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10 MAC Products I Love
10 MAC Products I Love
While some of MAC’s recent limited edition collections may have been disappointing, there are a great deal of fabulous products available year-round. Here are just 10 (seriously, I could have easily given you a list of 50!) MAC products that I’ve loved for years and continue to love.
- MAC Margin Blush — still the only blush I’ve hit pan on; it’s a warm, reddish-bronze color that’s not too bold, not too sheer
- MAC Lucky Green Eyeshadow — lovely pop of chartreuse-shimmered, light-medium green
- MAC Blacktrack Fluidline — excellent black gel eyeliner
- MAC 239 Eyeshadow Brush — must-have, go-to brush for applying eyeshadow (I have 6 of these!)
- MAC Espresso Eyeshadow — great shade for filling in brows (also see: Wedge, Brun, and Omega)
- MAC Sculpt Sculpting Powder — for easy contouring on light to medium-dark complexions (see Shadester and Shadowy for medium-dark to dark complexions)
- MAC Show Orchid — vibrant fuchsia-pink with fuchsia shimmer/sheen
- MAC Emerald Green Pigment — pigments in general are a weakness
- MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot — matte neutral base
- MAC Wipes — there is no other makeup wipe that I trust more to remove swatches
I am so going to have to check some of these out – aside from the brush, which I agree with you about, I don’t think I have any of these! But they do have so many good products!
This is hard because I generally love MAC products.
Top Ten (not Limited Edition):
Plumful lipstick
Capricious lipstick
Sweet Satisfaction shadow
Mulch eyeshadow
Phloof ”
Omega ”
Cleanse Off oil
217 brush
Blot powder or Prep&Prime pressed setting powder
Centre Stage eyeshadow (okay, one limited edition product)
Plumful and Capricious are great lipsticks!!
I need to stop by MAC soon. I normally shop at Sephora but I’ve been hearing a lot about MAC.
I use Wedge every single day to both fill my brows and act as a transition color for my eyes. It also looks lovely as a soft cut crease with a red lip. I have fully used two of these. The only other shadow I can say that about is All That Glitters–a really great all-over lid color. I also often use Texture. It is beautiful with my skin tone and hair coloring, and makes blue eyes pop. I use MSF Natural every day as a finishing powder. I adore Blacktrack. I use a 224 (my first MAC brush purchase) and a 217 every day. I use Studiofinish concealer and love it. I love their eye kohls. MAC sheertone blushes are awesome for everyday looks. I used StudioFix powder exclusively for two years, and will still use it when I’m in a hurry. There is a ton to love about their permanent line! I just wish they would concentrate on expanding the awesome go-to products and not on releasing new (mostly mediocre) collections every month.
Can you list all 50? I definitely would not mine reading 😛 I’m new to MAC, and your site has been very helpful in my research. It’ll be highly appreciated Christine! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this post, Christine! While MAC’s recent releases have been dismal, I feel it’s important to remind people just how amazing their permanent stuff is! I don’t know how I’d live without my Blacktrack Fluidline, Spiked Eye Brows/Brun shadow for my brows, Springsheen blush, Nymphette lipglass or any of the many lipsticks and eyeshadows from MAC I own!
Nymphette is so pretty!
I love that you posted this – thanks for being so fair and reminding us of some great MAC products.
Oh my, can’t even pick 10! lol
My MAC permanent staples are: Wipes, Cleansing Oil, Fix+, 239 Brush, 109 Brush, Studio Fix Powder, Blacktrack/Dipdown Fluidlines, Graphblack/Photogravure Technakohls, Spiked Brow Pencil, Espresso e/s, Ricepaper e/s, and Lust Lipglass.
LE Items that I have backups of: Petticoat MSF, Blooming, Pink Cult, and Pink Tea Blushes, Wholesome Fluidline, Flip, Style Snob, & Magnetic Fields e/s, and Melt in Your Mouth & Narcisuss Cremesheen Glasses 🙂
I haven’t been overly disappointed with the recent launches, only because I’ve been in the game for a while now and have enough MAC to last me 5 lifetimes, lol. Also, I know now that something similar has already been done elsewhere or will eventually come along in the future!
I can’t believe you still gave a brand new Petticoat. I’m sooo jealous!!!
Fun post! I don’t have a top ten for MAC, but I have a top 5; I love all of these and use them frequently.
– Blushbaby blush
– Lightscapade MSF
– Sculpt sculpting powder
– 239 brush
– Rebel lipstick
Thanks for this! It’s a reminder of why we fell in love with MAC in the first place!
I don’t have a ton of MAC comparitively but my must-haves include the 239 brush and their pearl glide liners 🙂
I forget that Pearlglides are permanent now!
Oh cool!
Here’s some of my loves:
Fix +, MSFN in Deep Dark, Devil and Burnt Pepper blushes, Oversexxed Plushglass, Girl About Town Lipstick, 217 and 208 Brushes Orange and Rule, Texture, and Brown Script Eye Shadows and Nightmoth Lip Pencil.
I don’t have a ton of Mac. But I have loved Mac Eyeshadow in Phfloof! (my favorite highlight) and Satin Taupe. I also have a bronzer I like. I use my 239 every day. I also really like my large contoured blush brush (forgot the number). I use my 217 quite a bit too. And my 219 pencil brush is perfect for highlighting the inner corner and I use it to apply a touch of Phloof! to the brow bone.
I’m guessing the 168? 🙂
219 is awesome!
Yes, it’s the 168. It really is an awesome brush.
Top 10 MAC Products:
1. 217 Brush
2. 224 Brush
3. Texture e/s
4. Supernova Blush
4. Magenta lipliner
5. VG Nikki l/s
6. Candy Yum Yum l/s
7. Honey Love l/s
8. Freshwater e/s
9. Cork lipliner
10. Patina e/s
So glad to see people acknowledging how amazing MAC products can be! These are the only ones I could think of and since I’m not at home now, I can’t go look for more!
Crosswires lipstick
Hot Gossip lipstick
Plumful lipstick
Wonderstruck Lustreglass
Flusterose Lusterglass
Petticoat MSF
Geo Pink Cremesheen Glass
Fashion City Sheen Supreme
Impressive Sheen Supreme
Bare Again Sheen Supreme
Woodwinked eyeshadow
Satin Taupe eyeshadow
Nice list.
Mine would be —
Almost all Matte/Matte2 eyeshadows.
Russian Red, Ruby Woo, Crosswires and Craving lipsticks
217, 219, 168 and 224 brushes
Brush Cleanser
Beet lipliner
Feline and Tarnish Eye Kohl
Mocha blush
Ricepaper eyeshadow
Vanilla pigment
Stereo Rose and By Candlelight MSFs
…im sure theres more but im tired of typing!
Oohh just remembered —
Impeccable Brow Pencil in Dirty Blonde or Blonde
Matte2 was a great formula – wish they would use it more/bring it back!
Agreed! I have only a handful of MAC items, and not a ton of makeup, but Copperplate is one of my top two eyeshadows.
I agree! It was a sad day when MAC dc’d those babees.
My top 10:
1) Cleanse Off Oil
2) Era eyeshadow
3) Blanc Type eyeshadow
4) Viva Glam V lipstick
5) Play It Proper Beauty Powder (love most of their Beauty Powders, actually!)
6) Dipdown Fluidline
7) 217 brush
8) 266 brush
9) 165 brush
10) 224 brush
I can think of a lot more! Even though MAC’s LE collections lately have been disappointing, the permanent line is still pretty amazing.
Although I just realized the Beauty Powders aren’t permanent :/ Would love to see them become perm!
I wish the 165 was permanent – I LOVE that brush!
1. Fluidline in Blacktrack and Dipdown – 2 workhorses
2. Powder Blush in Harmony for contour – completely neutral brown
3. Paintpot in Soft Ochre and Painterly – use almost daily
4. Eye makeup remover – never have to tug and pull
5. Brush cleaner – deep cleans and maintains the quality
6. Eyeshadow brush in #239 – I have about 4 or 5 of these
7. Lipstick in Mehr and Diva – perfect full on and blotted out
8. Eyeshadow in Patina and Club – both have incredible versatility
9. Cream Blush in Lilicent – the prettiest spring/summer cheeks
10. Eyeshadow in Brule and Vapour for highlighting
Despite my limited collection bashing, I still happily buy MAC products from the permanent line. I will still continue to buy MAC brushes.
