . I should have stayed in my lane because MAC has never done me dirty like this Estee L shade 😭
To THIS DAY I am still a MAC girl! I try other brands (especially black brands) but MAC always pulls me back in. Mainly because they have a lot of universal shades/products
Charita Nichols I love Mac all of it 😍
MAC 100 lost their dominance in the beauty industry and one reason is there are so many other brands who have a wide range of products. When you have a choice it is harder for one brand to be number 1.
When they did come out with the palletes I had a hard time with all the different size circle pans. I have one lipstick and its eh. But the problem with being a celebrity driven brand is that celebrities are not on that pedestal anymore
MAC is like Madonna or even Mariah and been around just as long, before the internet. Their latest sings may not chart now or played on the radio but their concerts will still be sold out and stans will sing along to Like a Virgin or Vision of Love and rock Ruby Woo until their in the grave. At least I know I will. Loyal fans keep them in business so they don't have to shit but play the old hits.
I remember in middle school and high school when MAC was the IT brand! (I graduated from high school in 2010.) Even in early college years it was an IT brand. But yeah, they’ve really fallen off the map for me, although I do still have a few of their products: MAC Fix+, MAC Sincere blush, MAC Liptensity lipstick in doe, and a MAC eyebrow pencil I got in a Boxycharm.
What's so funny about this is I'm international. I remember when girls would fly out just to go to the Mac Store. We call it going foreign. We have a Mac Store now but everything is like $10 - $15 more expensive plus the last time I went, they tried to sell me a palette with 8 shades for $40 (its was $36 something plus tax) with no mirror. There is literally no incentive to purchase from them and like many other brands here, they usually don't have my shade in stock which I wouldn't be mad at normally but I live in a majority black country and they always have tons of the lighter shades in stock but not enough of the darker shades.
By chance are you from jamaica?
@@kovarcoley8418 No I'm from The Bahamas
As a former MAC Artist, we would get international people with huge lists of products to take home to wherever they were from. I'm talking 30 studio fix powers, 30 Studio Fix Fluids, dunno if they were going to resell them or what.
I’m still a MAC GAL. I don’t care how many new brands are created nor the collaborations, the quality and accessibility of MAC will have me as a customer forever. The beauty community is too overly saturated. If I see another neutral palette I’m going to scream!!
When you mentioned Melt and Fenty they were created by women who liked MAC products. Those brands wouldn’t have existed without MAC.
One of Melts founders Lora Arellano worked for MAC and was a Manager at one of their department store makeup stands and was Rihanna’s makeup artist and used MAC products on her and Rihanna fell in love with Ruby woo lipstick, I think that is why for Fenty Rihanna put out a great red lip color first for her brand.
I checked out Melt, and couldn't believe the price of the eyeshadow palettes, they want 50$ for these things, no ty. I'll make a MAC Pro Palette and not pay for 5 or 6 weird ass eyeshadow colors I'll never use.
It feels like MAC is huge behind the scenes/in the professional world (due to their pro discounts etc) and they will be in almost every MUA's kit.
Though, because they aren't all over trends, gimmicky products, they don't rely on influencer collabs they just aren't as visible on social media, so people just assume no one buys it cos no one talks about them.
But, considering it's a prestigious brand, available worldwide and the age range that is either just getting into make-up or older people who have tried and tested faves.... I don't think MAC is gonna be packing in any time soon.
Omg their launches use to be so epic😩😩😩.. i remember very well standing in line when the store opened to get a just released lipstick 💅🏽💅🏽😩😩😩🤦🏽♀️
Malls are on a decline so they will have to figure something out depending on the mall won’t cut it.
