I clean my brushes using a method that has proven the easiest and most effective for me. Check it out below:
1 Starting with a dirty brush, I squeeze a little bit of MAC’s Cleanse-Off Oil onto the brush, allowing it to soak into the bristles evenly. I then squeeze the bristles, forcing as much of the oil out of the brush as I can and into a tissue. I’ve discovered this is the best way to get product out of the brush. For emollient products like liquid or cream foundation, paint pots, liquidlast liners and fluidlines, it is essential to use the Cleanse-Off Oil to break down the product.
2 When I get the bulk of the oil out of the brush, I then pour a small amount of MAC’s Brush Cleanser onto the brush, wiping it on a tissue back and forth and occasionally squeezing out the liquid. MAC’s brush cleanser not only cleans product (including Cleanse-Off Oil) out of the brush, it sanitizes it and also conditions the bristles, so this is a very important step.
3 I then rinse the brush in some water. You may notice that before running clear, the water will have a slight white-ish or milky tint. This is from the Cleanse-Off Oil, which emulsifies when mixed with water.
4 Last step (I promise!) is to swipe the brush through some 70% isopropyl alcohol. This sanitizes the bristles and is especially important if your brushes are used on other people.

I wash my eyeshadow brushes as needed, typically about once a week. In between uses, I will simply swipe the brush back and forth on a paper towel gently to prevent it from muddying up the different colors I apply.

Any brush that is used to apply a cream or emollient product should be cleansed about once a week to kill bacteria and prevent possible infections.

Tags: FAQ

It’s nail polish. Makeup artists at MAC counters use the colors on the ends of their brushes to differentiate between everyone’s brushes and their own. I painted mine before I was hired to work for MAC because I thought it was cool. It doesn’t really serve a practical purpose unless you mix your brushes a lot with others and want to keep track of them.

Tags: FAQ

Though I am aware that you can use all sorts of things to make videos (webcams, digital cameras, video cameras), I use a built in video camera that came with my computer. I have a Macbook named Ruby, and she has a built-in iSight. I use iMovie to edit all my videos, which is pretty amateur-ish as far as editing goes, but it definitely works well for my purposes.

Tags: FAQ

MAC’s one-of-a-kind recycling program is called Back 2 MAC, often abbreviated B2M. When you purchase a product from MAC, there will be a label on the box that says BACK 2 MAC, which indicates that the container is eligible to be returned to MAC. The way the program works is this: when you have accumulated six ‘empties’ (or, empty MAC containers that once contained product) you can turn them back into MAC and receive a free lipstick of your choice. This includes limited edition lipsticks released with new collections but excludes all VIVA GLAM lipsticks (as 100% of the proceeds from VIVA GLAM go to MAC’s AIDS fund). If you live near a MAC freestanding store, you are also lucky enough to be able to trade in your 6 empties for a full-size lipglass or eyeshadow, instead of a lipstick.

Tags: FAQ

This is a two part answer. Number one, you can request samples of pigments at counters and stores. Please remember to request nicely and not too often. The free product is given as an incentive to buy the full product if you are satisfied with it, so don’t treat it as a way to get product for free. Also keep in mind that it is the prerogative of the MA to provide the sample, so be nice. Number two, makeup community members on the internet have come to start selling sample jars of full-sized pigments they buy if they believe they’ll never use all the product themselves. Generally these samples go for as little as $2 apiece, depending on the amount and the availability of the product. (For example, a limited edition or discontinued pigment sample is likely to go for more than a sample of a pigment that is still available at MAC stores.) Of course, you buy from and sell to members of the online community at your own risk and with the knowledge that this is not condoned or regulated by MAC.

Tags: FAQ

No, silly! You can definitely shop at every MAC store. However, the MAC PRO website is reserved for those who have membership only. Even if you do not have a membership, however, you can call an 800 number [1-800-387-6707 for the US & Canada] and place an order over the telephone by providing a credit card. This is most convenient if you are just looking to replace a product you’ve bought before, or if you have browsed the PRO website but do not live near enough to a store to buy products in person.

Tags: FAQ