Brandwave

MAC vs Milk Makeup:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Milk Makeup had more branded searches than MAC among makeup primer brands worldwide. Milk Makeup had about 36,200 branded searches, while MAC had 18,100. Milk Makeup made up 8.9% of all makeup primer brand searches we track, and MAC accounted for 4.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup primer brands, Milk Makeup appeared in three of the five answers and MAC in none.

Among makeup primer brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Milk Makeup, about 2 searches for every 1 for MAC

Milk Makeup 36.2K searchesMAC 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Milk Makeup, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, MAC in 0

Milk Makeup in 3 of 5MAC in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Milk Makeup, the only one of the two named

Milk Makeup first in 2MAC never named

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Top makeup primer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Milk Makeup was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and 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 MAC or Milk Makeup more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for MAC and Milk Makeup 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.

MAC and Milk Makeup among makeup primer brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Milk Makeup, MAC. 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%

Milk Makeup sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “milk primer”.

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

3 findings
  • Milk Makeup was ahead of MAC in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Milk Makeup’s share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 11.3% to 8.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 54.8K to 36.2K.

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

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Milk Makeup lost share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide, from 10% to 8.9%.

  2. 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.

How are MAC’s and Milk Makeup’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MAC’s and Milk Makeup’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.

MAC

1 branded search term

  • mac primer

Milk Makeup

3 branded search terms

  • milk hydro grip primer
  • milk makeup primer
  • milk primer

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among makeup primer brands

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