As a freelance makeup artist MAC is actually not very artist focused anymore. Their employees aren’t given the type of education that they used to have. I look at my colleagues kits and it is really the old guard who have a lot of MAC. Of course a lot of artists have the iconic products, but people are no longer referencing all foundations to MAC colors. This trend is happening with all artist focused brands; examples Makeup Forever, Cover FX, NARS, and Kevin Aucion. The quality of Mac shadows just isn’t it. Makeup technology has gone a long way and MAC hasn’t updated their formulas to compete with brands like Viseart or Anastasia Beverly Hills (OG palettes). Honestly if I took out a Mac foundation most of the talent I work with would be seriously concerned that I was going to do really heavy pore clogging makeup. MAC remains relevant because it sponsors so many Fashion Week shows, and because they offer pro pans. They also are the only brand that CHARGES yearly for a pro discount. Every other brands gives it for free as long as you qualify. The market is so over saturated with product it is hard to chose MAC over other brands that feel more fresh.
Not an MUA, but I see your points and agree.
There is just so much more out there now.
I get a really good discount on MAC products with my Pro Account, I don't get charged for my Pro account, but I'm a former employee and have had a Pro account since 2007,not sure if that makes a difference.
I'm not going to pay full price for 15 plus foundations and concealers, from another line, that would be 600-1000$ depending on the line. Most MUAs use one foundation type aka F&B, SFF and we have products to change the finish and shade ranges.
Who can afford a full range of Dior foundation and concealers, as much as I'd love to have Dior in my kit, they don't offer a Pro discount.
You see influencers with multiple foundations brands in every shade, yeah, because they're GIVEN these products for free. The average contracted or freelancing MUA has to slowly build their kits over time, and MAC is STILL the most affordable.
tymetheinfamous never got her shine for always using mac. she should have been sponsored
Yes and when they did the lipsticks with a bunch of influencers, twice, them not having her in there was so lame.
YES! When I saw Patricia get her lipstick I was wondering when Tyme would get her shot!!!
My first ever foundation was studio fix powder and girl it was nw45, that was almost 15 years ago 🤣. Now I just purchase their red lipsticks. I am a NARS ho now.
Lol 😝
Does Nars have a dupe for the powder cos I loved that stuff
the second mac makes cream blushes to match with all the lipsticks they’ve made it’s over for everybody😭
Lmaooo
Don't people know you can use lipsticks as cream blushes?
MAC had cream blushes for years. They were called Cremeblend Blushes. They got discontinued about 4 or 5 years ago. They were amazing.
Get some mixing medium and go to town.
I worked for MAC for a few years...right around the time when they started putting influencers in their social media and having sales. You’re an OG if you remember when literally nothing ever went on sale at MAC lol. In my opinion, the sales and putting everybody and their mama on PR really cheapened the brand.
Yes! For the first time in my life I saw MAC go on sale and went wow and bought everything.
I feel like their celebrity collections all look the same or have similar color palettes and its gets lazy and repetitive. As well they did discontinue or reformulate some of their classic products that people actually liked. Plus they no longer have the monopoly on having a wide shade selection. People have more choices and at a lower price point and that's why they have seen a dip in sales.
I personally went back to using Mac. Something about that darn studio fix foundation.. plus their lipsticks and lip liners are a stable for me. Eyeshadows and stuff like that i could care less about from them. However if you want to learn how to be an MUA getting in with Mac is a good start. Jackie, Patrick, and some more big you tubers started with them. Idk I’m biased when i say Mac birth MUA.
Chasity Joyner Girl, I feel the same way about studio fix. I will tell you what it it is.... the coverage never changes or fails you & it stays once dry. It doesn’t transfer on your clothes! I have tried other brands & once I see that transfer I get rid of it and put on my Mac.😂
Love their lip liners, lipstick, and blush!
I've never tried the lip liner chestnut, because I think a lip pencil shouldn't be so expensive. But i think I should treat myself for my birthday with this infamous chestnut.
Try colourpop BFF4, same as chestnut and cheaper
MAC does the most with bumping product prices up too, they try to be like designer bags where once a year designers bump their prices up and MAC has been doing the same. Why is a lipstick that I used to pay like $10 10 years ago now $20.
