MAC Cosmetics

I LOVE LOVE LOVE MAC. As a woman of color, no other line comes close to having the range of colors that work for me. The one star is due the fact that MAC’s parent company has gone back to animal testing. This is because they sell in China, and China requires animal testing. Right now I’m managing between Tarte and Urban Decay. But I’d love to be a MAC woman again. BOO on animal testing!

To be fair, I didn’t need help for real when I came to this location. I had already received good service when I was out of town in VA but I ended up buying the wrong powder color. I just needed to make an exchange and I was helped promptly when I walked in. It wasn’t as efficient as it could have been though and I’m not really sure why it took so long to make the switch when I had a receipt… but I realized I didn’t have the box… they never said anything or made an issue of it so I really appreciated that! I think the lady helping me was relatively new and needed to get confirmation/​approvals/​something from a manager. It was fine because I wasn’t in a rush, but in general it took a bit longer than perhaps it should have. I like MAC in general and I’m over the moon with my products! You can’t tell me NOTHING when I have my lip gloss on!

Oh MAC. You are awesome! I scheduled a private session here for a photo shoot I had the same day based on their long-​standing reputation, and having gotten my makeup done wonderfully at another location in the northeast.
I originally scheduled my appointment for 4:30 PM and called to reschedule for 4:00 PM. The woman on the other end sounded very rushed and I was skeptical she even changed the appointment. I was going to call back to confirm, but I said naaaah, I’m sure they got it. I should have followed my intuition though! It’s a shame us women don’t listen to it more often. anyways…
When I arrived to the store, everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming! They greet you as soon as you enter. I told them I had an appointment for 4:00 PM, and what do you know?! My appointment was never changed! Tsk tsk tsk! Well, they went ahead and kept my appointment for 4:00 PM although I would have to be on the floor instead of in the private room (but still kept «private»). Ladies, the private room is worth it! If you’re scheduling an appointment your two options are spend $ 50 on products and have your makeup done on the floor — with your artist helping other customers (interruptions), or have your makeup done in the private room for $ 50 and get a free mascara. I’d rather have no interruptions and be done in an hour, so I believe private is the way to go! The store didn’t have too much traffic during that time on a weekday, but I hear weekends are pretty crowded. So are Wednesday evenings.
The lady who did my makeup was wonderful! She asked me detailed questions to find out exactly what I needed done and her smokey eye application was A++. I highly recommend her! She also gave me dozens of free makeup tips, because I rarely RARELY wear the stuff. I left the store looking and feeling like a superstar and all ready for my close up!
FYI: The lady who did my makeup has a short blond cut. She is WONDERFUL! I wish I remembered her name! Thank you so much!

After a looong search for the perfect wedding makeup, I landed myself in Aileen’s chair at Mac. My problem had been color matching: I have a lot of olive in my skin and everyone kept applying warm colors that turned me pink, achem Laura Mercier MUA. Until Aileen came into my life as the makeup angel that she is. She gave me a flawless face that photographed beautifully, scheduled all my girls, and couldn’t have made the experience any better. I am forever in love.

Super helpful. Location is never extremely busy. Aileen is THEE best. Very personable and honest. I never feel pressured to buy or sold the wrong products. I’m never going to the Macys (Michigan) location again. Parking is easy as well.

i’ve never really had an experience here that really stuck out as great. most recently, i came in to purchase a fun, bold lipstick as a little #treatyoself gift on valentine’s day.
the woman who helped me was certainly knowledgeable on the products they have to offer, but when she asked what i was looking for and i told her a bold lip color, she asked me to select a few shades. when i pointed to one, she looked at me like i was incompetent and snickered, «you think THAT’S a bold color?» i mean, i’m sorry i’m not a color expert, but that’s exactly why i chose to go straight to the experts instead of fending for myself, and i was made to feel dumb and embarrassed.
i still left with a lip color and a lipliner, but only because i felt obligated for wasting that woman’s time, and not before trying to be baited with a new blush to add-​on to my purchase.
the next time i want any mac products, i’m going to the counter at nordstrom, where the associates are knowledgeable, friendly, and not condescending.

