Mac VS. Urban Decay

[EatsRainbows]

It has to be Urban Decay for me - they're an approved cruelty-free brand, and unlike others would have us believe I am not worth the suffering and death of other sentient beings just because I like to put pretty colours on my eyelids and lips.

 

[Kaidan]

I like both of them, but I prefer Urban Decay when it comes to eye shadows, eye liners, and eye shadow palettes because they make really good ones.

 

[butterflyeyes]

I like both, but I prefer UD for eye shadows and eye liners. I own more UD products that MAC now mainly because I get the UD Pro discount, but even without it I would have ended up with more UD. MAC has disappointed me more often lately with their e/s (they used to be the only brand I would buy). They just don't seem to be as pigmented as they used to be. UD shadows are extremely pigmented and the texture is one of my faves. I am not overly thrilled with their glitter heavy selections but I'd say the same about any brand. I'm not a glitter overload fan (MAC Pressed Pigments that were released with the Face & Body collection late last year come to mind...oh how I wanted to love them and have tried to work with them). I didn't vote in the poll though because the options are limited...I'm neither brand all the way. I find great products in both lines.

 

[pauletterx]

I love Urban Decay! Their shadows are the best & the are fun & edgy.

 

[pauletterx]

*they

 

[SamanthaDeMuro]

I probably own nearly every MAC eyeshadow out there from their permanent line. I went a little crazy a couple of summers ago when I had some extra cash. I only recently discovered Urban Decay e/s and I LOVE THEM!!!! I have been using them almost exclusively for months now while my MAC eye shadows sit neglected. I also have a couple of Bobbi Browns and one NARS one that I like. Lancome makes a good shadow but UD has become my go to. I recently got TheBALM Nude'Tude palette and their formula is similar to that of UD. Very soft and buttery with great pigmentation. For now, for me, it's UD. But I find MAC easier to work with because it's not as "buttery", if that makes sense.

 

[butterflyeyes]

I probably own nearly every MAC eyeshadow out there from their permanent line. I went a little crazy a couple of summers ago when I had some extra cash. I only recently discovered Urban Decay e/s and I LOVE THEM!!!! I have been using them almost exclusively for months now while my MAC eye shadows sit neglected. I also have a couple of Bobbi Browns and one NARS one that I like. Lancome makes a good shadow but UD has become my go to. I recently got TheBALM Nude'Tude palette and their formula is similar to that of UD. Very soft and buttery with great pigmentation. For now, for me, it's UD. But I find MAC easier to work with because it's not as "buttery", if that makes sense.

That's funny...because I find UD easier to work with BECAUSE it is more buttery lol.

 

[SamanthaDeMuro]

Well, I went ahead and bought the LORAC Pro Palette. I also own many Urban Decay shadows as well as my Stila Palette and my many, many MAC individual shadows. I have found that LORAC, UD and Stila all have similar, very buttery awesome formulations. But I recently went back to using MAC because my poor MAC shadows had gone neglected for too long. I fell back in love with MAC.

They are, for me anyway, somewhat easier to work with because they aren't so soft and buttery. Plus the huge color selection is great. I also have a couple of Dior Quints and love those as well. But Urban Decay, there's something about their eye shadows. Love all my shadows. My LORAC, my Stila, theBALM, MAC and even Lancome makes a good shadow. But I think at the end of the day, due to the huge color selection and the formulation, MAC wins. I still usually choose one of the others over MAC, but when I use MAC, I am reminded why I fell in love with them in the first place. Let's face it. I just love makeup. It makes me happy. And palettes are great for travel.

 

[kadytheredpanda]

I don't have much experience with MAC eyeshadows but I really like my UD palettes. As for lipstick, MAC all the way.

 

[SamanthaDeMuro]

I definitely agree with you about the MAC lipsticks. Nobody beats them. But I also like NARS. I will also add that to me, the best eyeliners and lip pencils come from MAC. I've tried Urban Decay's 24/7 pencil for eyes and lips and found them to be okay, but IMO, not as good as MAC. Same with MUFE. Decent, but not as good. MAC lip glasses are fun to play with, but I prefer Buxom lip glosses and NARS as well in the lip gloss department. MAC is such an amazing brand. There was a great article about MAC in the March issue of Allure magazine. Very informative.

 

[DILLIGAF]

I will say each brand has its strenghts. For me UD kills it when it comes to eyeliners. Especially since they expanded the range to 40. MAC has better lipsticks.