Sis use nyx same lip liner results with the same colours
Love the Mac Night Moth lip pencil...it is pricey tho for a pencil
@@reashabiggs2236 Exactly.
I have a bunch of NYX Lipliners and love them.
I think NYX Slim Pencil in Expresso is a Dupe for MAC Chestnut.
They also have Suede Line Cold Brew Lipliner which is a def go - to for me.
I remember when M.A.C was the most talked about brand in the early nineties and it was so elusive. It was very hard to find a mac counter 25 years ago, they were only in major cities and didn’t sell online back then. Now they are everywhere with a new collection every 2 seconds. That was their downfall not to mention the rude/obnoxious counter people they hire. They went from a diamond to a pebble and their quality decreased dramatically too! 😞
I'm loyal to that MAC foundation! MAC was the only brand that had my shade when I first started wearing makeup and I just can't let it go. As for other makeup products, I hardly buy MAC unless its on sale.
Same !
I work/worked for Mac before they closed their doors during the pandemic. Right before the pandemic hit, we were in the process of kicking off a new "campaign" if you will, to revive the brand. I've been with the company for 4 year, I pretty much started, when the company was starting to see a decreases in their numbers. They have been wanting a comeback for so long. It may look like they're doing fine, but as a manger with the brand i see our sales year to date, compared to the previous years, and they have been decreasing every year. I think the biggest issue with Mac as well is that their have been a lot of changes with the uppers in the company. I want to say there have been 3 new presidents in the company within the last 3 years. So there hasn't been much consistency with the brand. The newest president, has a great vision for the brand, that could help enable a come back. I'm happy that they're pushing the biggest emphasis on customer service. Some Mac doors really lacked that. I would love to see this brand come back to life.
Their limited edition collections were part of the problem too
Ya like they had a damn trolls collection lmao
I'm the non-makeup artist who still loves Mac and have never purchased anything from Colourpop. Mac not entering the US Sephora market has also played a role. Great video and perspective!
it seems like MAC has been having increasing problems with customer service lately. my mother has always been a longtime fan because they were the only brand that made a product that fit her skin tone. she ordered something from them recently and it came smashed beyond repair, she got on customer service and they sent her in circles, so she had to get Paypal to step in. MAC made her pay for the return label to send it back for a refund, but they rejected the package when it got back to them so they got in major trouble with PayPal. needless to say, mom is resolute about never ordering from them again, especially with the improvement other brands have made formula and shade wise
That's a really awful experience your Moms had but now she has the opportunity to delve into all the new Stuff and nowadays, she is sure to find something that suits her perfectly! 👍
@@katieholden3675 I don't understand the snottiness, either.
Just because MAC is backed up by Estee Lauder doesn't mean that they won't find themselves going the way of Montgomery Wards and Steinberg Baum.
Good Customer Service is an integral part of doing Business.....Malls are on the decline and 'Rona is hastening the decline.
MAC may look up and find out that they need to close all them Stores.
OGs of RUclips: I think of Jackie Aina (back then she was “lilpumpkinpie” 👑)
I remember her moniker before she became famous amongst the "gods".
Destiney G was a big MAC...then all the OG were kissing MAC butt.
Yea back in the day everyone worked for Mac and that’s all they used
I had a zoom interview for Mac a couple days ago which I felt went really well BUT what I have experienced so far isn’t very professional and it really isn’t a good way to promote your brand. First of all the lady doing my interview on zoom looked like she just got out of bed. She had no makeup on and was not presented well even though I was told I had to wear all black and do my makeup as if I was working at the store. She told me at the end of the interview that she would inform me by around 5 the same day. She did not inform me at all and I still havnt heard anything even a few days more. I’ve emailed a couple times now and still nothing. I think this is really bad and unprofessional since I met all the requirements for the interview and I was told about the interview the night before! They were desperately looking for employees as their was many roles available. I just really don’t understand why they are like this?
VS closed their NYC 34th street store, that says a lot.
