15% off First Orders with Newsletter Sign-ups at MAC
10% off Custom Sets at MAC
Gifts from £25 at MAC
Delivery from £2.95 at MAC
Free Returns on Orders at MAC
Bestsellers from £20 at MAC
£10 off Next Orders Over £50 with Friend Referrals at MAC
Up to 20% Student Discount on Orders Over £65 at MAC
New Arrivals from £15 at MAC
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About the Brand
MAC (Makeup Artist Cosmetics) started in Toronto in 1984 before being acquired by The Estée Lauder Companies. It was built on professional artistry, which is why you still see their kits backstage at fashion weeks globally. Today, it sits as a staple in the UK beauty market, stocked in standalone boutiques and major department stores across the country, including dozens of locations in London alone.
The core range covers everything from the iconic Studio Fix fluid foundations to the Mineralise skinfinishes and Ruby Woo lipsticks. Prices generally start around £15 for new arrivals or single items, climbing past £55 for curated gift sets and custom palettes. What sets them apart is the professional-grade pigmentation and the sheer breadth of shade ranges, which were revolutionary when the brand first launched and remain a benchmark today.
Beyond the products themselves, the brand leans heavily into its artistry roots. Shoppers can book virtual try-ons and online consultations to find their exact foundation match without stepping foot in a shop. They also run the Back-to-MAC recycling scheme, letting you return empty primary packaging in exchange for a free product to help reduce plastic waste.
Combine these professional-grade staples with the discount codes and student offers below, and you have a solid strategy for restocking your makeup bag without paying full price.
How to use
- Grab your code by clicking the offer card on this page; it copies to your clipboard automatically. 2. Head over to maccosmetics.co.uk and browse their latest collections. 3. Add your chosen foundations or lipsticks to your basket. 4. Click the basket icon, proceed to checkout, and find the ‘Offer Code’ box on the right. 5. Paste your code, hit apply, and verify the discount has dropped the total before paying.
Shopping Guide
When is the best time to buy MAC online? While the brand runs seasonal promotions, we have found that their most reliable discounts appear during major retail holidays like Black Friday and the Boxing Day sales. Outside of these peaks, your best strategy is to build a basket of full-priced staples and wait for a site-wide 15% off newsletter code to land in your inbox. Keep an eye on their limited-edition celebrity collaborations too, as these collections often include exclusive gift-with-purchase offers that add serious value to a standard restock.
How do I maximise savings on higher-priced gift sets? Gifting is where MAC’s tiered discounts really shine. If you are buying a custom palette or a curated holiday kit, aim to push your total past the £65 mark to unlock the maximum 20% student discount via UNiDAYS, or use a referral voucher if you have one banked. Bundling a few smaller items like a Prep + Prime primer or a mini lipstick into your basket can easily tip you over that threshold, effectively making those add-ons free once the percentage discount is applied.
Is it worth shopping in-store versus online? Both channels have distinct advantages depending on what you are buying.
| Feature | Online Shopping | In-Store Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Promo Codes | Easy to paste at checkout | Must be shown on your phone |
| Shade Matching | Relies on virtual try-on tools | Professional artist consultation |
| Recycling | Postage required for returns | Hand empty packaging directly to staff |
If you are restocking your favourite Ruby Woo lipstick, stick to the website and stack a newsletter code. But if you are hunting for a new foundation shade, visit a counter to get matched by an artist and drop off your empty Back-to-MAC pots at the same time.