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I've always loved MAC. They got me started in makeup and they'll always have a place in my heart. That being said, I have always been aware of other brands, though, and I never used only MAC. I try never to use only one brand. Instead, I hunt down the best from all makeup brands. But now, more than ever, I've been using a lot of other products besides MAC. I've been loving Laura Mercier, MUFE, NARS, and Smashbox (maybe? -- nice lipglosses, but hated their eyeshadows).

As for their LE Collections... I am such a sucker for them. But they are so overwhelming! My MAC is forty-five minutes away, and I can't just drop everything and go to MAC every time they come out with a new collection. It often takes me a week or so to get to MAC (and sometimes, by the time I do, the stuff I want is gone).

Am I going to swear off MAC forever, though, because of the price increases? No. I can deal with it and it doesn't bother me that much. I wouldn't complain, though, if MAC did do some changes...

 
I've been saying for a while now that MAC is over hyped and over priced. Professionals who are able to get the MAC Pro card get a 40% discount. Granted other companies like MUFE, Smashbox and so many more also offer discounts but I've felt that MAC has been overpriced and unfair to it's non-pro consumers for years. Has anyone EVER seen a good clearance sale on MAC's website? I haven't. I've seen Urban Decay's clearance sales and you can pick up stuff for $2 or $3 if you find the right deal, same with LORAC, MUFE and so many others but with MAC? Nope. There is NO REASON for MAC to have such high prices. I never believed the "ingredients are expensive" malarki especially if you break down the components and do a check on individual prices of each item. MAC is sold ONLY at MAC for the most part, the only allow Macy's to sell it in the US so what is the reason for such high prices? Oh yes, GREED. That's the bottom line with MAC. I remember when Makeup Art Cosmetics first came to the scene and it was directed towards professionals but the cost was reasonable back then. When Estée Lauder took over it became about getting as much money off consumers as possible.

It's the same with nail polishes for me. I love OPI and China Glaze and KNOW how much pros pay for the stuff (typically 50% LESS than retail). I get angry when Sephora (and I love Sephora) sells collections for three to four times what OPI sells to pros. Example. The OPI Glee 6 piece mini set is selling on Sephora for $24. That breaks down to $4 per mini bottle. Each mini bottle is 0.125 oz. Worth it? No. Here's why. A pro can pick up OPI either directly from OPI or via distributor. Of course the distributor is going to sell it for a set price and earn some money just as OPI will make money from the distributor or the pro member. Now remember that mini set? Remember I said each bottle is 0.125 oz that's 3.75 ml and the pro price is only $1.50 a bottle. Retail price of each bottle is then marked up 50% to earn the seller $1.50. That's why the Glee mini set is such a rip off. $1.50 x 6 = $9. Sephora is making $15 off EACH set. That's MORE than a 50% markup. Ditto with the full size Glee collection polishes. Sephora is selling each 15mL (0.5 fl oz) at $9 a bottle. OPI's pro price would be $4.25 with a normal retail being $8.50. That's why those "exclusive" collections (the OPI Nicole line of One Less Lonely Girl is another example of over priced polishes) are complete rip offs.

Don't get me wrong, I still love Sephora and my high end products but I do know what I'm paying for is a huge rip off which is why I wait for clearances, mark downs or sales on sites like Hautelook. Otherwise I just buy normal drugstore brands (Wet 'n' Wild primarily) on sale and with coupons.

 
Originally Posted by emily_3383 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Inglot is way cheaper and the quality is alot better than MAC. The only problem is that there is only one store in the US and its located in Time Square.

Im also a fan of drugstore makeup...the quality has improved alot.
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Yeah, what's up with Inglot anyway? We used to have an Inglot store in the mall that's really close to where I live. (I live in the Greater Toronto Area, Southern Ontario, Canada.) It was only there for maybe one year (maybe less than a year) Of maybe it was a little longer than that, but in any case it wasn't very long-lived. It just closed down one day because apparently they weren't bringing in enough business. I was really sad to see them go, I absolutely loved that store! Walking into Inglot is like walking into a candy store! They have all these wonderful eye-catching colors and it's so hard to decide what you want, but it's so much fun just being there and taking everything in! :D /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  Oh well..*sigh* 

