M·A·C Cosmetics Debuts in Sephora U.S. and Sephora at Kohl’s March 2

Nicola Formichetti’s creative vision, showing transitions from soft, barely-there everyday beauty to unapologetic, bold glam, will be the face of M·A·C Cosmetics’ U.S. debut inside Sephora, a move that lands on March 2, 2026 with an initial footprint in more than 100 Sephora U.S. stores and on sephora.com. The campaign stars Chappell Roan, Gabbriette and Quenlin Blackwell, is photographed by Richard Burbridge and credits Andrew Dahling for makeup, with the spot intended to underline the brand’s breadth.

The campaign’s imagery nods to M·A·C’s 1990s heritage while staging opposites side by side to showcase iconic lip shades and signature artistry; in one reported video moment Chappell Roan shakes a black-and-white Sephora bag and says “finally.” PR Newswire lists the creative credits and describes the global campaign as the mechanism to “bring the launch to life,” positioning the visuals as a deliberate bridge between M·A·C’s artistry roots and Sephora’s prestige retail environment.

The rollout is the culmination of a plan first announced by Estée Lauder Companies on Oct. 29, 2025, and framed internally as part of the company’s broader ‘Beauty Reimagined’ turnaround. Tara Simon, President, The Americas at The Estée Lauder Companies, said: “This strategic collaboration is the result of years of successful partnership with Sephora in global markets, and we are proud to debut M·A·C with Sephora in the U.S. for the first time in early 2026. We are deeply committed to delivering Sephora U.S. clients a dynamic shopping experience - both in-store and online - while continuing to innovate, inspire creativity and build community.” Aïda Moudachirou-Rébois, SVP and Global General Manager of M·A·C Cosmetics, added: “Together, M·A·C and Sephora share a core belief that beauty is for everyone, and this partnership reflects our mutual dedication to empowering all individuals to limitless self-expression.”

Retail specifics for day one are clear on timing but deliberately measured on scale: PR Newswire and subsequent reporting state the brand will be “initially available in more than 100 Sephora stores and on sephora.com” and will “continue expanding nationwide throughout the year.” Coverage also notes that the launch includes Sephora concessions at Kohl’s. One merchandising fragment in the materials references a gondola “three-bay” concept for the initial fixture, though full merchandising details have not been disclosed.

Analysts frame the entry as defensive and opportunistic. Saunders, managing director (retail) at GlobalData, said: “MAC cannot risk being squeezed out, so it is looking to bolster its presence in the market. As a go-to destination for all things beauty, Sephora helps MAC to do that. Sephora likely also delivers some new audiences, including younger consumers.” Saunders added that the measured rollout “suggests a test and learn approach to see what works.” Jeanel Alvarado, founder and CEO of RetailBoss, described the move as “less a radical pivot and more the final step” toward global multichannel alignment. Bagable.com reports that Sephora, owned by LVMH, operates close to 2,000 U.S. stores plus more than 1,000 Sephora inside Kohl’s locations.

For shoppers and the beauty trade, the immediate story is simple: on March 2 M·A·C will be easier to trial and buy inside Sephora’s prestige ecosystem, supported by a campaign that foregrounds versatility and heritage. The industry will be watching whether the initial 100-plus store test translates to a full national cadence across 2026 and how assortment, in-store merchandising and artist training are executed as the brand integrates into Sephora’s footprint.