Alright, so I figured I needed to up my makeup game, especially with fancy stuff like what those MAC artists do. Always loved their looks, right? But honestly? Felt clueless trying to copy them from pictures. So yeah, signing up for classes sounded smart. But here’s the thing – finding actual in-person MAC classes? Near me? Forget it. Total nightmare. Either booked solid for months or cost an arm and a leg. Was feeling pretty stuck.
Then, scrolling one night, I saw an ad for online MAC makeup classes. Honestly, my first thought was, “How good can that possibly be? Can’t they just see you messing up?” But desperation kicked in. Checked out a few platforms offering them. Compared prices, schedules, what techniques they promised to cover – stuff like that ‘cut crease’ thing everyone raves about and how to actually make foundation look like skin, not paint. Signed up for a beginner-to-pro technique course. Downloaded their app, clicked join, and bam! Was kinda nervous, I won’t lie.
The First Session – Figuring It Out
Logged in early, fumbled with the camera angle so you could actually see my face clearly. The instructor popped up live – super chill MAC artist. Wasn’t just talking at us. She kept asking questions in the chat, made us show our products. Started with just skincare prep – cleansing, moisturizing. Sounded basic, but she explained why it mattered for makeup to stick. Then, foundation time. My biggest struggle! She walked through matching shades step-by-step on her own model, then had us all grab ours. Seriously, holding the bottle next to my jawline under the lamp felt silly, but dang, I finally got a decent match!
She demoed blending slowly – literally holding her brush right up to her camera so you could see the tiny circular motions. Had us pause and try. I dabbed on way too much at first, looked cakey! But here’s the cool part: she spotted my struggle in the gallery view. “Hey you, in the blue shirt! Less product on the brush, start lighter.” Felt like personalized help even online. Didn’t perfect it then, but way better than my usual slap-dash method.
Learning the Fancy Tricks Online
Next few sessions tackled the juicy stuff – eyes! Contouring! That MAC signature bold lip. Stuff that usually intimidated me.
- Contouring: She kept yelling “Blend, blend, blend!” through the screen. Showed different angles to hold the brush. Used a contour stick on half her face, nothing on the other, so we saw the real difference. Huge ‘aha’ moment seeing how placement matters.
- Eyeliner Flick: Oh man, the dreaded winged liner. I’d always end up looking like a raccoon. The trick? She made us use tiny brushes and gel liner, not the liquid pen. Said it was easier to control online. Pro tip she gave: look down slightly into your compact mirror resting on the table, not straight ahead. Game changer! My flick didn’t match perfectly first try, but it wasn’t a disaster.
- MAC Red Lip: The classic! Learned the lip liner trick to stop feathering – drew it on herself super close to her lip line. Explained how to blot properly for staying power. Even showed fixing little mistakes with concealer on a tiny brush – all zoomed in so you couldn’t miss it.
Honestly, the constant little pauses to let us practice right then, seeing everyone else’s attempts pop up on screen, made it feel… well, real. Not just passively watching. The instructor kept hopping between cameras giving quick tips.
So Why Take Them Online?
Looking back, wouldn’t have stuck with in-person classes. Too much hassle. Online? Total lifesaver.
- Saved my Wallet & Time: Way cheaper than traveling somewhere, paying studio fees, or those crazy expensive in-person MAC masterclasses. Could do it pyjama-bottom chic in my living room after work.
- Replay is Golden: Got stuck on that eyeshadow blending step? Rewatched the recording later, paused, did it alongside the video. Took the pressure off keeping up live sometimes.
- Feedback Actually Happened: Thought I’d just be shouting into a void? Nah. The instructor spotted common issues fast and called them out. Felt seen even through a screen.
Real Pros Teaching Real Techniques: They weren’t watering it down. Got the MAC methods straight from their artists.
Bottom line? Unlocked techniques I genuinely thought needed a makeup school. My foundation doesn’t slide off anymore, I can attempt a smoky eye without looking bruised, and that bold lip actually stays put. For someone like me juggling other stuff? Online MAC classes were the key to finally cracking the pro techniques without the drama. Took effort, sure, but way less roadblocks. My sister even asked me to do her makeup last weekend – that never happened before!