Even most LE collections have a couple of standouts at least – like lipstick color, a blush, etc. – but sometimes they’ll get overwhelmed by misses. It seems more a problem with MAC releases new product types – either they’re amazing (Mega Metals) or disappointing!
That is very true! But, I am so grateful to read about the misses. Before I started reading makeup blogs, I used to succumb to every MAC offering and I started to develop a serious disappointment with the brand. Now, I can at least concentrate my funds on things that are a) going to work for me colour and shade wise due to your photos and swatches and b) worth my money in quality. I will never eschew a negative review. I may purchase something you reviewed without fab results, and the NARS High Society trio comes to mind immediately, but that is MY choice as a consumer. Don’t worry, I do ‘get’ what you are doing 🙂
Thanks, Wendy! Whether we buy something (ultimately) is such a personal choice subject to a lot of justification/rationalization and totally dependent on what each person is looking for.
I feel the same way about a lot of the LE collections, but there are a lot of MAC staples in my personal collection and in my pro kit.
Lingering, Fling, Spiked eyebrow pencils
Cubic blush
All the sculpting powders
Reflects Gold glitter
Naked & Tan pigments
Plumful lipstick (looks good on almost everybody, from lightest to darkest skin tones
Lady Danger lipstick
Copperplate, Wedge, Woodwinked, Satin Taupe e/s
#7, 34, 36 lashes
Photogravure Technikohl eye liner
Studio Sculpt foundation
Prolongwear Concealer
MSF Natural
I could go on, but these are probably my most reached for products.
I totally forgot brushes. These are my top ones in no particular order:
217
239
266
212
191
116
228
224
226
222
MAC makes really outstanding brushes overall!
#7s are CLASSIC! Ooh – how do you use Reflects Gold typically?
I like to pat a little bit over any number of shades on the inner two thirds of the lid. I’ve put it over gold shades, a range of beige shades, bronzes, and I really love it over bold greens and deep browns. It looks good with so many things. Most recently, I used it over Armani ETK# 26 for a Bengali bride. That look also included Chanel JC in Rouge and Reflects Blackened Red with Too Faced Glitter Glue. I love glitter, and MAC’s just have such a fine texture that makes them look really sophisticated.
Since I have no eyebrows (I mean, they’re there, but they´re way lighter than my hair) my TOP 1 must be BROW SET (on shade SHOW OFF). It’s much better than anything I’ve tried, and I’ve struggled with this issue for years (my brows are so light that when I was a child I asked my mom if I’d get some when I grew up – I thought it was a grownup feature, like boobs!)
Top 2 & 3: I’d have to say Studio Fix Powder Plus, Blot Powder – I have oily skin and live in Brazil – not the coolest place on Earth, I promise!
Top 4: Russian Red lipstick
Top 5: Mineralize Skinfinish Soft & Gentle.
I have other products that I love, but I think these are my must-have!
Some of these are LE, but I’m not one who gets attached too much to them because I know one day they will run out and there’s always something new to be excited about.
Jaunty e/s (Hey Sailor Collection)
Espresso e/s also for brows
Up the Amp l/s (my signature fall lipstick!)
Girl About Town limited edition lipglass
Prep + Prime for lips (makes lip products look tons better)
Bronzer in Golden (I use it for contouring anything)
Electric Cool e/s in Superwatt (gives such a polished look)
Peaches blush looks so awesome on me
Dynamic Duo #1 e/s duo from Reel Sexy (I love the first shadow which is a unique berry and melon duochrome)
Paint Pot in Painterly
And Fuidline eyeliner! How could I forget it????
This post (and comments) are really helpful because I have barely tried out MAC products. I have MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation and MSFN in Light. The foundation isn’t actually my favorite but I really like the MSFN! That’s all I own!
I think it’s beyond ridiculous how much back lash Christine is getting for giving her honest and in my opinion professional opinion about the recent new mac products. I mean seriously, I love the blog and am so thankful that there’s someone honest enough to say when a product is bad. And just because she doesn’t like it, it doesn’t mean it’s the end all be all. You make your own decisions about things. Go try it yourself and if it works for you great. I just think saying she hates Mac is childish.
The hardest thing is understanding I really don’t hate MAC, but I’m terribly disappointed as a long-time customer, as a customer who fell in love with makeup BECAUSE of MAC. I fell in love with makeup when I was 18 and discovered MAC pigments, and MAC’s recognition of this blog 5 years ago is what jump-started this blog. MAC will always have a special place in my heart for both reasons. I hate to see the brand credibility and loyalty that MAC spent decades building erode because of hit-or-miss quality, limited stock, quantity over quality, etc. Customers are too savvy and brand loyalty isn’t necessary – the majority have access to hundreds of brands at all price points, and there are so many reviews now (not necessarily blog reviews, but reviews by customers on retailers’ websites). There’s a lot of competition. I think more and more people are buying across brands and look for the best within a brand. MAC is and was a gateway brand because of their attractive mid-end price point (which they’ve somewhat undermined with their price increases, which do seem to outpace most brands), but I think they’re getting to a point where customers are getting disenchanted or wary. You have affordable brands like Wet ‘n’ Wild, Revlon, Maybelline, and L’Oreal really stepping up their game across their ranges – you can get amazingly pigmented eyeshadows for under $10.
I look at what I’m doing as trying to set expectations – if you love a product I don’t, I’m happy, because you’re happy and you have a product you love. You loving it doesn’t change my experience, but my experience is just that – mine. Now, if you don’t like a product that I recommended, I get very sad and feel horribly, because the last thing I want you to do is waste your money. 🙁
Thanks, Danielle!
I’ve just started reading beauty blogs for fun, and I already notice what a … crazy world it is. Wow. I guess you need thick skin here as much as anywhere else. Appreciate your honesty, and you already know this, but the more popular you are the more people will take issue with you. Can’t win ’em all. Just the price of fame, or the law of mathematics or whatever. So enjoy and keep up the good work.
I think if you are on the internet in any community, you pretty much have to get a thick skin, LOL!
Great post, Christine!
My top ten are (in no particular order, i have olive med skin)
1. Studio Fix powder (NC40)
2. MAC Rice paper eyeshadow
3. MAC Margin Blush
4. MAC Fix +
5. MAC Viva Glam V
6. MAC Sun rush luster drops
7. MAC cream color base in Hush
8. MAC craving
9. MAC Gingerly
10. MAC cleanse off oil
For me, it’s:
1) Blot Powder (pressed).
2) Paint Pots
3) Fluidline in Blacktrack
4) Lipsticks in Dark Side, Verve and Spice is Nice.
5) Teal, Tan & Violet pigments.
6) Bronze & Soba e/s.
7) Peachtwist blush.
Teal is amazing. AMAZING!
1. 239 – How did I ever live without this?!
2. 219 – My Dad said he wished he had a brush in that shape for his paintings! LOL
3. Vegas Volt Lipstick – The first lipstick I ever loved and that got me to like lipstick!
4. VG Nicki Lipstick – The first pink lipstick that doesn’t look awful on me! this is sort of LE though…
5. Cleanse Off Oil – Eats off waterproof stuff in seconds!
6. Wipes – While I have not bought these, I’m continually impressed by their ability to remove the million and a half swatches I’ve put on myself at the counter without leaving me dried out or itchy or greasy. And it gets all of it off!
7. Copperplate Eyeshadow – For mah eyebrowz, so I look like I have more of them LOL
8. 116 – Not scratchy and not too big!
I always try to be as judicious as possible when buying LEs so I haven’t been too disappointed by any of them.
Isn’t the 239 great? If I could only use one eye brush, that would be it!
Agreed!
