Good morning starshine!
Whatcha up to today everyone? We got snow. Oh joy! Snow and the commute to work is so fun. If you look you’ll find heavy sarcasm in there.
This morning someone asked me….”Why MAC?” And I thought wow what a perfect discussion topic to start the day. The simplicity and innocence of the question actually opens up a wide area for discussion. I mean asking Why MAC? is somewhat like asking about the evolution of man. For makeup junkies it comes down to a pretty simple yes or no answer but with plenty of a filler in between that yes or no you reply with.
So let’s muse it.
Why MAC?
What do you love MAC?
Why do you hate MAC?
Why do you buy MAC?
Jump for my reply!
Why MAC for the Muse?
Primarily it’s affordable. The brand offers affordable makeup options to the masses with a solid quality product that far surpasses it’s price. Of course, I am speaking for US residents as anyone in the UK, Europe, or Asia can attest that MAC isn’t entirely in the realms of cheap on your side of the universe. But for those of us in the US, MAC is an affordable makeup option that packs quality into a tiny price tag.
Secondly. Variety. Variety is key for keeping my interest and what better brand to choose from for that than MAC. MAC releases more collections per a year than any other makeup brand I know of. Collections sometimes crop up in pairs of three per a month. If that isn’t variety I don’t know what is. In my experience you can always count on MAC for keeping it fresh because there is ALWAYS something new to choose from.
Although MAC has had it’s share of disappointments I know I can always fall back on it for giving me something new and exciting. I’ve fallen off the MAC bandwagon a time or two but for the most part I’m a card carrying cult member and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Loves it!
How about you?
Why MAC?
Related posts:
- Musings of the Day: The MAC Holiday Edition
- Musings of the Day: Choose It Wisely!
- Product Musings: MAC Push the Edge Pigment Swatches MAC Make-Up Art Fall As Seen By Marilyn Minter
- MAC Studio Fix Mascara Review
- Musings of the Day: MAC Attack!
- Musings of the Day: MAC Site
- Product Musings: MAC Eyeshadow Firespot
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
I mostly love MAC for one product… Studio Fix powder foundation! I canNOT live without it! The collections are fun too. I really enjoyed the limited edition volcanic ash mask they put out a couple months back. But strangely, I haven’t been too thrilled by their lipsticks, glosses, mascara, and shadows that I’ve tried… so my MAC interest is somewhat limited at this point.
never tried mae I’m just the opposite of you actually. I’m not a fan of the base line but love the color stuff
I like the volcanic scrub/mask too awesome stuff!
i have to agree with you, it’s the variety.
and also, it seems it’s one of the few brands i’m not allergic to. i found out the hard way that me and mufe, and me and too faced, we’re not BFFs.
(swollen eyelids. boo.)
and referencing an old entry of yours…MAC PIGMENTS ARE EVIL. i just started, i cant’ seem to stop. huhuhu. :’(
natalie the variety is both good and bad no? makes me broke LOL! aw that’s wonderful! Happy to hear it!
LOL! Yay for fellow piggie lovers
the eyeshadow options are KILLING my bank account. also the blushes. yegads! that’s pretty much all i can purchase for now, since i’m allergic to their lip products (well, most other brands’ lip products as well). my wallet is breathing a sigh or relief. =P
tell me about it natalie!!!!!!!!! the damn blushes have me as well
omg really? you sound super sensitive hun sorry to hear 
haha mine is screaming in pain!
Great question. Originally it was to have makeup artist quality product and color range at a reasonable price. After MAC was purchased by Estee Lauder, unfortunately, this was no longer the case. By that time however I had developed a few favorite products that I buy on a consistent basis (full coverage foundation, cleansing oil, face and body foundation, lipsticks, etc).
My absolute favorite thing about MAC? Viva Glam lipsticks and the MAC Aids Fund. MAC really steps up to the plate on this one and because of that you will always find at least one (usually more) VG lipstick or gloss in my purse and my kit at all times.
My least favorite thing about MAC? The insane pace with which they release new color stories in the last 2-3 years. I would rather have 4 really well thought out, amazing collections a year than the 10 or more so-so (and some downright crappy) that get released in such haste.
Just my 2 cents worth.
April
April fantastic reply! Must agree certain items are a must have for me too! Including lipsticks, lipglass, cleansing oil as well, etc…
Viva Glam is an incredible promo, I couldn’t agree more about MAC take in this!!!!!! plus the shades/products released are always so fab.
