Luckily, there's a way that anyone can snag their favorite MAC lipstick without spending a cent: the little-known Back to MAC recycling program. The way it works is simple. Fans of the brand turn.
- Free Lipstick Mac Recycle Program Work
- Mac Lipstick Recycle
- Free Lipstick Mac Recycle Program
- Does Mac Still Give A Free Lipstick
- Mac Cosmetics Back To Mac
- Since 100% of the retail selling proceeds of Viva Glam Lipstick is provided to organisations that help people living with HIV/AIDS, these colours are excluded from this program. In countries where it is permissible, the returned packaging is forwarded to appropriate waste management centres to recycle/reuse through energy recovery.
- Sep 20, 2013 If you don't know about it, M.A.C. Has a recycle/reuse program in their stores worldwide. Collect 6 (six) empty M.A.C. Primary packaging (this excludes limited edition packaging & discontinued packaging) and receive a free complimentary full size lipstick. I almost forgotten about the program.
- Dec 16, 2019 Fantastically, MAC are committed to the environment and as such, they run a Back to MAC scheme in a bid to recycle products where possible like mac cosmetics & Makeup recycle. If you return 6 MAC packaging containers back to MAC you will receive a mac free lipstick (excluding the Viva Glam Lipstick which are for a charitable cause).
I’m glad I had only thrown away a couple of panned out MAC blushes – all Pink Swoon – before I got to know about the Back To M.A.C Program. Haha, I wasn’t too adventurous in the past when it came to blushes. I still have another Pink Swoon in my stash, but the most often used blush now is Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso.
2 Pink Swoons saying goodbye.
Back To M.A.C is the company’s recycling program, and is one of its five social initiative programs.
The program is pretty clear-cut – return six M.A.C primary packaging containers in exchange for a free MAC lipstick of your choice. The lipstick cannot be from the M.A.C Viva Glam program as 100% of the purchase price of any item from that program contributes to the M.A.C AIDS Fund. I think they used to offer lipglass and eye shadow too, but now it’s only lipstick.
So you can pretty much bring back anything MAC, except for samples, applicators (like puffs, sharpeners, curlers), false lashes, cases, etc.
From MAC website:
Most primary packaging of M·A·C products is accepted as Back to M·A·C 'currency.' M·A·C does not accept the following as a part of the program:
- Secondary packaging of any sort [paper box, plastic/cellophane wrapper, shopping bags, etc.]
- Samples [sample containers, special/trial size products for promotional/seasonal kits]
- Cosmetic applicators/tools [disposables, puffs, sponges, scissors, spatulas, swabs, sharpeners, tweezers, curlers]
- Accessories [bags, belts, makeup cases, lashes, Blot Film].
If you are unsure of whether an item is considered a ‘primary packaging’, simply bring it to a MAC counter or see if your item falls into any of the categories below.
I brought home 2 lipsticks in exchange for 10 eyeshadow pots and 2 blush pans! YAY!!! 😀
I didn’t choose the colors on a whim, though; I spent a long, long time picking the top 2 that I liked – a pink and a coral. It must have been 3 or 4 trips to various MAC counters, asking the opinion of several MUAs before I decided on See Sheer and Speed Dial.
Really, never judge a book by its cover. I was not entirely positive the shades the young and trendy-looking MUAs picked for me previously suited my taste that well. Then on the last visit, it was a slightly um, older and less hip-looking MUA that served me. She picked See Sheer and Speed Dial and I LOVED how they looked on me straight away!
I told her I wanted a pink and a coral, but unlike the others who simply chose a general pink and a random coral and shoved it into my hands, she actually stood in front of the lipstick counter for a while and gave thought to her selection. Talk about professionalism! Wootz! 😀
Back To MAC Program lipsticks are marked with a cross. And apparently they keep different stock for normal purchases and Back To MAC. If you want a color that is not stocked for the Back To MAC Program, they will not give you one from the normal inventory. That was what happened with my See Sheer. Raffles City MAC ran out of stock so I had to get it at the Ngee Ann store.
Free Lipstick Mac Recycle Program Work
I think Back To MAC is an excellent recycling program. It not only helps us to correctly dispose of plastic containers, but also encourages us to depot our eyeshadows to save space! Some people immediately depot their eyeshadows to put in customizable palettes like the Z-palette and accumulate enough to exchange for a MAC lipstick!
It’s a pity only MAC in Ngee Ann City Singapore sells the refill pans. They cost about SGD5 less than the potted ones. MAC should sell those refill pans in all Singapore stores so we can save money and the environment!
Oh, another thing. One of MAC’s five social initiatives is MAC Cruelty-Free Beauty, and the company prides itself on not testing on animals. This seems to have changed though and there have been cries of outrage from bloggers (like Phyrra) who feel betrayed that their trust has been trampled on. What are your views?
Hello, Hello! Today I am going to do a quick post about MAC’s recycling program- Back-To-MAC. It’s actually pretty great. I feel like its not very well known so I thought it would be worth posting about! I personally love a lot of MAC’s products and have accumulated quite a few over the years.
What you needis 6 empty containers of MAC products. It doesn’t matter which kinds of products, it can be their cream, or blush or an empty lipstick. And of course they do not need to be empty if it’s an item that you got as a gift and rarely used or an item that you no longer like and want to turn it in, that works too!
You take your 6 empty containers to any MAC store or counter near you and you get a FREE- yes you read that correctly- a FREE lipstick from one of the classic ones. That means basically any of the black tube lipstick that MAC normally sells. You can pick out what color you want and you receive it for FREE right then and there. You don’t have to pay the tax on it or anything.
What is that you say? You say you don’t live anywhere near a MAC store or counter. Don’t fret, you can also mail your empty containers to the address below after filling in the online form picking 3 colors of lipstick that you would like in order of preference. Once MAC receives your empty containers then they will send you the lipstick to your address. Read all the details here.
Now on the website they have a specific list of products that qualify, however if you are turning the products back into a store I believe the range is much more vast.
International readers
I believe you can send these into one of the addresses below as well and the same applies. Though you do have to pay for the shipping to send your empties in. However, if you go into the MAC site for your country I think they may have an in country address that you can send these to, to avoid paying for international shipping. With the prices of MAC products, and I do love their products, I think it’s absolutely worth it.
I just turned in 6 empties (2 lipsticks, a black track gel liner, lip-gloss, blush) and got my free Crème Cup lipstick and I am in love! I wanted a pinky nude lipstick and was about to buy one when I remembered that I just finished my freckle tone MAC lipstick and now had 6 empty containers lying around.
Recycle its good for the planet and MAC says thank you with a new lipstick!
Address for shipping:
US Residents Mail to:
7603 Trade Port Drive
Louisville, KY 40258
Mac Lipstick Recycle
Canadian Residents Mail to:
Free Lipstick Mac Recycle Program
Attention: Customer Service
Does Mac Still Give A Free Lipstick
550 Petrolia Road
Toronto, Ontario M3J 2W3
Mac Cosmetics Back To Mac
**Disclaimer: Now for the fun legal part. I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above. These are my personal thoughts. Some affiliate links and ads may appear on my site, and if you purchase something through those I will be paid. ts.