I Tried the Viral MAC Stack Mascara Dividing the Internet & Here Are My Thoughts
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Thanks to TikTok, a lot of beauty products go viral these days.
But I genuinely can't remember the last time a makeup product divided the internet like the new MAC mascara did recently.
Why? Because the marketing images showed someone wearing 40 layers of mascara.
Yep. 40 layers.
M.A.C Cosmetics Macstack Mascara - blackstack is the mascara in question.
Whether you reckon you'll love it or hate it, the controversial product has already sold out two times on Adore Beauty since launching.
The brand claims this mascara helps you 'stack' on infinite layers of volume and length (geddit) for the ultimate fake lash effect.
No clumping. No flaking. Just lashes you can see from the Metaverse.
Some people lapped this new mascara right up. Others couldn't help but point out the clump-free mascara looked, well, clumpy.
So, I got my hands on this mascara to see what it's like in real life on real lashes.
Keep scrolling for my MAC Stack mascara review!
What Is the MAC Stack Mascara?
M.A.C Cosmetics says their never-before-seen continuously buildable, clump-resistant mascara promises you customisable gravity-defying volume.
M.A.C Cosmetics Macstack Mascara - blackstack can do it all, from natural to next-level, with instant lash lift and length.
That's a lot of buzz words... here's the key things to know:
- An all-in-one mascara that helps you customise your lash look!
- Apply a single layer for natural definition, or keep building for the stacked lash look that went viral.
- Weightless formula is continuously buildable, so you can apply as many layers as you like.
- Claims to deliver 24 hours of wear, and a clump and flake-resistant formula.
- Get instant lash lift and length with the Superstack Mega Brush.
- Paraben, phthalate, mineral oil and petrolatum free, and free from animal-derived ingredients.
My MAC Stack Mascara Review.
OK, but what is this mascara really like? Here are my honest thoughts...
What I liked about the formula is how versatile it is.
Rather than having one mascara for a long, wispy lash look and another for volume or drama, this mascara does it all.
I personally loved how a single coat of this mascara added length, depth, separation and a glossy black finish.
Legit, every time I've worn this mascara, a colleague has asked if I've had my lashes tinted and lifted.
Here's a look at the difference a single coat makes.
"WOW you look INCREDIBLE, so different!" a work friend exclaimed when I rocked up to a Zoom call wearing the mascara.
I would've been offended if I wasn't too busy basking in the compliment.
OK, but what about smudging, you ask?
Look. Kind of like with concealers and creasing (because all concealers crease), I'm yet to find a mascara that truly doesn't smudge or flake at all.
But I wore this MAC mascara for a full day of work and the smudging was very minimal.
Nothing a quick touch up using my finger couldn't fix.
Being the investigative journalist I am, I tested the buildable clump-free claims by applying 10, 15 and a whopping 20 coats of mascara.
Did it clump? Well, kind of.
I think what the brand is referring to when it says 'clump-free' is the fact your lashes won't clump together the more coats of the mascara you apply.
Because, yes, 20 layers of mascara is going to look like a lot of mascara.
But this formula didn't give me the spiky 'I only have three lashes' result I've experienced when trying to do a bold, dramatic lash look.
Check it out, what do you think?
If a stacked, gravity-defying lash look is what you're after, this mascara delivers.
My top tip for any mascara, this one included, is to wipe excess product off the brush with a tissue before applying your first coat.
This allows you to make the most of the spiked brush-like wand to really define and separate each individual lash, without making a mess by plonking on too much mascara.
Then start building more layers of product on top to get your desired look. Trust me.
Watch our mascara tips YouTube video below for even more mascara application hacks!
Final Verdict...
Mascaras are deeply personal.
A mascara that works for you might not work for me, so I tend to take mascara recommendations with a grain of salt.
What I will say is this:
Want a single mascara that can give you length, definition, mega volume or all of the above?
Add M.A.C Cosmetics Macstack Mascara - blackstack to cart.
If you're after some more helpful mascara tips and tricks, check out these articles below:
