Brandwave

Hourglass vs MAC:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, MAC had more branded searches than Hourglass among makeup primer brands worldwide. MAC had about 18,100 branded searches, while Hourglass had 10,500. MAC made up 4.5% of all makeup primer brand searches we track, and Hourglass accounted for 2.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup primer brands, Hourglass appeared in one of the five answers and MAC in none.

Among makeup primer brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

MAC, about 72% more searches than Hourglass

MAC 18.1K searchesHourglass 10.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Hourglass, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, MAC in 0

Hourglass in 1 of 5MAC in 0 of 5

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Top makeup primer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hourglass was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. MAC did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Smashbox1st
  2. Milk Makeup2nd
  3. e.l.f. Cosmetics3rd
  4. Benefit Cosmetics3rd
  5. NYX Professional Makeup5th
  6. Hourglass6th
  7. MAC–
  8. Charlotte Tilbury–
  9. Laura Mercier–
  10. Fenty Beauty–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Smashbox4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Milk Makeup3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Benefit Cosmetics2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • NYX Professional Makeup1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hourglass1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Charlotte Tilbury0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Laura Mercier0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Fenty Beauty0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about makeup primer brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.

Is Hourglass or MAC more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hourglass and MAC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 makeup primer brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Hourglass and MAC among makeup primer brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for MAC, Hourglass. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
Monthe.l.f. CosmeticsBenefit CosmeticsSmashboxMilk MakeupNYX Professional MakeupMACHourglassCharlotte TilburyLaura MercierFenty BeautyRare BeautyToo Faced
Nov 202544.4%12.1%8.7%11.3%8.4%5.6%2.8%2.5%1.7%1.1%0.91%0.5%
Dec 202545.7%11.8%8.6%11.7%8.6%4.7%2.3%2.6%1.7%0.94%0.77%0.62%
Jan 202641%16.5%9.8%10.9%8.1%4.4%2.7%2.4%1.6%0.88%0.88%0.71%
Feb 202642.5%13.4%9.8%13%8%4.4%2.7%2.4%1.6%0.86%0.71%0.71%
Mar 202644.1%13.9%9.3%11.1%8.3%4.6%2.3%2.5%1.7%0.91%0.73%0.6%
Apr 202641.2%12.4%11.5%12.9%7.4%5%3%2.7%1.5%0.98%0.79%0.79%
May 202643%11.1%12.1%11.7%8.1%4.4%2.9%2.4%1.6%1.1%0.87%0.57%
Jun 202644.8%11.6%11.3%11.3%7%4.6%3%2.5%1.7%0.91%0.75%0.5%
Jul 202645.9%11.3%11.1%11.9%6.8%3.7%2.9%2.5%1.6%0.89%0.89%0.58%
Aug 202649.7%10.5%9.3%10.2%7.7%4.2%2.5%2.3%1.5%0.82%0.82%0.54%
Sep 202649.7%10.9%10.1%10%6.6%4.4%2.7%2%1.6%0.86%0.71%0.56%
Oct 202650.6%11.1%10.3%8.9%6.7%4.5%2.6%2%1.3%0.89%0.71%0.39%

How has branded search for Hourglass and MAC changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • MAC was ahead of Hourglass in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Hourglass’ share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 2.8% to 2.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 13.5K to 10.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, MAC’s share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 5.6% to 4.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.

How did search popularity change for makeup primer brands worldwide in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. MAC’s share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.7% to 4.5% in October 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Hourglass worldwide fell 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 13.5K to 10.5K in October 2026.

How are Hourglass’ and MAC’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hourglass’ 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.

Hourglass

2 branded search terms

  • hourglass primer
  • hourglass veil primer

MAC

1 branded search term

  • mac primer

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among makeup primer brands

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