I dislike the MAC counter at Macy’s in Water Tower, it’s always too crowded for me (which isn’t their fault, it’s prime location) and they are never nice to me. I’m glad that my co-​worker recommended this free standing store, which is only 2 blocks from where we work! I went in to browse their Magnetic Nudes collection, which most of the colors I needed were sold out. But that’s to be expected with most of their LE collections. However, a really nice sales girl recommended me other products that were similar/​better for my complexion. She was also prompt and ringing me up and getting the products for me. I will definitely return to this store when I am in need of a MAC product.

I love MAC cosmetics. I will admit that most of my make-​up kit is MAC. I’ve only visited this location twice, and both times the ladies working have been less than stellar.
The first time it was kind of busy, so I’ll give them that. The most recent time, I visited on a Wednesday, mid-​day, so it was not busy. My friend and I were pretty much ignored. A girl did help us when we could pull her away from her friend who was playing around with the lipsticks (I don’t think she purchased anything, therefore not really customer in my book). This same girl didn’t offer to help us try on lipsticks or give us the proper tools (disposable lip wands) to do so. She didn’t even show us the alcohol so to disinfect the lipsticks beforehand — I had to go looking for it at the end of the make-​up counter. Lastly, she was of no help when my friend wanted to put together a palette of eyeshadows. Another salesperson ended up helping us when the first failed to. It was only after dropping around $ 60 did the first salesgirl perk up and act somewhat nice. Total disappointment.
I really hate to be hating on MAC. I really do love the products and every other make-​up artist I have encountered at their stores and counters has been fantastic. Its just this store I guess. Glad I only visit it a couple times of year, because I wouldn’t be using as much MAC if I had to deal with this lackadaisical attitude from their staff.

MAC, oh MAC. I *still* love thee!
The ladies at this store are top notch. Always helpful, always encouraging experimentation with color, and getting out of one’s comfort zone. I had the best time here recently with Emily. She was just great.
I still say for the quality of the product and the price, AND the awesome Back2MAC program AND the Viva Glam line (all proceeds go to AIDS research), MAC is still my favorite «high end» makeup line, and the standalone stores are still far preferred to the department store counters.
As a MAC devotee, I’ve visited standalones and pro stores all over the country and our little store on Oak Street is still tops with me.

I could spend hours in this store getting tips and playing with new makeup. In fact I did just that when I was in Chicago last.
My family had a recent garage/​house fire in which destroyed most of my MAC makeup and brushes. While I picked Aileen’s brain on new products and her favorite brushes, she made my Danish exchange daughter feel like a goddess by doing her makeup. Then she demonstrated some of her ideas on my own makeup. When it came to contouring questions she told me about a recent wedding that she did the makeup for. She recommended a brown paint stick from the Pro Store on Armitage.
I left armed with new information, great inspiration, an amazing experience, personalized shopping experience, and tons of new makeup/​tools to try out. I will be back.

Awesome and helpful staff. I came with my makeup artist and the staff helped her show me products I never would have known to pick out. I’m so pleased with my products and the looks they showed me. Thanks to the MAC team at this store for being so great!

My God this is most stupid mac I have ever shopped at. Every time I go to buy something they’re out of it… then they always trying to sell u something similar. Damn just have my color or product. Macys and Nordstrom run their mac counter a thousand times better. U don’t have to worry about me coming to shop here again. The Asian girl who works here is nice… everybody else and I mean this SUCKS!!!

I’m a MAC Pro member and Pro discounts can only be used at freestanding stores. This store is my favorite of the two (the other is in Lincoln Park). Being a woman of color, I like to have another woman color’s POV on different products. Emily, I believe is her name, is extremely helpful. I usually go in with my list, ready to go and I’m helped immediately. All the people I’ve experienced have been helpful and pleasant. I can say, however, when you know something about makeup, it’s a little easier to talk to them and get past the sales pitch.
Freestanding stores have a much larger variety of products than the counters in department stores. I just wish their hours were extended a little bit.
Check it out… you could easily spend an hour or more in there.

The artist that helped me got all of my celebrity references and helped me recreate the look I was going for flawlessly. And! You can return/​exchange used product for any reason without getting strong-​armed for an explanation.

