ColourPop vs MAC:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, ColourPop had more branded searches than MAC among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide. ColourPop had about 201,000 branded searches, while MAC had 74,000. ColourPop made up 2.2% of all makeup and cosmetics brand searches we track, and MAC accounted for 0.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup and cosmetics brands, MAC appeared in three of the five answers and ColourPop in none.
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Top makeup and cosmetics brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, MAC was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. ColourPop 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.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Rare Beauty5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Maybelline4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Fenty Beauty4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Charlotte Tilbury3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
MAC3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Clinique2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NYX Professional Makeup2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
L'Oréal Paris2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NARS2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
ColourPop0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about makeup and cosmetics brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which makeup and cosmetics brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best makeup and cosmetics brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best makeup and cosmetics brand for everyday wear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“makeup brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cosmetics brands”
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 19, 2026.
Is ColourPop or MAC more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for ColourPop and MAC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 28 makeup and cosmetics brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for ColourPop, MAC. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Charlotte Tilbury | Estée Lauder | Maybelline | Clinique | Huda Beauty | NYX Professional Makeup | Rare Beauty | Fenty Beauty | Morphe | L'Oréal Paris | NARS | Bobbi Brown | Makeup by Mario | Tarte | ColourPop | MAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 13.1% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 7.2% | 8.7% | 6.5% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 0.64% |
| Nov 2025 | 17.3% | 9.5% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 21.1% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 4.3% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.57% |
| Dec 2025 | 20% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 12.9% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 10.5% | 7.9% | 7.1% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.64% |
| Feb 2026 | 12.7% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 7% | 8.6% | 7.8% | 7% | 5.7% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.77% |
| Mar 2026 | 14.5% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 7.2% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.71% |
| Apr 2026 | 13% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 8% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.79% |
| May 2026 | 12.3% | 10.1% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 7.5% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 6.8% | 2% | 0.75% |
| Jun 2026 | 14.1% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 8.6% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 0.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 16.3% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 8.1% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 16.1% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 8% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.2% | 0.79% |
| Sep 2026 | 16.3% | 9% | 9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6.8% | 6% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
How has the ColourPop and MAC comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- ColourPop was ahead of MAC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ColourPop’s share of searches among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide moved from 2.1% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 201K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MAC’s share of searches among makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide moved from 0.64% to 0.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 74K.
How did search popularity change for makeup and cosmetics brands worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for ColourPop worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 246K to 201K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ColourPop’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.
Other head-to-heads among makeup and cosmetics brands
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