Boycott MAC Makeup and save our jobs.

[kjbennett]

Thanks to the morally bankrupt, maniacally driven steamroller called The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. and their take no prisoners attitude of "If you can't Beat Them, Buy Them!"...
Professional Makeup Artists worldwide are having jobs ripped out from underneath them.
The Estee Lauder Companies (who acquired MAC 4-5 years ago) methodically reduced the professional formulas and quality of the "original" MAC Makeup products to drugstore levels, rendering them un-usable by professional makeup artists. This was only the beginning of the new, improved money making scams coming from the feverish brains of the Estee Lauder marketing division.
The "original" MAC, as a courtesy, extended a % discount card (the PPID card) to pro makeup artists, hair stylists and even actors because they understood how expensive our professions were to maintain. Within a year of taking over the company, MAC/Estee Lauder instituted a yearly "membership" fee that had to be paid before they would renew/replace our PPID discount cards.
PAY for a DISCOUNT? WTF!
As if this wasn't a large enough slap in the face to the community that made them famous...
The Estee Lauder Companies/MAC Division has aggressively approached designers, production companies, photographers, advertising agencies, etc. and offered them tons of gratis makeup and free use of "their" staff makeup artists in exchange for product placement or production credit. They have even gone as far as paying CASH to get their foot in the door of some agencies/companies.
The MUA's (makeup artists) that work for MAC are brainwashed into thinking that they should feel privileged to do this work and it will be "important to their career". They are also told that they MUST do these gigs to gain their "certification" to merit promotions within the MAC organization. These "certifications" carry absolutely no cache or significance outside of the MAC company (usefulness???). The MAC artists are manipulated into working these high profile jobs for their usual hourly salesperson rate (maybe $16-17) while Pro MUA's would usually book the same jobs for 10x that amount.
The saddest thing is, these poor kids might get a MAC certification, but they usually get no credit (tear sheets, etc) for the actual job...MAC does. Without credit for your work, you get NOWHERE in the real industry. So they, in effect, have been PIMPED OUT BY MAC/ESTEE LAUDER and have taken jobs away from legitimate, professional MUA's.
You, the buying public and other MUA's have to help us out and make your voice heard. Professional MUA's are the people that put MAC on the map, made you covet the products because WE used them and now we are being systematically eliminated by the Estee Lauder Marketing and Promotional juggernaut. They are compromising our means of making a living (paying bills, feeding families) to sell more lipsticks.
Please don't support a company who willingly treats the people that are responsible for their enormous SUCCESS with blatant disrespect and underhanded, deceitful business practices.
Please stop purchasing MAC Makeup Products and help Professional Makeup Artists worldwide continue to work in the industry that we love.

CLICK HERE for a list of great alternatives to MAC products.


Thanks,
KJB

[naomim]

Thanks for the info Kevin!! I read about this but was not sure, but after reading it from a trusted source like you, I will be making a detour!

[ChrisFX]

wow thats a shame ....shame on them! that company used to be about the artists and the product ...now its all about the $$$$ ...was never a big fan of their foundations anyway ...only went to MAC for color. .but now ill look else where. thanks for the heads up!