Clinique vs MAC:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Clinique had more branded searches than MAC among lipstick brands worldwide. Clinique had about 673,000 branded searches, while MAC had 201,000. Clinique made up 16.2% of all lipstick brand searches we track, and MAC accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about lipstick brands, MAC appeared in all five answers and Clinique in three. MAC was mentioned before Clinique in every answer.
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Top lipstick brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, MAC appeared in all five answers. Clinique was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. MAC was listed before Clinique in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
MAC1st
Maybelline2nd
Charlotte Tilbury3rd
Revlon4th
Clinique5th
Fenty Beauty6th
NARS7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Maybelline5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- MAC5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Charlotte Tilbury4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Revlon4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Clinique3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Fenty Beauty2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- NARS1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about lipstick brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which lipstick brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best lipstick brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best lipstick brand for everyday makeup?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“lipstick brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best lipstick”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Clinique or MAC more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Clinique and MAC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven lipstick brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Clinique, MAC. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Charlotte Tilbury | Maybelline | Clinique | Fenty Beauty | NARS | MAC | Revlon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.4% | 20.9% | 17.2% | 14.1% | 7.7% | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.3% | 13.2% | 16.1% | 10.9% | 8.9% | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 43.1% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 10.6% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 33.3% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 4.5% | 5.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 31% | 20.9% | 17.1% | 14% | 7.7% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 33.9% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 3.7% | 4.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.9% | 20.2% | 20.2% | 13.5% | 7.4% | 4% | 4.9% |
| May 2026 | 30.1% | 20.3% | 20.3% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 4.1% | 5% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.8% | 22.2% | 18.1% | 9.9% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 36.2% | 19.8% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 7.3% | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.2% | 19.8% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 7.3% | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 36.2% | 19.8% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 7.3% | 4.8% | 4.8% |
How has the Clinique and MAC comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Clinique was ahead of MAC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clinique’s share of searches among lipstick brands worldwide moved from 17.2% to 16.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 673K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MAC’s share of searches among lipstick brands worldwide moved from 3.5% to 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 201K.
How did search popularity change for lipstick brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Clinique’s and MAC’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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