1) Cranberry and Carbon Eyeshadow
2) 217 Brush
3) Warmth of Coral Mineralize Blush
4) Subtle Breeze Mineralize Blush
5) Rubenesque Paintpot
6) Blacktrack Fluidline
7) Blot Powder Pressed
8) Select Moisturecover Concealer
9) Viva Glam Gaga I Lipstick
10) Fix +
Cranberry is lovely!
Ohhh! And Blush Cleanser 🙂
A M.A.C top 10, well !
Stunner blush : soft and sheer
Lady Grey quad : very pretty for fall or women in their 40’s
Liquid Powder : enhancing, wonderful texture and great illuminating result
Pro longwear eyeshadow : just great
Casual blush ( both for cheeks and lips ) : pretty and easy to wear, I have 2 of them
Frankly scarlet blush : for dramatic looks and rosy cheeks
Soft sable lipstick ( from Glitter and Ice ) : very subtle colour indeed
Musky Amethyst : one of my fav lipsticks ever
Bright moon and sky eyeshadows blended together : beautiful MES I just love them both
Offshoot lipstick : very pretty shade, one of my fav lipsticks ever too
Thank you for posting the M.A.C Top 10 !
What do you use to apply Frankly Scarlet? It always looked so bad on me, lol!
The Lucky Green eyeshadow and the Soft Ochre paint pot are two of my favorites too 🙂
No offence but i enjoy so much your latest bad reviews on MAC collections.You are so funny trying to give and F without being mean, i love it.I also think it’s really ironic that some accuse you of being a MAC hater.Is is obvious you like Mac a lot.As a matter of fact when i first found your site i thought you work for Mac beacause you have so many reviews for their products.Forgot to say i really hate the latest Mac collections too,they are the worst.
Thank you! 🙂
1. Satin Taupe e/s
2. Sweetie l/s (I’m about to purchase my 3rd tube).
3. Love Nectar lustreglass (I love to use with neutral lips)
4. Currant Lip Liner
5. Mineralized blush in Love Thing
6. Blush in Raizin
7. Groundwork paint pot (great as a lid color or a base).
8. Patina e/s
9. Violetta l/s
10. Viva Glam VI l/g
Great idea for a post. My top ten would be:
1 face & body foundation
2 strobe cream/liquid
3 lightscapade msf
4 msfn light
5 Luna cream colour base
6 dainty mineralize blush
7 painterly paint pot
8 micro violet fluidline
9 prep & prime lip primer
10 show orchid lipstick
Another Show Orchid fan 😀
1)217 brush (I never do my makeup without this brush, never!)
2)Girl About Town lipstick
3)Craving lipstick
4)MSF neutral in Medium
5)Pinch O’ Peach blush (it’s practically the only blush I use lol)
6)Shale eyeshadow
7)Indigo eye pencil
8)Parfait Amour eyeshadow
9)Blacktrack fluidline
10)Vanilla pigment (it’s the only highlighter I can use on my cheekbones withouth looking ridiculous)
Shale is such an interesting shade!
I fully agree! When I first swatched it, I simply loved what a beautiful shade it is, unlike anything else I had seen before.
1. well dressed blush is my favorite blush
2. studio fix powder is my favorite powder foundation
3. studio finish concealer is the best i’ve tried for concealing acne
4. nylon eyeshadow as inner corner of eye highlight
5. satin taupe eyeshadow goes with all my lipsticks and blushes
6. 217 brush is the most versatile eyeshadow brush i own
7. hue lipstick is my go to, everyday lipstick
8. 129 brush blends blush quickly and evenly
9. blackground paint pot as a base for dark smokey eye looks
10. pink nouveau lipstick for nights out
I love how pretty Nylon is on the inner corner!
I have always loved makeup, but I admit that once I had access to MAC, my love grew even further – I just went crazy with so many products to choose from and to date, I wear at least five MAC products daily and their brushes are my go-to’s. It´s tough to pick 10, but here I go (in no particular order)!
1. Paint in Bare Canvas and Painterly Paint Pot as eyeshadow primers
2. 239, 217, 219, 224, 266, 226, 129 and 190 brushes (I really love them all)
3. Fix +
4. Shroom, Shale, Charcoal Brown, Girlie, Arena, Satin Taupe and Glamour Check! eyeshadows
5. Rave and Blackline Pearlglides
6. Spiked Eyebrow Pencil
7. Viva Glam VI Lipstick and Lipglass
8. Fluidlines
9. Warm Soul Mineralize Blush, Peachykeen and Peaches blushes
10. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
Like Christine, I could pick at least 50 :)!
I should mention as well Dazzleglasses and Studio Finish Concealer!
266 is a must for brows!
– Ladyblush Cremeblend Blush
– Blacktrack Fluidline
– Satin Taupe Eyeshadow
– Lingering Brow Pencil
– Fast Response Eye Cream
– 224 Brush
– Naked Pigment
– Blanc Type Eyeshadow
– Blankety Lipstick
– Painterly Paintpot
In no particular order
1. 182
2. 138
3. Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
4. Rubenesque pp
5. Satin Taupe
6. 222
7. 239
8. Crystal Avalanche es
9. Groundwork pp
10. Blacktrack fluidline
I love my brushes…
Oh, my! 10 of my faves would be:
Lipsticks:
1. Shitaki
2. Show Orchid
3. Violetta
4. Hug Me
5. “O”
6. Cork lip pencil
Blush:
6. Format
Eyeshadows:
7. Satin Taupe
8. Arena
9. Brown Script
10. Sable
I love their wipes, too!
I think I have 5 100-packs of the wipes on hand right now, lol!
LOL!! I believe it! The smell is so divine and you’re right, they do the trick and I have yet to break out from them. Fabulous product!!
They seem REALLY saturated, so I think that’s really why I like them. I rarely use them on my face, just my arms and lips, but no other wipe works as well when I do those things!
My top ten are:
1. Studio Finish Concealer
2. Pro Longwear Concealer
3. Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
4. Viva Glam V Lipstick
5. 239 brush
6. Brow Set in Show Off
7. Blanc Type & Shroom eyeshadows for highlighting
8. Tan pigment
9. Fluidlines
10. Pink Swoon blush
Oops! I misnumbered the first list. 10 of my faves (REVISED) would be:
Lipsticks:
1. Shitaki
2. Show Orchid
3. Violetta
4. Hug Me
5. “O”
6. Cork lip pencil
Blush:
7. Format
Eyeshadows:
8. Satin Taupe
9. Arena
10. Brown Script
I love their wipes, too!
VIOLETTA! How could I forget?
1. Lady Danger Lipstick
2. Show Orchid Lipstick
3. Violetta Lipstick
4. Idol Eyes Eyeshadow
5. Silver Ring Eyeshadow
6. Parfait Amour Eyeshadow ***
7. Silver Dusk Iridescent Face Powder
8. Well Dressed Blush
9. Gentle Mineralize Blush
10. Candy Yum-Yum, Pink Pigeon, Quick Sizzle – 3 way tie
1. 217 Brush (I have 3 of these, use every time I put on makeup)
2. Fluidline – Blacktrack
3. Satin Taupe & Retrospeck Eyeshadow – My top 2 repurchased shadows for at least the last 10 years. ST is always perfect and Retrospeck I always use for blending out other shadows, also adds dimension to other colors
4. Clear Brow Gel – grooms and holds brows in place without looking and feeling wet and slick
5. Zoomlash waterproof mascara – long, thick, never clumpy
6. Blot powder – only thing that keeps me shine free for hours,been repurchasing this for 12 years
7. Pearlglide eyeliners (The best pencils ever!)
8. Greasepaint sticks
9. Stereo Rose – LE but one of my favorite all time blushes
10. Subculture lip pencil – my exact lipcolor
I love their Brow Gel, too!
Oooooh! Um, in no particular order:
1. Smut eyeshadow
2. Face and Body foundation (better than TM, not as heavy as a foundation)
3. Blacktrack fluidline
4. Just a Pinch gel blush
5. 239 brush
6. 217 brush
7. Teddy eye khol
8. Vex eyeshadow (since you suggested how to use it for a smokey eye, it found its calling in my stash!)
9. Moleskin eyeshadow
10. Tenderling blush
I’m so glad you found a way to use Vex! It is amazing!
1)Studio Finish Concealer
2)Parfait Amour eyeshadow
3)Butterfly Party Pigments stack
4)Paint Pot in Morning Frost
5)217 brush
6)Ruby Woo lipstick
7)Quick Sizzle lipstick
8)Extra Dimensions skinfinish (Superb)
9)Loud and Lovely cremesheen glass
10)Feline pencil
=)
My top ten are:
1. Angel Lipstick
2. Blacktrack fluid line
3. Two Virtures blush
4. Mineralized Skinfinish Natural
5. Studio finish concealer
6. Ever So Rich cremesheen lipglass
7. Blonde Mineralized Skinfinish
8. All That glitters eyeshadow
9. Carbon eyeshadow
10. Phloof! eveyshadow
(in no particular order)
1. Brulé Eyeshadow
2. All That Glitters Eyeshadow
3. Woodwinked Eyeshadow
4. Sable Eyeshadow
5. Satin Taupe Eyeshadow
6. Bare Study Paint Pot
7. Rubenesque Paint Pot
8. Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
9. Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish
10. 109 Brush
In no particular order:
1) Hug Me lipstick
2) Rebel lipstick
3) They’re LE, but the Peacocky eyeshadows were my favorite (I shelled out for all 15), and I love Tweet Me and Unflappable. They need to bring these back as permanent…
4) Rubenesque paint pot
5) Indianwood paint pot
6) Prolongwear concealer
7) Careblend pressed powder (the only powder that isn’t “powdery”)
8) Dollymix blush
9) Opulash mascara (just like how it rinses off with water)
10) Dubonnet lipstick
I loved the Mega Metals!
It’s like you copied my list! LOVE Tweet me
Shoot, forgot Tarnish eyeliner, Feline eyeliner, Prep+Prime eye, and By Candlelight MSF. Too many products to remember!
i thought you were allergic to eyeliner on your top lashline…is blacktrack an exception? if so, why don’t you wear upper eyeliner more often?
No, I used to just suffer through it so readers could see it – now I don’t, because readers have assured me it’s OK not to.
I don’t have a MAC fave list but I have a growing list of brushes I want to buy – so far I want the 239, 217, 109, 116, 130, 182, 187, and I have the 190. Are there any others I should be looking for, keeping in mind I don’t fill in my brows and I’m not very good with eyeshadow?
I think that’s a pertty good list.
I really like the 184 (PRO, though) – really great for light contouring and highlighting.
Noted! Thank you 🙂 I don’t believe there’s a PRO store around here, but iirc I can order online?
You can call a local store and have them ship 🙂
My top ten:
1. Lovelorn lipstick
2. Nymphette lipglass
3. Rubenesque paint pot
4. All that glitters eyeshadow
5. Brun eyeshadow (for my brows)
6. 217 brush
7. Studio careblend powder
8. 266 brush
9. Pink nouveau lipstick
10. Viva Glam V lipstick
I really want to try their 239 brush and show orchid now 🙂
My 10 in order of love:
1- Spice matte eyeshadow/blush (in the big pot, now discontinued but one of my favorite blushes/contourers and neutral eyeshadows ever!!)
2- Pink Nouveau lipstick (my favorite blue-based, pale, baby doll pink. In fact, I have 2 or 3 of these!)
3- Bardot (satin) lipstick – (It was my HG for a nude but it is, alas, also discontinued.)
4- Vino lip liner (amazing!)
5- “MAC Red” lipstick
6- Viva Glam original
7- Russian Red lipstick
8- Spice lip liner
9- Honeylove lipstick (nude-brown-ish-beige-y matte)
10- Rebel lipstick
Honorable mentions: Angel, Myth, and a whole host of favorite lipsticks that are now discontinued and which I hoard carefully: Rubine, Pink Poodle, Veruschka, Marrakesh, Bordeaux and Terracotta.
I’m so glad to see Rebel getting so much love in these comments! It’s one of my favorites!
You know, posts like this make me realise how little MAC I actually have. Even when I’m at home I don’t tend to really splurge on MAC products because I get distracted by other brands.
Though every time I’m not near a MAC counter, I want to go on a swatching spree of their stuff.
Sod’s law.
Same here. Which surprises me when I think about it, since what I do own from them gets a lot of use. (I echo Christine’s profound love for the 239.) I do have several lip shades on my wishlist, but I should really take a better look at their permanent collections next time I’m out. It’s easy to get distracted by their constant LE releases, which often overshadow their long-term items.
Oh wow, this was really hard, but here are my top ten in no particular order (this is just off the top of my head)
Peaches blush
Indianwood paint pot
Whirl lipliner
Brule
Sable
Humid
Amber Lights
Blot Powder
#109 brush
#239 brush
Then there are things that I’m convinced I would LOVE, but I haven’t gotten my hands on yet:
#217, Soft Ochre paint pot, Woodwinked eyeshadow…
OK, I totally forgot to add Posey blush. I cannot leave that off-I use it ALL THE TIME
StudiFix Powder in NC50
Prep + Primer Compact
Blotting Papers
Miss Dish, Show Orchid, O Lipsticks
Just Add Color, Squirt and Roman Holiday Lipglasses
Clear Brow Gel
1)MAC Smolder Eyeliner
2)Mocha lipstick
3)Cherry lipliner
4) Russian Red lipgloss
5) Viva glam 5 lipstick
6) Coppertone Blush
7)Blacktrack fluidline
8) Siahi fluidline (LE)
9) Jest eyeshadow
10) 239 brush.
My 10 in no specific order:
1. Studio fix fluid foundation
2. Eyebrow pencil in stud
3. Studio finish concealer
4. Ruby woo lipstick
5. MSF in redhead
6. Fix+
7. Peachtwist blush
8. Prep+prime skin visage!!!!
9. Mac angle brush
10. Mac white hair contour/blush brush
I’ve been using MAC since the 90s, and while they do have quite a few misses, most of their products are pretty reliable. My top ten would be:
1. Fleur Power blush — The one blush that really does look like my natural flush.
2. See Sheer (and it’s distant, discontinued cousin, Skew)
3. Studio Careblend powder
4. Studio Finish concealer
5. Cheek blush (discontinued)
6. 213 fluff brush
7. Bombshell lipstick
8. Face & Body makeup
9. Angel blush (also discontinued — I could do a top ten — or twenty, or fifty — of the best discontinued MAC products.)
10. Since I’m a blush girl (and it’s hard to dupe), I’ll add another and say Frankly Scarlet. It’s evening, holiday, but so pretty. I use an old, loosely-packed Shiseido brush to apply it.
It’s always nice to pause and remember some of the things that got me fired up about Mac to begin with…
1. Vex eye shadow- I’ve gone through several pans, because I love it so much. An all time favourite for sure!
2. Painterly paint pot- great shadow base
3. Desire lipstick
4. Facial wipes
5. Strada blush- perfect contour for pale skin
6. Blacktrack fluidline
7. Fix+ spray
8. Viva Glam V lipstick- a perfect neutral pink for a great cause
9. Dazzlelight e/s
10.O l/s- such an incredibly unique colour!
“O” lipstick is very cool! It’s a bit too sheer for me by itself but what I love to do is to layer it over a matte lipstick for a really lovely effect and added depth. If you put it over something pale pink like St. Germain, result is a gorgeous shimmery plum mauve; over a red lipstick like Russian Red or NARS’ Mascate, you get a bronze-y shimmery red that’s almost kinda Christmas-y. I think it’s a great transformer lipstick, if you will.
I have far too many MAC loves to list, but that almost isn’t the point.
Christine, I feel so badly for you that you felt you needed to make this kind of post. You should not have to justify a deserved poor review because MAC fans will flame you for daring to not love everything they produce. I hate how you get attacked or spoken about negatively simply because you’re truthful and unbiased.
I hope this isn’t turning you off of what you do, girl. You are appreciated and valued by more than you know. Don’t let haters get you down. *hugs*
Thanks, Deb! 🙂
I thought this would be a good way to show, rather defend, that there are great MAC products, products I still very much love, even if I don’t love every product!