They’re losing money. Even behind the scenes their dominance has waned. I read an analyst’s article explaining that the lack of innovation is the main culprit. He wrote that they got too comfortable and the boom...all these other brands came up and took over. I used to love MAC and still use a few of their products. Great video!
where can I find this article do you know?
MAC was the only brand that had a wide variety of foundation shades back in the day
No one can replace MAC's pro products. As a pro artist, these other brands cannot compare when it comes to getting everyday products and pro products all under one roof. Mixing mediums, airbrush body paints, chromographic liner....I live for these products especially onset for photoshoots.
Makeup Artists Cosmetics...it's in the name
🌟Exactly! For example this current launch ... can we get some swatches and/or looks because we just can’t roll up to the store our selves for personal swatches. All the Mac stores are closed in my location
Lol that’s what I’m saying like just a littlleeeeee more effort but again they’re content 😂
Too Much Mouth : Girl in these times i absolutely have to watch what i buy ! I can’t just buy all willy Nilly !!!! 😂 just a lil effect !
I want to know what happen to the decline of Fashion Fair
The owner died .
@@VANITYISFARE 😢
I wanted to see them back in the Mix so badly.
I love this series you made many different valid points. MAC is a vintage and prominent makeup company. It is up to them to not rely on their strong point to be open-minded in improving their company and consumer relationship. The question is do they want to be on top or just an average brand with one or two great products.
girlll this is SO true. they killed themselves by trying to make themselves TOO exclusive, the downfall the Macy's killed MAC
i have never owned a mac product despite using makeup for going on a decade and i think it's because nothing has really stood out to me. i've heard wonderful things about their lipsticks but i don't wear lipstick, so that doesn't apply to me, really. you brought up a lot of points youtubers haven't mentioned before, this was really educational. love your videos! ♡
She does not miss when it comes to these types of videos. Brands need to HIRE HER!
Their ego had a lot to do with it. They have a long been known to be rude and people got tired of it. The industry is super saturated and we now have endless options, so why go to the mall and deal with rude sales associates? The quality is still there but as someone who was working makeup artist...I just find them forgettable. There are so many other brands out there and clients also want to see the new hot trendy products in your kit too. When I think of the underground pro product, I'm more likely to reach for the Graftobian, RCMA, Kryolan etc.
Dupes also help why pay for the logo brand when you can get better dupes for far less
I went off Mac after the first miley collection. They really lost their identity and are overpriced imo
Omg and the SA's always matching you with the wrong foundation shade
They’re way cheaper now compared to these newer brands
If Mac extended and revamped the face and body shade range I'd be *so* hype. I like that foundation but the darkest shade is too red and dark for me, and the second darkest shade is too light.
Mac makes me orange or red. No matter the color, and I can feel it just sitting on my skin. oily almost. MAC was really the household name, now there are many competitors.
China is ending mandatory pre-market animal testing for international cosmetics in 2021, though things like sunscreen will still be tested on animals. The problem is post-market testing-products can be pulled from the shelves to be tested (on animals) if there are questions/concerns about the product's safety. Some brands claim to be cruelty-free because they have an agreement that pre-market animal testing won't be conducted on their products, but they aren't truly CF as the post-market testing can still occur.
I like your editing style of minimal cuts. It’s calming because you don’t say a lot of filler words like um. Also you’re GORGEOUS. Holy moly. Great video
Thank you ☺️
I can't remember the last time I heard about Mac dropping something new.
I love MAC lipsticks. I only buy them for special occasions now but back in the day I would just buy them just because. My last lipstick purchase was 5 years ago for my wedding.
When it comes to their lipsticks they are unmatched, quality and pigment.👌🏾Ruby woo, Dangerous, Candy Yum Yum the list goes on..... and there is no other baked pressed powder even close to MSF.
