Brandwave

Huda Beauty vs MAC:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, MAC had more branded searches than Huda Beauty among eye shadow brands in New Zealand. MAC had about 4,390 branded searches, while Huda Beauty had 3,110. MAC made up 11.6% of all eye shadow brand searches we track, and Huda Beauty accounted for 8.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about eye shadow brands, Huda Beauty appeared in four of the five answers and MAC in three. Huda Beauty was mentioned before MAC in two out of three answers.

Among eye shadow brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

MAC, about 41% more searches than Huda Beauty

MAC 4.4K searchesHuda Beauty 3.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Huda Beauty, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, MAC in 3

Huda Beauty in 4 of 5MAC in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Huda Beauty, named ahead of MAC in 2 of 3 answers

Huda Beauty first in 2MAC first in 1

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Top eye shadow brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Huda Beauty was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. MAC was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Huda Beauty was listed before MAC in two out of three answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Maybelline1st
  2. Anastasia Beverly Hills2nd
  3. Huda Beauty3rd
  4. MAC4th
  5. Tom Ford–
  6. Estée Lauder–
  7. Bobbi Brown–
  8. Clinique–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Huda Beauty4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MAC3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Maybelline2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Bobbi Brown1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Tom Ford0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Estée Lauder0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clinique0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about eye shadow brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Huda Beauty or MAC more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Huda Beauty and MAC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight eye shadow brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Huda Beauty and MAC among eye shadow brands in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMaybellineTom FordEstée LauderMACHuda BeautyBobbi BrownCliniqueAnastasia Beverly Hills
Oct 202528.1%27.1%11.5%11.7%8.1%6.1%4.6%2.9%
Nov 202525.8%20.6%13.5%13.1%13.6%5.4%5.9%2.2%
Dec 202527.9%25.1%13.6%13.2%7.2%5.2%5.4%2.5%
Jan 202630.3%21.8%12.4%11.4%11.2%4.7%6.2%1.9%
Feb 202632.1%21.6%12.6%12.3%8.1%4.9%6.1%2.3%
Mar 202633.4%21.2%13.7%12.7%7.4%4.3%5.4%2%
Apr 202633%21.9%13.8%11.9%7.9%4.4%4.6%2.5%
May 202632.7%21.6%12.7%12.7%7.5%4.6%6.2%1.9%
Jun 202634.3%22.5%11.2%12.5%8%4.3%5.3%2%
Jul 202636.1%20.3%10.2%13.2%7.6%4.6%5.5%2.6%
Aug 202636.4%21%11.3%10.8%8.3%4.3%5.2%2.7%
Sep 202633.4%21.1%13.4%11.6%8.2%5.1%5%2.3%

How has the Huda Beauty and MAC comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Huda Beauty took it in November 2025, MAC took it in December 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Huda Beauty’s share of searches among eye shadow brands in New Zealand moved from 8.1% to 8.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.8K to 3.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MAC’s share of searches among eye shadow brands in New Zealand moved from 11.7% to 11.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1K to 4.4K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand eye shadow brands in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, MAC gained share of searches among eye shadow brands in New Zealand, from 10.8% to 11.6%.

How are branded searches counted?

21 search terms

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

Huda Beauty

7 branded search terms

  • huda beauty
  • huda beauty blush
  • huda beauty concealer
  • huda beauty foundation
  • huda beauty lipstick
  • huda beauty mascara
  • huda beauty powder

MAC

14 branded search terms

  • mac cosmetics
  • mac cosmetics concealer
  • mac cosmetics eyeliner
  • mac cosmetics foundation
  • mac cosmetics lipstick
  • mac cosmetics makeup
  • mac cosmetics mascara
  • mac cosmetics powder
  • mac cosmetics primer
  • mac foundation
  • mac lipstick
  • mac powder
  • mac studio fix
  • mac velvet teddy

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among eye shadow brands

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