I love it, as someone who is relatively new to MAC. A 50 list wouldn’t upset me. There are obviously great products, I don’t expect every single thing to be amazing. Honestly I think NARS (a brand I want to try but haven’t) needs more help with the suckage of the multiple and eye shadow pencils.
My top ten in no particular order:
1. Spice Lip Liner
2. Raizin Blush
3. Devil Blush
4. Velvet Teddy Lipstick
5. Soft Brown Eyeshadow
6. Satin Taupe Eyeshadow
7. Ricepaper Eyeshadow
8. Soft Ochre Paint Pot
9. Ground Work Paint Pot
10. Girl About Town Lipstick
My top 10:
-217 blending brush – my favorite brush of all time
-208 angled brow brush – great for brows or gel liner
-Studio Fix powder plus foundation – perfect handbag foundation
-Studio Fix fluid foudation – favorite MAC liquid foundation
– Ricepaper eyeshadow
– Carbon eyeshadow
– Woodwinked eyeshadow
– Groundwork paint pot – my everyday eyeshadow. So easy & quick to slap on with your finger at work
– Girl About Town lipstick – my favorite crazybright lippie
– Deeligt creamsheen glass – the best non-sticky nude gloss
Great list!! I’ve been using MAC for over 10 years!! My favorite MAC products of all time are:
1. MAC Studio fix NC35
2. Naked Lunch eye shadow
3. 239 brush
4. Blacktrack fluid line
5. 129 brush
6. Peachykeen Sheertone Shimmer Blush
7. Bare Canvas Paint
8. Pomposity Lipstick
9. Rebel Lipstick
10. Viva Glam VI lipglass
I’d also like to mention Dare To Dare Lipglass, Fuchsia lining Lipglass Pencil, Stars and Rockets eye shadow, Fairylite pigment, and Vin Goth nail lacquer!
Oh, gosh. There are so many MAC products I love. Springsheen Blush, Dainty, Gentle & Warm Soul Mineralize Blushes, MSFs, Vex, Vellum, Blanc Type, Vapour, All That Glitters, Digit, Wedge & Satin Taupe eye shadows, Fix +, Cremesheen Glasses, Lustreglasses. Those are just some of the permanent products I can think of right now. There have been a lot of great ltd. ed. products as well. I loved Slimshines and Lipgelees.
Perm items only, and in no particular order
1. Blacktrack fluidline
2. painterly paint pot
3. 263 brush
4. 286 brush
5. Pro Longwear fdn
6. Lustering lipstick
7. Right Image Cremesheen Glass
8. Fuchsia Fix TLC
9. Typographic eye shadow
10. 168 brush
Oh no, I ran out of numbers. I could add more 🙂
My top ten in order of love:
1. Sea and Sky mineral eyeshadow
2. Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick
3. Vegas Volt lipstick
4. Impassioned lipstick
5. Force of Love lipstick (I regret not buying a backup for this one :(.)
6. Play it Proper Beauty Powder
7. Blacktrack Fluidline
8. Blackground Painpot
9. Painterly Paintpot
10. NC15/NW20 Chromagraphic Pencil
Honorable mentions:
Myth lipstick
Pink Noveau lipstick
MAC Wipes
I’d like to try 209, 219, 239, 316, and 318 brushes.
Oh Christine! It looks like you fellt bad for trashing MAC so much, we all know there are awesome MAC products, after all nobody is perfect. I have lots of favorites, but I will right what comes first to mi mind:
1. Face and Body Foundation
2. Summer fruit lip liner
3. Peachstock lipstick
4. Arena eyeshadow
5. Black track fluid liner
6. Desert Rose blush
7. Prrr lipglass
8. Blot powder
9. Brush 130
10.Untitle paint
Thank you, Christine, for your insightful and tremendously thorough reviews! Here’s my top ten:
– 3N lipstick (An LE from a few years ago, 3N is my holy grail, perfect pink. Innocence Beware and Japanese Maple are close behind)
– Devil May Dare quad (from the holiday collection a few years ago)
– Extended Play Lash mascara
– Fix+ spray
– Jest eyeshadow
– Cleanse Off Oil
– ProLongwear concealer
– 239 brush
– Strobe Cream
– Rubenesque Paint Pot
I don’t feel so bad about wanting another 217 if you have six 239s! 🙂
In no particular order…
1. Hue lipstick
2. Boy Bait Creamsheen glass
3. Well Dressed Blush
4. Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
5. Studio Finish Concealer
6. Opulash
7. MSF natural
8. I get no kick eyeliner
9. Fix Plus
10. Bare Study Paint Pot
Fix + spray
Pro longwear foundation
Pro longwear concealer
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
Naked Lunch eye shadow
Prep + Prime lip
Soft Orchre paint pot
Viva Glam V
Fast Response eye cream
Whisper of Gilt (limited edition) MSF
My top ten favorite MAC products in order
1. 239 Brush
2. 275 Brush
3. 217 Brush
4. 219 Brush
5. Reed Blush (discontinued)
6. Chestnut Eye pencil (used as lipliner)
7. Miss Dish (discontinued)
8. Club eyeshadow
9. Vino nailpolish (discontinued)
10. Cuisine nailpolish (discontinued)
I’ve been using MAC products since I was 16…that’s over 13 years!
I would have to say my top ten products always change, but as of now this is my list (in no particular order):
1. Eye creams (mineralize and fast response)
2. Wipes! These are the only ones I use to remove all my makeup. Everything else irritates my skin/eye area.
3. Pigments. They are so versatile and can be used just about anywhere. My favorites are Rose and Pink Pearl.
4. Viva Glam lip products, in general. I love the cause and even the lipsticks I don’t like, I still purchase and give away. I used to work at a non-profit ten years ago that was a beneficiary of MAC’s Viva Glam line of lip products. The money would go towards HIV/STD testing, treatment, and education/prevention workshops that the organization would host at various facilities in urban neighborhoods in LA County.
5. Oyster Girl lipglass is my holy grail lipglass. It used to be Spite, but a few years ago they must have changed the formula or something because it doesn’t have the vanilla scent anymore. It has a plastic scent and I hate it! I was so bitter that I stopped buying MAC products for about two years and I swear, every time I was near a MAC store or counter I would go and smell Spite.
6. NAKED LUNCH. Yeah, I’ve been through many, I use it on myself, clients, friends, family…if I could, I’d use it on my cat and dog!
7. Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder. My skin appreciates this.
8. MAC Brushes. I have many backups of my favorites. Some are hella old, but I take pretty good care of them.
9. Full Fuchsia lipstick. Every time I open the tube, I hear angels sing.
10. Dollymix blush. I LOVE this blush. There was a time when I would go overboard with the blush and end up looking hookerish. Ahhhh, MAC!
If I’m sticking to permanent items, these are a few that come to mind:
Fix + Spray
Satin Taupe eyeshadow
Painterly Paint Pot
217 blending brush
Teddy eye kohl
Vex eyeshadow
Nymphette lipglass
Viva Glam V lipstick
Plum Foolery blush
Blitz & Glitz fluidline
There are loads more, but unfortunately most of my favourite things were limited edition!
Actually, I’d drop any of those for Vanilla pigment! How could I forget that!?
my top 10:
1. rapidblack penultimate eyeliner
2. fling eyebrows
3. 217 blending brush
4. grand entrance eyeshadow
5. smoke & diamonds eyeshadow
6. satin taupe eyeshadow
7. antiqued eyeshadow
8. cranberry eyeshadow
9. oh so fair beauty powder
10. painterly paint pot
Ah, this is a nice post to remind me that Mac still has a lot of good stuff to offer
My list (in no particular order)
1. Expensive Pink Eyeshadow
2. Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
3. Prep + Prime Transparent Powder
4. Studio Finish Concealer
5. Ruby Woo Lipstick
6. Girl about Town Lipstick
7. 217
8. 219
9. Soft Ochre Paint Pot
10. Peachykeen Blush
you picked some very good ones, christine!
i think i would struggle to do a top ten….
1. 217 brush (I have four of them)
2. MAC wipes
3. Ricepaper e/s
4. Satin Taupe e/s
5. Soft Brown e/s
6. Naked Lunch e/s
7. Viva Glam I lipstick
8. Viva Glam V lipstick
9. Nymphette lipglass
10. Half Red lip liner
It’s hard to pick only 10, since I’ve been buying MAC products for about 18 years. These are my current favourites:
1. Studio Fix powder + foundation (C4) – been wearing this on and off since my teens, the first foundation I bought that actually matched my skin tone (a revelation).
2. Studio Finish concealer
3. All That Glitters eyeshadow
4. Teddy eyeliner
5. Powersurge eyeliner
6. Over Indulgence cremesheen glass
7. 239 brush
8. 116 brush
9. 217 brush
10. 167SH brush – great brush! Wish it was permanent with a longer handle.
Totally agree with 167SH! MAC has so many amazing LE brushes – they should just keep them in the lineup, and have like 75 perm brushes. LOL. And yes, 165 is another great one, Christine.
They should do another MAC By Request and include brushes!
In no particular order:
Studio fix powder foundation
Plush lash mascara
Mystery eyeshadow for brows
Creme cup lipstick
Viva glam gaga 2 lipstick
Russian red lip glass
266 brush
Snob lipstick
Brush cleanser
Black track fluid line
I only wear lip products so this list isn’t too varied, but they have sooooo many great choices in the permanent line! These are my faves right now:
– Viva Glam I l/s
– Viva Glam II l/s
– Paramount l/s
– Spice is Nice l/s
– Mehr l/s
– Cyber l/s
– Rebel l/s
– Venetian lustreglass
– Kiss Me Quick pro longwear lip pencil
– Cremekiss cremestick liner
OMG.. I can only pick 10? So difficult! My kit is 99% MAC! Gosh, help me..
1- Studio Fix powder/foundation
2- MAC Paint in Stilife (Tube! not pot!)
3- MAC Paint in Bare Canvas (Again, tube, not pot)
4- MAC Margin Blush ( LOVE constantly!)
5- MAC Nylon e/s- I could list so many e/s here.. sigh.
6- Fix+ (MUST HAVE!)
7- Feline liner
8- Orpheus liner (i bought them in every outlet POSSIBLE)
9- Pigments! Can’t get enough, some are duds, but i found i can repurpose those
10- MAC Suntints lip balm.. Another thing i cleaned outlets out of.. so versatile!
Now.. Where are my brushes you ask? Well, I used to be a MAC brush lover, but i got sick of the shedding, the paint chipping off AND some of the brushes just coming apart. And yes, I am *well aware* of how to wash and care for brushes. I guess i just had some bad luck! So now, i use Crown.
6-
lol – I knew what you were up to when I saw this title (the great fails of MAC as of late. 10 MAC products I love in no particular order:
1. All That Glitters eyeshadow. The first MAC eyeshadow I purchased and still a favourite, reliable colour.
2. Duck power point eye pencil. Best grey brown!! I lost mine and have yet to replace it, no clue as to why i haven’t….
3. Prim and Proper blush. LE but perhaps my favourite blush in my collection, of all brands I have.
4. 242 brush. The first MAC brush I ever bought and i have found so many uses for it. Best brush for applying cream eye products.
5. Way To Love lipstick. From a Rose Romance collection and have yet to find such a perfect pink for me. I’m afraid to use it in case I ever run out!!
6. Honeylove lipstick. My PERFECT summer nude.
7. Lilicent cream blush. Best no fail dewy cream blush for me
8. Magrittes paint. Amazing all over wash on the lid and no creasing!!!
9. Foxy Lady eye pencil. Amazing colour for my hazel green eyes. Hard colour to find in any other brand, or at least used to be unique.
10. Groundwork paint pot.
Oh how I loved the Foxy Lady eye pencil!!! I too have green/hazel eyes. I have never found a color quite like Foxy Lady and would buy 10 of them if they would repromote it! Glad to know I’m not alone in my love for this shade.
I’ve heard Copper slimline pencil by NYX is similar; but I don’t have both to compare….
1. Studio Finish concealer
2. 239 brush
3. Painterly paint pot
4. Woodwinked eyeshadow
5. Springsheen blush
6. Blacktrack fluidline
7. 217 brush
8. Strobe cream
9. MSF Natural
10. Twinks eyeshadow
My top 10 are:
1) Smolder Eye Kohl Pencil Liner
2) Black Track Fluidline
3) Teddy Eye Kohl Pencil Liner
4) Carbon Eyeshadow
5) Freshwater Eyeshadow
6) Improper Copper Cream Colour Base
7) Viva Glam Lipsticks (all)
8) Ruby Woo Lipstick
9) Spice Lip Pencil
10)Whirl Lip Pencil
My top nr 1 is also Smolder Eye Kohl Pencil Liner.
As much as I “bash” MAC, I have to admit there are several great products. I have most of the perm neutral shadows, and I really do like all of them. I also have several Paint Pots & pigments, all of which are great. I’m also a big fan of the Cream Color Bases, Bat Black being my favorite. The “star” of my collection is my Delineate liner; although it’s a PITA, and the formula isn’t all that great, the shade more than makes up for it.
I would love for them to bring back the Studio Stick foundation; aside from a poor color match by the SA, I really did love the product itself.
Studio Fix powder foundation is good, too, but I’ve found a less expensive alternative, with a better color match, so I haven’t gone back to it for a while.
I love Mac. My top ten in no particular order :
1. Brulé Eyeshadow
2. Two Virtures blush
3. Ruby Woo lipstick
4. Teddy eye khol
5. Zoomlash waterproof mascara
6. Silver Dusk Iridescent Face Powder
7. Pro Longwear Concealer
8. Fast Response Eye Cream
9. Spiked Eyebrow Pencil
10. Blacktrack fluidline
1) blacktrack fluidline. all of their gel liners are fantastic
2) pearlglide eyeliners. just fantastic. smooth, pigmented, last all day
3) paint pots. they don’t crease on me and some look great alone as shadow
4) Brun or Mystery eyeshadow. wonderful for filling in brows. try it christine! they aren’t red based so they match really well
5) 217 brush. it’s just a must. blends out shadow and creams perfectly
6) studio careblend pressed powder. it mattes the skin without looking powdery
7) vegas volt and patisserie lipstick. fun lip and perfect pink pout lip
8) fleur power blush. gives me a nice, natural flush
9) nymphette lipglass. so pretty. looks good on everyone in my opinion
10) pigments. they have an excellent array of shades and they blend out beautifully in application
MAC is a fantastic brand and I think you’re very lucky that you get to review their products. i wish they would get the kind of credit that high end brands do, even if it’s the permanent range that shines
1. Seedy Pearl e/s. Great hilighter for smoky purple e/s looks
2. Snob l/s
3. Foxy Lady eye kohl. Oh how I wish they would repromote this. Have never been able to dupe this color
4. Snowglobe beauty powder. Yeah I’m pale as Casper and this stuff lights up my face w/out being too much
5. Naughty Saute l/s
6. 266 eyeliner brush
7. Fig 1 e/s. great crease color
8. Pop Mode lip glass
9. Antiqued e/s. one of the only warmer colored e/s that actually does something for my cool tones
10. Wonder Woman lip glass. Am I the only person that liked this? There is something about this particular shade of red that I get so many compliments whenever I wear it. I can’t believe I’ve almost finished that ginormous tube!
Never could get into MAC no matter how I try. I do like the brushes and that is about it. The shadows dont appeal to me..just have three of them…MAC is not what MAC was before Estee Lauder took over….But no one should criticize Christine for rating MAC products the way she rates it….Christine has graded some products of my favorite brands with poor grades and frankly, those companies deserve that grade. Otherwise, how would MAC or these other companies stay in the quality game?
I agree.