I do agree with you to some point on collections. I LOVE variety but sometimes the insane pace is difficult to keep up with and also damn it makes a person broke trying. Some are released so hastily they do end up turning into a meh kinda moment! But I love the variety so much I try to excuse it
I feel like it wouldn’t be mac without as many collections ya know?
I hear what you are saying regarding the variety issue. But the collections are so fast and furious that one doesn’t have enough time to savor and enjoy recent purchases before the next big haul. I am still playing with Warm and Cozy while I have unopened boxes from All Sexes and Lillyland (which was a small, unexpected delight of a collection for shimmer lovers like us). Now Spring Color Forecast is upon us followed very quickly by the new VG campaign, Riveting Beauty and the Liberty of London Collections. YIKES! Fortunately for my poor wallet the London collection does absolutely nothing for me but I am very much looking forward to VG and Riveting Beauty (which just seems to be made for 80’s girls like me).
What’s a girl to do? Keep reading the Muse of course!
I must agree 100% April sometimes it’s so quick I really have little time to savor and enjoy everything. Off topic slightly but as a blogger I REALLY feel like enjoyment is ruined for me as I really don’t play with anything outside of a week or less because I’m trying something new right away le sigh
and I also feel like if I don’t get Spring Forecast RIGHT away it’ll be sold out quickly! 
I think I’ll be ok with LOL as the colors are somewhat boring, love the packaging but I’ve found I forsake packaging lately if I hate the shades thank god 
Riveting Beauty is def for me as well 
LOL April! *hugs* you’re so delightful!
Thank you. You are making me blush. LOL
It must be hard as a blogger with the sheer volume of things coming out every week to keep up with your readers’ desire to know the next, new big thing (especially if your blog is not a full time paying job and you have a boss to report to).
I used to read alot of beauty blogs but now only a handful get my attention. Top of the list is Musings of a Muse. It is my special guilty pleasure and I always feel like I am spending time with a friend talking about a mutual passion. It is so much fun! When I was home recovering from a recent life threatening illness I could always count on you to make me smile. Thank you for everything you do and just being you!
I always have this discussion with my mom. She doesn’t like mac– thinks it’s too artsy. But what I see in mac is it allows it to be what you WANT it to be or if you need new ideas— there are the plethora of collections per year.
I can’t wear their foundations or use their skin care but the eyeshadows, blushes, MSF’s, Lipsticks, lipglasses, eye liners…all that stuff is to die for at a LIVING pricce (haha). I’ve also found the best help and friends in their MAs– more than any other brand.
hey monique couldn’t agree more, the amount of product released ever year truly doesn’t live room for not getting a new idea or look
I AGREE! I’m with you! I don’t use much of the skin care or the foundations but the color cosmetics I’m ALL about those
and yes some MA’s are simply wonderful 
Meh, Lately it seems that whatever MAC does some other company does just as well or better. Eyeshadows? Try Milani or NYX. Foundations? Make Up Forever or FACE Atelier. Pigments? Fyrinnae and Aromaleigh. Brushes? Sephora Professional Platinum, Japonesque, or even Too Faced. Lipsticks? OCC Lip Tars and NYX Round or Black Label.
It seems to me that the constant release of color stories are just gimmicky. MUFE has released an HD foundation? Hey, look at the shiny Hello Kitty products! Yeah, that really appeals to pros.
hey selenite.
aw sorry to hear you are hating on ‘em. I’m still a big fan of MAC’s. Def plenty of brands to choose from but I find mac gets a majority of my money in most cases
It may be that other brands do things just as well as MAC but have you noticed that you can get ALL of those things at MAC instead of wandering around to buy them?
that’s very true Kim! They have EVERYTHING
Why MAC?
Because I do not have to purchase a lot of colours in a quad/quint, if I only want one of them.
Because I like the smell of their lipstuffs.
And because they told me that I can wear other colours than brown, whereas a lot of the other SA just want to make their lives easy and tell people to wear brown.
Good question though
hey nia! you can WEAR any color you want don’t let anyone tell you different
thanks for adding your two cents in 
!
COLOR! COLOR! COLOR!
also not too overpriced and variety of new collections as you said 
’nuff said dina
exactly!
I started out trying MAC because it was accessible and had a very good and strong reputation with makeup junkies (which I figured as a makeup noob was probably a good thing). I tried their base makeup and it broke me out like maaad. I had the worst skin I’ve ever had because of MAC and I will NEVER use MAC makeup base ever again!
