MAC Cosmetics

Name

MAC Cosmetics

Legal name

Make-Up Art Cosmetics

Website

https://maccosmetics.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prestige Color Cosmetics

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Face Makeup (Foundation, Concealer, Powder, Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter) (CRABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lip Makeup (Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Liner, Lip Stain, Lip Balm-Tint) (CRABACAC), Makeup Primers & Setting (Face/Eye Primer, Setting Spray, Setting Powder, Fixers) (CRABACAE), Makeup Palettes & Sets (Curated Palettes, Gift Sets, Multi-use Kits) (CRABACAF)

Keywords

• Prestige color cosmetics
• Professional makeup products
• Lipstick and foundation
• Beauty skincare line
• Cosmetics retail brand

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Prestige Cosmetics Product Sales: MAC generates revenue primarily through direct sales of professional-grade makeup products across categories including foundations, lipsticks, eyeshadows, mascaras, brushes, and skincare. Products sold through owned retail stores, brand e-commerce sites, department stores, and specialty beauty retailers.
2. VIVA GLAM Charity Line: VIVA GLAM lipstick line where 100% of the selling price goes to charity supporting HIV/AIDS awareness, LGBTQIA+ youth programs, maternal health, racial justice, and environmental sustainability. Since 1994, over $540 million has been raised for charitable causes.
3. Limited-Edition Collaborations: Time-limited collections with artists, celebrities, and estates such as Jean-Michel Basquiat collaboration, generating premium pricing ($29-$120 per item) and driving consumer urgency through exclusivity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MAC Cosmetics designs, manufactures, and sells professional-grade prestige color cosmetics and a supporting skincare range, organized across face (foundations, concealers, powders, blushes), lips (lipsticks, glosses, liners, tints), eyes (eyeshadows, mascaras, brow products), and setting sprays. The portfolio is sold directly through more than 1,000 owned retail stores worldwide, regional brand e-commerce sites, and prestige retail partners such as Sephora U.S. (from March 2026), Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty, and Myer.

Product overview

MAC Cosmetics offers a comprehensive professional-grade color cosmetics portfolio centered around its core makeup products spanning face, lips, and eyes categories. The main product lines include Studio Fix foundation family (Fluid SPF 15, Powder Plus, Tech Cream-to-Powder), MACximal lipstick range (Silky Matte and Sleek Satin), Lustreglass lip products (Sheer-Shine and Stainglass Lip Tint), and mineral-based powders and blushes. Supporting categories include setting sprays (FIX+ Original and Stay Over), mascaras (Extended Play, MACStack), eye products, and the Hyper Real skincare line. The brand also operates charitable initiatives through VIVA GLAM lipstick (100% of proceeds to charity), maintains a Pro membership for professional artists, and offers digital services including virtual try-on powered by augmented reality and computer vision for shade matching. Distribution expanded in 2026 with entry into Sephora U.S. stores.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation

Quantifiable outcome

• VIVA GLAM has supported more than 60 million people across 92 countries since 1994
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Jean-Michel Basquiat EstateminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Six-piece limited-edition collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat's family and estate featuring makeup products inspired by the late artist's motifs including his signature crown. Collection priced from $29 loose powder pigments to $120 brush set, debuting direct-to-consumer and in select MAC stores. Launch timed ahead of Netflix documentary about Basquiat premiering later in 2026.
• Flover (New York-based Studio)minorOthers · 29 July 2026New York-based floral studio created central floral installation for MAC's first 'Store of the Future' at Lotte World Mall in Seoul. Installation part of interactive retail concept designed around experimentation and makeup exploration.
• Urban Fashion Week 2026minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026MAC Cosmetics served as Official Makeup Sponsor for Urban Fashion Week 2026 Basement Edition held at Garden City Mall in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. Event showcasing Summer Collections from designers with makeup artistry provided by MAC.
• TikTok Shop UKcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2026In-store creator commerce model through TikTok Shop UK transforming physical retail locations into live-streaming studios hosted by makeup artists who act as affiliate creators. Initiative enables employees to produce tutorials, product demonstrations, and interactive sessions linking purchases directly to TikTok Shop. MAC offering staff percentage of sales as incentive to become live shopping hosts.
• Sephora U.S.flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 March 2026Major retail distribution partnership launching March 2, 2026 with initial presence in 105 Sephora stores across the U.S., online at sephora.com, and Sephora at Kohl's concessions. Nationwide expansion planned throughout 2026. This marks MAC's first major retail expansion in over 41 years, part of parent company Estée Lauder CEO Stéphane de La Faverie's strategy to accelerate sales through fast-growing retail channels. Early results show positive net sales increases for Q2 driven by Sephora North America sell-in shipments.
• Myer (Australia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 February 2026Australian department store chain Myer secured exclusive deal making it the sole department store partner for MAC in Australia starting mid-2026. Partnership is part of Myer's broader beauty expansion strategy which includes recent deals with Fenty Beauty and Benefit Cosmetics. In FY25, beauty contributed 22% to Myer's total sales.
• DepopcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2026Creator-led collaboration with resale fashion platform Depop featuring curated shoppable edits by influencers Jordyn Woods and Leah Kateb around the Powder Kiss and MACximal Matte lipstick ranges. Partnership includes in-app styling tools on Depop and an in-person pop-up activation in New York City's Union Square. Collaboration aims to position MAC at intersection of beauty and circular fashion while engaging younger consumers through community and sustainability themes.
• Chappell RoanflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 December 2025Grammy-winning singer-songwriter named Global Brand Ambassador under multi-year agreement formalized from prior collaborations. Long-term partnership positions Roan as representative of MAC's 'All Ages, All Races, All Genders' mission. Debut campaign shot by Inez & Vinoodh featuring monochrome look. All campaigns set to roll out globally in 2026.
• The Makeup Academy NYCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Partnership establishing the first official M.A.C Pro Classroom at the academy in New York City. Collaboration aims to enhance professional makeup education by integrating MAC's product line and curriculum into the academy's programs.
• Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion WeekminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 October 2025M.A.C Cosmetics Thailand served as partner for Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week 2025, reinforcing Bangkok's position as Asia's leading fashion event and platform for advancing Thai fashion businesses regionally and internationally.
• VaynerXminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2025MAC participated in VaynerX-hosted inaugural Live Shopping Summit in New York City bringing together executives from TikTok, QVC Group, Fanatics Live, PacSun to discuss future of live commerce. McKinsey & Company projects U.S. live shopping market could reach $80 billion by 2025.
• Doja CatflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 September 2025Multiplatinum Grammy-winning artist named Global Ambassador in long-term partnership announced at 2025 MTV Video Music Awards where Doja made her brand debut appearing to bite a giant chocolate replica of an M.A.C lipstick. Doja starring in series of global campaigns for MAC's iconic products; collaboration positions both as creative powerhouses working to redefine global beauty space.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NARS Cosmetics: Prestige color cosmetics brand founded by makeup artist François Nars, owned by Shiseido. Directly comparable to MAC in professional-artist heritage, prestige positioning, foundation/lipstick franchises, and global department-store-plus-flagship distribution.
• Fenty Beauty: Celebrity-founded inclusive beauty brand with broad shade ranges and prestige positioning. Closely comparable to MAC on inclusive marketing and Gen Z appeal, and ranked among MAC's primary share-of-voice competitors.
• Charlotte Tilbury: Founder-led prestige makeup brand sold through Sephora, department stores, and own retail. Comparable to MAC on celebrity/founder-driven positioning, Sephora presence, and prestige color cosmetics portfolio.
• Bobbi Brown: Sister brand under The Estée Lauder Companies, founded by a professional makeup artist with a natural-beauty positioning. Directly comparable to MAC on professional-makeup-artist heritage, Estée Lauder distribution, and foundation-led assortment.
• Urban Decay: L'Oréal-owned edgy color cosmetics brand focused on eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick. Comparable to MAC on younger-skewing prestige color cosmetics, Sephora/Ulta distribution, and trend-driven product cycles.
• Huda Beauty: Influencer-founded color cosmetics brand that topped Cosmetify's Mid-Year 2026 popularity ranking. Comparable to MAC on social-media-native marketing, prestige price points, and direct competition for the same Gen Z consumer.
• Pat McGrath Labs: Luxury makeup-artist-founded brand positioned at the top of prestige color cosmetics. Comparable to MAC on professional-makeup-artist credibility, fashion-week presence, and high-pigment formulations.
• Rare Beauty: Selena Gomez-founded inclusive beauty brand with strong Gen Z and millennial pull. Comparable to MAC on inclusive shade ranges, Sephora distribution, and celebrity-driven cultural relevance.
• Kylie Cosmetics: Celebrity-founded color cosmetics brand with strong social-native engagement (ranked #2 on Cosmetify Mid-Year 2026). Comparable to MAC on lip-led product portfolio and Gen Z share-of-voice competition.
• Too Faced: Playful prestige color cosmetics brand owned by The Estée Lauder Companies, distributed through Sephora and Ulta. Comparable to MAC on eyeshadow and lip franchises, Sephora presence, and sister-brand dynamics within Estée Lauder's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MACcosmetics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MACcosmetics
• Facebookfacebook.com/MACcosmetics
• Instagraminstagram.com/maccosmeticsuki
• Pinterestpinterest.com/maccosmetics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mac-cosmetics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MAC Cosmetics