My top 10 MAC products are:
1. MAC wipes
2. Cleanse Off Oil
3. All That Glitters e/s
4. Satin Taupe e/s
5. Brule e/s
6. Painterly paintpot
7. Fleur Power blush
8. 239 eyeshadow brush
9. Brave l/s
10. Harmony blush
I love this post. Thanks! 🙂
my top ten are:
1. Bare study paint pot (will be getting bare study soon)
2. Studio finish concealer
3. blot powder
4. any of their blushes really, (loving fleet fast & prism)
5. wedge e/s
6. woodwinked e/s
7. blacktrack fluidline
8.falselashes mascara
9.217 brushe
10. deelight cremesheen glass & oh so many more… lol
1) Mystery e/s. Purchased maybe 4 of these. I use it daily for my brows.
2) Face and Body foundation. Light, natural, looks like skin.
3) Blacktrack Fluidline.
4) 150 powder brush.
5) 266 angled brush.
6) Jubilee or Patisserie lipstick. Both lustre finishes. Nude colors. Jubilee is browner and Patisserie is pinker. They’re strangely interchangeable for me.
7) Ravishing lipstick.
8) Sweet Satisfaction e/s.
9) Kid e/s.
10) Ruby Woo lipstick.
This is a great idea, Mac still have so many amazing permament products!
1. Studio Fix Fluid Foundation (I can’t believe I only JUST got onto this, I absolutely love it)
2. Select Moisturecover Concealer (on my millionth tube, shame about the packaging though! I keep cutting them open when they run low)
3. Brow Powder in Porcelain/Browning (discontinued!)
4. MSF Natural
5. Blacktrack Fluidline (though I’m currently using a Maybelline dupe)
6. Feline Kohl Power
7. Lickable Lipstick
8. Please Me Lipstick
9. Lipglass (loved every single shade I’ve ever had, to the point of cutting them open to use them up!)
10. Springsheen Blush
1) 239 brush
2) Added Goodness Fluidline (LE)
3) Fascinating Ruby ES (LE)
4) Blonde’s gold pigment
5) Perpetual flame Pro Longwear Lipcreme
6) Fix +
7) Macroviolet Fluidline
8) Dalliance Mega Metal ES
9) Soar Lip Pencil
10) Blacktrack Fluidline
I love seeing your top 10 🙂
My top 10 is probably…
1. MAC pigment in Fairylite
2. MAC 3D glass in Boundless
3. MAC Dazzleglass in Funtabulous
4. MAC Lustreglass in Venetian
5. MAC blush in Bite of an Apple
6. MAC eyeshadow in Sushi Flower
7. MAC blush in Azalea Blossom
8. MAC lipstick in Show Orchid
9. MAC lipstick in Sweet Thing
10. MAC eyeshadow in Knight Divine
I’ve got a lot of MAC staples I use every day:
Careblend powder (best powder I’ve ever used)
Prep & Prime Vibrancy Eye (I don’t leave home without it – great multiuse product for priming, de-puffing, highlighting and light concealing)
Mineralize eye cream (got rid of wrinkles 15 years of other products couldn’t budge – great value)
Opulash (favorite natural mascara, so easy to remove)
Haute ‘n Naughty (very versatile mascara for many different looks)
Mineralize Skin Finish (in Natural or various limited versions – last year’s Goldstone is a staple)
Greasepaint Sticks (hope those come back soon)
Cremesheen Glass (my favorite lip gloss – both the perm and limited color ranges are beautiful)
Mineralize foundation SPF15 (perfect match for me – it’s my everyday foundation, very easy on my skin)
Matchmaster foundation (another perfect match – perfect for a formal look)
Special mention to last year’s Elude beauty powder – single greatest effect powder, gives my skin the look it had when I was 18)
My top (6) are:
1. Angel lipstick – the perfect everyday nudy pink
2. Painterly paintpot – a nice base that doesn’t crease
3. Shroom eyeshadow – nice and shimmery
4. Vanilla eyeshadow – perfect natural color to match NC15 skin
5. All that glitters eyeshadow – such a pretty color
6. Boybait cremesheen glass – perfect nude and gives soft lips
1. All that Glitters eyeshadow
2.Mac 224 brush (Great for buffing in concealer)
3.Espresso shadow
4.Mac reflects gold pigment
5.Mac Antiqued shadow
6.Studio sculpt foundation
7.Mac Desert rose blush
8.Pro longwear concealer in NW30 +NW44
9.Perfect and protect spf50
10.Mocha lipstick
I use the 224 for concealer too – it works great!
ohh I love MAC!! here is my top10
1. gentle Mineralize blush
2. Smolder eye pencil
3. Beautiful iris e/s
4. swell e/s (limited from surf baby)
5. careblend powder
6. viva glam V l/s
7. syrup l/s (sooo great!!)
8. star wonder msf (my hg highlighter!)
9. tan pigment
10. Blacktrack fluidline
In no order:
1. Woodwinked e/s
2. Mac Wipes
3. 239 brush
4. 138 brush
5. Prep and Prime lip primer
6. Prep and Prime lash primer
7. Studio Sculpt concealer
8. Face & Body foundation
9. Mocha blush (but I love most of their blushes)
10. their lipsticks, I can’t pick a shade
Let me just say I don’t think Christine is a MAC hater as some people unfairly allege. She is unbiased and she gives a very analytical review of products. If it gets an F I trust her that she tried to make it work and it just really was a bad product.
Now, the problem is “some” of your *commenters* sees it as some kind of a *go-signal* to *bash* not just on the brand/product but also *take swipes* mean girl-style at the PEOPLE who like the brand. Now these mean girl *commenters* (NOT GENERALIZING, calm down!) give new readers the wrong impression this is a forum made for MAC bashers. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Christine should change anything in the way she runs her blog. It’s hers and no one could tell her what to do with it. I just feel bummed out when people fail to distinguish between the blogger and *commenters*. 🙁
interesting that the green color you designed with make don’t make it to the top 10.
i only have a top few,
1. ever hip lipstick
2. madly magenta ccb
3. a green pearlglide liner which name escapes me at the moment.
that’s it.
Hi Lenita,
I only chose permanent products, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable listing that anyway – that would be rather biased!
1) Solar White e/s
2) Viva Glam I
3) Tenderling blush
4) Tempting quad from Cult of Cherry
5) Naked Honey perfume
6) 217 brush
7) MSFN
8) Wedge e/s
9) Blot Powder
10) Dollymix blush
MAC’s core collection is still superb and what draws me to the MAC Store time after time, but I’ve learned to just ignore the collection displays cos most of that ends up being junk. 😛
My top 10 in no particular order:
1. 224 brush (nuff said)
2. 210 brush (great for eyeliner!)
3. Painterly paintpot (my go-to eyeshadow base)
4. Dipdown/Blacktrack fluidline
5. Violetta lipstick
6. Coppering eyeshadow (great for making blue eyes pop)
7. Dalliance eyeshadow
8. False Lashes Extreme Black mascara
9. Fast Response eye cream
10. Blue Brown pigment (great smokey eye layered over Embark e/s)
Other honorable mentions: Platinum pigment, Russian Red l/s, Girl About Town l/s, and of course the wipes 🙂
I LOVE these kinds of posts. I don’t know that I could limit myself to 10 MAC products …
1 & 2. Fluidlines in Dark Diversion, Local Wares.
3. Prep+Prime Protect SPF50
4. Prep+Prime Skin
5. ProLongwear foundation
6. Eyeshadow in Brun (for my brows)
7. Pigment in Old Gold
8. Lipglass in Lychee Luxe
9. Oil Control Lotion
10. Lipstick in Viva Glam Cyndi
FYI: NW20-ish Asian skin tone, 1.5 in matchmaster foundation for most of the year (maybe NC20/25 in the summer as I become more golden, 2.0 in the summer), black hair, brown eyes.
In no order:
1. Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, as a MLBB/all-purpose lipliner
2. Blot (Pressed), excellent for toning down shine
3. Sweetie Lustre Lipstick, a nice, easy-to-wear natural pink, which isn’t drying on my lips
4. Ruby Woo Retro Matte Lipstick, very dry, but the sexiest red lipstick ever on my skin tone (also serves as a nice red base for more “slippy” reds)
5. Beautiful Iris Veluxe Pearl E/S, a nice lavender-purple which enhances brown eyes and my fair-to-light Asian skin tone
6. Macroviolet Fluidline, just a hint of plum so it’s not stark
7. Mocha Matte Blush, very natural and totally sophisticated
8. Select Cover Up, NW20, easy to use and very natural
9. 187 Stippling Brush, go-to for pigmented face product, both powder and creams
10. 168 Angled Cheek Brush, nice, dense angled brush for contouring and precise placement of cheek color.