 
I have never bought a Mac piece, I guess I am just have no patience to go into the store as when I walk by the store its full of young girls and their mothers who are buying everything them any and everything they want! They also don't have bonus events which I am a real sucker for, if I see one is going on I have trouble not buying anything!! :p /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> As an adult I still only choose select overpriced items when there is a bonus event such as diors shimmer blush and shadows and my grandmother has always been true to Clinique I have an assortment of cleansers and creams and only a few makeup items usually the freebies, and I wait all year for the major freebie events when you get double bonuses! :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
Yeah, what's up with Inglot anyway? We used to have an Inglot store in the mall that's really close to where I live. (I live in the Greater Toronto Area, Southern Ontario, Canada.) It was only there for maybe one year (maybe less than a year) Of maybe it was a little longer than that, but in any case it wasn't very long-lived. It just closed down one day because apparently they weren't bringing in enough business. I was really sad to see them go, I absolutely loved that store! Walking into Inglot is like walking into a candy store! They have all these wonderful eye-catching colors and it's so hard to decide what you want, but it's so much fun just being there and taking everything in! :D  Oh well..*sigh* 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Gawd, which mall? (I'm in Toronto too!) Speaking on: I miss FACES. Great eye makeup remover, lipglosses, and liquid liner. I remember they used to have a booth at Pickering Towne Centre of all places, and one at Dufferin and I think Fairview Mall, but they seem to have disappeared as well. :( /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
 
I, like most of you, started my love of makeup through MAC. I love some of their eyeshadows and I really dislike some of them too. I recently went through all my shadows and ended up putting alot away for blog sale and whatnot. They just weren't as pigmented as I thought. The continuous outpouring of LE is also annoying. Every month there is something new. This is good and bad. I always research the new LE and check swatches and reviews before I buy. Recently with Quite Cute, I saw some reviews and swatches and it was so blahhh to me. I didn't like one thing in that colleciton, and the swatches for the eyeshadows! Absolutely horrible. I will say however, there are alot of things from MAC that I will always buy such as pigments (yea i know smaller bottle same price), paint pots, paintsticks, MSF's, and the only powder foundation I like and use, Studio Fix.

If you want amazing shadows, try Inglot. I have a 20 freedom palette from them and I am awaing my second in the mail tomorrow. I love them. Period. They are amazing shadows. I just randomly picked 20 shades, and ALL of them are amazing. I also got a 5 palette lipstick from them, and I am happy with that as well. If you are interested in seeing swatches from my Inglot items, check out my blog http://jaeleeparedesmua.blogspot.com/. I will be adding the new 20 palette tomorrow afternoon as well for even more eyeshadow porn. LOL

In the end, i will stilly purchase from MAC, but not at the rate I did a few months ago. Especially not in the shadow department. I do use alot of other products as well. Urban Decay has amazing liners and 24/7 shadow pencils, NYX has great shadow pencils, eye shadows, and blushes. Tarte's new amazonian clay blush is to die for, and the list goes on. Don't stick to one brand, definitely take the chance and try new things. You never know what else you will fall in love with.

 
i realized mac shadows arent all they are cracked up to be either. For example i bought "passionate" really excited it seemed like this gorgeous rose pink. Well guess what it BARELY shows up. I feel like i have to pack it on and on to get any color. The only eyeshadows I like from mac are the satin and veluxe pearl and (a select few) of matte ones. Most of the eyeshadows you can find elsewere for cheaper. and now urban decay and drugstore brands like e.l.f are creating gorgeous and pigmented shimmer shades as well. Inglot is absolutely awesome and underrated. When i do makeup on women they are always like "i want you to use mac on me" solely because they hear people saying all this rave with mac this and mac that ohhhh how amazing mac mac mac. People need to broaden their horizons when it comes to makeup. Theres tons of amazing makeup out there that isnt mac. My favorite is actually tarte...you can get gorgeous palletes(with great pigmentation) for like 40 bucks with 8-10 colors!!....anyway thats just me airing out my mac frustrations..lol

 
i realized mac shadows arent all they are cracked up to be either. For example i bought "passionate" really excited it seemed like this gorgeous rose pink. Well guess what it BARELY shows up. I feel like i have to pack it on and on to get any color. The only eyeshadows I like from mac are the satin and veluxe pearl and (a select few) of matte ones. Most of the eyeshadows you can find elsewere for cheaper. and now urban decay and drugstore brands like e.l.f are creating gorgeous and pigmented shimmer shades as well. Inglot is absolutely awesome and underrated. When i do makeup on women they are always like "i want you to use mac on me" solely because they hear people saying all this rave with mac this and mac that ohhhh how amazing mac mac mac. People need to broaden their horizons when it comes to makeup. Theres tons of amazing makeup out there that isnt mac. My favorite is actually tarte...you can get gorgeous palletes(with great pigmentation) for like 40 bucks with 8-10 colors!!....anyway thats just me airing out my mac frustrations..lol