 

[DMcG9]

I like both brands somewhat equally. I fell in love with MAC in high school (lipsticks and eye shadows when I could afford them) and over the years have diversified into their skin care and foundations whereas when I first encountered UD in my undergrad I was more into their colourful eye shadows, liquid eyeliners and eye pencils... Which is still what draws me to their brand. I also depotted most of my Mac eye shadows recently and was pleased that the UD shadows I had also fit into the same palette. I bought the two of the new double MAC palettes with inserts for those who are curious and I'm loving them. Now I don't forget what I own even though I obsessively keep a list of what I have and what I wish for. Anyway, sorry for the asides there. I basically like MAC and UD equally but I find there is more in the MAC range I use than UD.

 

[Dominique33]

UD has the best eyeshadows ever and it's cruelty free, artistic dimension is good
M.A.C has the best lipsticks ever and it's not cruelty free, the artistic dimension is very very good

I love both brands I confess.

 

[butterflyeyes]

I will say each brand has its strenghts. For me UD kills it when it comes to eyeliners. Especially since they expanded the range to 40. MAC has better lipsticks.

I agree. UD lipsticks underwhelmed me (haven't tried the new ones yet and I'm trying to fight it since I swore I would try harder to curb the spending until September lol), but the eye liners pencils are my HG. I also love the liquid liners although the only one I use on a more frequent basis is Perversion (it's also my favorite black pencil liner...the blackest I've ever come across!). I prefer MAC lip liners though (except for the one I love from UD...Ozone. Perfect to create an invisible bleed line so lip products don't end up all over your face!).

 

[IHughes]

My mum gave me Book of Shadows IV and it was the first set of good eyeshadows I ever had. I actually didn't even know they were good quality until I read online! I love the sets and the naked palettes, I think they're great for creating many different looks with colours which will go well together. The primer potion is amazing and the eye pencils are superb! Their liquid liner is also very precise and black! I do have some problems though: fallout with some shadows, super glittery and some of them made my eyes water. I recently got into MAC and I find their eyeshadows to be more shimmery than glittery so I think the looks you can get are more classy. I must say I have since used UD eyeshadows with MAC brushes and it makes a lot of difference, much more pigmentation than with the brush that came with UD.

 

[butterflyeyes]

My mum gave me Book of Shadows IV and it was the first set of good eyeshadows I ever had. I actually didn't even know they were good quality until I read online! I love the sets and the naked palettes, I think they're great for creating many different looks with colours which will go well together. The primer potion is amazing and the eye pencils are superb! Their liquid liner is also very precise and black! I do have some problems though: fallout with some shadows, super glittery and some of them made my eyes water. I recently got into MAC and I find their eyeshadows to be more shimmery than glittery so I think the looks you can get are more classy. I must say I have since used UD eyeshadows with MAC brushes and it makes a lot of difference, much more pigmentation than with the brush that came with UD.

I hate UD brushes...they feel like plastic. OCC has proven (among others) that you don't have to sacrifice quality in order to have amazing vegan brushes. Unfortunately I feel like UD has failed in that area. Their glittery shadows are what initially kept me away from the brand (it just wasn't my thing at the time). I'm still not thrilled with the glitter heavy shadows (I tend not to use those as much as the fallout is terrible unless you use a glitter base) but their other formulas are amazing.

 

[Kris123]

I like Urban Decay, but some of their eye-shadows have such bad fall out (Midnight Cowboy, for example)

I agree. I LOVE Midnight Cowboy, but it does fail to stay put. I find the UD Primer Potion does help it stay put. It helps all the eye shadows. Have you tried it? I had a sample and plan to purchase the full size soon.

 

[SamanthaDeMuro]

Okay. This is how bad my makeup addiction is. I was cleaning out a closet yesterday. It was a hot mess. I found a box of MAC eyeshadows I'd ordered and had yet more shadows to add to my overflowing collection of palettes, Lancome shadows, UD singles and my MANY MAC shadows. I love all my shadows. It's just hard to decide what to use each day. I feel overwhelmed. But MAC will always be my favorite brand.

 

[blushAHOLIC]

I started off a ud fan and ended in mac, mostly because I live near Macy and it's easier to get my hands on and who can beat free shipping. Since I've turned to mac mt naked palettes get no love I need to revisit them tho, I live half-baked

 

[bvenice1920]

I agree. UD lipsticks underwhelmed me (haven't tried the new ones yet and I'm trying to fight it since I swore I would try harder to curb the spending until September lol), but the eye liners pencils are my HG. I also love the liquid liners although the only one I use on a more frequent basis is Perversion (it's also my favorite black pencil liner...the blackest I've ever come across!). I prefer MAC lip liners though (except for the one I love from UD...Ozone. Perfect to create an invisible bleed line so lip products don't end up all over your face!).

The new lipsticks are awesome so much better than the old ones. Even the lip pencils seem to be a bit better. I also agree about the eye liners! They are some of the best Ive come across.