However, I do love their brushes <3 Expensive but a good investment and totally worth it (I only have 2 though, the 187 and the 109 because I don't think I can get a comparable makeup brush from anywhere else). I like their blushes and although I'm more of a neutral kind of girl, I do think they are the go to brand if you want lots of colour choices for eyeshadows.
chung cool story on how you got into mac
omg sorry about the base. I never tried it but now I know to avoid.
Agreed, brushes are pricey but worth it! much of the products are really pigmented so anyone who loves more neutrals most times it can’t be found from mac
I have nothing to speak of.
I am ready to jump on the bandwagon thanks to gurus like you who do reviews on their products! Always knew about them but never bothered when I was younger and never really was into make up until I turned 22 yrs old!!!
suz as I always advise don’t get hooked on mac crack
hehe!
It’s funny because I like it, but it certainly is not a love for me. I find myself attracted to their collections, for the sake of the themes and limited editions…but I haven’t been overly impressed yet. I simply adore my Heatherette Trio (#1), but it’s not something I couldn’t live without…and I’ve tried better shadows. I have a couple of shadows, liners, polishes, paint, and a gloss and nothing has said ‘wow!’ to me yet.
But the brush I have is fantastic so far. For the most part it works wonderfully with my shadows and is the perfect size. Expensive, but worth it.
So, the actual makeup? Meh from me…but the brushes are nice.
hey marina maybe just haven’t found that perfect collection yet
I bet the magic will come one day! I don’t like the heatherette trios myself. Purchased both was a bit disappointed no offense. I guess I can prob admit that I’ve tried better formulas too but I keep coming back to mac b/c of the price and variety 
Brushes=AWESOME agree 100%!
I think I head to MAC because it’s a little more affordable than some brands out there (although I guess that might be changing, which means unless something really awesome comes out, I probably won’t be buying much MAC anymore). Some of their eyeshadows and and pigments are perfect colors to me, and their brushes are pretty nice too.
agreed mayrei. price versus quality is brilliance.
I’m pretty sure I’m one of the few non MAC fans out there. Their mascaras are awful, the eyeshadows don’t go on that creamily for me, and I can’t stand the colors. The prices are definitely appealing, but the awful scents of their lip products, terrible nailpolishes, and weird staff do not keep me coming back. I am prepared to be hated on
samantha you aren’t alone
tons of folks aren’t a lover of MAC 
Mascaras=crumbs! Eyeshadows for me are a must have but they aren’t for everyone so it’s understandable. I hate the scent/taste of the lip stuff 
LOL we don’t hate you! This muse was for haters and lovers of MAC
Just starting to get into mac and really loving it. I like the msf naturals…now trying to decide what shimmery/blush msf to get. But I just like how unique some of the colors are that you won’t find anywhere else. Ah, and their cream color bases aka highlighters are not shimmery but just gleamy..which I am really liking. Really dying to see the summer stuff as well
becky welcome to the world of MAC
I really love MSF myself 
if you can get petticoat it’s a fab one 
god Summer 2010 looks amazingggggggggg! Great year for you to get into mac my dear girl!
i love the magic of it
id been recieving their email of new releases for about a year and read reviews watch haul vids etc before i even bought anything i really love makeup any way but theres something about cute packaging, and the colours storys i find magical espeacially the ones like cult of cherry/ hello kitty which have amazing promo videos
affordabilty is amazing but there just isnt on enear me so currentlt i own 1 eyeshadwo 1 blush (both from colour craft got whilst in paris) and feline best eyeliner ever! and plush lash my mum bought at an airport
its arty its fun (im an art student so i like arty and fun lol)
and muse writers block? never it amazes me how you reply to every ones comments i love you for it no wonder you find it tough x
sigh me too robyn! well put
very true! It is magical 
I really enjoyed Cult of Cherry as well and the video promo was so fun! feline is fab!!!!!!!!! 
awww I can imagine how it appeals to an art student!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
phew big time writer’s block hun! My posts stink lately but thank! I really think it’s important to answer EVERYONE as if they (or you) take the time to say something the least I can do is reply. It’s just plain rude not to but I enjoy listening, reading, and chatting with you all. It’s so great to hear what you are all thinking about stuff and what you view and take on it is versus my own
For me its why NOT MAC
But I do like the pigments and the Mineralize Skin Finishes. Friend gave me a beauty powder and that wasn’t too bad too so perhaps its not all NOT MAC – perhaps sometimes MAC 
lol sometimes mac is cool with me Paris
Firstly, I love MAC because of the quality. I bought my first MSF Natural yesterday and it made my skin look and feel wonderful. I have to agree with you on the variety as well. I love all the different collections and look forward to seeing them when they come out. I’m still riding on the coat tails of Style Warriors. I love love love animal print. It’s like the people at MAC make collections especially for me. Lastly I love the community of MAC lovers. I could spend ALL day on the Specktra forums looking at hauls, FOTDs, etc. What isn’t there To love about MAC.
yayyyyyy marsha welcome to the wonderful world of MSF
You’re gonna love Summer 2010 if you loved Style Warriors 
I really love the mac community as well, so nice to have so many people to share my love with! I agree 100%%%! 