 
My first foundation, eyeshadow and makeup brushes were brought from Mac, only because I knew nothing about makeup and I wanted to make sure I got the correct color and tips on the correct way to apply my foundation. Once I learned how to apply my foundation and eyeshadow I eventually branched out to cheaper brands. I purchase eyeshadows from Mac if I really love the color and now that you can back to Mac for eyeshadows I just wait to back to Mac my products in order to get an eyeshadow. My main purchases from Mac are the studio fix powder everything else such as lipsticks and lip-glosses I am on a no buy because I have so much of that stuff so I am just trying to use what I have. I love purchasing other brands such as black radiance  e.l.f., wet n wild and other brands that are cheaper and have the same pay off or better pay off.

 
mac is huge here in australia, maybe because of their limited counters. they're not exactly "cheap" but i guess they're somehwat affordable here. I was never really into mac, their blushes are alright but i didnt' like their lipsticks at all... it really dried out my lips.

 
I have two MAC products, a brush and some brow powder. I can't believe I paid 20 bucks for a freaking angle brush.

I'm not a fan of MAC.

 
Did you guys know that MAC is owned by Estée Lauder? They also own Michael Kors, Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Clinique, Origins. Smashbox and I think Stila. I love Smashbox and as great as it's sister company MAC. I also use Clinique and love that line as I do Bobbi Brown and Stila.

 
Yup Estee Lauder owns all of those. That is why CCO only has those products. It is an Estee Lauder owned company. Did you also know that in America there are only 3 cosmetic manufacturing companies. Yes.. only 3 to make ALL the makeup we have here. This does not include privately owned makeup companies who produce all of thier own makeup. I.E. Motives, Bare Minerals, Fyrinnae, HiFi Cosmetics..

 
What's FnF?

Yeah, I haven't got any thing from MAC for quite a while now. My last buy from the brand was bought online from ACW.

It's true that there are many other brands that are equally good if not better and I'm glad I moved on!

xoxo,

Roxanne

 
I've only ever been disappointed in one product from MAC, and that's the 182 buffer brush.

MAC was what got me into make-up, and I still find the quality is worth it.

Sure the new collection thing is annoying, especially since the only one or two products I want from each collection are sold out basically instantly, never to be seen again.

But how can you hate them for the collection gimmick? Basically every cosmetic company does that. You can choose to ignore the collections, and just look at their permanent line.

I try to buy from all make-up brands, but I don't think I'm ever going to get out of MAC and dismiss it as a phase, because honestly I've used a lot worse.

I don't get how people are complaining about MAC price increases and saying they're turning to MUFE?

MUFE is insanely over-priced. The hd powder is garbage (to me) and I found my MAC liquid foundation to be much better than the hyped about MUFE HD foundation.

 
The only thing that I have from Make up forever is the HD powder and that is only because I got a sample from Sephora and I do not see what all the rave is about. The powder may be great for TV but it is not good for regular picture taking on a regular camera.

 
I've only ever been disappointed in one product from MAC, and that's the 182 buffer brush.

MAC was what got me into make-up, and I still find the quality is worth it.

Sure the new collection thing is annoying, especially since the only one or two products I want from each collection are sold out basically instantly, never to be seen again.

But how can you hate them for the collection gimmick? Basically every cosmetic company does that. You can choose to ignore the collections, and just look at their permanent line.

I try to buy from all make-up brands, but I don't think I'm ever going to get out of MAC and dismiss it as a phase, because honestly I've used a lot worse.

I don't get how people are complaining about MAC price increases and saying they're turning to MUFE?

MUFE is insanely over-priced. The hd powder is garbage (to me) and I found my MAC liquid foundation to be much better than the hyped about MUFE HD foundation.
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How many brands have multiple collections per month? Sure, NARS, Chanel and YSL might have seasonal collections, in addition to the Perm line or product, but they don't have bi-monthly Collex Blitz the way MAC does. IMHO, a brand that has to consistently rely on limited edition product to get people interested, is at the very least, fishy. Why are they hiding behind gimmick after gimmick? FTR: I don't hate MAC, but I do think most of the collections are overkill. I'd rather have Seasonal Collections that are truly brilliant, well thought-out, and non-gimmicky as opposed to Repromote and liscenced nonsense.
 
Most of my makeup are from MAC. I'm a professional makeup artist myself. Using MAC will suit a wide range of skin tones. I wouldn't completely say it's perfect.

 
No Brand is 100% perfect. They all have their good and bad points. And I agree with the poster about the LE's every month. They should have them less with more featured products than so many repromotes.

 

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