Make-up Art Cosmetics, better known to most as MAC Cosmetics, is a manufacturer of cosmetics, originally known famous through word-of-mouth endorsements by professional makeup artists, models and celebrities.[1]
The company has become synonymous with glamour due to its ever-growing presence in the fashion industry, continued use of celebrity endorsements and commitment to cruelty-free products and universal diversity.
[edit] History
MAC was started in Canada by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in 1985. [2] MAC opened their first standalone store in the United States in 1991, in Greenwich Village.[3] The Estée Lauder Companies, who acquired controlling interest in MAC in 1994, finished their acquisition of the company in 1998 [2]. One year prior to the acquisition, original founder Frank Angelo died in 1997 due to complications during surgery.
Shortly following the buy-out, Frank Toskan left the company to found another AIDS Charity,[4] with brother-in-law, Vic Casale, an original MAC Chemist.[5] The MAC AIDS Fund has been continued by the new owners. Money for the fund is raised by the sale of Viva Glam products (currently available in six lipstick colors and two glosses) There is also a limited edition gloss that was co-designed by Fergie. 100% of the sale price of Viva Glam products is donated to help men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS. Since its inception in 1994 to the present date, the fund has raised over $135 million US Dollars.[6]
[edit] MAC PRO
The MAC PRO Program is provided to professionals in the industry.[7] An annual fee must be paid for this service. The program provides professional support, special pro-only benefits and discounts. Make-up artists receive a 40% discount. Aestheticians, cosmetologists, hairstylists, fashion stylists, nail technicians, costume designers, models, on-air talent/performers, and photographers receive a 30% discount. The MAC Pro Student membership, which provides lesser benefits, entitles those studying Make-up artistry and various other fashion-related programs to a 20% discount for the approximate length of one school year. International discounts may vary.[8]
[edit] Promotion and Advertising
The MAC AIDS fund was established in 1994 by MAC's founders Frank Angelo and Frank Toskan. This foundation was created to support men, women and childern living with HIV/AIDS globally. VIVA GLAM was also introduced that same year as a financial support for the Fund. Since then the U.S. has raised over $130 million for the MAC AIDS funds.
Official spokespersons in the past have included:
- Sandra Bernhard, a former MAC model (Pool Party collection), inspired the 'Sandy B.' lipstick, as well as appeared in a Plushglass commercial in 2006
- Diana Ross, MAC Beauty Icon 2004
- Liza Minnelli, MAC Beauty Icon 2005
- Catherine Deneuve, MAC Beauty Icon 2006
- Amanda Lepore, starred in a feature length MAC lipstick and *Heatherette bag ad
- Raquel Welch, MAC Beauty Icon 2007
- Paulina Rubio, collaborated with MAC to create "Rubia" lipstick
- Barbie, as part of their 2007 line "Barbie Loves MAC"
- Eartha Kitt, for their 2007 pre-fall "Smoke Signals" color collection
- Alexander McQueen, collaborated with MAC to create "MAC for McQueen" collection for his fall runway collection
- A-mei, collaborated with MAC to create "MAC for A-MEI" collection 2008
- Fafi, collaborated with MAC to create "MAC Fafi!" collection 2008
- Heatherette, collaborated with MAC to create "Heatherette" collection 2008
- Wicked, uses MAC Chromacake in Landscape Green for character Elphaba
- RuPaul, the first spokesmodel for MAC and for Viva Glam I
- K.D. Lang for Viva Glam II
- Lil' Kim for Viva Glam III
- Mary J Blige for Viva Glam III and IV
- Shirley Manson for Viva Glam IV
- Elton John for Viva Glam IV
- Christina Aguilera for Viva Glam V
- Boy George for Viva Glam V
- Linda Evangelista for Viva Glam V, and also helped (unofficially) promote "Spice" Lip Pencil in the '90s
- Chloe Sevigny for Viva Glam V
- Pamela Anderson for Viva Glam V
- Missy Elliott for Viva Glam V
- Eve for Viva Glam VI
- Debbie Harry for Viva Glam VI
- Lisa Marie Presley for Viva Glam VI
- Dita von Teese for Viva Glam VI, and also was the model for the "Nocturnelle" collection visual
- Farheen Rana, MAC Beauty Icon 2009
- Fergie, for Viva Glam VI Special Edition Lipglass
- Lacey Moseley of Flyleaf, used MAC Cosmetics for Flyleaf's "Sorrow" music video.
- Emanuel Ungaro, collaborated with MAC to create "Emanuel Ungaro collection" for fall 2008
- Dame Edna, collaborated with MAC to create "Dame Edna collection" for winter 2008
- Manish Arora, collaborated with MAC to create "MAC for Manish Arora" for fall 2008
- Hello Kitty will be a "spokesperson" for MAC in spring 2009
- Madonna is said to have inspired "Russian Red" Lipstick
- Radio City Rockettes, all Radio City Rockettes wear 'Russian Red' lipstick for performances
- The Saturdays, currently sponsored by MAC on their official website.
- Playboy, collaborated with MAC to create "Playboy" collections in winter 2003 and spring 2005
- A Bathing Ape, collaborated with MAC to create an Asia exclusive skincare set for winter 2005
- Dsquared, collaborated with MAC to create a collection for fall 2009
- Lady GaGa, is sponsored by MAC on her official website and is also rumored to be doing a future MAC campaign with Cyndi Lauper.
- Cyndi Lauper, rumored to be doing a future MAC campaign with Lady GaGa.
MAC Cosmetics has also been featured in movies such as:
[edit] Social initiatives
MAC has five social initiative programs currently in place.
- MAC Cruelty-Free Beauty
- Back to MAC Recycling
- MAC Kids Helping Kids
- The MAC AIDS Fund [9]
- The MAC PRO program
[edit] References
MAC have many collections such as Hello kitty, Rose romance and a couple of others
[edit] External links
