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What a fantastic list 🙂
I cant thank you enough for making me / convincing me to pick LUCKY GREEN … it is such a stunnerrrrr … and really suits my eye color 🙂
thank you million times dear 😀 😀
My list for a beginner would be : considering I’m suggesting someone in India 🙂
MAC Prolong wear concealer
MAC Fluidline – Blacktrack
MAC paint pots – Soft Ochre or Quite natural
MAC eyeshadows – Lucky Green , Romp , Cork and Brule
MAC brush – 239 and 224
Lipsticks – Rebel , Fast Play , Russian Red and Chilli
I guess its enough for a beginner
Brushes!!! I knew I forgot a category, oh my goodness!!!
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 🙂 glad you added brushes here 😀 😀 thanks again for reccos 🙂
christine thank you for this! with the huge line of MAC products and constant limited edition collections coming out, i had no idea where to even start w/ the brand (except the heroine lipstick hehe) i really love this new feature of the blog too 🙂
I can only imagine, Sarah!! It’s really difficult even just trying to narrow down the list, because they have SO MANY PRODUCTS and formulas.
I LOVE this. I’m not new to MAC but I am a huge fan of lists and things being properly organized and this is beautiful. Love that you separated them out into cool tones and warm tones. Thank you.
Thank you! 🙂 With some of these brands that have such extensive ranges, it seemed like a better way to help more people by giving some more distinct options (cool/warm).
I wanted to comment to let you know that I love these overviews! I’m sure they’re really time consuming, but I think they are SO helpful. Thanks for putting them together. 🙂
Thank you, Alexis! 🙂
I would recommend to start with the eye palettes! That and ignore the onslaught of LEs, or at least be very choosy if you’re going to get anything from an LE collection. It’s very easy to overbuy with all of the collections they are constantly putting out so check Temptalia first because much of the MAC LE might have a permanent MAC dupe.
Good advice to be choosy with the LEs!
Wow, this is very helpful!! I’m a makeup junkie but stayed away from MAC for the longest time because I was so overwhelmed with the sheer number of products/collections, literally didn’t know where to start, and their counters/ stores were always crowded, and kind of intimidating with all the MUA sales people. I started with some lipsticks and shadows (all reviewed and recommended by you), but there’s so much more, so I will definitely be studying this list !
MAC has such a massive line! Even just their permanent products… so many formulas, shades… They don’t just have ONE powder eyeshadow but multiple formulas to choose from!
Thank you soo much for putting this together! I find MAC to be so overwhelming sometimes. Would you ever consider doing an introduction to MAC brushes post in the future?
I recommend two lipsticks: Brave and Velvet Teddy. Blushes: Devil and Rosy Outlook.
Was really close to having Velvet Teddy on the list! One of my earlier MAC lipsticks, actually 😀
What would you be looking for in an introduction? I ask mostly because I’d only recommend a few of MAC’s brushes these days! They have a few good ones, but I think other brands out-perform them these days 🙁
I need an introduction to eye brushes, of any brand! LOL. I know there are probably dozens of them out there in the internet world – but your website is my go-to and I would definitely bookmark a decent list of 5 or so “starter kit” eye brushes (and heck – face brushes, too!).
You’re in luck! I did one 🙂
http://www.temptalia.com/must-makeup-brushes-applying-eyeshadow-blending-crease-details
It’s not a top 5, but it is a list of all of my very favorite brushes for different types of application!
Perfect – thanks for the link!!
Mac Face & Body! Love this foundation so much, it’s my HG! I always get complements on my skin when I wear this:)
I also specifically love lipsticks in Rebel, Russian Red, Lickable, Pink Nouveau, Please Me and Impassioned
Russian Red is a classic for a reason!
I don’t own a ton of MAC, so I can’t make a lot of recommendations. Lipsticks, of course. It seems everyone starts with the lipsticks. I know I did. I own more of their lipsticks than anything. Candy Yum Yum, Heroine, Up the Amp. Anything red — Red lipsticks are what MAC does best. I like the sparkly lipglasses, too.
Eyeshadows from the permanent lines. I don’t own a ton, as they’re not my favorite brand. However, I really love Cork, Satin Taupe, Vex, Stars and Rockets, Sumptuous Olive, Fathoms Deep and Grand Galaxy.
The only Fluid Line I own is Blue Peep, but I love it and wouldn’t mind getting more. I think the color and texture of Blue Peep is fabulous, so I’d like to try other colors.
I wish they had more permanent shades of Lipglass. I feel like that range is never, ever refreshed!
I hear you. 🙁
OMG, Rachel, you just reminded me of a few more favorite, and therefore highly recommended eyeshadows: Vex (my very first MAC eyeshadow!), Satin Taupe and Stars & Rockets! Plus, I would also say the original Greensmoke, not the one in palettes! And yes, their RED lipsticks are almost always perfection!
