18 Makeup Brands Like Mac for Professional Quality
Anyone who loves high-quality makeup knows MAC. The brand is a legend for its professional-grade formulas, incredible color payoff, and an inclusive shade range that has been celebrated for decades. It's the go-to for MUAs and beauty lovers who want reliable, high-performance products that always deliver.
But if you're looking to branch out your makeup collection with some new brands that bring that same professional punch, you're in the right place. From luxury labels to affordable superstars, here are 18 makeup brands like MAC worth adding to your routine.
1. Make Up For Ever
If you need makeup that performs under pressure, Make Up For Ever is a must-try. Born for the stage and screen, this brand delivers ultra-high-pigment foundations, vibrant eyeshadows, and liners that won't budge. MUFE shares MAC's professional roots but often feels even more geared toward creative artists and performers who need maximum color intensity for their looks.
2. NARS
NARS brings a chic, high-fashion edge to professional-quality makeup. Known for iconic products like their Orgasm blush and Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, the brand delivers sophisticated color and luxurious formulas. While MAC's aesthetic can be edgier, NARS has a more refined, minimalist vibe, striking the perfect balance between bold artistry and modern elegance.
3. Urban Decay
For those who love MAC’s bold side, Urban Decay is the ultimate playground. Famous for its industry-shaking Naked palettes and All Nighter Setting Spray, the brand is all about daring color with a rebellious spirit. It shares MAC's commitment to high quality but pushes the boundaries with edgier branding and a strong focus on vegan formulas. This is your brand for creating unforgettable statement looks.
4. Bobbi Brown
If your version of a pro-quality look is more natural and effortlessly polished, Bobbi Brown is the answer. This brand excels at creating skin-enhancing makeup that focuses on a fresh, healthy-looking finish. While MAC offers products for every look imaginable, Bobbi Brown is for those who love a "you but better" vibe, providing high-performance, sophisticated essentials for an everyday glow.
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills
Anastasia Beverly Hills started as the brow expert and quickly became a powerhouse for all things color. Revered by makeup artists for its highly pigmented eyeshadows and iconic contour kits, ABH brings precision and artistry to every product. Like MAC, it's a go-to for pros and enthusiasts alike, but ABH truly specializes in products that help you sculpt, define, and create flawless eye looks.
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6. KVD Beauty
KVD Beauty is all about bold, long-lasting, cruelty-free makeup. The brand is famous for pigment-packed products like the Tattoo Liner, which has legendary staying power. Think high-impact color, innovative textures, and an unapologetically edgy vibe. While both brands offer professional performance, KVD is perfect for anyone who wants their makeup to be as bold and expressive as they are.
7. Pat McGrath Labs
From the legendary "Mother" of makeup herself, Pat McGrath Labs is pure runway luxury. The brand is celebrated for its ethereal eyeshadows, divine highlighters, and innovative glitter-packed formulas in ultra-luxe packaging. Where MAC makes professional quality accessible, Pat McGrath elevates it to high art, offering prestige, avant-garde makeup for those who want to feel truly exceptional.
8. ColourPop
ColourPop has perfected the art of delivering trendy, high-quality makeup without the sky-high price tag. Known for their vibrant eyeshadow palettes and endless lip options, they offer MAC-level color and creativity for a fraction of the cost. With products typically falling between $5-$20, they’re the go-to for experimenting with new trends or building a versatile kit on a budget.
9. Fenty Beauty
Rihanna's Fenty Beauty changed the game with its unwavering commitment to inclusivity, a mission that MAC has championed for years. Fenty is beloved for its extensive foundation shade range and formulas that deliver a soft-matte, skin-like finish. It brings a fresh, modern feel to professional makeup with innovative products and Insta-worthy packaging that appeals to a new generation of beauty lovers.
10. BH Cosmetics
BH Cosmetics is your gateway to affordable artistry. The brand offers enormous, highly-pigmented eyeshadow palettes and brush sets that make creative and colorful looks accessible to everyone. While MAC is a staple in professional kits, BH Cosmetics is a fan-favorite for makeup enthusiasts who want to play with bold color and professional-level blendability without a huge financial commitment.
11. Juvia's Place
If you live for intense pigmentation, Juvia’s Place is a must-have. Its eyeshadow palettes, inspired by Afrocentric culture and beauty, are famous for their unbelievably rich, buttery, and vibrant colors that pop on all skin tones. While MAC has a vast color library, Juvia's Place stands out for mastering intensely saturated shades at an impressively affordable price point.
12. Patricia Bright
Founded by beauty and lifestyle influencer Patricia Bright, this brand brings a high-glam, curated edit of luxury products designed to work for everyone. Known for rich highlighters and versatile eyeshadow palettes, the line focuses on pro-quality formulas that provide amazing results and suit a wide range of skin tones, sharing MAC's spirit of high performance and inclusivity.
13. Lime Crime
Lime Crime is for the unapologetically bold. Known for launching unconventional shades like surreal neons and vivid pastels, this cruelty-free brand makes makeup for self-expression. It takes MAC's love for color to a fantastical, almost mythical level, making it the perfect choice for anyone who sees their face as a canvas for something magical.
14. Beauty Bakerie
Beyond its incredibly charming, food-themed packaging, Beauty Bakerie serves up high-performance, long-lasting formulas. Their smudge-proof liquid lipsticks and inclusive range of face products combine playful branding with serious quality. Like MAC, the brand is devoted to inclusivity, but it stands out with its completely unique and fun approach to "baking" your face.
15. Makeup Revolution
Makeup Revolution is the fast-fashion of the beauty world, offering trendy, high-quality products at impossible-to-resist prices. The brand provides an extensive collection of foundations, concealers, and palettes that often rival the quality of high-end brands. For getting the MAC feel on a tight budget, their vast and ever-growing product line is a treasure trove.
16. Kosas
For those who want pro-level makeup packed with skin-loving ingredients, Kosas is the ultimate clean beauty brand. It offers beautifully pigmented yet comfortable products that give you a fresh, dewy finish while nourishing your skin. While MAC is known for backstage artistry, Kosas brings a modern, "makeup-as-skincare" philosophy perfect for creating an effortless, healthy-looking glow.
17. Sephora Collection
Don't sleep on Sephora's in-house brand. Sephora Collection delivers shockingly good, professional-quality products across every single category - from their Cream Lip Stains to Pro brushes. It's a fantastic, accessible alternative for reliable essentials that consistently perform well without the professional price tag of a standalone brand like MAC.
18. LORAC
Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, LORAC (Carol spelled backward) is another solid pro-level brand. Their eyeshadow palettes are particularly beloved for their smooth, highly pigmented, and blendable formulas. LORAC shares MAC's Hollywood artist roots but focuses on creating universally flattering products with a signature chic, red-carpet-ready aesthetic.
Written by
Ash Read