I worked at MAC briefly in 2014-2015 around the same time that "Instagram makeup" and Kylie Jenner's lips were sweeping social media by storm; one thing that frustrated me about MAC as a consumer brand is that with many "trend" products they were being released way too late. For example, we had so many people coming to the counter to buy contour palettes, contour creams... Those were only available at Pro stores and the demand was so high for them, i couldn't understand why it took MAC almost two years after the hype to release them - when everyone stopped caring. Same with liquid lipsticks. I think the "palette craze" that was kicked off with the original Urban Decay Naked palette as well changed how people see shadows, since now it's overwhelmingly about big colorful palettes whereas before, most palettes available were neutral/quads, etc. And for how long it took to lower the prices of the single shadows when Makeup Geek came out with straight color dupes for their shadows. With that said, I think MAC is an industry standard as with Makeup Forever, etc and I still love their products.
literally only just started watching, but your hair and outfit look so gorgeous.
now to have a cupcake and some coffee as I watch :)
This is the purest and cutest comment I’ve ever seen in my life
I was knew Mac was on a downfall when they started offering discounts and sales to consumers.
Exactly.
Just what I was was thinking when I saw their first Sale.
I was like "what?"
" MAC is having a Sale?"
"Have I lost may Mind?"
"Have they lost theirs?"
LOL
"whoop BARS, I spit HOT FIRE" energyyyyyyy
🗣🗣🗣🗣
You should do a video like this about Fashion Fair. They at one point were an "it" brand and now trying to breakthrough with Black Opal. Would be interesting to hear your take.
I would love to see Fashion Fair back in the MIx! 😍
I miss them so much!🙏
They fell off for me ever since they flubbed the Aaliyah collection, that we all signed and worked hard to petition them for. Plus, I always hated their foundations. I have a yellow undertone and all their foundations made me look like I was too whiteish. Found fenty and I’m never going back.
You should do drugstore brands that were starting to make a run to compete with High-end brands, then fell off.
Danggg I remember that , everyone was doing drugstore haul 😭😭 . Omg throwback ! I still love me a maybelline fit me foundation 🤞🏽🤍🥲
I absolutely love Mac and agree they need to focus on more complexion products and bronzers THAT BRONZE NW48 and deeper !!!!! So tired of every summer the bronzer is my face powder
I stopped using MAC in 2011 when I couldn’t remember the exact shade I usually get for winter and asked to be matched. It wasn’t busy or anything. This girl barely looks at me goes “You’re light enough” and rings me up for NC43 and that’s not even my shade 😭
I’m was one of those N45 girls from the 90’s💃🏽 They lost my coins because their reps were always nasty to me. Every time I went to buy products they would walk past me and right to the white women or the younger women with multi-color hair. MAC did not continue their relationship with the 90’s brown girl that made them a household name.
I think we need to realize that Mac is a subsidiary of Estée Lauder now and as you mentioned Estee Lauder does not have to use influencer marketing and neither does their subsidiaries because that is a multibillion dollar industry company ...And like the subscriber said below overseas they are huge in fact even in the Bahamas Mack is still considered the it brand…
I feel like all MAC needs to do to catch more people's attention is to release a bronzer range that covers all complexions in their studio fix line and release a few darker shades of the MSF Natural. They don't even NEED to do the former because more shades in the MSF Natural would mean that more people can use different shades for powder and bronzer.
I would like to see that, too.
I can totally relate to all of your experiences with the disconnect when it comes to the Mac MAs color matching you with foundations. I have been a Mac customer for many years and have tried almost every foundation they have and whenever one of their artists would attempt to color match me they would pick out a foundation that was too dark and usually too orange for me. I’m African-American with olive undertones and the Mineralize foundation in NC 37 is my exact color match and matches me better than any foundation I’ve ever worn including ones from other brands (and I’ve tried hundreds over the years). I’m an NC 40 in the Pro longwear and can get away with an NC 37 in Studio Fix, even though it gets slightly orange when it oxidizes on me. Anyway, their artists would always try to pick a foundation that was way too dark for me (and usually the wrong formula for my skin type) and before I knew any better I would purchase it uopn their recommendation only to go home and be completely unsatisfied with it and have to return it. And they would always give me the side-eye and an unpleasant attitude whenever I would return the foundation. I had to learn to match myself by requesting samples of two shades that I personally thought were closest to my skin tone and trying them out over the course of a couple of days in different lighting and conditions to find the best color and formula for me. I stopped asking them to match me and for the most part stopped listening to any of their recommendations for foundations and just went with my own knowledge, experience and intuition and it worked out a whole lot better for me. That’s the only way I was able to find my perfect color match and formula with the Mineralize NC 37. Before that, there was alot of trial and error, frustration and embarrasment (I’ll never forget when I was working retail and checking out a customer who kept staring at me, and finally asked if I knew that my face looked orange😧 thanks to one of their infamous color match faux pas).