I don’t have Greensmoke. Thanks for the reminder about that one. It’s really pretty.
I’d recommend a garbage bag, to put all the MAC cosmetics in. HA! I find their stuff is consistently mediocre for the price range. I wouldn’t recommend it without thorough reviews and research.
Oh, that is too bad 🙁 None have impressed you at all? They can be a very hit or miss brand (especially within LE launches – I do think their permanent line is stronger overall).
I’ve picked up some lippies and I’m tempted by some of the matte reds, but it’s so hit or miss I just tend to stay away.
Lol!
I’d definitely recommend the eye pencils, Engraved is my most favorite black eye pencil out there! And Blacktrack fluidline is the best, especially when compared with Engraved, that duo is never going anywhere, even from your waterline!
When it comes to shimmery, glowy blushes, I don’t love any brand more than MAC. Mineralize blushes glow like no other! They are my other most favorite products of the brand. And all other blushes are just amazing, MAC is always my go to on every type of blush finish.
Aaaand, the 231 brush! Noone nows how it does wonders! You can fill in your brows with such control and precision, tightline your upper lash line with no fuss, intensify the liner in the lowerline, create the clean, straight liner look within seconds and don’t have to deal with your liners being even, cause this brush will give you that. The best thing MAC has is this brush, everyone must know it, have it, get rid of the uneven clean and straight liners, get out the door faster than they ever imagined, and also fill in their brows even when the applicators of brow products seem too big to handle. Even when you think Benefit Gimme Brow is hard to use, use that with MAC 231. Gosh, I love the brush so much, can you tell? Hahaha!
To sum, out of skin base products like foundation especially, there are so many amazing things at MAC. My most favorite mascara is their False Lash Extreme. Fuller lashes and a bit of a curl and length with the beautifully natural effect. I love it. But for foundation, I never go MAC. For else, it’s always a great option to check out.
The Mineralize Blushes are pretty! What are your top two favorites in the range?
I love love love Just a Wisp! It was the color I searched like crazy for in every brand, I am 15NW in MAC shade range and it was just the perfect and most princess-y and glowy, cool and light pink blush ever! I always get rid of my blushes even in a couple months, but this I got around July 2014 and have been using consistently ever since! I always stretch out to buy Warm Soul when I visit MAC stores, like the last two years, but I somehow always gave up on the idea. It’s like an impossible love story. I love it, and she most probably loves me, but something keeps getting between us. I know we will unite one day! But God knows when haha!
And my other top favorite is Harmony from the matte finish range. The perfect warm and brownish shade that also goes really well as a contour shade. I love them both 🙂
Thank you 😀
Mineralize skin finish Natural and Fast response eye cream!
FREC!! I haven’t used that in forever 😀 When do you apply it in your routine?
Fresh out of the shower of damp skin! ❤️
I would highly recommend the 217 brush and the Fix+ spray!
Do you like the original Fix+ or any of the variations best?
As I perused this beautifully curated guide, I realized just how MANY of the warm shade suggestions I either already own, or that are on my wishlist! So speaking as a warm-toned, darker end of medium person;
Eyeshadows:
Soft Brown, Orb, Arena, Folie or Swiss Chocolate, Brown Script, Amber Lights, Antiqued, Woodwinked, Handwritten. And Nehru, Indian Ink and Digit.
I also have many of the suggested Extra Dimension Eyeshadows on my wishlist: Silver Sun, Stolen Moment and Fathoms Deep.
I only own one blush, but it’s one of my favorite blushes ever: Burnt Pepper!
I wish they’d make Shaft Of Gold EDSF permanent! Perfect highlighter!
Lipsticks I love are mostly warm: VG I & II, Marque (Ultimate Lipstick), Morange, Lady Danger, La Vie En Rouge (LE), Heroine, Men Love Mystery, Royally Riotous (LE), Touch, All I Want (LE), Diva and Deep Love (LE). I think they should make Royally Riotous, La Vie En Rouge and Deep Love permanent!!!
OMG! I forgot Maria Moretti lipstick and Ruby Woo! ?
Ooh, good idea sharing your skin tone, too, Nancy 😀 Very ehlpful.
It was hard not to put more EDS on the list! They have way too many product,s haha.
This is fantastic! I have always been intimidated by how many products MAC has to offer and had no idea where to start. Very quickly falling in love with Antiqued, Fleeting Romance, Rebel, and Marque–I think they’re gonna be my next makeup venture. I love these “intro to brands” posts, Christine! Thank you!!!
