Smashbox or MAC Options

[LizBabe22]

So...I was wondering...which brand is better...Smashbox or MAC? Better quality for the money...and just better quality? Does anyone know? I'm a huge MAC fan....but it's just getting more expensive....is Smashbox up to par?

[*Girthy*]

MAC. end of story.

and mac has so many color choices.

[*Michelle*]

Depends on what you're going for. Honestly, I think MAC is way overrated. You have to know what you're doing before you actually attempt to use MAC. I hate when people buy expensive make-up thinking it'll "do the job" for them or something...

If you're looking for make-up you can wear every day, either is fine. Smashbox is directed at more natural looks, while MAC (obviously) targets a more fashionable / unique / artistic type of look. MAC also does have great foundation, apparently.

Mix and match!

Btw, Smashbox has wonderful primers and other stuff for your face.

[Gigi]

^ I've heard their Photofinish primer stuff is really good. I've began to lose a little faith in Smashbox, though. They have this cheek gel called "O-Glow", and it's supposed to naturally flush your cheeks with a clear gel. Apparently it causes blood to flow to the vessels in your cheek. It's such a lie, though, because it has red dye in it, and when you put it on a sheet of white paper, it changes colour anyway. And does white paper have blood vessels? I don't think so. Instead it has something to do with acidity. And yes, I care about how my makeup works.

I don't think there's an answer to your question. Most of the pros use MAC but there's no reason you shouldn't use another brand that's just as good. Smashbox isn't incredibly cheap either.

MAC has a HUGE range of colours, especially for eyeshadows, which are highly pigmented and therefore of great quality. They sell amazing brushes, and I've also heard that the foundations are good. Also have heard that the mascaras are a load of crap.

Unfortunately I don't know enough about Smashbox to tell you what I think about it, but I would guess that either would be fine. Don't be so fixated on the brand, but instead just play around with your makeup. There are no rules!

[transcendentalis...]

the biggest different for me between smashbox and MAC is definitely MAC's range for colors. i'm happy with smashbox though.

i own o-glow, and even though their whole microcirculatory explanation is bullshit, i do love that blush very much, haha. smashbox's primers and foundations ARE incredible and i love them. their mascaras don't clump either if you know how to use them; the wands are ingenious. i also love that they have teal and burgundy as mascara colors, as well as an eyelash conditioner :)

their cream eyeliners aren't rated highly because a lot of people say that the consistency is wack, but i haven't found anything wrong with them... their eyeshadows are wonderfully pigmented, and applied wet, they are great great great.

i am defitely a smashbox fan... and i love the decadence collection.

has anyone tried the MAC charged waters? it's so intriguing, but it just sounds like baloney at the same time :P i detest how MAC comes out with new collections every couple weeks though (or at least it feels like a couple weeks? lately it seems as if they've been on a rampage)... good thing i don't live too close to a MAC store.

don't be fooled into buying big names just because they're big names... drugstore brands like milani do an excellent job as well. everything of milani that i've tried is surprisingly well-pigmented.

[misoshiru]

MAC also does have great foundation, apparently.

no. MAC foundation makes a lot of people break out (me included).


Smashbox has great primer potion, but I hear that Urban Decay primer and finishing is just as amazing, if not even better.

Personally, I prefer MAC because of their colors and the versatility of the looks you can use with their colors. Their lipsticks/pencils/glosses are amazing. They do wonders for my chapped lips.

[*Girthy*]

lipglass; LOVEEEEEE. and they are like a few bucks more then drugstore lipglosses too. hella worth it.
c-thru is my favorite. florabundance and nymphette are nice too.

lipsticks; for lipsticks they have a huge selection. and they sanitize it everytime so you can actually try it on your lips without worrying about bateria. and lipsticks feel smoother when you have chapstick or a primer underneath.
freckletone is my current favorite, it's such a pretty nude peach colour.

foundations and concealers; pretty much all of them are good. just ask the person at the counter to pick one for your skin type. the only ones i didn't like as much are hyper real, select cover-up and studio touch up stick and select tint, either too little coverage or too oily. and you should invest in a decent foundation brush, mac or not. it looks so much better then applying it with your fingers.
i like mineralize satinfinish for foundation, and #190 for foundation brush. and studio finish concealer palette, which is limited edition, SADLY.

blushes and bronzers; are good for contouring and highlighting cheekbones, nose, forehead ect., and quite a selection of colours again. and again, should be applied with a brush.
i like peaches for blush, it's a really light sheer and has a bit of shimmer but not enough to make it look like you poured glitter all over your cheeks. #182 brush is amazing for powders, makes your face look flawless.

primers; the only one i really really REALLY like was prep + prime with the spf 50. it's so silky and smooth. it's better then the regular prep + prime, regular one sucks. and it doesn't make me break out. the eye primers didn't work well enough for me. i like urban decay primer potion better and shiseido mascara base. and prep + prime lip is just like chapstick. the only one really worth getting is prep + prime with the spf 50.

