Make-up Art Cosmetics

Make-up Art Cosmetics

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Consumer goods
Founded	1984
Headquarters	New York, New York
Key people	Frank Toskan Frank Angelo
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 founded in Toronto, Canada and headquartered in New York City, New York.

History

M·A·C Cosmetics, Makeup Artist Cosmetics, was founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in 1985. The first U.S M·A·C store opened in 2003, in Greenwich Village, New York.

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

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

Products

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

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). These oils provide benefits for the skin such as prevention of water loss, as they build up in the skin and are not washed away, so the protection is believed to last longer.

M.A.C has collaborated with icons such as Barbie, Hello Kitty, Fafi and Disney and designers such as D-Squared and Alexander McQueen. These items are limited edition and sell out very quickly because of popular demand.

M·A·C PRO

The M·A·C PRO Program is provided to professionals in the industry. 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 initiatives

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.
• Back 2 M·A·C Recycling: offers free lipglass, 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 Long gloss,Plash Gloss,Luster Gloss and Pro palett 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: supports community organizations providing direct services to people living with AIDS.
• 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.

Controversy

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.

External links

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