Do Forever21. They flopped sooo bad. I remember they used to sell really pretty, decent-quality clothes at an affordable price. Then, the quality got worse and worse to the point where very few people were buying there compared to years ago. Then the 90s fashion came and everything was a thin spaghetti strap top that would fluff up after the first wash, avg tshirts with the logo a company that didn’t pay you to do them advertising, and shapeless jeans.
@13:33 😂😂😂🙌🏾💯💅🏾 Thats sooo true! “I don’t need this my man got 2 jobs” MAC is really just chilling making 💴 Its like the “Chanel” of the makeup industry
I myself am cruelty free and I feel so sore about that I don't think I'd allowed myself to stan them even if they tried really hard getting on the right side. However, my personal feelings aside, it really shocks me that they don't push their formulas more. All those established brands you mentioned are always pushing the envelope in terms of finish, usability, texture, etc. Mac, on the other hand, is known for dropping the ball in that front. I mean, they launched dip brown and dropped it. Now I don't even remember what they called theirs. Lancôme, e.g, may have discontinued the juicy shakers now, but they had a few good years, and it was unique! It felt special! They were trying!
Maybe you could do JCPenney or Macy's
I know exactly what you mean with the exclusivity in PR - agreed!
Idk if we can overlook them using TikTokers/younger crowd casually. As you pointed out, it's like they skipped a generation, so they're getting a fresh start. A lot of people in that younger gen don't know classic '00 hits, so IMO, with that targeting, it is them trying to rebrand and become v relevant to that younger crowd
Idt they’re skipping a generation. Millennials were the last to get a taste of what it was like when mac was on top and now they’re using those millennials who jumped on tik tok to continue what theyre already known as to their gen z followers. I don’t see a rebrand attempt fro
m them.
They were late when they finally started to send out PR packages to influencer. They were already on the decline
No they weren’t. They were sending out pr packages just like everyone else when influencer marketing took off but just also exclusive with who it was sent and didn’t send out a package for every launch.
I feel like one of the things that forced Mac to fall from grace was the workers ! I remember during those times seeing video after video of the treatment given to customers in the stores- along with those videos about hollister and abricombie and fitch. I think that made a lot of consumers not want to deal with Mac anymore. But another reason I feel Mac couldn’t go farther is when the beauty community started to shift and become more popular as a whole -there we’re so many “new” brands coming into to the limelight and they started pumping out products left and right, one after the other, it was new pallets coming out every 1-2weeks (still are) and it took the focus off of Mac.
They need to stop discontinuing everything. Lots of faves I can’t find anymore.
Yes!!!! And they hire the worst people. They used to the best and innovative artist. THEN: rude people and they just slap crap on your face. I can do THAT at home....
I love these videos on companies! They’re so informative & interesting.
One thing that turned me away from MAC was the piss poor customer service. The employees didn’t want to bother if they didn’t think you were going to buy anything.
Mac has the shade range down. However where I think they are lacking is different skin types. Most mac products are very heavy and matte. Which is their aesthetic being an artist brand, however they would cater to many more people creating lighter weight products and products meant for different skin types I.e dry / normal skin. Last time I checked out mac their foundations are for oily skin I could be wrong tho.
I love Fenty but they aren’t giving us any discount codes :(