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These MAC Makeup Products Made Me Fall Back In Love With The Brand

Before Fenty, Rare Beauty and Glossier burst onto the scene, MAC was the makeup brand that had many of us hook, line and sinker. I remember my first MAC purchase vividly: I painstakingly shade-matched the Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 Foundation only to drop it in the bathroom sink when I got it home. I’m still not over it.

I could reminisce about the glory days of the nearly 40-year-old makeup brand for quite some time but its popularity has stuck. In 2023, MAC is still one of the best places to buy long-lasting foundation, lash-lengthening mascara and lipstick that stays put for hours on end. This is thanks in part to its loyal influencer fan base, though MAC has long been a go-to brand for professional makeup artists backstage at London Fashion Week — and they know their stuff.

Sold in over 120 countries across the globe, the brand’s popularity truly stretches. From Ruby Woo to Studio Fix, I vowed to try out all of MAC’s bestsellers to see which products are really worth buying — and which ones you might want to leave behind.

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MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 Foundation, £32

The Fluid Foundation comes in close to 70 shades, which is impressive. It’s slightly heavier than foundations I’d normally go for but a little goes a long way, so it’s buildable should you prefer full coverage. It’s incredibly long-lasting, too, and stayed put through a sweaty, rainy day. It comes in a glass bottle, though, so caution is key.

MAC Studio Fix SPF15 Fluid Foundation, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Macstack Waterproof Mascara, £26

As with most MAC makeup products, this mascara is designed to create maximum impact, and that it does. The short plastic teeth grip onto every lash, instantly lengthening and making them look super thick. It gets right into the lash line so you know not one lash has been missed. As it’s waterproof, there is no chance of this smudging and you won’t be left with little black flakes across your face either. Although MAC promises that this mascara is clump-resistant, I was left with little lumps on my lashes, although they weren’t all that noticeable. Be sure to use a good eye makeup remover to take it off at the end of the day as it will hang on for as long as you leave it.

MAC Macstack Mascara, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Strobe Dewy Skin Tint, £30

For a lighter base, this skin tint is probably one of my favourite finds. It lends a slightly higher coverage than, say, Glossier Perfecting Skint Tint, £26, but it’s light, evened out my skin tone and imparted a dewy finish without completely masking my skin texture. I applied MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, £26, underneath and loved the final look.

MAC Strobe Dewy Skin Tint, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick, £20

Velvet Teddy is MAC’s bestselling matte lipstick shade, closely followed by Ruby Woo, which is the one that caught my eye. Vibrant red with a blue undertone, it’s certainly loud and lasts an incredibly long time — think six to eight hours — before starting to fade. While it does transfer (be careful who you kiss), the pigment stays put no matter what you eat or drink, and it instantly elevated my makeup look.

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Bronzer, £28

If shimmery bronzers aren’t for you, then you may want to take a look at this matte option. The soft and subtle powder offers a gentle golden glow to the face that I really enjoyed. Less is more here so build as you go. A finely loaded fluffy brush will help you place the product in areas of the face that naturally catch the sun so you can avoid harsh lines of colour.

MAC Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Bronzer, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen, £28

Now this product piqued my interest, although I’m still not entirely sure how it works. Described as a concealer and foundation in one, it masks redness and blemishes and gently does away with dark under-eye circles (although I did find that it collected in my eye creases). I really liked the pen design, which allows you to control how much product comes out and makes for precision application — handy when you’re doing your makeup on the train! The formula itself is very similar to Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 Foundation, £32, so you only need one or the other.

MAC Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC 143S Bronzer Fan Brush, £32

I love a fluffy brush and this one is great. The wide fan shape means you can cover the entire cheek with bronzer, blush or highlighter, and it feels super soft against the skin. It’s synthetic so suitable for vegans, too.

MAC 143S Bronzer Fan Brush, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Powder Blush, £24

When it comes to blush, there’s a pigment scale. If Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, £22, is at the top of the scale, then MAC’s Powder Blush is at the other end. It’s perfect for those who like a subtle flush but not so much for anyone who likes to be really rosy, like me. It’s very easy to apply — I just patted it gently on top of my foundation — and I did like the pretty, pinched-cheek look it left but it’s definitely designed for fans of a barely there blush.

MAC Powder Blush, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Sheer Foundation, £32

Sitting somewhere between Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 Foundation, £32, and Strobe Dewy Skin Tint, £30, this sheer foundation is lightweight yet buildable. It gently evened out my skin tone and blurred a couple of blemishes, though to cover under-eye bags and spots I did have to layer concealer underneath. As a minimalist makeup lover, this is probably my favourite base of the lot.

MAC Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Sheer Foundation, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Lip Pencil, £18.50

I love a lip pencil and this MAC one is pretty impressive. I tested shade Soar, a deep pink nude, and will definitely be adding it to my makeup bag. It’s hard enough to create a sharp line around the outside of the lips yet soft enough to colour in the whole mouth without feeling scratchy. Be sure to keep it nice and sharp to reap the rewards.

MAC Lip Pencil, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, £26

For just 9ml, this mini concealer is expensive. It looks more like a travel-size perfume bottle than a makeup product and you can definitely find more affordable options elsewhere. Did I like it? Absolutely. It’s high coverage and a little goes a long way. It’s also a great choice when travelling as it takes up such little space in that clear plastic bag. But you won’t catch me paying this much for such a small amount of product, sorry.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, £30

With so many base makeup products, it’s safe to say that MAC is a go-to for foundation. To keep your base in place, or make it more matte, a powder is an essential. Mineralize Skinfinish combines a mix of minerals for a blurred finish with vitamin E, which has moisturising properties. It stamped away excess shine without making me look cakey, leaving a silky smooth finish that came close to flawless.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, $, available at MACPhoto Courtesy of MAC

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