MAC Cosmetics

Type	Subsidiary
Founded	1984
Headquarters	New York City
Key people	Frank Toskan Frank Angelo industry = Consumer goods
Products	Cosmetics
Parent	Estée Lauder Companies
Website	MAC for consumers MAC Pro for professionals

MAC Store located at Glorietta, Makati City, Philippines

Make-up Art Cosmetics, better known as M·A·C or MAC Cosmetics, is a manufacturer of cosmetics headquartered in New York City.

History [edit]

M·A·C Cosmetics, Makeup Artist Cosmetics, was founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in 1984. The first U.S M·A·C store opened in 1991, in New York.^[1]

The company's products were initially specifically designed for professional make-up artists but are now sold to consumers worldwide.

Long before their company history, MAC cosmetics founders directed their product line towards professionals in the beauty and fashion industry who had to rely on heavy cosmetics, cake makeup and stage makeup to create the visual effects needed to withstand bright lighting during photo shoots. ^[2]

Estée Lauder Companies acquired controlling interest of M·A·C in 1996, then completed their acquisition of the company in 1998. Original founder Frank Angelo died in 1997 due to complications during surgery.^[3]

Products [edit]

On January 8, 2011, Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced that DC Comics' fictional heroine Wonder Woman would team up with M·A·C Cosmetics to create a Wonder Woman makeup collection that would be available in M·A·C stores in the spring of 2011. The collection included blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, lip gloss, lipstick, mascara, mineral powder and nail polish.^[4]

Most M·A·C products are oil free. Some M·A·C products do contain natural oils which function as emollients (for example: orange oil, jojoba oil).

M·A·C PRO [edit]

The M·A·C PRO Program is provided to professionals in the industry.^[5] A M·A·C PRO membership application is required along with two forms of professional identification. The application is mailed and approved by a M·A·C PRO representative. Cosmetic professionals and students receive discounts on purchases.

Social responsibilities [edit]

M·A·C has five social initiative programs currently in place

• M·A·C Cruelty-Free Beauty: principle that prohibits animal testing and the policy is extended to ingredient suppliers as well (M.A.C. no longer guarantees its products are cruelty free. Current policy is that "Our products are not tested on animals except when absolutely mandated by law" '^[6]
• Back 2 M·A·C Recycling: offers free lipgloss, eyeshadow, or lipstick at any M·A·C location (lipsticks only at M·A·C counters in department stores) with the return of six empty M·A·C containers. Viva Glam products, Pro Longwear gloss, Plushglass, Luster Glass and Pro palette Shadow and sheen supreme lipsticks are excluded.
• M·A·C Kids Helping Kids: started in 1994 where kids living with HIV/AIDS create images that are reproduced as greeting cards. 100% of selling price goes back to participating organizations.
• The M·A·C AIDS Fund:^[7] supports community organizations providing direct services to people living with AIDS. To date the foundation has raised over $240,000,000 usd since its inception in 1994.
• M·A·C Viva Glam: 100% of the purchase price of any Viva Glam product (lipsticks, lipglasses and holiday sets) goes to the M·A·C Aids Fund. Multiple Celebrities have endorsed the MAC Viva Glam products. Such celebrities include: Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper, Elton John, Nicki Minaj, and more.^[8]

Controversy [edit]

Rodarte: M·A·C was the center of controversy when public offense arose over the anticipated September 2010 release of the M·A·C Rodarte collection, a collaborative effort with the fashion label Rodarte. The collection was based on the border town of Juarez, in which at least 400 women have been killed in brutal slayings. M·A·C eventually pulled the line before distribution, and instead set up $100,000 in a charity.^[9][10]

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• M·A·C Consumer Site
• M·A·C PRO Site