How to get MAC makeup on sale?

[maggiew]

I am on the lookout for a good deal on some MAC lipstick. It seems to be available at the department stores. But all the coupons that have been coming out exclude cosmetics. (e.g. Macy's, etc.)

Any way to get this stuff at a discount?

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[tlbwriter]

Well, if you can come up with 6 empty MAC products, you can get a free lipstick through Back to MAC.

 

[StephyDee]

I don't know if there's one by you, but The Cosmetics Company Store sells MAC at a discount. I went there last year when I checked out an Outlet mall in my area, and I went CRAZY when I saw the MAC. What's better is that they even have limited edition products and shades there as well, long after the regular MAC stores and online site sell out.

As a MAC fanatic, I can tell you that the makeup sold there is legit MAC makeup, and not fake. They even sell other high end cosmetic brands like Estee Lauder and Clinique.

They don't have an official website, so the only way to find them is to look for outlet malls in your area and see if they have a CCO (the abbreviation for the store) there.Type in "the cosmetic company store mac" in google and select the first result, which leads to a website telling more about it (as well as proof of what I just said. )

 

[jiminy14]

I was able to purchase MAC products at the Cosmetics Company store at the Premium Outlet on Vineland Road in Orlando in October. They had some of the Villains collection, the Tartan plaid sets, as well as individual pieces. The prices were decent. I think I paid less than $10 for the Villains lip gloss and around $25 for one of the Tartan sets. The store also carries a large selection of Clinique including the GWP sets that they sell for about $20.

 

[threecrazykids]

I don't know if there's one by you, but The Cosmetics Company Store sells MAC at a discount. I went there last year when I checked out an Outlet mall in my area, and I went CRAZY when I saw the MAC. What's better is that they even have limited edition products and shades there as well, long after the regular MAC stores and online site sell out.

As a MAC fanatic, I can tell you that the makeup sold there is legit MAC makeup, and not fake. They even sell other high end cosmetic brands like Estee Lauder and Clinique.

They don't have an official website, so the only way to find them is to look for outlet malls in your area and see if they have a CCO (the abbreviation for the store) there.Type in "the cosmetic company store mac" in google and select the first result, which leads to a website telling more about it (as well as proof of what I just said. )

Not sure if you know this, but Estee Lauder owns the brands MAC, Clinique, Origins, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox etc...that's why they are all in one store. It's basically an Estee Lauder store in so many words...all the products etc are TYPICALLY Estee Lauder products.

The only time I can get true "discounts" on MAC is when our Younkers has their semi-annual Goodwill Sale. The coupons you get from the store do NOT exclude MAC. However, this is a counter within the store NOT a stand alone store...but I've found that 99% of the products I buy are available at the counter...very few items that I buy are exclusive to stand alone stores or a PRO store.

 

[maggiew]

The only time I can get true "discounts" on MAC is when our Younkers has their semi-annual Goodwill Sale. The coupons you get from the store do NOT exclude MAC. However, this is a counter within the store NOT a stand alone store...but I've found that 99% of the products I buy are available at the counter...very few items that I buy are exclusive to stand alone stores or a PRO store.

Thanks. We don't have a Younkers, but I searched on their site and apparently Carson's is a sister company. They have a Goodwill sale too. I will check it out next time. According to their website, it looks like the Goodwill coupons are good for 15% off cosmetics.

Sadly, I don't think they will have a Goodwill sale before Christmas since it says they have one in the Spring and one in the Fall.

Maggie

 

[jessrose18]

thanks, i had no idea we had one of these in mn!

 

[sandgrace]

Why is MAC so popular? I've never tried any of their products can someone tell me why they are worth the money? TIA!

 

[threecrazykids]

Why is MAC so popular? I've never tried any of their products can someone tell me why they are worth the money? TIA!

Well...I can try to answer this...

I think it's "popular" because a lot of professional make up artists use MAC as a "go to" product. Of course they use tons of other private brands as well, but MAC is often found in artists kits. When you watch make up artists explain how they did someone's make up, I've found that a lot of them refer to MAC products.

As far as why I use it? Because it's very pigmented and I don't have to use very much to get exactly what I want. It's got more pigment, less talc (filler powder) which means I may spend $14 on a single shadow but it will last me forever. It blends incredibly as well.

Example: Have you ever bought a cheap eyeshadow and you literally are digging in the pan to try to get enough shadow on the brush to actually show up on your eyelid? It's not like that with MAC, you use a brush, swirl around softly and it goes on very smoothly and you're not "fighting" with it.

The brushes you use also make a huge difference in how shadows go on and blend.

I could go on and on about MAC, the "must have" colors etc. but I think until you try it the cost is very inhibiting. It was for me, so I asked for gift cards for my birthday and Christmas, etc to build up my collection.

A cheaper good alternative is Coastal Scents. Their products are very highly pigmented and blend well as well. They have knock off MAC brushes that I find work well. Sigma has nice brushes too...knock off of MAC as well.

