Gate-side makeup fix near HOU Terminal 1 departures
MAC Cosmetics sits airside in William P. Hobby Airport’s Terminal 1, in the main departures concourse past security. It’s a full retail shop, not just a small kiosk, so you can actually test products before your flight instead of guessing shades at the newsstand. Expect typical MAC mall pricing: lipsticks around $25, foundation in the $40 range, and travel-sized skin prep near the registers.
The store usually opens early enough to catch the first Southwest morning banks, around 5:00–5:30 a.m., and stays open into the evening rush, often until about 9:00 p.m. Hours float a bit with the flight schedule, so late-night departures after 10:00 p.m. shouldn’t count on it. If your HOU connection is under 40 minutes, walk past and head straight to your gate.
Inventory focuses on travel-friendly basics: mini Prep + Prime, setting sprays under 100 ml, neutral eye palettes, and classic shades like Ruby Woo in stock most days. You can get quick help matching Studio Fix or concealer, but don’t expect full glam sessions during peak departures around 7:00–8:00 a.m. or 4:00–6:00 p.m. when the concourse is packed.
Best move: hit MAC right after clearing Terminal 1 security, before you get pulled into food lines near gates 20–25. That keeps enough time to test a shade, pay, and still board a domestic flight starting general boarding about 30–35 minutes before departure.