My pleasure, Sarah! 🙂
Wow where do I begin… Face: MSF Natural, Prolong wear concealer, Nourishing Waterproof Prolong wear foundation ( coverage might not be for everyone, but the finish is bbeautiful, the color range is eh), Melba, Mocha, Pink Swoon and Peaches blush, Warm Soul and Dainty Mineralize Blush, Pear Cream Color Base and any highlight that comes out in the Extra Dimension Skinfinish, Fix +. Eyes: any prolong wear pain pot in your skin tone to blank out your eyelids, Woodwinked, All that Glitters, Shroom, Texture, Arena, Naked Lunch, Bamboo, Brun, Espresso, Brulé, Brown Script and Down Brown eye shadows, Teddy, Power surge and I get no kick eye kohls, black track fluid line, False lashes mascara and the eyebrown wax finish in clear. Lips: Soar, Strip down, Cherry, Burgundy and Currant lip pencils, Modesty, Rebel, Mac Red, Dark side, Peach Blossom and Impassioned lipsticks, Desire and Lust lip glass, Luster Flower Luster gloss. Brushes: 168, 239, 217, 219, 266 and 188
What’s the coverage like for the Waterproof Prolongwear, Vanessa? Haven’t tried that one!
It’s pretty full coverage, I use very little with a buffing brush and beauty blender
A good selection. One of my favourite eyeliners made it, Black Line.
And Rebel made it both the lipstick and the polish, gorgeous colour that. One of the best from MAC, I think
When I looked at it in dool and warm toned like this, I find it quite odd how I go between the war and the cold tones like I do. I might have a bit more of stuff on the cool side, but I obviously like both.
Blackline is really fun! I love the Pearlglide formula.
I love MAC pigments (it’s the first thing I tried) but I don’t think they’re the most accessible product to start out with.
I would recommend trying their brushes and nail polish!
Also, I was wondering if it would be possible for you to do one of these intro posts for Make Up Geek? I’ve been dying to try their stuff but have no idea where to start. Was more specifically interested in the duochrome and foiled shadows.
I hear ya, Val! MAC pigments are what made me fall in love with makeup 😀
Why don’t you start out with the new Faerie Collection?
I only recommend permanent products, since this post is designed to live on indefinitely, so if I recommend permanent products, there is a greater chance that if someone reads this six months from now, they can still use it.
Vino lip liner and the cremesheen lip glasses.
Do you like wearing the Cremesheen Glasses alone or layered?
I’d throw Satin Taupe on my list of MAC starter items! Possibly Strobe cream too.
Good ideas, Erin!
Shooooooot, there’s no other MAC startup set: Spice or Whirl lip pencil, Prrrrrrrr lipglass, Twig lipstick, Brun eyeshadow, and a Technakohl in graphblack. That’s a MAC jackpot!!
That would be a nice set, Bitts!
Gosh that’s hard. My favorite MAC performers that I think are workable on a range of skin tones are Viva Glam I lipstick, Blushbaby blush, Full of Joy blush, New Romance mineralized blush, Powersurge eye kohl, Copperplate e/s, Plumage e/s, Red Brick e/s, and my top fave, Face and Body foundation.
Viva Glam I is one I think everyone has to at least swatch if they’re ever near a MAC counter/store!
What a fantastic list Christine. Although I would have put Sea Worship in the cool line and Kelly in the warm.
This must have taken you ages to compile and it comprises the best that MAC has to offer.
It makes it easy for those new to the range to pick out the best products. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Genevieve! 🙂
I´d recomend the pro longwear concealer 😀 just a holy grail
Awesome!
MAC will always be my crack. They tick me off with lots of their marketing ploys but they were my first makeup love and will always have a place in my heart. Not knowing the colouring of this mystery “person”, I would recommend:
Painterly Paint Pot
Pro Longwear Concealer
Eyeshadows in Mulch, Naked Lunch and/or All That Glitters, Sumptuous Olive, one or all of Copperplate, Concrete and Coquette; Typographic, Phloof, Club, Sea Worship, Silver Sun, Silver Dawn and Stolen Moment (I won’t get into the LE ones I love that aren’t available any more) but if this person could still get Posh Pedigree, I’d say GRAB IT.
Blushes in Frankly Scarlet, Plum Foolery and Dollymix
Powders: Studio Careblend, Prep+Prime pressed (loose too but pressed is so much more convenient), MSF Natural, Matte
Lipsticks: New York Apple, Craving, Plumful, Capricious, Red Necessity, Brick-o-la
The only eyekuber I consider a “must have” is Black Line pencil. The other MAC pencils and liners are easily duped with other brands, some cheaper, some better and some BOTH cheaper and better.
“eyekuber”??? Sorry! That should have been “eyeLINER”!
Hahaha! Well, on the upside – there is always something to covet from MAC, so they keep it interesting, I guess 😉
I wish they’d do more with the Studio Careblend line. The texture is so fab.