Very helpful! Great selection! Love love love my new red lipstick… Never thought I could wear such a bright color but my new CHILE matte red lipstick that the make-​up artist helped picked out looks AMAZING!
I came here with my mother and we had a really fun time. Also great selection of all the holiday pallets and gift sets, which other smaller stores sometimes sell out of quickly.

I am a total newbie with makeup. I’ve put on makeup once in my whole high school career (Prom. I looked like a pig, btw.), and never since graduation. I was getting along just fine until I got invited to a cocktail party. Eek.
Panicking, I dropped in the first makeup store I saw, hoping for some pointers. Given my experience with makeup, I’m sure anyone who’s ever touched a stick of lipstick in their lifetime would have been able to help me with the basics, so I can’t say anything about the expertise here. However, the employees were super nice.
I was helped quite promptly, but I did come in on an early weekday night. I was helped by Gary, who didn’t pressure me to buy anything at all, even though I ended up trying on powder foundation, blush, eyeliner, and mascara. He answered all my questions and wasn’t at all patronizing. I definitely came out of that store feeling a lot less anxious about makeup.
Additionally, all the makeup for sampling were used in a sanitary way: a disposable brush for lip gloss and mascara, and the eyeliner pencil was sanitized, sharpened, then sanitized again.
Now to see if I’m allergic to what I tried, haha.

I was in town for a wedding and came here to get my makeup done for the event. I made an appointment over the phone — I called on Weds for a Saturday and they were able to schedule me, but they were pretty booked, so I recommend booking early if you have a specific time you want to come in.
I felt that the makeup artist took time to understand what kind of look I was going for and what types of colors I felt comfortable with. My makeup turned out amazing– dramatic and just what I wanted. The cost was $ 50 for studio makeup session (which includes a free mascara of your choice) + $ 16 for the lashes.
I can see why some other people felt the staff is inattentive. This was not my experience, but the store was packed, and two of the four people on staff were busy with makeup appointments so weren’t able to pay close attention to everyone in the store. So if you need some staff lovin’, maybe don’t come here during peak Saturday hours.
I’d definitely recommend them for special event makeup and will be back if I ever have another black tie affair in Chicago!

I am not a huge make-​up person. I stick with neutrals for work stuff and my goal in life is to look put together with as little work as possible. That said, I get my make-​up done for special events so I don’t have to learn how to do it or buy the make-​up required and keep it around for once-​in-​a-​blue-​moon.
I usually go to the woman in the salon inside my building but on Saturdays she is often doing weddings so she recommended I go to MAC for make-​up before a friend’s wedding. In her defense, she did say to ask for a specific person, but I didn’t because I figured… hey they all work here, right? OMG It was off-​the-​chain horrible. I’m actually ready to cry again just thinking about it.
I had to coach her through the session so I could get home in enough time to wash it off and re-​do it myself. I thought maybe I could salvage it if she didn’t go crazy, but no. It took a week to get all of the glue out of my lashes from her ridiculous placement of the false lashes. I had to scrub my face twice after to get most of it off.
Further, they weren’t very sympathetic… trying to get me to buy more stuff and spend extra time in the store to «fix» it.

Sandra! You goddess of make up! You always make me look beautiful!
The whole staff here is amazing and charming and always remember me and my friends.
I never mind spending money here which is prob why I come in once a week!

My love for M.A.C runs strong & deep. I adore their eye shadows. The colors are so rich & vibrant and they have every shade under the rainbow. And don’t get me started on their brushes. It literally changed my life when I got turned on to them. It’s amazing the difference a brush can make. Blending, smudging, layering shades, my makeup took on a whole new life when I found the right brushes to apply with.
But anyway, on to the store itself. I stop in here every couple of months because a salon I go to is across the street. The staff here is always on point. They are friendly & helpful but will leave you alone too if that’s what you want. I once spent about a ½ hour with one girl trying to find just the right shade of red lipstick for me. Now that’s service! And every once in awhile I’ll just get my makeup done. I love the looks they come up with. It’s always fun to have someone else do your makeup… even if you leave at 3 o’clock in the afternoon with bright aqua going out eyes!
My only caution is be prepared to drop some cash. Even when I’m on my best behavior I always manage to leave with at least one thing I didn’t plan to buy. It’s just so hard, all that pretty makeup just waiting, begging even, to be brought home! And I’m a sucker for it every time.