The question “Why is MAC not sold at Sephora?” has intrigued beauty enthusiasts and loyal fans of the iconic makeup brand for years. As of recent updates, that curiosity is about to be addressed.
The Estée Lauder Companies announced on Wednesday that MAC Cosmetics will soon grace the shelves of US Sephora locations. The official launch is set for early 2026, with the brand also making its debut in Sephora at Kohl’s. This expansion comes in response to a decline in sales that has prompted the brand to reinvent its marketing strategy and attract new talent to rejuvenate its iconic status.
Historically, MAC has been available in Sephora stores outside the US, including in markets like Canada and the United Kingdom, but its absence in the US has raised eyebrows among fans eager for access to the brand.
In the fiscal 2025 earnings report released by ELC in August, the brand’s diminished sales were highlighted as a key factor contributing to a 5 percent drop in makeup sales overall for the company. Terms like “retail softness” and “retailer destocking” were used to describe the situation surrounding MAC, signaling the need for a strategic overhaul. Earlier this year, MAC made headlines by appointing Nicola Formichetti as its creative director and announcing Doja Cat as its latest brand ambassador in September, both moves aimed at reinvigorating the brand’s image.
While known for maintaining its strong retail presence, MAC took a step into Ulta Beauty in 2017—yet the absence from Sephora was a gap that many found surprising. The brand has often been compared to Make Up For Ever, a competitor under the LVMH umbrella, particularly when evaluating product offerings and market positioning.
