A Review of MAC Cosmetics

Walking through a drug store, almost everything in a bright package catches my eye. Whether I'm there for my asthma medication or a pack of gum, I always get pulled over to the cosmetics aisle. Glancing over all of the products and all the brands, I'm almost always tempted to grab that $10 black eye liner and run for the checkout. But then I stop and think about the eyeliner that I can get from MAC and I put the drugstore one back.

Yes, I am a professed MAC addict. Though they are slightly more expensive, I feel there are many pros to buying from a company like MAC. For one, safety. I am not saying that any drugstore company is more dangerous than a high-end company, however, there are more risks, in my opinion. If their makeup is cheaper, then their materials are, most likely, cheaper. Then, you've got the animal testing. MAC is known for not testing on any animals and I feel that is a plus.

Next, you've got the shopping experience. Since drugstore brands are so mass produced, you can't have a specialist or an expert in every single Walgreen's or CVS in the world. Walk into a MAC store or up to a MAC counter, and you are taken care of. You can ask questions about the product, receive feedback, and even try it before buying it. The employees there are so helpful, and that is one of my complaints. Sometimes they are overly helpful to the point of stress. However, I feel this is a necessary characteristic in any successful customer service department.

Next, is expense. Yes, MAC is more expensive. Although, when you compare two products side-by-side, they are not that much more. L'Oreal HiP, a drugstore brand, has a kohl eyeliner for $13 whereas a MAC kohl eyeliner is $14.50. Yes, you are spending $1.50 more, however, you can test it before you buy it, ask about the product, and even get your makeup done while you're buying it. To me, this is an obvious decision. With some other products, there is a fairly large price gap, but if I love a product, I'm going to find a way to buy it, no matter how much it is. Yes, there is a surprise, there are MAC products that I do not like.

To me, mascara is not that big of a deal. However, I have tried every single MAC mascara, and I have not found one that I like or even want to use ever again. Maybe they just don't work on my lashes, but to me they are dry and do not stay very well. I, myself, prefer an AVON mascara. I know, I know. It's really weird. But, AVON Super Shock is my favorite mascara to date, Too Faced Lash Injection a close second.

On the flip side, I absolutely adore MAC pigment, eye shadow, lipstick, and lustreglass. To me, these products are holy grails in a mish mash of mediocrity. The variety of colors, the pigmentation, and the stay-power make MAC a leading brand. The looks you can do with MAC shadows are endless and their pigments can be used for so many things. I think dazzleglass is a little thick, but I adore the rest of their lip products. With lip products, you have to be extremely careful since chances are you will get some in your mouth. You don't want something that tastes gross or is filled with harsh chemicals coating your tongue, do you?

Even if you don't like MAC for their variety of shades and products, you have to follow their collections. To me, this is one of the most interesting and fun parts. Some of their past collections include Dame Edna, Fafi, Heatherette, and Hello Kitty. These are just a few of their functional yet whimsical collections. Whenever one of these collections comes out, I am immediately attracted by the adorable packaging and the limited edition colors. Their newest collection, Style Black, which releases on the 24th of September will be a variety of products completely black. That's right- I'm talking about eyeshadow, nail polish, pigment, lipstick, and even lipglass. How many different ways are there to do a black eyeshadow? Apparently four if you mess around with pearl. They will also be launching new products and re-promoting some old ones.

When it comes to MAC brushes, I am not a huge consumer. Though a good brush can change any look, I feel like there are good brands besides MAC out there when it comes to brushes. Although a MAC brush is a good thing to have and I do like them, I never buy them because I don't usually have $30 to throw around on a brush. The most recent rave in the beauty world has been Sigma brushes, which I haven't tried, but supposedly they are comparable. If you need an alternative, I would go for those as they are significantly less.

The one thing I cannot stress enough is that you need to find the product that works for you. I can collect as many foundations and blushes as I want, but the thing that makes me truly happy when I go to put my makeup on in the morning is my beloved Bare Minerals. Collecting makeup is not something I like to do because when are you going to use it all? If you have 100 MAC shadows just to have 100 MAC shadows, are you ever going to use them all? I agree, color variety is good, but there are more efficient ways like sample kits and palettes. In my opinion, a good palette is like the perfect pair of jeans. Economical, efficient, and chic.

To me, you have to try a variety of brands and products and find what really works for you. Whether it's a $27 MAC Mineralized Skinfinish or a $7 Rimmel blush, you will find something that works for you. So, my advice to anyone that is reading this, is put down the $10 eye liner, do some research, and if you still want it, get it. However, always keep MAC in the back of your mind as they are a reliable company and a pioneer when it comes to what is trendy in makeup.