MAC Red is my favorite of the brand’s red lipsticks. I think it’s the easiest to wear, even more than Ruby Woo.
It’s a gorgeous shade!
Love this, even as a Mac aficionado. So nice to have more ideas to spend post-Christmas cash on!
Yay!!
loved your choices! a lot of them are also my favorites!
i would add eyeshadows cranberry or star violet. also brushes! 135, 224, 217 ride or die! um, another good lipstick is brave and velvet teddy on the mauve side, and undercurrent in the eyeliner section.
btw. loving this overviews!
Thank you, Marissa! 🙂
Thank you for this list! I add MAC products to my collection once in awhile, but sometimes feel overwhelmed. I’ll look to this list for future purchases. (: I’d love to see one on brushes.
My pleasure, Lupe!
Allow me to thank you, Christine, as I see so many doing. Your warm but honest thoughts on products help me alot.
I’m not sure if your reader wanted MAC brushes or your faves. I could really use both, especially for colourpop products? Your eyelooks always look perfectly blended and gorgeous!
Off topic, but saw earlier posts that had some tossing mascara after a couple months, one reason being fear of infection. My doctor recommended this. Heat water in microwave till very hot. Put tightly closed mascara in bath a few minutes. Helps destroy bacteria. As I seem to get eye infections easily, this has made a huge difference. Also seemed to make mascara creamier. : )
Thanks for the tip on the mascara, Julie!
I’m loving your ‘Introduction to ‘ series…I’m waiting for Chanel, Guerlain, Mars and Colour pop 🙂
I did ColourPop already! 🙂
I currently work as a freelancer for Mac and wanted to share my must haves!(:
Moisturizer- Mac studio moisture cream is amazing for all skin types from dry to oily and makes a great base and primer for any makeup you put on top!
Base: Mac studio sculpt foundation is a nice formula for all skin types because it has a medium coverage is not too hydrating not too matte. Looks very skin like but offers coverage!
Mac prolongwear concealer is full coverage, thin in texture, and works as concealer and eyeshadow primer!
For setting powder Mac care blend powder is simply Mac’s most creamy powder that makes you look airbrushed and never dry! Also for all skin types.
Our sculpting duos are perfect for contouring, and we have lots of nice bronzers. Blush your way to glowing with Blushbby, gingerly, peaches, melba, sincere, or copper tone as they look most flattering on fairest to deepest tones! Set in place with Mac fix plus setting spray to seal it all in!(:
For eyeshadows, Mac times nine palettes are great to start with. We have amazing eyeliners so choose the form that suits you. Make false lash mascara is superb, get extreme black for killer lashes! Mac twist up brow pencils rival Anastasia and other brands in both pigment and wear! Our lip conditioner and lip primer and lipsticks are all great so choose the colors you like(: our satin, cream sheen, mattes, and amplified are most popular.
Also this is an extra a good pore refining primer by Mac is skin refined zone, use sparingly ONLY where you need it to cover pores before makeup, so ensure longer wear. Hope this helps and remember, Mac is for all ages, all races, and all sexes!(;
Thanks for sharing, L! Great to hear more about the base products.
This is an awesome list! If someone asked me this questions I wouldn’t know where to start lol
It is hard! They have a ton of products!
One of my personal MAC favorites is Lucky Green!
Great pick, Melissa!
What an awesome idea ! Great post Christine:)
Thank you, Dee!
I love this even more than the other brand introductions you’ve done, for some reason. Are all the products featured in these things permanent?
Yes!
I don’t own a single Mac product! This list is giving me some great ideas for my first Mac purchases, thank you! 🙂
Wow! That is impressive 😉
I love the way you divided the various MAC makeup images into warm or cool categories. It is so helpful. Thanks!
Thanks, Maddie!
I’ve been loving these “into to” lists you’ve made!! They’re so fun to read and really helpful to look over and decide which permanent products a brand makes that I need to still pick up! 😀
One for NYX would be fun, also Guerlain, since it’s one of your favorites! Can’t wait to see which one is next!
Thanks a lot, Bonnie! 🙂
I absolutely love this list and lists like it Christine! I wish there was a feature where I could “bookmark” a post like this in my account. Sometimes it is a bit hard to do a search through this site, as I can’t apply filters (that I can see) such as date range or sort by date (or I straight up forget the post I’m looking for). As the targeted links are blocked at work, I would love to save posts sometimes to buy through the link when I return home. Lately, I have just been emailing the links to myself of favorite posts, like the luddite that I am.
By the way, I hope you had a Merry Christmas with Mellan and the fam 🙂
It’s on the list of things to do! Just far, far down it, but your suggestion is noted 🙂