eyeliner; FLUIDLINE IS JUST SIMPLY AMAAAAAZING. if you are going to get any eyeliner, this is the one. doesn't smudge or anything. and the amount you get lasts forever, the one that i use everyday (blacktrack), i had for probably a year already and it's still half full. you do have to get a brush with it though since it's a gel formula. and you should wash off your brush with baby shampoo or mac brush cleanser everytime after you use it or else it gets hard and it stained my brush :(.
i use blacktrack which is just a black colour everyday. and with the #266 brush which is the best, imo.

eyeshadows; pigmented and sooooooooooooo many colours. and a pot lasts a long time. if you are planning to get a few eyeshadows you should get a palette (4's or 15's), you save money and it's so much easier then carrying about a bunch of single pots.
i like shroom, soba and tempting for netural shadows. and nocturnelle and plum dressing make my eyes stand out. and I LOVE VANILLA PIGMENT. for highlighting brow bone and inner corners of your eyes. you can ask for a sample of it when you are purchasing. and a tiny pigment sample can last so long. and do get a brush to apply eyeshadows especially if you are going to use vibrant colours, or else it's going to look sloppy done with fingers or q-tips. #239 brush is great if you can only get one brush. and #217 for blending eyeshadow together.

mascara; didn't like it. some people do like it though. they aren't horrible but they don't have that 'wow' factor. you can get better mascaras though. they aren't that expensive, only $12 or so for a tube. and they last a while.

nail polishes; i have most of the colours and they are pretty good considering they are only like $12 a bottle. they don't streak or chip very easily and the polish doesn't get thick and clumpy after a while.
my three favorite are whirlwind; a gorgeous teal color, it is limited edition though :(. golded is a natural french manicure colour, also very pretty. and dark angel, a dark plum colour because i don't like pure black nail polishes.




basically, i really love mac.

[jesusisthebestth...]

^^^ great analysis, hunnie.

M.A.C. always has been always will be...i just have to save money each pay period and treat myself to a new eyeshadow every month or so...it's worth the sacrifice...lol.

though, smashbox isn't terrible, it isn't M.A.C.

[PINKLollyPOP]

MAC....
i love MAC.
i'm a huge fan of them as well!

[Mireh]

Nars

[*Michelle*]

Nars

Agreed! I love NARS

[breakingdawn]

Agreed! I love NARS

I love Nars, too!

[iDecay]

I don't think you can stick to just one brand. Some brands are simply just better at making specific things than others. It really depends on what you're looking for.


Haha, why did I expect Liz to make a post like that?


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Hi, reading up on make-up? Aw you really are gay.

[hollywoodpink]

MAC mascara = crap

PROOF:

^ picture on the MAC website

[misoshiru]

c-thru? do you mean c-shock?

[*Girthy*]

c-shock is a collection, c-thru is the name of a lipglass.
http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/prod...?SKU_ID=SKU4287
:)

and hollywoodpink;
i have tired mac mascara, and trust me
it's not THAT bad, like in the picture.

[iDecay]

Mmm, I heard Plushlash mascara is actually pretty good.

Oh and anyone else hate how they come out with color stories so often?

[misoshiru]

c-shock is a collection, c-thru is the name of a lipglass.
http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/prod...?SKU_ID=SKU4287
:)

and hollywoodpink;
i have tired mac mascara, and trust me
it's not THAT bad, like in the picture.

ok i got confused. i thought you were talking about the glosses in the c-shock collection.


seriously though? mac foundation sucks.

[babecakes]

oh my god, has anyone seen the alexander mcQueen collection yet? it is absolutely gorgeous, it's going to be one of those collections worth getting back-ups. all the colours are to die for, especially the paint pots. release date is october 4th, i'm so fucking excited for it.

and tina, i love how mac releases so many collections, i have something to live for ;D!

[Tung]

i say go for MAC

[Gigi]

Mmm, I heard Plushlash mascara is actually pretty good.

Oh and anyone else hate how they come out with color stories so often?

It's fun to see what they come up with, although at the same time it's sort of a pain to keep up with things. I mean, I still want a Smoke Signals quad, but now there's Alexander McQueen, and I can't make up my mind!

To be fair, Plushlash, Mattene and Matte-squared are permanent collections.

[KissMe2408]

Oh that smashbox foundation primer is Amazing. . . i love it.
THe eyeshadows from there are great too, stay on all day, love the color. . .

though, mac does have some pretty nice stuff. . .
love the eyeshadow colors. . .
i think that's the only thing i really spend my time and money
on when it comes to mac. . . the eyeshadow

[Lolitakitty]

Smashbox all the way.

[Larentia]

I've never heard of Smashbox or Nars, but I love MAC. They have such a wide selection of colors.

[annalucky]

I don't wear makeup, but all my friends prefer MAC over Smashbox.