Lovelyish

I really dislike MAC makeup. Quality-wise I have found that it’s nothing spectacular (and it seems that the quality has decreased over the last few years as bloggers have mentioned). But what really turns me off every time is that 95% of the employees have no idea how to properly apply makeup. Like, dark clown makeup galore, it’s horrific. Spider lashes, cakey foundation and powder (usually too dark or too light), eye makeup too frosty and not well applied/blended, lip colours that are often too light and just look reaaally weird… I’ve seen this at every MAC store I’ve been to. Which isn’t many but still. Compared to Sephora where a lot of the SA’s maybe only wear mascara and foundation/blush. Much more professional.

I’m a huge fan of their recycling program! I don’t wear make up everyday so it takes me a long time to get 6 empty containers but I love going in with the empties and getting a new lipgloss or lipstick!

I’ve actually never tried their eye shadow but I think with the next 6 empties I’ll trade in for a shadow.

I wish more makeup companies would do a similar program! 

I’m a huge MAC fan. I just don’t use up products very fast! I love the fact that they have this program, though!

@ashleynicole - I definitely think MAC is for people who like a more heavily made-up look.

@Pickwick12@xanga - I don’t mind heavily made up looks at all – I used to wear quite a bit of it. But the thing is that I rarely ever see them apply it properly. It’s not blended, it’s just… bleh. There’s heavy and then there’s caked-on!

Too bad not more of the cosmetic companies recycle the containers…however, I don’t really see myself finishing anything except high end skin care (like face cream or cleansers) or lip gloss (that is if I don’t lose it before I finish it).  Also, I am a fan of palettes, which the containers don’t count.  I like the idea but don’t think I will participate.  I’ve never used MAC cosmetics so I cannot comment on the quality or coverage of makeup.

@ashleynicole - I agree that the people who work at the MAC stores/counters at department stores often do wear a lot of makeup, it is like they are trying to showcase all the products at once.  Surely not all MAC customers wear all that much makeup daily.  However, as a shopper, I feel more inclined to shop at a counter/store where the sales associates’ taste/style is more like mine.

@ashleynicole - Thankfully, I haven’t had this experience as much where I live, which is great! I really like MAC because it’s one of the only brands I’ve found with makeup artists who aren’t afraid to put actual color on someone as pale as I am. I wish I had money for all the pale, washed-out makeovers I got from other brands. I use a lot of other brands, too, but MAC is the one that changed my life. 

@babybug329@xanga - I also prefer shopping somewhere where the things will suit my preferences. With makeup though (unless it’s like a specific type of store that caters to a very very very specific clientele) I think that it is better to showcase skill as opposed to style really, and choose something that is more likely to be viewed as “safe” by the majority of people so as to not put people off. I actually really love out-there makeup, but if the person selling me makeup has shit skills it doesn’t create much confidence in the SA nor in the brand for me. 

@Pickwick12@xanga - I think that is probably because MAC offers a lot of colourful options, a lot of brands are more about neutral colours you know? But I would assume that if you shared what type of look you wanted at any MU counter they’d offer you something within your preferences! I think Sephora would be a good place for that, since they have a wide variety of makeup and the SA’s generally really seem to know what they are doing. I dunno, the girls at my MAC counters are usually kind of rude and stuck-up (and this is not just based on the fact that I dislike the brand, it was like that the very first time I walked in)! Nice to know it’s not like that at all counters

@ashleynicole - True, skill counts for a lot, especially when it comes to makeup.  I am not particularly talented in that department, if the sales associate (some like to call themselves an artist, sometimes I’d have to disagree) can’t even put their own makeup in a pleasing manner, I can’t trust that he/she can steer me in the right direction.

@ashleynicole - I do love Sephora! We didn’t always have one in the area, but we do now, and I love the options they offer, especially since they’re willing to build a look using a lot of different brands instead of being stuck to one. 

Sounds like your MACs have been pretty lame. For whatever reason, my nearest counter is staffed by a bunch of fun people. Some of them are not as good as others, but there are a couple who really “get” what I like and recommend stuff I enjoy. One thing I really appreciate is that they’re not paid on commission, so in my experience, they haven’t tended to be as pushy. In contrast, I once ran into a Benefit rep at Sephora, and she tried to push the entire product line down my throat, and it was really over-the-top. I actually like Benefit, but it makes me scared to go over to that section in my Sephora!

eyeshadow! I’m a fan of them!

@babybug329@xanga - Exactly. If it’s something like working with cosmetics, then your makeup is kind of like your public resume, much like if you are a hair dresser your hair would pretty well be your public resume. Gotta showcase your experience and knowledge as best as you can if you want people to buy into your abilities and listen to your recommendations!

@Pickwick12@xanga - Maybe all the skilled ones apply to places like Sephora or even drug stores here! I’ve had a few pushy SA’s in the past, but it doesn’t seem to be exclusive to any specific store. I actually find that the older SA’s tend to be more pushy! But I also really hate any SA in any retail situation who comes up to me and tries to be all over me and asking me if I need help. It was one of the things I hated the most when I was working retail, hovering over people. Bleh!

@ashleynicole - I agree SO much!

I just start laughing, one time I went to the Estee Lauder counter, and the lady that was going to do my make up had a ton of eyeliner on along with navy blue eyeshadow, a lot of mascara, a shouty lipstick color (that clashed with the color of her eyeshadow)  and RED blush. I like red blush, but the way she applied, she just looks like a horror movie victim.

Anyways, she started to do my makeup. Right away I felt that she plastered way too much foundation making me look extremely cakey, then she piled on mascara on my lashes like crazy….long story short, yeah I bought the make up, but when I got home I redid everything she had done with the products I bought and I realized that the lady needs to learn how to apply make up. Seriously. Because when I applied it, it didn’t look anything like what the lady had done to me…

Which makes me think that they should start hiring real make up artists and not just any kind of person that has tried applying make up to others. Or else they’ll just scare away they’re customers man!

hmm.. i wonder if they do this in singapore?

MAC is an amazing company that became the number one makeup company in the world without ever spending a dime on advertising so that right there speaks volumes for their products! They don’t test on animals they, they have raised millions of dollars for their HIV/AIDS foundation, they have an amazing recycling program where you can recycle ANY of their products that have a container including palettes, skin care, eyeliner containers…literally anything that comes in a container. MAC makeup artists are also called artists because it is one of the only counters that sends it’s employes through training. 

@ahleynicole Sorry to hear that your local MAC counter has not been a pleasurable experience but it is also worth realizing that with makeup, just like people who do hair, artist that are really good at what they do can make you look beautiful regardless of what they are wearing on their own face. Just because someone choses a style of makeup that you wouldn’t chose for yourself doesn’t mean that they are not a talented makeup artist that can create whatever look you are going for. There is a reason why MAC makeup artists are used more than any other cosmetics company for everything from date night, proms, weddings, all the way to runway shows for major design houses, awards shows and celebrity makeup and photo shoots.