 

[StephyDee]

Not sure if you know this, but Estee Lauder owns the brands MAC, Clinique, Origins, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox etc...that's why they are all in one store. It's basically an Estee Lauder store in so many words...all the products etc are TYPICALLY Estee Lauder products.

lol TBH, shortly after I wrote that reply, I remembered that they were all EL brands. It somehow slipped my mind when I was replying at first. Go fig, but that you for bringing that out there!

Well...I can try to answer this...

I think it's "popular" because a lot of professional make up artists use MAC as a "go to" product. Of course they use tons of other private brands as well, but MAC is often found in artists kits. When you watch make up artists explain how they did someone's make up, I've found that a lot of them refer to MAC products.

As far as why I use it? Because it's very pigmented and I don't have to use very much to get exactly what I want. It's got more pigment, less talc (filler powder) which means I may spend $14 on a single shadow but it will last me forever. It blends incredibly as well.

Example: Have you ever bought a cheap eyeshadow and you literally are digging in the pan to try to get enough shadow on the brush to actually show up on your eyelid? It's not like that with MAC, you use a brush, swirl around softly and it goes on very smoothly and you're not "fighting" with it.

The brushes you use also make a huge difference in how shadows go on and blend.

I could go on and on about MAC, the "must have" colors etc. but I think until you try it the cost is very inhibiting. It was for me, so I asked for gift cards for my birthday and Christmas, etc to build up my collection.

A cheaper good alternative is Coastal Scents. Their products are very highly pigmented and blend well as well. They have knock off MAC brushes that I find work well. Sigma has nice brushes too...knock off of MAC as well.

THIS! This is exactly how I'd describe MAC. It's like you read my mind!

I have tons of MAC, but I also have Coastal Scents palettes in both the Ultra Shimmer and the Original eyeshadows. I believe they were $25 each when I got them, and they have EVERY color imaginable in the palette. If there's a color missing, it doesn't exist.

I also got some brushes from them as well, and I agree, they're pretty good in quality.

Ah, I missed talking about makeup. I've been so focused on Disney World and ADRs and ideas for ordering Disney cakes, I'm burnt out.

 

[RoxyJ]

Is there a particular color you're looking for? Maybe we can help you find a dupe in a less expensive brand?

 

[threecrazykids]

lol TBH, shortly after I wrote that reply, I remembered that they were all EL brands. It somehow slipped my mind when I was replying at first. Go fig, but that you for bringing that out there!



THIS! This is exactly how I'd describe MAC. It's like you read my mind!

I have tons of MAC, but I also have Coastal Scents palettes in both the Ultra Shimmer and the Original eyeshadows. I believe they were $25 each when I got them, and they have EVERY color imaginable in the palette. If there's a color missing, it doesn't exist.

I also got some brushes from them as well, and I agree, they're pretty good in quality.

Ah, I missed talking about makeup. I've been so focused on Disney World and ADRs and ideas for ordering Disney cakes, I'm burnt out.

Well you let me know if you want to chat MAC...I'll keep your mind off Disney for a bit.

 

[maggiew]

My daughter has some on her Christmas list:

lipstick Lady Danger
lipstick Morange
pro longwear lip creme soft shell
Fluidline AshViolet
Fluidline MacroViolet

Not sure she would want a substitute? If I get one lipstick and one eyeliner, even at full price it wouldn't be bad? Would it?????? Online it appears the lipstick is $14.50 and the eyeliner is $15.

Maggie

 

[sanapunk]

I have a MAC PRO discount card which gives me 40% off on there regular brand products *no LE items or special packaging. Maybe we can work something out? With my discount, all those items w shipping came out to $53

 

[polyqueen]

To the OP, since you're in the Chicago area, you might try the Chicago Premium outlets in Aurora. They have an Cosmetics Store (EL brands) there that has a pretty good selection. Good Luck!

 

[sanapunk]

Also suggest getting on thei email list. They have a 24 hour sale in the winter. It's one out of the two times a year their makeup goes on sale.

 

[reagan75]

I have a MAC PRO discount card which gives me 40% off on there regular brand products *no LE items or special packaging. Maybe we can work something out? With my discount, all those items w shipping came out to $53

How do you get this card?

 

[RoxyJ]

My daughter has some on her Christmas list:

lipstick Lady Danger
lipstick Morange
pro longwear lip creme soft shell
Fluidline AshViolet
Fluidline MacroViolet

Not sure she would want a substitute? If I get one lipstick and one eyeliner, even at full price it wouldn't be bad? Would it?????? Online it appears the lipstick is $14.50 and the eyeliner is $15.

Maggie

If it's for your daughter... then I would get the MAC. She probably wouldn't want a substutute.

 

[bpesch]

To the OP, since you're in the Chicago area, you might try the Chicago Premium outlets in Aurora. They have an Cosmetics Store (EL brands) there that has a pretty good selection. Good Luck!

All the items the OP is looking for are current. The Cosmetic Company Stores sell older, discontinued products, not current items. So it is very unlikely the OP will be able to find anything that is currently available in a Mac store.

 

[sanapunk]

How do you get this card?

If you are a makeup artist, photographer, beautician, nail tech, or model, you can apply for it. It's 35 dollars a year and you can get 30-40% off depending on your job in the industry.