MAC Cosmetics — Company research

California MAC retail workers asked a federal court to approve a proposed $12 million settlement of a putative class action alleging the company underpaid them by miscalculating overtime. Plaintiffs said the deal followed discovery, mediation and months of negotiations. A preliminary-approval hearing was scheduled for June 5, 2025; the evidence does not report an outcome.

Against Labor & working conditions

Sources

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/mac-cosmetics-workers-want-12-million-wage-settlement-approved

They say company didn’t properly calculate overtime pay

MAC announced a $1 million grant to The Trevor Project, its third year partnering with the LGBTQ+ youth suicide-prevention organization. The partnership also includes “Makeup Services for All,” training MAC artists in gender-inclusive communication and makeup techniques. The grant comes as the organization seeks to stabilize funding after losing roughly $25 million in federal support in 2025, according to its chief advancement officer.

In favor LGBTQ+ policies

Sources

https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/412365/

As LGBTQ advocacy groups confront mounting political and funding pressures, The Trevor Project is drawing renewed support from both corporate and philanthropic backers. MAC Cosmetics, the Estée Lauder–owned beauty brand, has announced a $1 million grant to the organization, which focuses on ending suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.

Illinois customer Fiza Javid alleges MAC’s in-store and website virtual try-on tools captured and stored facial geometry without consent, creating a unique digital map in violation of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. In June 2026, a federal judge allowed the proposed class action to proceed, finding the allegations plausibly showed the scans could identify consumers; no final liability finding is reported.

Against Privacy & surveillance

Sources

https://www.law360.com/articles/2485874/mac-must-face-customer-s-makeup-try-on-bipa-suit

By Lauraann Wood ( June 4, 2026, 8:44 PM EDT) -- A MAC Cosmetics customer can pursue Biometric Information Privacy Act allegations targeting virtual makeup try-on technology the company uses in store and online because she has plausibly alleged that the technology's face scans can be used to identify consumers, an Illinois federal judge said Thursday. . . .

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/mac-cosmetics-fails-to-shake-virtual-try-on-biometric-data-suit

MAC violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act when it created and stored a “unique digital map” of her face without her consent, Javid said.

OpenSecrets attributes political contributions to MAC employees, individuals and their families—not the company itself. For the 2024 election cycle, it lists $621 in contributions, all from individuals, including $410 to Kamala Harris; the profile reports no company lobbying or outside spending that cycle. Historical cycle totals and recipient-party shares vary, with most listed contributions going to Democrats.

You decide Political spending

Sources

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/mac-cosmetics/summary?id=D000042705

<table id="DataTables_Table_0"> <thead> <tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Recipient</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Total</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">From Individualsimore info </th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">From Organizationimore info </th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Typeimore info </th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">view</th></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Harris, Kamala</td> <td>$410</td> <td>$410</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-PRES)</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>DNC Services Corp</td> <td>$80</td> <td>$80</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Political Party</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>Crockett, Jasmine</td> <td>$40</td> <td>$40</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-TX30)</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>Campaign for Democracy PAC</td> <td>$28</td> <td>$28</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Carey</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>Forward Blue</td> <td>$20</td> <td>$20</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Outside Group</td> <td>Liberal</td> </tr><tr> <td>Dunn, Harry</td> <td>$20</td> <td>$20</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-MD03)</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>Brown, Sherrod</td> <td>$10</td> <td>$10</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-OHS1)</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Greater America</td> <td>$5</td> <td>$5</td> <td>$0</td> <td>LeadPAC</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr><tr> <td>BlueWaveAmerica</td> <td>$5</td> <td>$5</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Outside Group</td> <td>Liberal</td> </tr><tr> <td>Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte</td> <td>$3</td> <td>$3</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Political Party</td> <td>Democrat</td> </tr></tbody> <tfoot> <tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="5"> Liberal/Democrat Conservative/Republican No View </td></tr> <tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="5">View All Recipients</td></tr> </tfoot> </table>

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/mac-cosmetics/totals?id=D000042705

<table id="DataTables_Table_0"> <thead> <tr><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Cycle</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Total</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Democrats</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">% to Dems</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">Republicans</th><th rowspan="1" colspan="1">% to Repubs</th></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>2024</td> <td>$621</td> <td>$596</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2022</td> <td>$210</td> <td>$210</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2020</td> <td>$73,364</td> <td>$69,453</td> <td>99.96%</td> <td>$30</td> <td>0.04%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2018</td> <td>$1,058</td> <td>$857</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2016</td> <td>$5,218</td> <td>$5,218</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2012</td> <td>$2,750</td> <td>$2,500</td> <td>90.91%</td> <td>$250</td> <td>9.09%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2008</td> <td>$5,600</td> <td>$5,600</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2006</td> <td>$26,450</td> <td>$26,450</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr><tr> <td>2004</td> <td>$500</td> <td>$500</td> <td>100.00%</td> <td>$0</td> <td>0.00%</td> </tr></tbody> </table>

What Choice found

MAC workers seek approval of $12 million wage settlement

MAC announces $1 million grant to The Trevor Project

MAC faces biometric privacy claims over virtual makeup try-on

OpenSecrets reports MAC-linked political contributions