You do not have to be a professional makeup artist or card-carrying beauty fanatic to visit a MAC Pro Store.
In fact, unlike da cloob, they won’t card you at the door. The stores are open to the public, and you should totally visit. They’re called Pro stores because they carry a range of MAC products made to meet the needs of makeup professionals (but non-pros can also buy them).
Next time you make it out to San Francisco, try to stop by the MAC Pro Store at 1833 Union Street, but be warned — plan ahead if you bring your significant other (and they aren’t big on makeup). Charge their smartphone ahead of time (or have them bring a good book), because you’ll probably want to stay in the store for hours — HOURS!
I kid you not.
The big draw — well, at least for me — is the sheer quantity of products! According to MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin, they carry more than 300 in the store. On top of that, the SF store is the only MAC Pro Store serving the entire Pacific Northwest.
Sure, you can order MAC Pro products now online, but it’s such a different experience in the store. The makeup artists who work there are a goldmine of tips and tricks.
While I was at the SF store this week to learn how to use the new Masterclass Brushes, Victor also shared a couple of his must-have MAC Pro products and why you need them in your makeup bag. (Note to self: pick up a jar of Platinum Metal Pigment, ASAP!)
Here are links to the products mentioned in the video..
- Pro Lip Palettes ($40 each), available in the following shades: Editorial Orange, Modern Browns, Preferred Pinks and Select Plums
- Studio Conceal and Correct Palettes ($40 each), available in the following shades: Light, Medium, Medium Deep and Dark
- MAC Lipmix ($15)
- Reflects Pearl Glitter ($21)
- Platinum Metal Pigment ($21)
Thank you for watching!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
There are a couple of pro stores in Vancouver, BC, so that might be closer for many people in the Pacific Northwest…. I didn’t realize that there is no MAC pro store in Seattle – so strange!
Good to know, Murt!
Love these picks! I’ve never even heard of the lip mixes, and I definitely have more experimenting to do with pigments and glitter. Thanks for passig along the recommendations!
Hi Erin,
I need to get a few of those up in my makeup bag too. I want the blue one, for sure!
I’ve been eyeing the concealer pallets, it seems like such a great product to have. You can conceal, correct, highlight, contour, you name it.
Hi Natalie,
I’m intrigued by them too. Have you tried any of the MAC Pro products before?
My favorite Pro product is actually Show Orchid lipstick. It’s amazing!
Ya know, I don’t know if I have that one! Must put it on my list. Thanks, Danielle!
I’ve been eyeing those concealer and lipstick palettes for quite some time. They’re so convenient and great for kit use. I’ve yet to really shop at a pro store yet but I see I need to go! I’m missing out! There’s only one in Michigan and it’s not nearly as big as this one lol
Preferred plums is an awesome palette. Every color is very wearable!
I love that you’re doing more videos now! I love the Platinum Metal Pigment
I really want that light concealer palette. I’m right between a 15 and a 20 so that would be perfect to mix and match. The yellow shades on the redness and the pink shades on the under eye.
That concealer palette looks like a fantastic idea, especially for us NC42-ers who sport a spectrum of about a gazillion different skintones in the course of the average year. I have 3 shades of concealer( nars radiant creamy custard-ginger-biscuit) and 3 shades of foundation (nars stromboli-barcelona-syracuse) for mixing purposes as it is!!
Hi Karen! I absolutely LOVE your blog! I enjoy shopping at the pro store so much here in NYC. They are so low key yet so knowledgeable. I have a bunch of those palettes and keep them in my kit, what a space saver! so many awesome colors to use, mix and match right at your fingertips. I feel so prepared for any job I arrive at b/c of them 🙂
All colors are so pretty & wearable!
I never realized how lucky I was to have a MAC Pro store in my city until I started wanting things like the lipmixes and pigments. Now I hardly ever visit the regular stores as the Pro store is just so much better!
I’m dieing to try these concealer palettes. I think I’d go crazy at the pro store….
I’ve been to the store, and while the wide array of products may be nice if you’re not a makeup artist or blogger be prepared to be ignored. I was visiting SF at the time and decided to pop into MAC, and unfortunately the guy all the way to the right in your first photo was a huge asshole to me when I asked for help!! Over a year later and I still remember him and his terrible customer service…