Your Guide To MAC Lipsticks

There’s nothing like opening up a fresh tube of lipstick and seeing that new tip rounded to perfection. There’s definitely nothing like opening up a new MAC lipstick and getting that first whiff of vanilla…

MORE: How To Pull Off A Unique Coloured Lipstick

You could say MAC lipsticks are sort of an enigma. Once you buy your first, you find yourself buying more…and more. Just a quick browse at the MAC counter turns into a half hour stop and the next thing you know you’ve tested six different lipstick shades and bought two.

But what’s not to love about them? They’re well known to have some of the best formulas, opaque pigments, and wide range of shades. They’re on the pricier side of the lipstick spectrum: more than Maybelline but definitely less than Chanel or By Terry. Plus they’re super comfortable to wear on your lips.

Because MAC does have such a large colour range it can sometimes be hard to narrow it down, so, I’ve sorted out which lipsticks I think are the best choices.

Daytime Nudes

For the daytime I assume most people would want something neutral or nude to wear on the lips (if not you can totally go for another colour).

Blankety is one of my favourite MAC lipsticks. It’s a neutral colour with pink beige undertones and suits most skin tones because of its subtlety on the lips. It’s an Amplified lipstick, which means it’s very creamy and opaque with a longwearing soft glow.

Shy Girl is a neutral coral beige colour and is a popular nude shade. It suits pale to medium skin tones really well. It has a cremesheen finish, which means it has a lot of shine, gloss, and is very hydrating on your lips.

Crème dNude is probably the most nude of all the MAC lipsticks. If you’re going for the ‘there’s nothing on my lips they’re naturally this juicy’ look, then this is the colour for you. It is a pale muted peach shade in a cremesheen finish.

The Kylie Look

Everyone wanted Kylie Jenner’s lip colour when she first got them done – which isn’t a bad thing because her lip colour was gorgeous. These two colours are usually out of stock at most MAC stores (I had to order mine online), so if you can get your hands on them I’d definitely buy them because they’re fabulous colours.

Velvet Teddy is a deep-toned beige colour, another one of my favourites. It suites all skin tones because it is slightly on the neutral side. It has a matte finish, but doesn’t feel drying on your lips.

Brave is another beautiful colour. It’s also a beige like Velvet Teddy, but has a pinker undertone with a satin finish. It looks perfect on all skin tones and feels very comfortable on your lips.

Perfect Reds

Red colours are a little harder to choose from. Different red hues are suited best for different skin tones. These two colours are the most popular reds from MAC.

Russian Red is your classic pin up red colour. It’s an intense bluish-red tone with a matte finish. This colour looks beautiful on almost everyone which is why it’s my favourite red lipstick.

Ruby Woo is another classic red colour, though a little more on the brighter side. It’s a vivid blue-red matte colour, similar to Russian Red. Because it is a little lighter it may not suit some skin tones, but could probably work with a lip liner underneath.

Night-Time Glam

If you’re like me and you like to go bold at night then these are the colour for you. They all have deep purple-red hues and really make your lips stand out.

Del Rio is a beautiful plum brown colour with a satin finish. Because it has a brown undertone it looks perfect on everyone. The colour is very opaque but doesn’t look too dark on your lips because of the satin finish. It’s very long lasting and a great colour to choose for a bold lip.

Rebel is a bold but beautiful colour choice. It’s a muted cream plum colour – a little on the purple side. If you want to try out a statement lip but are too scared then this colour is for you. Because of its satin finish it doesn’t look as stark on your lips.

Diva is a dark lip colour, an intense reddish burgundy. It’s very pretty if you want your lips to stand out and suits most skin tones. It has a matte finish which adds to the dramatic effect and is long lasting on your lips.

Pretty Pinks and Purples

Intense pink and purple lipsticks are the colours i reach for least. If I was going to wear a bright coloured lipstick then these are the ones I would go for.

Flat Out Fabulous is an intense bright plum colour. It looks very purple on the lips and has a matte finish. Because it is so bright, it looks amazing on every skin tone and is great if you really want you lips to be a focus point.

Girl About Town is an amazing bright blue-fuchsia colour. It has an amplified finish so it’s very pigmented with a slight glossy sheen. If you’re going for the Barbie look or want to look super girly, then this is the colour for you.

Snob is a pretty, intense pink colour. It has light neutral pink tones and is perfect for an everyday look because it has a creamy satin finish. If you’re very pale, then this colour may wash out your lips as it’s a very strong colour. If you like very highlighted lips then this is the colour for you.