If MAC didn’t exist, which brand would be in its place? Share your answer!
If we’re talking about a brand who’s roots are in artistry, I would say Make Up For Ever or Illamasqua. If we’re talking about a brand that seems to have a strong enough following, I would say Urban Decay.
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I had the same answer before reading yours haha
Oh good one. Inglot, maybe? I feel like the quality is similar, but just not as available.
Inglot for eyeshadows (intact I only keeping 4 mac shadows compared to the number of Wet N Wild and Inglot I’ve got.)
Make Up For Ever for liners and lipstick.
Urban Decay fro palette shadow collections.
I would say Inglot.
Urban decay or benefit
Quality-wise, Make Up For Ever for me, also with regard to shade selection. NARS would be my [VERY close, like, almost tied] second pick, because of the blush and eye selection. I like the sparkles and wow factor of NARS but the skin aspect of MUFE.
I almost wrote the exact same thing. I think Illamasqua is too expansive/hard to find in the U.S., and I (personally) don’t take UD seriously at all.
I would collect Joe’s Fresh Styles cosmetics if MAC didn’t exist. It’s a Canadian brand with a wide variety of selections for cheap.
But hey! MAC is also Canadian.
Joe’s Fresh has got a lot to prove to me first before bying more from them again. But the new gel liner in the dark khaki green is excellent. It’s shame it’s no made in Canada like MAC’s.
I think MUFE
Definitely Urban Decay.
I would have to say Urban Decay, from a price point, product style and quality.
Good question! And I agree, MUF! Can you imagine a world, without MAC? They sort of paved the way in making professional products, accessible to the general public.
Either Illamasqua or Urban Decay.
Inglot!!
Urban Decay for sure!
In terms of price and range, maybe INGLOT.
Illamasqua comes pretty close too =)
Either Inglot or Urban Decay!
Bobbi Brown! Love the stuff! ♥
I’m with you, Coco. MAC was a gateway brand that wasn’t as stuffy and rule-laden as folks like Estee Lauder, Clinique, Chanel or Lancome. Estee was your grandma’s makeup; Clinique was for women who lacked sufficient age to be clients of Estee (also, it was more for skin care); Chanel is expensive and Lancome always seemed elegant, but elusive. If MAC hadn’t existed, Estee would have made Bobbi Brown in its image or would have created a brand like it. There was a niche.
I would say Urban Decay
I don’t really use MAC. (I have both the Pro-Longwear and Select Moisturecover concealers and that’s it)
I really like my drugstore products, and I’m going to have to go with NYX, because I think NYX quality is amazing for the price you pay, and it has the wide selection of colours like MAC does.
Definitely agree with MUFE, Illamasqua and Urban Decay, but my principal vote is for Shu Uemura. I feel if MAC didn’t have such a strong following, Shu might put out more products. I love their stuff!
I would have to say Inglot, Urban Decay from High end Brand and from the Drugstore I would have to go with Wet&Wild.. so man to choose from that are Great!..
Inglot or Nars, my personal opinion Illamasqua is edgier than MAC.
I would have to say Makeup Forever. One of the things MAC is known for is their highly pigmented shadows, unique lipstick, and wide range of foundations. This is especially important when it comes to appealing to all races, ages, and sexes. MUFE is the ONLY company I feel would e able to step into the shoes that MAC has filled.
Hm.. Make Up For Ever, maybe?
MUFE all the way! They both focus on artistry yet have a wide range of products for the beginner and advanced.
I would say Inglot.
I cannot imagine a makeup world without MAC. But if I had to try…your answer would make the most sense to me, too.
I dont think any brand would take its place since MAC promotes new collections so frequently that it becomes absurd. MUFE would replace its variety and diversity. Some brand like Coastal Scents or NYX with its mass production would take its place. Actually now that I think about it, a quality brand like FACE Stockholm would be in the forefront if FACE has a stronger presence as MAC has.
I don’t want to imagine a world like that… probably lancome.
I agree – probably MUFE or maybe NARS.
Kryolan.
I’m even more interested in Inglot than MAC…but it’s not available here in The Czech Republic:-( Which is weird while Poland is our neighbour.
Christine, would you ever review Stars Makeup Haven eyeshadows? It’s sold in the pan form such as MAC and I’ve heard lots of good things about it.
Sorry, I don’t have any plans to!
Love HourGlass!! And Dior!!
I’d have to say Urban Decay for their overall quality consistency that I find similar to MAC.
I’m hyperventilating just reading the question! What would I do if there was never a MAC? I think Makeup Forever or NARS would take the lead with Urban Decay in second place
Urban Decay or Barry M
I’d say MUFE. In comparison, they are sister brands as far as artistry and color choice is concerned.
Yves Saint Laurent
I’d definitely say Make Up For Ever. I feel like they have a similar audience and approach to beauty.
Illamasqua
I still have no idea why MAC is so popular.
Make Up Store, I don’t know if you’re familiar with it but it has as good or even better quality than many of Mac’s stuff.
I had MUFE in mind!!! i think they don’t get their deserved fame and are always overshadowed by MAC which is a shame because they have amazing products
Illamasqua, inglot and urban decay are great but not widely known all over the world.
I would have to say Inglot in terms of colors available and pigmentation.