Hiya Muse! How have you been doing?
With MAC, I feel its getting higher end products at a good price. And the variety! Its ridiculous. I remember before I got into MAC, I would pass by the counter and feel intimidated by all the colors. Then one day I decided to stop and it was love! Also the collections. I know there are a stupid amount of collections that come out, but really. Thats a lot of creativity going on with all those collections.
hey jackie I’m great dear and you!?
ditto for me. I must admit the variety is what keeps me a faithful customers. yes sometimes and item or two sucks but for the most part it’s hard to be disappointed by mac for long
I was looking at CVS and noted a $13.99 mascara range in loreal. I think mac are about the same price, an s.a. will give me an opinion or even do make over for free and the allergy thing is huge. For whatever reason i have never knock-on-fake-wood-counter had a reaction to mac product. There are few lines i can say this about. I’m sure this has something to do with the whole appeal to the masses thing.
me either melissa I’ve heard some people tell tales of MACne but I never experience it myself!
I agree if I’m going to splurge $14 bucks at CVS I might as well head to my MAC counter for that 
hauled the studio fix mascara, likey a lot. And yes it was a wopping $13
w00t nice one melissa
Haha! Thanks so much! I will look for petticoat
. Can’t wait to see your review on the Summer collection! Whatever that seahorse compact was…it looks gorgeous!
becky you’ll love it
god I can’t wait for Summer! Can’t come soon ’nuff for me 
Awwww Muse, I have to agree with everything April has said!
I think it is a real shame that you get criticism and hard comments. I’m sure everyone who has an online presence gets it at some point or another – there will always be people who are negative and basically not very nice wanting to voice their opinions
For me, no other blog comes close to Musings. I do read others, but this is far and away my favourite and that is because of you! Your wonderful personality shines through all of your posts and they brighten up the very darkest of days.
For every negative comment you get, remember that we all love you and keep going because you’re doing an amazing job! *Hugs*
gosh bakeneko thank you so much! I really look forward to talking to you
*hugs* you’re an absolute sweetie. Blogging is tough. It’s alot of hard work but it’s fruitful when you make friends like YOU! I understand people want to voice their opinions etc but I wish they would walk in my shoes for one day hehe 
people really like to pick things apart about my person, my personality, how I blog, how I write, my pictures, my swatches, etc..it really burns me out when I see negative stuff being said about me as a person and my blog. Phew! But in the end I come back and I read comments like this one you left and I remember “this is why I do it…”
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
You are lovely!
I’m not surprised it burns you out honey! You are really strong to keep going. I can’t understand how anyone could say anything negative about you or your personality but unfortunately there are people out there with nothing better to do than put others down.
I know this is a beauty blog, but what you do is also more than that – like what April said about you putting a smile on her face when she was so ill – I had a very crappy time last year and I could always rely on your blog to take my mind off things and give me a good giggle! The power of giving happiness and smiles to people should never be underestimated!
You’re a little treasure
hey neko!!!!!! sorry for the delayed reply! Phew sometimes it’s crazed
But I meet great people like you and it’s all good. Aw it happens but I never let it get me down 
*hugs* awwwwwww you’re gonna make ne cry now thank you so much for being so lovely neko! You’re the treasure!!!!!!!!!! big hugs!
geez April now I’m the one blushing. Seriously thanks. I think of ALL of you as friends and family. I’m having a spot of writer’s block lately and my posts aren’t as fun as they once were so it’s always so motivating to hear such lovely comments
Truly it’s a tough! I only do this part time although it feels full time most days LOL ;-D but it’s really hard keeping up on it all because it really is about the latest and greatest. Last week everyone was all about Spring but now everyone wants Summer..etc…etc….:)
Omg April now I’ve even more flattered LOL you’re bringing tears to my eyes. I wish you’d stop by more often and comment and talk
you’re lovely. I hope you’re well now and all is ok!!!!!! THANK YOU! Sometimes it’s really discouraging to blog and put myself out there as I get alot of criticism and hard comments from forums and such but just reading comments like this one really help me to move forward and remember why I do this, because of folks like you who read my crazy babblings 
thank you, sincerely.