I am an admitted MAC addict but I much prefer most of their standard line rather than their special editions. I have a very good friend who is a MAC artist but who is honest about what is good and what is not so good.
The artist talked me off of many different shadows and LE stuff because of quality issues. Doesn’t mean that I don’t spend a lot of money on MAC (I do own some stuff from Makeup Forever and Lancome).
My favorites (and I’ll limit them because I probably love almost all that I own).
1) Woodwinked, Club, Humid, Amber Lights, Nocturnelle, and two of my pro shadows: Bottle Green and Kelly. (there’s plenty)
2) Almost every brush I got my hands on, but specifically like 224, 239, 252, 263, and one LE brush 128.
3) Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash
4) Strobe Cream
5) Fix +
6) Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye
7) Studio Moisture Tint (Medium)
8) Mineralize Skinfinish Lightscapade
9) Blushes: Warm Soul, Blushbaby, Springsheen
10) Pigments: Nude, Copper (pro)
11) Lipstick: New York Apple, Viva Glam V, Rebel, Pure Zen (LE)
12) Glosses/Glasses/Etc: Au Rose (LE), Everlasting Nude (LE), Imperial Light
13) Last but definitely not least Mac Wipes to take it all off
Oh, I forgot – Liners
Pearlglide (all of them but I adore): Lord It Up and Designer Purple
Eye Kohl: Powersurge (I often use it as an eyeshadow), Prunella
Technikohl Liner: Photogravure
And obviously, Fluidline: Blacktrack and my new favorite: Local Wares (LE)
Photogravure!!! I forgot about that one…it should be on my list, too!! I haven’t used it in a while, though. I’m going to have to pull it out today. 😀
1. Pro-Longwear concealer
2. Mineralized skinfinish
3. Real Posh lipglass – discontinued 🙁
4. Embark e/s
5. Spiked eyebrow pencil
6. Viva Glam IV lipglass
7. Naked Lunch e/s
8. 217 brush (own three)
9. 209 brush
10. Superslick liquid eyeliner
My top 10 MAC products are:
1. Studio Fix Powder Foundation
2. Fix+
3. Oil Control Lotion
4. Prep & Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
5. Prolongwear Concealer
6. Mulch Eyeshadow
7. Gleam Eyeshadow
8. Trace Gold Blush
9. 239 Brush
10. 217 Brush
Oh lordy…just 10???
e/s in Club
e/s in Wedge (brows and blending)
e/s in Mulch
eye kohl in teddy
melba blush
warm soul mineralized blush
melon pigment
studio finish concealer
viva glam VI lipglass
viva glam V lipstick (the only lipstick I’ve used up completely…twice <333)
And one to grow on….constructivist paint pot. Creates the most beautiful and easiest brown smokey eyes ever!! <333
Love the positivity of this topic. There's been so much negativity in regards to MAC lately (though some is justified), it's nice to remember that they have a lot of really great products. There are many reasons why a lot of us fell in love with MAC to begin with. 🙂
MY love for MAC was onlyyyyyy and still baes on your reccos sweetie .. :d and here goes my list :
1 . Nymphette Lipglass
2 . 226 Brush
3 . Crosswires Lipstick
4 . Rebel lipstick
5 . Blacktrack fluidline
6 . Lucky green eyeshadow
7 . N number of blushes – fleur power tops the chart
8 . Russian Red lipstick
9 . 239 brush
10 . 116 brush
Anddddddddddddd i loveeee you for introducing me to MAC … trust me .. its only “C” and “T” when it comes to MAC .
10 MAC items that i love in no particular order:
1- teddy eye-khol
2- dipdown fluidline
3- satin taupe e/s
4- studio finish concealer
5- velvet teddy lipstick
6- big baby plush glass
7- 239 eyeshadow
8- 217 blending/crease brush
9- posey creamblende blush
10- painterly paint pot as a primer
I love a lot of MAC products, most of which are every day staples for me. In no particular order:
1. Painterly Paint Pot- Awesome neutral base, doesn’t crease, makes shadows true to their color. Paint pots in general are awesome.
2. Mineralize Skinfinish natural- Great as foundation for a lazy day, also awesome for setting your regular foundation.
3. Mineralize Skinfinish Soft and Gentle- Permanent line highlight… really good for a nice, easy, natural bronze that makes you look brighter from within.
4- Blacktrtack fluidline- Easy, generally good gel liner. Lasts forever.
5- Eyeshadows in All That Glitters, bronze, satin taupe, etc etc… but those are favorites that come to mind.
6- Lipstick in Craving- Really nice plum pink, not drying, opaque color.
7- Fix+. Good for wetting shadows, and good for setting powder to not look quite so powdery.
8- Brush Cleanser- Without a doubt the best for spot cleaning
In no particular order…
1. Fix + Spray
2. Select Cover Up Concealer NC45
3. MSF Medium Dark
4. MSF Deep Dark
5. Gingerly Blush
6. 224
7. Up the Amp l/s
8. Spiked Eyebrow pencil
9. Amber Lights e/s
10. Saddle e/s
orange corrector
brush 187
blacktrack fluidline
russian red lipstick
lip erase ( have to use it everytimr i use a lippe coz i hv v pigmented lips )
fix spray
matchmaster foundation
smolder kohl
blue brown pigment
cranberry e/s
MAC is and will be one of the best love/selling/rate/review makeup brand 🙂 a lot of people love their products me especially! 🙂 wipes, black track fluid and wipes on your list are the most generally loved… thanks you for sharing your list 😉
Love this post! my top 10 are:
1. 263 eyeliner brush
2. cremesheen glosses (boy bait and fashion whim)
3. easy manner (l/e) blush
4. mineralize skinfinish natural in medium deep (for nc40 finishing powder)
5. soft ochre paintpot (also as an eye primer)
6. rapidblack penultimate eye liner
7. blacktrack fluidline
8. lipsticks!!! (most used are hue, blankety and freckletone)
9. studio fix powder (nc40)
10. fav for last- eyeshadows! (most used are all that glitters, ricepaper, carbon and saddle)
Temptaila,
Could you please advise me on how to dilute Mac’s Studio Fix Foundation? I used to wear it a few years ago and repurchased the other day but having just turned 28 I feel that it is now wayyyy tooo heavy for me. Is there a way to make it more sheer and are there any other good foundations on the market with good coverage but not as heavy?
🙂
Maybe water? It will help sheer it out. You could also mix it with moisturizer! Face & Body is a sheerer formulation.
Great picks Christine! Here are mine:
1. Fix +
2. Love Goddess Lipstick (Marilyn Monroe Collection)
3. Deep Blue Green Pigment
4. Reflects Transparent Teal
5. Stay Pretty Blush
6. Studio Sculpt Concealer
7. Sculpt Sculpting Powder
8. Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish
9. Brule Eyeshadow
10.Money Honey Dazzleglass
Late to the party, but that won’t stop me.
1) MAC Indianwood Paint Pot. It’s like a cream version of Woodwinked.
2) MAC 217.
3) MAC Studio Finish SPF Concealer.
4) MAC Brun eyeshadow (for brows mostly).
5) MAC 266/263.
6) MAC Feline kohl pencil.
7) MAC Cranberry eyeshadow.
8) MAC Ruby Woo lipstick.
9) MAC Shroom eyeshadow.
10) MAC 168. It doesn’t get a lot of love, but I think this is a great contour/cheek brush.
These aren’t in any particular order… that would be far too difficult!
1. Smolder Eye Kohl
2. Painterly Paint Pot
3. 217
4. 239
5. Studio Fix Powder
6. Well Dressed Blush
7. Harmony Blush – amazing for contouring!
8. Satin Taupe e/s
9. Cultured Lip Gloss
10. Sumptuous Olive e/s