Best Credit Card for MAC Cosmetics in 2026
MAC Cosmetics is classified under MCC 5977 (Cosmetic Stores). The best card for MAC Cosmetics purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on cosmetic stores — an effective return of 2.00%.
MCC 5977 covers cosmetic stores like MAC Cosmetics. Many travel and cash back cards offer higher rewards in this category, making it a smart place to spend if you're eyeing those extra points or cash.
Consider timing your purchases around sales or promotional periods to maximize both your beauty haul and your rewards.
Spending Math
If you drop $200 at MAC each month with a card that gives 2% back, you'd earn $4 per month ($48 annually). But with just a basic 1% card, you'd only rake in $2 monthly ($24 yearly).
MAC Cosmetics purchases are classified under MCC 5977 (Cosmetic Stores).
MCC Details for MAC Cosmetics
Best Credit Cards for MAC Cosmetics (2026)
How MAC Cosmetics Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at MAC Cosmetics at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5977 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a cosmetic stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "cosmetic stores" purchases, MAC Cosmetics transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not MAC Cosmetics specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any MAC Cosmetics transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5977 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — MAC Cosmetics
About MCC 5977: Cosmetic Stores
Merchant Category Code 5977 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Cosmetic Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5977, all qualifying card programs that include cosmetic stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Cosmetic Stores merchants: Bath & Body Works, Sally Beauty, Sephora.
What You Could Earn at MAC Cosmetics
Spending $200/month at MAC Cosmetics with the Active Cash (2x on cosmetic stores) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at MAC Cosmetics merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.