I suppose the question is WOULD be and not should be. I think it SHOULD be Illamasqua but the problem with them is that they are not available everywhere whereas MAC is. So keeping the availability factor in mind, I’d have to say it WOULD be Inglot or MUFE (though these brands are not a personal favourite of mine but then again, neither is MAC). I still don’t think Inglot or MUFE are as readily available as MAC and I think that is what gives MAC the edge sometimes along with their mid-range price point. It certainly isn’t quality lately.
Illamasqua, with Make Up Forever as a close second. Illamasqua is described as how MAC was back in the day.
I would say MUFE or Nars, however those are both at more expensive price points for all their items. Or maybe Clinique, their pricing is similar and they have nice quality items and good variation for the price.
I honestly don’t think UD would stand a chance at replacing Mac, they are just really known for their shadows kits, I never hear anyone ever talk about anything else. Foundations, powders, blush, skincare, lipsticks, glosses, cream shadows? Nothing. If it wasn’t for their Naked palette, I don’t even think they would be mentioned.
Nars or MUFE.
I was gonna say MUFE as well. I think that is my vote. They have bright, vibrant colors as does M.A.C. Not as many to choose from but the quality is good as is M.A.C.’s.
Make Up For Ever, with Inglot as a close second.. only cz it’s not as available as MUFE. Illamasqua in third, again, not widely promoted in my area
I would say Nyx due to various reasons. these reasons include
1. the vast amount of products/colors for everything
2. they also come out with theme products/collections (nyx has the jerseylicious collection)
3. they are both great companies with the exception of a few products
4. they were both the cosmetic sponsors of RuPaul’s drag race
5. Nyx is cheaper.
professionally speaking, MUFE. maybe Illamasqua. for “the masses”, I’d say Too Faced or Urban Decay. Inglot is not widely sold as those other brands…
personally speaking: mineral make-up companies.
Urban Decay, NYX, Make Up For Ever, TheBalm, Sephora… there are so many brands with potential!
NARS or maybe Bobbi Brown
Make Up For Ever!! Wide range of e/s, foundations etc. And they do not make these limited collections that I’m now tired of by trying to get dupes when a product runs out.
MUFE or Inglot perhaps
I think NARS!!
NARS is currently my number one favorite brand for the quality of their products, but they absolutely do not have the wide range that MAC has. I think for color option purposes, Make Up For Ever or Inglot would be a good replacement, but I find that MAC still has a wider variety of finishes and textures. It’s hard to say, but I think I could get by without MAC! The only thing I would miss is their affordability compared to other high end brands 🙂
NYX! I’ve spent thousands of dollars on makeup over the years and I think NYX has the same quality and exact colors as MAC. They even have a great range of colors probably even more than MAC.
I like Chanel and NARS eyeshadows but I believe they are on a different/higher level than MAC.
i would say NARS
Illamasqua have amazing eyeshadows and innovative new products but the recent Chanel collections have me going all giddy! A nice balance I think…
I remember both Clinique & Prescriptives, both of which kept discontinuing and changing products. That’s when MAC caught my attention, and I never looked back. I like rather prefer one stop shopping. If I had to choose I would look to Temptalia & her loyal followers to help me out here.
MUFE, Too Faced, UD or Tarte
MUFE, definitely 🙂
Urban Decay!! I don’t even like MAC!
Ok no offense but I must be dating myself her I’d say chanel…who do you think started edgy makeup before Mac with high pigment one word VAMP and if you didn’t get to wear the original so sad is all I can say. Chanel was and is still the house of color in my opinion. I love MAC but there makeup goes bad quick has a short shelf life and though highly pigmented the shadows never feel as soft as Chanel and shadow fallout is huge. I like MAC for liner and lipgloss but I’d pick Nars or chanel for Blush or shadows and def pick chanel for lipstick.
For eye shadows, I’d say sleek. Powder and foundation, fashion fair (being a woman of color) and for lipsticks, hmmm. That’s a tough one. I guess I’d go with mary kay?? I like some of their colors and the quality isn’t bad + it’s cheap too. Nah, won’t happen. Guess a drugstore brand would do for lipsticks
NARS! Definitely NARS. Francois Nars is a genius <3
MUFE all they way, maybe Illamasqua as oth are professional brands and seen to interest the same clients
If MAC didn’t exist – I wouldn’t notice. I used to be so in love with MAC back in the day. They have changed so much (in most cases not of the better) that I don’t even use their anymore.
I would say Make up Forever. It reminds me of MAC with its color range, artist tools, color cakes and sticks, and palette options.
MUFE or NARS, however, I would hope if they replaced MAC, they would use MAC pricing because those two are expensive brands.
MUFE is a very close second to MAC. Their colour range is great, they are priced pretty much the same as MAC, and they are easy to find in Canada at Sephora and The Bay. I would say Inglot, but the line is no longer available in Toronto.
Inglot!
MUFE In fact, while i do love MAC, I would probably own more MUFE if they weren’t more expensive. The only thing that i would get elsewhere is lipstick and gloss. I’m more of a nude lip kinda girl
If ‘its place’ means my heart, I’d say be Bobbi Brown.
I would say it’s gonna be “Nars.”
illamasqua